the mellow tigger's musings

I've been using NasalCrom for several months, and it's an amazing drug. I've had severe allergies my entire life, and I'm certain they played a part in the 2 sinus surgeries that I've already had, thanks to sinus polyps that my overactive sinuses eventually generate which leads to blocked airways and high fevers due to infection. The allergies and the associated sinus troubles are not a real concern any more, thanks to Nasalcrom.

My thanks to wispywillow for mentioning it last summer. In searching for that post, I see that furr_a_bruin mentioned it back in 2011 too, although apparently I never gave it a proper try back then. That's a shame, because it works wonders.

I still can't figure out how it works. It's not a histamine/anti-histamine kind of drug. It's a mast cell stabilizer drug. I don't know much about MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), but it's related to that. The best analogy I can find is that NasalCrom orders these cells to "Calm down!", so they don't respond with histamine reactions when your immune system tells them that you are exposed to allergens. So, you're still allergic to stuff, but... nothing happens.

That's my experience too. Taking only NasalCrom and nothing else, I can still develop an itchy nose plus a few sneezes. What changes, though, is that my sinuses fail to explode with mucus production. I also take generic fluticasone propionate (sometimes known as Flonase), which is a steroid to reduce inflammation. It's a drug commonly used to deal with asthma, allergies, and nasal polyps like I have a long history of developing. Together, I can even leave my window open at night if I want to, and I don't have to regret it in the morning. At most, I can sometimes tell that my sinuses might be ever-so-slightly swollen or sensitive, like they're on alert because they know allergens are present, but there are no debilitating symptoms that go with it. NasalCrom does the heavy lifting, while the fluticasone softens the few remaining issues.

Together, I'm hopeful that I won't have to deal with polyps blocking my sinuses due to overactive tissues reacting to airborne allergens. If I have no more polyps, then I have no recurring sinus blockage and raging high temperatures, and with no dangerous high temps over 39.5C/103.1F, then I'll have no need for a 3rd sinus surgery. It's a wonder drug, targeted specifically at my sinus tissue. I'm certain it's better for my body than eating pills that affect my whole body, just so I can survive another few hours with strong symptoms.

The nurse and doctor were promoting that pneumococcal vaccine, saying it didn't have the bad reactions like some people have to COVID vaccines. Yesterday was fine afterwards until late in the evening, then everything started to hurt.

More specifically, every arthritic location was hurting a lot, plus the ache in my left arm where I got the injection, plus some muscle soreness and coldness reminiscent of a flu. I was making audible groans and "ow" sounds at almost every movement, and everything hurt a little bit even when sitting or laying still. I'm feeling slightly better this morning, with the pain mainly coming from my lower back (site of the first arthritis X-ray confirmation) and for some reason my hamstrings.

Definitely not as advertised. I'm glad I get this additional recovery period before starting work tomorrow morning.

Edit 4pm: I got very little sleep last night due to the pain, but I caught up today by sleeping about 9am-1pm. The thermometer says that I have a temperature of 37.7C/99.9F right now. Still very achy like the flu. Currently mostly a headache and lower back pain, plus cold (wrapping up in blanket) due to the fever.

Edit 8pm: I did a COVID test, and it came back negative. Relevant question because I had to take my mask off at the clinic briefly to get a good oxygen saturation reading which was low at first. I'll test again in 2 days, but this seems to be just a reaction to the vaccine? Temperature currently shows as 37.8C/100.0F.

I'm still reading Dreamwidth entries, but I'm just not writing much lately. My brain has been filled with other things instead.

Like cracking a molar again. It's the same one as back in 2022, but I lost an even bigger chunk of it this time. I managed to snag a coveted emergency dental appointment on Tuesday morning, where they put a temporary cover on it. They need me to complete a regular dental exam first (in late April, the nearest available date they could offer) before deciding if this tooth is healthy enough for a crown or if it should be extracted. The dentist told me emphatically, "Keep wearing your mouth guard," because it will help protect what remains of my teeth from the grinding during my sleep. She was kind to offer a referral to have the annoying tori bone (developed due to lifelong grinding of teeth) cut out of my head, but I declined for now. It's good that's an option, and I could never afford it if I lacked health insurance, but that's a lot of physical pain that I would like to avoid as long as I can. Although... this fancy new water-plus-laser method sounds very interesting.

Plus, you know, there's everything in the news. My employer is trying to figure out how Trump breaking government services and education funding is going to impact us. The university president released this statement that skillfully avoids naming Trump or Republicans, just referring to "Washington, D.C." instead. Two days later, of course, they announce that there will be campus closures. The loss of tuition money won't affect my team for many years, if at all. The loss of research money seems a much more immediate problem for the university. They're having a discussion about that issue on Friday.

While I was at the dentist, my blood pressure would not come down to a safe level. I'll probably have to talk to my general doctor about that eventually.

I just wanted you to know that I appreciate all of you continuing to post at Dreamwidth. I'm reading your words, really I am.