Thanks, everyone.

And Taz sends his best purrs to those kitties with urinary tract issues.

It's an awful situation, Nora. I can't imagine.

Thanks to Taz.

Nora, that's appalliing. Whatever peace and comfort possible to the families and loved ones of those who died. I hope your friend's daughter is safe somewhere.

Connie, I'm so very sorry. Strength and comfort to your family and to you.

I had an interesting experience last night. I take a niacin supplement at the direction of my doctor. I've had a reaction to ordinary niacin--feels like a hot flash and then prickly heat all over, lasts about 10-20 minutes. I used a gel-capsuled time release formula and skipped that reaction, but the capsules are exorbitantly expensive, so I recently switched to gel-coated time-release tabs, and have had no problem.

Last night, fully 14 hours after I'd taken my daily niacin dose, I ate an apple, had a sudden blood sugar change and got too warm. As I was peeling layers, it became a hot flash, and then the hottest flash I have ever had, followed by feeling like I'd fallen in a thicket of nettles. My skin turned bright pink, and I actually thought I was about to break out in hives. The prickly sensation was so intense I couldn't put my arms down. I jumped into a cool shower and had some ice water in an effort to ameliorate the symptoms, while I tried to puzzle out what I could have eaten or touched to cause such a reaction. The feeling intensified over about a 30 minute period, then waned over the next half-hour.

I had neither done nor eaten anything out of the ordinary. I came to the conclusion that one or more of the niacin geltabs had probably held its coating integrity well past the usual time-release, and had dissolved into my system all at once.

There are no remaining symptoms, I didn't ever develop hives, and waking this morning I felt totally normal. I may be switching brands, though.

Oh, god, I hate the niacin hotflash.

Hallo again from Vienna! Hotel only has wireless in lobby so am skimming.

Bev, I feel ya--apparently, too much magnesium makes me itch like crazy. I found that out a couple years back when trying mag supplements (supposed to be good for migraines). But a few months ago I started taking a combo for migraines that includes mag, and all was well. Then I was crazy crazy itchy suddenlythis last week. Was all "were there bedbugs on the flight or something??" finally realize that right before the trip I'd started taking twice the migraine pills, having realized on buying more that they're supposed to be two a day. And I guess that was the threshold of my tolerance! Haven't taken any in a week and am still a bit itchy (but much better).

Yuck Bev that sounds distinctly unfun

WindSparrow, my vet gives me plastic fake litter. So cat pees in box with a little plastic litter, and then I pour through a coffee filter into the collection cup. I left her in there while I was gone and I think I have enough for them to test.

t redacted

{{connie}}

{{nora's friend and family}}

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ION - my doctor office just called with blood work from physical. Looks good except the "Good Cholesterol" is a little bit low. Um. OK. What do I do with that? They said just a little more exercise should do the trick. Really?

Yes, good cholesterol comes from exercise.