Sad Tom is sad. My heart breaks for him.

Oh, Nora. And Tom. Tom and Nora. Your just being there has to be good for him, even while he's sad. There's no way out but through it, and I bet he's glad to have you there with him while he goes through it.

Steph, are you itchy? (I'm following your allergy results, since I seem to be having the same thing.)

I'm not itchy, but my face feels hot a lot.

The itchiest is my eyes, but I'm randomly, intermittently itchy all over, which could just be from the 0% humidity in this house.

My face feels sunburned -- hot and slightly tight skin and very tender, but not actually redder than normal (I am a very, very pink human being even when my histamine levels are flat).

I'm hoping the doubled-up claritin dose and new pepsid helps this shit.

Doctor also prescribed Nasonex, which the insurance just laughed at, since it's not generic, so I have to call tomorrow to see if he'll switch it to Flonase, which has a generic, and is the same general type of drug, with very similar efficacy rates.

I hate putting stuff in my nose. HAAAATE. It's a testament to how miserable I am that I'm willing to do this.

Nora, I am sorry this is hard for Tom and for you.

I hate Nasonex with a fire-y passion but I cannot dis the results. Once you try the Flonase, tell me how bad the scent is because I chose Nasonex years back based on "it doesn't pretend to smell like flowers" but that was pre-generic.

How long did it take to kick in? Because I took my first dose 3 1/2 hours ago, and, as per usual, want results IMMEDIATELY if not sooner.

At least a day for reflux relief. Not a fast thing, but effective.

When Matt has gone to the ER for allergic reactions - pepcid is part of the meds. the ER doc told us that is was good for skin reactions - so as soon as I realizes I'm getting really itchy ( 24 hours ) i take it. Sometimes I notice a difference within an hour, but it can take longer. sorry - you've been itchy a lot longer that I usually wait - I'm guessing 24 hours before it make some difference.

With Mom in the hospital. She's sleeping right now. Nobody knows why she lost hearing (she sent me to search in medical forums for it. No shit), but apparently it's pretty common. So they're trying things and treatments, and my mom doesn't really know what to do with herself. She's usually a superwoman.

~mas to those who need it.

I'm sleepy. I really want to take a sick day, but I can't really justify it just for being tired and my stomach not feeling great. I think the stomach issues yesterday might have been a reaction to quinoa -- I had it for lunch yesterday, and I remembered that, the last time I had stomach trouble, I'd also had quinoa at lunch, and I googled it and found that it's not uncommon. So, no more quinoa, I guess.

~ma to you and your mother, Shir.

Hope you feel better today, Hil.

Thinking of you and your mom, Shir. I hope you get some answers and treatment soon.

Thanks for the support, guys. It helps me support him. I think the thing that's hardest for him is that it just pops up unannounced and unanticipated and clobbers him - doing the dishes, out for a beer, while at work, before going to sleep... it's just tough going.

Losing one's hearing is very unnerving. I lost mine for a day after going to a very loud party once. Luckily I started getting it back within a short time after waking, but it was a while before the muffling stopped and cleared up.

I would put losing hearing in my top three body trauma fears (eyes being number one, ears and limbs battle for second).

Sending a lot of hearing~ma to your mom.

Oh my god, SO ITCHY. I know it's been less than 24 hours since I started the new drugs, but I am so miserable. I think I'm going to call the doctor and beg for steroids. My face is so hot and itchy and my eyelids are puffy and my lips hurt. That isn't right. I don't think a double dose of claritin and pepcid is going to help.

Nora, let me know if there's anything I can do.

Steph, IANAD but steroids sound called for.

~ma, Shir.

Need to channel my inner Vortex. Waiting for former slumlord at old place. Going to ask for $$ for water bills in addition to full security deposit.