Hil, I would think a sinus med with pain reliever might be a good choice. I love Advil Cold & Sinus.

I'm already doing that, plus a prescription nasal spray. My doctor gave me prescription eardrops a few weeks ago that helped if I could angle my head the right way to get them to reach my eardrum, but I don't want to overuse them, since they've got antibiotics. I just used some anyway, though, since everything else isn't helping enough. I also sent the doctor a message saying that I've been taking all this stuff for a week and I'm still in a ton of pain.

Timelies all!

Don't know if there's a dress code at my work place, other than for safety reasons.(No sandals or open-toe shoes in the lab, wear a lab coat, no shorts in the lab) Not having to wear a dress or suit every day is one small part of the appeal lab work has for me.

Although if I do end up going to conferences and presenting posters, I guess I'll need more business-y stuff.

Hil, maybe you need something with a steroid to reduce any swelling.

Hil, maybe you need something with a steroid to reduce any swelling.

There's a steroid in the nasal spray, and in the ear drops from a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure that what I actually need is ear tubes.

I'm just flying by to to check in. Grace is sick and I have a call into the pulmonologist. I too am sick, but I had such a happy class with my AP students today. We read Ron Koertge's poem "First Grade" and had a monster discussion. Too bad I have 50 kids in the class. How the fuck am I going to do this?

Off to grade 50 essays (from my other class). Do not want.

Those are numbers I can't fathom.

Hmm. I've never thought about what fathom means in that context--it's about measuring the depth of, I'd guess.

I have a really weird kind of headache. I will get really hot, start sweating visibly, and my headache will shoot up to an 8 or a 9. For about half an hour. I have spells of that, like 4 or 5 days, and I sweat enough that I have to mop it off my face in air conditioned rooms.

What the *fuck* is that? I can't tie it to a cause.

Ugh Kat, sending ~ma to you and Grace for quick recoveries. 50 essays to grade on day 2? I feel for you.

And ita, I don't think I can help you. Is the heat caused by the increase in pain or vice versa?

ita, not hot flashes? Perimenopause hormones are weird, and I assume they could cause head pain as well as the hot part.

Is the heat caused by the increase in pain or vice versa?

I can't tell. It all feels like it's happening at once. My internal thermostat goes haywire and I want to drop to my knees in pain. I had thought it might be stress, because the first time I put the pattern together was when I was back home because of my mother's cancer (she'd stare at me and go "Now?" and I totally couldn't lie and say it didn't hurt, because I was sitting under the A/C vent and sweat was dripping off my face). But it just happened a few minutes before I posted and nothing was going on then. I'm alone in the office.

not hot flashes?

That is my only hope. I'm bargaining on the headaches leaving with my periods.

I'm bargaining on the headaches leaving with my periods.

I certainly hope so!

I have 24 papers left to go. They are short, but plentiful.

How I grade: I make myself do 8 before I can get out of the chair. But I have a glass of wine and I have chocolate mice and I reward myself with the ability to go DO something. Plus Noah is at soccer practice and Grace is absorbed in the iPad. I will finish these, by god.

Plus, I'm only checking for a few things, so if they have the good things then I comment on those and if they have the annoying things I need fixed then I comment on that. I'm not asking for depth or clarification anywhere.

My new scoring system is divided into three categories: Pass, Fail, Borderline. If you are a Pass, you are either a high pass or a low pass. If you are a fail you are either a minor fail or a tragic fail. Then borderline papers are just meh.