Stephan, my nutritionist friend says to avoid food from the nightshade family (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant) because they promote inflammation.

I've heard that too.

When I have potassium deficiency muscle cramps, I can plow through 4 of the little cans in a six-pack before I taste the weird juice-in-a-can metalic taste.

Huh. Does the taste mean you have enough potassium? Because I always taste that, which is why I don't drink V8 or tomato juice from the cans anymore. I do like V8 juice, though.

my nutritionist friend says to avoid food from the nightshade family (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant) because they promote inflammation.

I've heard that too, but I think (IANAD) it varies with the person. I definitely get a mild inflammation response from eating potatoes; I can feel it happening in my face. My face feels hot and swollen and my sinuses slam shut. But I have no problems with tomatoes or peppers. I don't eat eggplant.

Fish oil is supposed to reduce inflammation too.

Raw tomatoes either taste metallic or are far too bitter or acidic. Peppers cause my lungs to seize up. Eggplant is icky. Potatoes are of the gods and I would weep greatly if they were denied me.

I love a good raw tomato. A little salt, slurp it down. Gonna go have a potato now. With an antihistamine chaser.

I'm almost better except for my nearly complete lack of sleep this week. Every time I try to sleep I end up having a coughing fit. So, now I need to get a weeks worth of cleaning and prepping for our Father's Day gathering done in the next three days.

My eyes were still so swollen this morning that I couldn't apply liquid liner.

that's some serious shit. I hope that you feel better soon.

that's some serious shit. I hope that you feel better soon.

What Vortex said. Jilli, I meant to say, you are most certainly not an imposter.

Thanks for the kind words, folks. The problem is, I don't feel like an impostor when it comes to my personality/how I present myself/my involvement in the Goth world. Nooo, I feel like an impostor at work. I trap myself in spirals of worry about not being able to do my job, and that all the smoke and mirrors I've used to hide my inability and slackerdom are not up to the task of diverting everyone anymore.

In other words, part of my brain is trying to break me, and I need to ignore it.

that's some serious shit. I hope that you feel better soon.

Pete made sure there was mac & cheese for dinner (comfort food!), and this morning's eye makeup experiment to hide my swollen eyes turned out pretty well: [link]

Avoiding nightshades has been SOP for the systemic psoriasis since I kicked the steroid topicals to the curb. When I made dinner for Mom and sampled her mashed potatoes ("just to see that they were right", yeah), I could feel the achiness next day. I mostly avoid them, consequences being what they are. But I do slip occasionally, mostly on purpose, having weighed cost/benefit.

Sometimes a day of achey hell is worth a homegrown 'mater sammich on wheat bread with mayo and salt and paprika. Say, once a year.