It'll be my 25th college reunion next year. I'm considering going, but with pretty deep reservations. I'd love to hear what my classmates have been up to, but have no idea what I would tell them about my life.

We haven't had an official high school reunion, so far as I know, ever. One unofficial that I heard about, would've been like my 7th or 8th, I guess? I didn't go. It'll be my 30th in a couple of years, if somebody organizes something I suppose I would think about showing up.

Oh, glorious temps in the 70s, how I have missed you!

Can you send those up here? We promise we'll send them right back.

No way, I already had to brave Kentucky cold this weekend.

Its mostly stopped snowing here - the roads are a mess but at least its not as windy as it was this morning. My back is probably going to be sore again tomorrow because I slippef hard on some dnow-covered ice. Argh.

Man, I am having a weird reaction to something. Is it safe to mix different types of allergy meds? I've taken (generic) Benadryl, and I've got generic versions of Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra standing by. Also have liberally applied some hydrocortisone cream and have a few other lotions I could try but I feel like the internal application is what's gonna really help. The Benadryl is definitely helping but I would like to feel more normal and less itchy if I can...

Oh yeah, you can. I take benadryl and Claritin every night.

What you shouldn't do is mix Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra, but you CAN take any 1 of them with Benadryl.

You can take 2 Benadryl at a time, although it may well zonk you out, unless you're me (and, I think, Cass).

And even though the Zyrtec/Claritin/Allegra says 1 pill every 24 hours, for a significant allergic reaction that won't budge, you can take 1 pill every 12 hours.

Finally, in Oddities Of Pharmaceuticals, you can add Zantac (or the generic, ranitidine) to the mix -- it is actually a histamine blocker, and apparently works pretty well for skin reactions.

How long ago did you take the Benadryl? Sometimes it takes a little while to work. I wouldn't double up too much on internal and external stuff.

Ooh, forget what I said. I like Tep's answer better. Also, I did not know that about Zantac!

Also, I did not know that about Zantac!

I'm not just a repository of pharmaceutical knowledge; I learned it the hard way! When, in some twist of human biology that I should no longer be surprised at, I had an allergic reaction to freaking vitamin D supplements, it made me itchy all over, and Awesome Doctor told me about Zantac being helpful for cutaneous reactions.

I am such a goddamn delicate flower.

I wouldn't double up too much on internal and external stuff.

I'm a little cavalier about what *I* take, but it's fine to take benadryl and something from the Claritin/Zyrtec/Allegra triumvirate.

THANK YOU TEP!

I did not pick up any Zantac (I just went to the drugstore and bought one of everything in the allergy aisle, basically. The cashier sympathised with my presumed plight). I did take two Benadryl right away, and now I'll take the Claritin because I think I've taken it before and it was okay.

That was freaky - I went for a run and a couple minutes in the backs of my hands started itching. By the time I got home my fingers were noticeably swollen and most of my body was itching and I was feeling like my tongue was bigger than normal although that may have just been me paying attention to how my tongue felt. No idea what could have caused it. Thank god for antihistamines!

Yikes, -t!

I'm a little cavalier about what *I* take, but it's fine to take benadryl and something from the Claritin/Zyrtec/Allegra triumvirate.

But you wouldn't double up on Benadryl, right? Like, take two Benadryl and use the cream? Or take another Benadryl?