Relapse! Coping, Symptoms and Tips.

[fishman65]

I'm sorry you folks are still battling this beast How are you now Carnation? Yes I think your throat needs resting Poppy, it won't thank you if you're shouting.

Anxiety here has upped it's game. So I drove to a garden centre tearoom I like to test myself with. Well strangely I was ok there but worse on getting home. Likely because the house is fraught with tension and animosity.

[YoullNeverWalkAlone]

Hi all....
Sorry your not feeling well poppy, I hope the cold gets better quickly for you and yes rest your throat as much as you can, maybe try some throat or voice lozenges to suck on, is your throat sore to swallow...
I can understand how you keep wanting to test it but just give it time and it will come back....

Fishman... sorry your fighting the anxiety battle too, anxiety does seem to up it's game when you start to accept and ignore, it's like it's shouting HEY, I'm still here, don't dismiss me....That's exactly what it will be, in the garden centre you feel calmer in a calm environment but at home it feels hostile so the anxiety ramps up, which is only natural for anyone but if you already suffer with anxiety then it's doubly worse...
Sending hugs xxx

[.Poppy.]

Thanks, Fishman and YNWA. My throat doesn't really hurt except for sometimes when I cough, but I can tell it is irritated. I'm mostly just very tired and annoyed that I can't speak. There are a lot of things that I want/need to get done and it's putting me behind.

Fishman, I'm sorry for the increase in anxiety and it's especially hard when it's coming from home. I'm glad you have places you can go to get away for a bit and you should definitely utilize them if they help. Are you ever able to meet friends there for a chat?

[NoraB]

Bad day yesterday. (Bad two days actually)

Aside a raging flare up of GERD and fibro shenanigans, I've had one of me migraines, the kind where I can't function. I just have to lie there with ice packs clamped to head and neck, green light on, praying for death...

It started on Thursday night and, like an MASSIVE IDIOT, I thought I could fend it off with Kool Strips alone..

Needless to say, I was up at 1am frantically searching my bedroom drawer for my medication... (It was dark, so I have no idea if I took my migraine meds or one of my anal suppositories)

I got up on Friday morning (pain was at 4/10) and I opened the kitchen door to find that the Whippet had gone and done the double on the floor (poo and wee) *boaks*

By the time I'd bent over with the Kleenex and Zoflora, my pain was up to 7 and the GERD was partying like it was 1999. (Then I sat on here for a bit, which didn't help)

As soon as Mr B got up, I staggered upstairs to bed (pain now an axe to the head level 9) and there I remained, binge-listening to Midsomer Murders, until Mr B came up at 11pm and slapped the TV timer on...

I do get despondent when I'm in that much pain, especially when I glance in the bathroom mirror on a trip to the loo. (My migraine reflection is very, very scary)

I eventually woke up this morning with the pain eased back to my norm of 'generally lousy', but it's only after experiencing the 9/10 migraine pain that I actually appreciate feeling generally cr@p.

Currently chugging down magnesium citrate to try and excite my colon into action as the migraine meds send it into a coma..

Other methods are to massage my colon and checking the bank account (the latter usually sends my nervous system into overdrive involving a two-at-a-time sprint up the stairs to the lav)

Sending hugs to whoever needs one today.

Remember, bad days (weeks/months) do pass.

You are all magnificent.

[Carnation]

Sorry everyone for not replying sooner, I had the day from hell on Wednesday and I'm stil recovering from it. IBS has made an unwanted appearance and I had to deal with my monophibia on a major scale.
Anxiety has not been great and a migraine aura was added so like you Nora, I've been watching on a loop, not Midsummer Murders but a string of cack Christmas films which has dulled my brain in to Easter.
I'll get back to everyone's posts as soon as my brain is feeling more productive.
Sending hugs to everyone

[.Poppy.]

Oh I’m sorry Nora, that sounds rough. Do you have frequent migraines? They are so awful to deal with.

Im sorry you’re not feeling well either, Carnation. Those Christmas films do dull the brain though. They’re great to fall asleep to, lol. Do you have your own over there or are you stuck with our American ones?

Im in the lobby of urgent care, admitting defeat. I’ve tested my voice since Wednesday and done otc meds, salt water gargles, and steam and my voice is only slightly better, cough getting worse. No idea what they can do about it but I want to make sure my lungs are clear and who knows, maybe they’ll have suggestions.

To be honest, I’m very nervous about my graduation on Friday now. My group will be the smallest but with illness going around, sitting in a crowd of others and potentially getting sick round 2 is heavy on my mind.

[.Poppy.]

How is everyone doing?

I'm feeling better. The doctor I saw at urgent care was awesome and gave me a ton of ideas. She also prescribed me a couple of days worth of steroids, which I was nervous to take, but they have (mostly) given me my voice back so well worth it. Unfortunately, I think my cold is playing with my sinuses and is making it so I get a headache or eye strain when I work on the computer - which is problematic as I have a lot of computer work to do today and tomorrow. But I'll just have to push through.

I'm still nervous about graduation, but excited about the weekend I think. I'm happy to have my friend come, and on Saturday we are going to do presents and treasure hunts with my niece and nephew, which will be a lot of fun. Then I'll get a bit of vacation after that. I am planning on going to a funeral visitation on Thursday evening which I worry will be a bit triggering, but I want to be able to support the family and I am going to try and make it.

[Carnation]

Hi all,

Good to hear you are feeling better poppy.
I think you find illness as such a hindrance and disrupts your plans. You seem to be so busy.
I've got another sinus thing going on and it might be the reason I had two ocular auras last week and a mother of a headache. Laying there with a cold flannel over my head is not a great look but helped loads.
Like others, I'm struggling with my anxiety. Some new symptoms have appeared as well as the old.
But despite this I still went late night Christmas shopping and was amazed I was out for 3 hours!
I didn't get much in that time, lol but it was nice to feel all Christmassy. The next day I went to the village light switch on thinking, less crowds, small affair, but no, heaving, noisy, dark and a lot of standing around. I could feel legs wanting to run or do something and at one point was eyeing up a very wet wooden bench thinking I'd rather have a soggy bottom than feel this adrenaline.
I was saved by the unexpected visit from a donkey accompanied by father and mother Christmas. It stopped right by me and I hadn't noticed until Mr C told me to turn around. So my emotional pain was rewarded. Normally it's chocolate but the donkey was special.

[Carnation]

Fishman, I know that feeling of a trip out being ok and horrendous on the way back. And vice versa.
Anxiety has no warning and doesn't care you just want to pop out for a change of scenery and award yourself with a nice piece of cake and a cup of tea.
What you don't realise is the thoughts that crop up while you are enjoying your Victoria sponge cake and then you're filled with panic while you drive home to then find an hour or two later that you were not in any danger and slightly annoyed with yourself that you felt this way just because of a feeling.
Don't be put off, this has happened to me so many times.
And there's not much that would hold me away from cake.

[Carnation]

Nora, how are feeling?
These migraines /auras /headaches are no gentle attacks, are they? They come with enough ammunition to blow you into bed for hours /days feeling quite miserable and knock you out of your normal duties.
I tend to feel rough and fatigued before and after.
You can only go with it, rest, sleep, lots of water and binge on your favourite programnes.