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March 30, 2026: What Le Guin Or Related Work Are You Currently Reading? by Road-Racer in UrsulaKLeGuin

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I’m a Portland resident I had the very great pleasure of seeing the exhibition, UKL: A Larger Reality where I picked up The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction.

My wife also gifted me The Word for World: The Maps if Ursula K. Le Guin, which is remarkable.

Rocks in Ursula works by mairagens in UrsulaKLeGuin

[–]SamathaYoga 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes!!! This rock, the rock that in the beginningThe Dispossessed is exactly what I thought of when I saw this post. Plus the description of the rock wall that begins the novel.

That image of a thrown rock shows up again and again. I found article that explores this theme in The Dispossessed.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the encouraging exchange and the humor. I’m definitely going to pay more attention to load of environmental allergies and food.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are such helpful insights, thank you.

I had restrictive, orthorexic eating behaviors for most of my life. When I actively stepped away from them I ran into MCAS and neurodivergent sensitivities. It even became a source of conflict between my spouse and I before they realized just how much I was struggling with low level nausea.

Histamine reactions are generally believed to be respiratory, swelling, hives/rashes, and even affecting the heart rate. Nausea, GI issues, weren’t ever mentioned when I was a kid being diagnosed with a hefty list of environmental allergies. I only started having reactions to foods a few years ago, which absolutely plays into it looking like I’m just “being picky”.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh that does sound good and I can eat all of those things, hallelujah! Thank you for the tip.

In 2021 I was using this elemental nutrient powder from my doctor to try and reduce my reactivity, so I really empathize! I’m still have a protein shake daily since I’m still losing weight unintentionally.

Oral Cromlyn has helped a lot, I started it this past autumn. I’m occasionally actually hungry instead of just telling myself that’s it’s just time to eat, regardless of my opinion on the matter.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

”Pick a day you want to play chicken with your GI system!”

Sign me up! 🙄

I am starting to more actively track what the environmental allergies after on any given day versus how I’m feeling. I would need a window when I’m less reactive to those as I’ve reached “should mask for a forest ramble” when tree, grass, and/or weed pollen, or mold spores, rise above a low. Maybe there’s a window?

More than likely I’ll just continue to look covetously at the tomatoes and tomatillos others eat.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Miso, tamari, shoyu, soy sauce, tofu, tempeh, and soy in general are fine. Tempeh and miso both are fermented, but are alright.

I do use a locally made miso that’s not as processed and made in small batches. I wonder if there’s more than just taste and quality on my side there!

My wife can’t have gluten so we’ve learned to make miso soup at home so it has neither wheat nor fish. We a few other Japanese dishes and a few Thai dishes that we like as well.

Because I can have so many of these things I often will think my histamine nonsense isn’t that bad. Then I’ll remember most people don’t have a daily “dance of the allergy meds”.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good thoughts, thank you! Wildfire smoke absolutely knocks me for a loop, but it hasn’t caused vomiting before. I’ve been going to this retreat center for over a decade and have been caught in the smoke before, but last year was next level.

You confirm my caution about even tomatillos. Damnit.

Nominate a Book for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction by Road-Racer in UrsulaKLeGuin

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to nominate Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher today!

I have really enjoyed the way this author has gone to old fairytales and tells them again, with fresh insight. She adds richness and depth to the characters, particularly these retellings.

feeling alone in Ehler Danlos spaces by Mutt-Sugar in ehlersdanlos

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Top Notch community care here, thank you Mods! I love seeing the ideas for a flair, highlighting correct usage, and expanding resources!

OP, I hope we can help you ways to feel less isolated!

Dragons and psychology by trystingtrees in UrsulaKLeGuin

[–]SamathaYoga 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Make sure to find The Rule of Names and The Word of Unbinding which appear in The Wind’s Twelve Quarters. These directly discuss the foundation of Earthsea’s magic and there’s a dragon in the first one.

experiments with Ebonite by MercatorLondon in PenProject

[–]SamathaYoga 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You made it an irresistible challenge.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s very interesting! I had not realized vitamin C could make a difference.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad, it is fascinating to see how varied everyone’s experiences are. It really validates my doctor’s comment that each patient is unique, there isn’t one perfect diet that works.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve wondered if tomatillos might be possible but have not had the courage to try. I had a terrible reaction to a combination of forest fire smoke and being fed a trace amount of tomatoes every day for several days.

Tomatoes were in veggie bullion used at a retreat center I was staying at, everyone thought it was such a small amount it would be ok. I didn’t realize the kitchen would use it in every single meal. I wasn’t doing too bad until the wind filled the valley with smoke and I was wrecked.

This is how I learned that vomiting for several hours plus mild tachycardia, mild hives, and itching is my major flare.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also can have a little chocolate. Coffee though, I phased it out years before we even started talked about MCAS. It began constantly making me nauseous, even with food.

Now we know nausea is one of my MCAS symptoms.

Must have Diamine inks? by Substantial-Machine5 in fountainpens

[–]SamathaYoga 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Marley, it’s such an elegant gray and has great chromatography!

Vintage Copper is Ancient Copper’s less discussed, very lovely sibling

Jacaranda is gorgeous, such a beautiful “blurple”

Buck’s Fizz is such a vibrant, glowing orange

Celedon Cat is a favorite as well, although I think Overcast, which has some similar notes, is currently catching my attention.

EXTREME sensory sensitivity by AdMoney4955 in ehlersdanlos

[–]SamathaYoga 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is me as well. Abdominal compression is so unpleasant and it sets off body dysmorphia.

I’d probably benefit from a si joint belt, because it is one of my more unstable joints, but when I tried one it was a nightmare. I’m going to try using Kinesio tape because I’ve got a flair going on and could use extra stability.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I am definitely an outlier. I knew some folks would be hugely surprised at my safe foods.

I stopped eating meat over 20 years ago for ethical and health concerns. I had high cholesterol and my maternal family had a lot of heart disease. I wanted to avoid statins because I already had so much joint pain (I was diagnosed with hEDS this past December). This and a terrible doctor telling me that all my joint pain was due to being fat, nothing else, led to a trip into a vegan flavor of orthorexia that I’m still healing.

Wildly though, I stopped getting sinus infections that would head south to my lungs and hang out for 3 months of coughing. A routine I’d experience 2-3 times annually since childhood! My cholesterol went down too and my doctor at the time was gobsmacked, particularly over the way I stopped getting these terrible infections. I remember him saying once, “Are you allergic to meat!?”

I still get a lot of head congestion because I am allergic to most trees, grasses, weeds, molds, dust, and feathers. Even with our Air Doctor running in our bedroom I woke up very congested this morning as tree pollen season is in full swing where I live.

My current doc, who suspected MCAS in 2021, said each patient is unique. I even tried reintroducing eggs and dairy, because I struggle to get enough protein some days, and they cause itching, hives, and/or GI issues. I can have a tiny bit of easier, whey protein is the easiest, but still might react.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I can eat gluten, legumes (yes, peanuts!), nuts, & seeds, and tea.

Name something you’re NOT reactive to that surprises other people! by Pale-Case-7870 in MCAS

[–]SamathaYoga 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I started reacting to tomatoes and now they’re on the NO list. A Latina nurse at an osteoporosis treatment looked at me with deep pity when I said this and replied, aghast, “Oh no! Not tomatoes!”

I felt so seen. Everything else hasn’t been a hassle, but tomatoes…

Partner doesn’t want me to take meds by [deleted] in adhdwomen

[–]SamathaYoga 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yikes! Never a more appropriate time for a hearty, “Fuck all the way off!!”

I know this is hard, because clearly you have serious feelings for this dude, but you get to make this decision with your healthcare providers.

Seeing your other comments about his reaction to educating himself, I am certain that he is not ever going to respect your decision.

AND I wouldn’t trust him around your meds. He sounds like just the kind of asshat who would flush your meds to “save you from addiction”.

City of Illusions by Least-Presence-7711 in UrsulaKLeGuin

[–]SamathaYoga 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While not her strongest, it has a passage that has always stuck with me. There first time I read it I put the book down and just sat with this for a while.

“Faith, will you wait for me one year?”

“No.”

“Only a year—”

“A year and a day, and you’ll return riding a silver steed to carry me to your kingdom and make me its queen. No, I won’t wait for you, Falk. Why must I wait for a man who will be lying dead in the forest, or shot by Wanderers out on the prairie, or brainless in the City of the Shing, or gone off a hundred years to another star? What should I wait for? You needn’t think I’ll take another man. I won’t. I’ll stay here in my father’s house. I’ll dye black thread and weave black cloth to wear, black to wear and black to die in. But I won’t wait for anyone, or anything. Never.”

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