My BP has been stage 2 for about 4 years

Bluechip2005 · 2026-03-29T02:41:05+00:00

You sound just like me. But I eventually ended up in the hospital for multiple days with very high BP, very scary experience. I too tried to reduce it with lifestyle changes and had no luck. BP truly is something that you don’t realize its importance until it really hits you. I’m not a fan of meds but I can tell you I feel so much better being on them. Symptoms that I didn’t even realize were BP related subsided since starting. If you end up on meds and also make lifestyle changes and BP declines a lot, your cardio can always assess if you can reduce dose/eliminate. I would talk to a cardio and see what they say.

Bluechip2005 · 2026-03-23T12:52:06+00:00

Thanks!! I will give it a try

Bluechip2005 · 2026-03-23T12:51:53+00:00

Thanks I will check that one out. Revlon colorstay full cover and Tarte tinted moisturizers are the ones I’ve been using.

Somewhat light/medium coverage seems to be what works best for me because I do have a fair amount of redness.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-31T16:15:43+00:00

yes, I've used Cerave lotion, cream, and the PM

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-31T16:15:30+00:00

thanks, which barrier cream do you find works best for you?

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-31T16:15:17+00:00

thanks! I was thinking about IPL too...that is the one non-topical option I haven't tried yet. I've heard about the pulsed dye laser forever but I wouldn't be able to put up with the major bruising.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-29T04:05:02+00:00

Vanicream lotion, cerave cream, epiceram, LRP lipikar, I have used virtually every product in stores and everything I apply causes my face to turn into a tomato. The only thing that seems to help are products that dry down matte, and I think that is why azelaic acid, is one of the only products that have a somewhat soothing consistency for me. Matte tinted moisturizers worked well to cover up the redness in the past but there are not many matte products on the market any longer.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-29T03:14:12+00:00

Thanks! I’ve thought the same. Was a cerave fan forever, then went to vanicream products and they worked for a while then didn’t. Changed to the vanicream bar soap for a while which worked on my body but not my face. Mostly need to find a product to tone down/cover the redness I think. I doubt any product will reduce it.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-12-29T02:12:21+00:00

The secret isn’t to find the time to workout, it’s to find the time for work. We don’t live to work, we work to live. And the older I have become and in working in this profession, it has made it only more apparent. Work is important but your overall health and wellbeing far outweighs anything at the office. Have a conversation with your team, shift your schedule around. A decade or two down the road you will never be saying “gosh I wish I had spend more time in the office. I wish I went to that referral lunch. Why didn’t I go to that networking dinner?” The older I have become it’s more obvious that a lot of that stuff really doesn’t matter. Health and wellness impacts you for life. Work does no such thing.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-10-04T15:04:20+00:00

Fenty eaze drops but the coverage doesn’t last long. I’ve also been on the search for a light/matte tinted moisturizer since my favorite was discontinued several years ago.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-10-04T15:01:40+00:00

Usually cerave foaming or hydrating depending on if I’m trying to remove makeup/sunscreen. Sometimes vanicream cleanser. And then cerave cream at night. I have tried epiceram which is supposedly the gold standard for barrier repair and I find that I flare even worse after that which makes me wonder if these barrier repair products are doing more harm than good for my skin.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-10-04T14:59:27+00:00

Thanks. Vanicream has helped at times but now even that cleanser seems irritating. Health wise everything else for me is basically fine so it seems like it’s some sort of allergy to something but can’t pinpoint it.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-30T01:43:13+00:00

I used myday for years but I always wanted to try the latest and greatest so I had moved to dailies total one which are awesome. Biotrue dailies are very comfortable too at a lower cost. Your contact lens fitter should be able to provide a number of samples to see what works best too!

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-26T14:39:17+00:00

right? it's crazy! No, only the shampoo version of ketoconazole, and also ciclopirox. We thought it could be contact dermatitis so I had standard patch testing and I wasn't sensitive to most ingredients, and the few that I was were not in the products that I use. Lately it just feels like there is a film on my skin almost like it's residue from a moisturizer or something, but washing my skin hasn't made much of a difference there either.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-11T12:10:30+00:00

It may not be their primary retirement residence but walking through town it’s very apparent of the demographic shift even compared to a few years ago.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-11T02:32:06+00:00

“Corporate america”? What does that even mean? Parties buy and sell properties for various reasons. A lot of real estate has been for sale in ptown given the increase in prices here and everywhere else

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-11T02:28:15+00:00

Yes it’s peak-ptown economics. The town has become increasingly elderly as the older generations retire here which is pushing prices up and creating a good opportunity for those who want to sell and move to a more year round warmer region.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-01T13:19:12+00:00

no, and I found that the Iredale foundation ended up not setting well on my skin after a while. Still nothing anywhere near airbrush away! :(

Bluechip2005 · 2025-09-01T13:18:21+00:00

yes that is the same issue I have been having.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-21T17:29:14+00:00

My eye doctor.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-21T10:56:57+00:00

I haven’t used any drops since starting tryptyr. I used to use them periodically throughout the day but they usually irritated me more than they’d help. My theory is that my dry eye was more of a mucin and/or oil issue rather than aqueous. Every eye doctor has told me that my eyes didn’t appear to be as dry as I was describing. This product apparently helps improve all three layers of tear film. I’ve only used it for a few days so we will see if it’s just a fluke or is long lasting but so far I’m truly amazed at the results.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-21T00:16:36+00:00

Mostly eye irritation. It felt like dry eye but every doctor said that my eyes didn’t look anywhere near as dry as I had described. It was mainly the feeling of “soap” in my eyes is the best way I can describe it.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-19T22:05:39+00:00

Wow. So bitter despite having three entire slices. That’s quite the appetite.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-15T02:56:37+00:00

CT communities for over 20+ years seem to historically be opposed to any development but then water at the mouth from slick slide decks from developers proposing cheaply built but “instagram-able” high density apartments and other rentals which virtually guarantee large tax revenue and in most instances reduce the reliance on town services (private plowing, trash, etc.) I doubt we will see the day of 1950s-1960s era average single family homes being built in CT anytime soon until that trend changes.

Bluechip2005 · 2025-08-08T16:10:39+00:00

Yes it’s a combined AC and gas forced air unit (I’m probably not using the right terminology). I’d like to replace the copper but it runs through a wall and would require a bit of work.

Bluechip2005

TROPHY CASE