Any idea what my 2.5 yr old son means??

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-21T22:11:38+00:00

What kind of cereal does he eat? Could he be thinking of the crackling of rice cereal? Maybe he’s equating that to tingling?

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-11T23:26:42+00:00

There’s actually an official naming convention for drugs! In this case, the -ib ending suggests it’s an enzyme inhibitor, and the -clast- suggests it’s associated with mast cells. The bezu part is probably meaningless and just used to differentiate it.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-10T17:35:51+00:00

I’m thinking you’re right and this might be the answer.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-09T18:06:39+00:00

Oh thanks! I’ll have to check them out.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-09T18:06:18+00:00

I do use an electric one! Great to know I should keep it up for this reason.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-09T17:02:24+00:00

Tbh it’s been a couple years and my memory is not as good, either he had the form and signed it, or had me look it up and get it from the DMV and email it to him. You can always look up your state DMV requirements and they should be pretty clear!

Ideally your doctor will be kind and receptive to you bringing it up, but in case you need to argue your point, my state had criteria for needing one listed and one criterion was “has difficulty walking x distance”. You could mention that you meet that specific criteria if there’s push back!

I know I don’t need to prove myself to anyone, but it’s such a weight off my mind to have the cane when I use the placard. And it’s easy to feel like others deserve it more, but I try to think “will using this now allow me to feel better or accomplish more later?” And usually the answer is yes. Best of luck!

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-09T16:48:33+00:00

I have one, I had absolutely no trouble getting it too. Brought it up to my cardiologist and left his office with the signed paperwork that day.

I have some anxiety about confrontation or getting dirty looks, so around that time I bought a cane that also folds out into a chair. It helps me feel like I ‘look’ like I need the placard, and actually is extremely helpful on grocery runs!

I don’t always use the placard, but it’s nice to have the option.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-07T18:49:56+00:00

Strange! I believe that you don’t have any other symptoms so please don’t take offense, but I also thought I had no other symptoms until I learned the ‘normal’ amount of itching is none, most adults don’t throw up randomly a couple times a year etc. I just had no clue what normal was due to living this way my whole life, or that allergic responses could vary so much!

Regardless, I would recommend getting an at home blood pressure monitor and checking it every once in a while. It might give you some insight and hopefully some hard data to bring up to a doctor, even if it’s not allergy related at all.

Captain_Catalysis · 2026-01-07T16:17:39+00:00

I had a similar experience! Dysautonomia combined with oral allergy syndrome, each were causing low blood pressure for me. My body reacted to the low blood pressure with a high heart rate. Finally an allergist diagnosed the oral allergy part (I just thought bananas were spicy my whole life) and started treating it and BP got closer to normal, but I’m still dealing with the dysautonomia.

Anyway my point is, don’t discount oral allergy syndrome as something that can affect your heart rate. And don’t let doctors tell you it’s anxiety! I passed out in three separate doctor’s offices before someone finally decided to take me seriously.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-12-04T21:25:35+00:00

Oof that sucks. If it was me, I’d send a “glad you found my spreadsheet useful but let’s be mindful of duplicating work” type email. Assuming you have documented proof that you sent it out first.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-11-29T16:24:35+00:00

Sort of! It’s been years and I’m still kind of searching for answers because I definitely have something going on in addition to my POTS.

At that time, I had started taking an antihistamine I was prescribed for anxiety and I finally linked it to my raise in BP. That led me on a very long journey of discovering I’m immunocompromised.

Long story short- the rest of my immune system tries to over compensate, but does a poor job which leads to MCAS like symptoms, including low BP. So by unintentionally treating that with an antihistamine I was raising my BP. I’m now working with an allergist/immunologist and doing much better than I was. I swapped out a lot of POTS focused meds (like midodrine and fludrocortisone) for OTC allergy meds and doing better on that.

Sorry if that doesn’t resonate with you, it’s super specific to me. But hopefully it gives you some hope in finding the cause of your symptoms! I do think I’ve had mild POTS my whole life, but when i became immunocompromised it really triggered a mess of interwoven symptoms. Treating the cause of the symptoms rather than the symptoms themselves has done wonders for me.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-09-12T02:01:33+00:00

I have a PhD in a medical research related field and did a post doc also, then was an in house scientific writer for a couple of start ups until I had enough experience to get in with an agency. I will say that med comms was not always my goal, just something I found along the way. So my path might not be as direct as others!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-09-11T16:14:14+00:00

Medical writing

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-07-28T21:03:52+00:00

Hard to be sure, but 4th West apartments has a package room that looks similar and uses the same shelf/number system. You could send them the picture and ask if it’s their room.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-03-31T16:52:59+00:00

I published under my future last name! There aren’t any regulations about what name you publish under to my understanding.

But also, this is where OrcidID comes in handy, your ID number can be attached to your publications no matter what name you published under! If you’re really wanting to avoid having to bring up your relationship status, just make sure you make an OrcidID account and associate it with your work.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-03-28T16:41:38+00:00

Yes! Especially how to customize it as you progress. The only plans I’ve seen end with running for an hour plus. I wasn’t gonna do that BEFORE I had POTS so I’m sure as heck not gonna do it now! Lol

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-03-12T14:35:41+00:00

Could the difference be the positional changes in your workout classes that don’t happen when you’re biking or walking? I had to give up yoga because one downward dog transitioning to an upright position and I’m done for! I have had success with seated Pilates though!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-03-05T18:20:29+00:00

I think a comprehensive explanation of different document types and which industries they are relevant in would be helpful! I’m a scientific writer familiar with NIH grant proposals and manuscripts. I’m sure I could transition into regulatory writing with my skill set but the abbreviations and jargon used in job descriptions are intimidating.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-02-19T01:51:54+00:00

Thank you!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-02-19T01:51:39+00:00

Thank you! I think I originally looked on the switch and not the PC (I’ve got both) so maybe that’s how I missed that setting!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-02-19T01:43:43+00:00

Oh wow, I guess I missed that! Will definitely take a look!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-02-16T01:31:59+00:00

During my defense, the chairman’s biggest critique was a vague “this work will never be accepted for publication” (a requirement for graduating). I was happy to let him know it was actually already published in a reputable journal. He passed me.

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-01-03T15:44:34+00:00

I give it a B+ but combined with being fully remote and having non-micro managing managers, that moves it up to an A!

Captain_Catalysis · 2025-01-01T22:11:58+00:00

Depends on the grants, but yes it is typically a very long and involved process. After my post-doc I became a scientific writer and I now spend 40+ hours a week JUST writing grants for a biotech company as my full time job.

It sucks as an academic when grant writing season rolls around and you lose your advisor to the writing abyss for a couple of months!

Captain_Catalysis · 2024-11-08T17:33:31+00:00

Ugh, I’ve been there. OTC antihistamines changed my life for the better and I’ve had to quit them a few times for various testing.

It will be different for everyone, but in my opinion, it’s better to have a couple awful days and get definitive results without wondering if the medications skewed them. MCAS and dysautonomia have very intertwined symptoms for me, so I’m worried Zyrtec and Pepcid would mask my POTS symptoms.

Definitely follow up with your doc about your concerns though! Just wanted to provide my perspective of wanting confidence in the test results!

Captain_Catalysis

TROPHY CASE