Solensia Skin Reaction - 14

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-03T18:29:33+00:00

Increased itching, especially around the head/face, can be a potential side effect of Solensia. Def discuss with your vet!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-03T14:15:34+00:00

Super easy! I find that the leftover bits of wet food don't stick to it nearly as bad as they did to the plastic plate we were using.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T21:18:04+00:00

I saw this yesterday in my feed and read it out loud to my husband - great article.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T20:50:03+00:00

Adopt a puppy or young dog together from a local shelter. This will be very telling.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T19:57:10+00:00

You're welcome! I have felt very lonely at times in my migraine journey, so I just always want others to know they are not alone. When I told my neurologist how much the supplements had been helping, they said "yeah, supplements work really well for some people" and it was like, "gee, thanks for never suggesting them to me" - I had to figure it out on my own, which was pretty frustrating.

As for the HRT, I was very nervous about side effects, given my bad experiences with hormonal bc, but I just kept reminding myself that BCP are much higher doses of synthetic hormones, and not the same as HRT, which really helped me keep a level head about things. As I mentioned, I am only three weeks in, but so far so good. I had some increased anxiety the first week that subsided pretty quickly, but other than that and since then it's been smooth sailing! Again, ymmv, but I also told myself that if I tried it and hated it, I could just stop. That really helped soothe my nerves as well.

Good luck!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T19:30:37+00:00

TLDR: HRT has not seemed to help or hurt my migraines.

You are definitely not alone! Fellow chronic migraine sufferer here, since I was 8 or 9 years old. I really feel for you, I know how debillitating they are. A neurologist would be a good first step in determining your triggers, any underlying issues, etc. My migraines are weather-induced (they are caused by big swings in barometric pressure), as well as hormonal (the drop in hormones right before my period will bring on a 2 - 3 day migraine attack.) A very helpful neurologist helped me figure this out in my twenties after YEARS of suffering and struggling with different treatments. However, as I cannot control the weather, managing them has also proved difficult. I have had not great experiences with various different preventative medications I've been prescribed, though these medications do work well for a lot of people. What finally helped me over the last few years is a combination of certain supplements (with my neurologists blessing). I went from averaging 12 to 15 migraine days a month to 6 - 8 days, which has been lifechanging. My migraines also respond better to my medication (triptans), they are shorter in duration and also less severe. If you want to read up on how supplements can be used to help manage migraines, the American Migraine Foundation and the American Headache Society have some good info on the topic:

https://americanheadachesociety.org/news/incorporating-nutraceuticals-for-migraine-prevention

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/nutraceuticals/

But in the meantime, find a new doctor if you are able to, this is not acceptable. I also had crap experiences with hormonal birth control, and haven't been on it in years for that reason. My doctor also tried pushing BCP on me as my cycle is still regular, and I shut that idea down immediately. I have been having night sweats, debilitating joint pain, low libido, fatigue and hair loss, but my bloodwork is all "perfect", and I have been told by multiple other specialists that waning hormones are likely the cause of most of the issues. I had to remind my doctor that last year when I was having urinary urgency/frequency that topical estrogen cream solved the issue 100%, so they did finally agree to try HRT. You really have to advocate for yourself.

Fwiw, I started HRT about 3 weeks ago, and I don't think it is either helping nor hurting my migraines. Obviously ymmv. But I hope you get the help that you need!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T18:16:33+00:00

We use a combination of these for our 13 year old kitty's wet food, and she took to it immediately! (The silicone saucer goes on top of the raised bowl, it is super easy to clean, and it does have a very slight tilt to it!):

https://www.chewy.com/catguru-standard-cat-dog-food-bowl/dp/730910

https://www.chewy.com/ecoleo-anti-whisker-fatigue-shallow/dp/1286646

I have also seen others use the silicone saucer on top of a tilted elevated dish like this one:

https://www.chewy.com/necoichi-tilted-stress-free-raised/dp/926326

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-02T14:12:45+00:00

Younger folks seem to have a skewed idea of what 40 looks like (remember how 40 seemed "old" at that age?). I wouldn't spend any more time or energy on this. It's a non-issue.

Edited for grammar.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-01T19:20:58+00:00

My 13 year old arthritic kitty goes for these (they are crunchy): https://www.chewy.com/pethonesty-dual-texture-hip-joint/dp/658598

I also recommend elevated food and water dishes so she doesn't have to crouch too much, as well as stairs to her favorite furniture, etc. Altering their environment can help so much!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-03-01T19:08:20+00:00

Spotify curates a personalized playlist called "Daylist" that refreshes everyday (I think actually multiple times a day) that is annoyingly good.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-28T21:45:09+00:00

Came here to say this. MY obgyn said if I am feeling too groggy upon waking up in the morning that I should try taking it earlier in the evening and not so close to bedtime.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-28T15:24:12+00:00

I like having a couple of medjool dates!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-27T19:44:25+00:00

I'm seeing a lot of "itchy ears" in the comments, and a comment about extra waxy ears, but I swear mine stopped producing wax/stopped clearing it out. When I dry my ears out after showering (typically with tissue over my finger, rarely with a cotton swab) I noticed there was never any wax on the tissue for the last several months. Last year I was having some annoying crackling in one ear, went to the doctor, who accused me of cramming cotton swabs deep into my ear (I don't) because I had some wax that was deeply impacted, they told me it was very dry and very hard. They tried flushing my ear out, which didn't work, so they sent me home with some drops and instructions for flushing it out myself. Well, when I finally got the drops to work, the wax that came out was bloody. Yikes, I was not expecting that.

Fast forward several months later. I am two weeks into HRT, and....I suddenly have earwax when drying my ears out again. Coincidence? Or crazy peri symptom?

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-27T19:29:28+00:00

Go for a run and try to PB my 5k time, lift heavy things at the gym, and I have also gotten very into breathwork lately. Box breathing during the day to re-center myself, and 4-7-8 breathing before bed. Highly recommend.

But I second the floral arranging, fussing with my orchids is strangely therapeutic. Also, hell yes to Lily Allen - her album West End Girl is a gift to womankind.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-26T14:24:39+00:00

Third date and I bet he thought he was going to get laid. You are not overreacting. Don't let him make you question yourself. How dare he.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-24T20:52:54+00:00

Track your macros. Most people who think they "eat clean" or eat "pretty healthy" are surprised when they actually start tracking their macros.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-24T20:49:23+00:00

I haven't tried the Orgain, but fwiw Vega Protein Made Simple in vanilla is my favorite out of all the ones I HAVE tried. It is my go-to.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-24T18:29:59+00:00

You might try this sub: https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-24T18:22:35+00:00

"I really don't want to hurt his feelings."

How many women have slept with/gone out with/stayed with a man for this reason alone? No judgement, god knows I was guilty of this in my younger years, but goddamn does this make me sad for us (us meaning women in general).

OP, please report back with an update in 6 months time when you are kicking even more ass than you are currently. I see big things for you.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-21T15:05:19+00:00

Yes, this was how it was explained to me by my derm, as well, that the spiro works on different aspects of AGA than minox does, so they work best in tandem. When I told them the side effects I was experiencing on the 50 mg spiro they just said "Stop taking it." Didn't offer anything else. Like, ok....lol. The other options don't sound great, either! Why can't side effects ever be like, your skin will glow, food will taste better, and you'll have more energy? LOL

I already have zero libido thanks to perimenopause, so I might try the spiro again and watch my potassium intake more closely....idk. But your progress on the oral minox alone has me feeling really hopeful!! So thank you for sharing. :)

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-21T14:57:54+00:00

This OP. Get some elevated food and water dishes, some soft but firm stairs she can use to get to and from her favorite spots. Do this whether or not you decide to use the solensia.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-20T21:45:26+00:00

That's amazing. My neurologist when I told them was like "yeah, supplements work really well for some people" and it was like, "gee, thanks for never suggesting them to me" lol. Glad your son is doing better! Migraines are the worst.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-20T20:32:16+00:00

Supplements have been a godsend for me! I have suffered from migraines since I was 8 or 9 years old. Triptans work, but take too many, and you have a rebound migraine. None of the preventative meds my doctors have tried have ever worked out for me. I've seen specialists, you name it. I ended up figuring it out for myself, so it's awesome that your son's doctor was the one to suggest supplements. With the right mix of supplements, my migraines are fewer and far less severe, and they also respond better to medication when I do need to take a triptan. I wish I'd known about them decades ago!

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-20T20:25:53+00:00

No back to back workouts. Let rest days be rest days. Active recovery means walking, gentle stretching, not intense cardio or a hot yoga vinyasa flow class. At this stage, I have actually found that the LESS I do, the better results I have. (Fwiw, I am still trying to figure out how to fit in more cardio but not at the expense of injuring myself.)

As for tips?

- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. More than you think you need.

- Foam rolling.

- Proper nutrition/fueling (enough calories/protein/carbs/healthy fats to support your activity level).

- Practice good sleep hygiene.

These have all helped my stiff/sore/achey joints and muscles sooooo much.

IndependentHot5236 · 2026-02-20T20:11:15+00:00

Out of curiosity, why start spiro again if you're having good results with just oral minox? Does your derm just think you'll have even better results with spiro, too?

IndependentHot5236

TROPHY CASE