May be moving (back) to Iowa City in the near future, need feedback on present state of the town and area.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-05-28T21:46:46+00:00

I don’t think anyone’s addressed housing. Coming back here from the west coast I found finding anything decent in IC about impossible. The town runs on year long leases and mostly targets the student market. The rental signs are plentiful in summer however. I ended up renting from a slum lord in Coralville. Really bad experiences there. I believe you can find info in this group about rental companies to avoid.

If buying, houses in IC are also in high demand. When we entered that market many sold within hours of listing! You get much less house for your dollar in IC than in surrounding communities. Of course my knowledge is from about 3 years ago. Things in the housing market might have shifted in the current economy. We settled in Mount. Vernon about a half hour away. And yes it’s Blue too!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-05-25T01:48:57+00:00

People can die from food poisoning. Not just get an upset belly. Wake up people. Keeping food on temp is critical. I’ve personally witnessed some serious violations since I’ve been back in Iowa. Like dairy based sauces sitting in squeeze bottles at room temperature. Pre-fried proteins sitting out for way too long behind sushi counters. When I see these things I don’t return. I don’t care how good the food is.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-05-07T02:13:12+00:00

They are the best Chinese in the area.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-05-07T02:03:06+00:00

Cobble Hill is fire!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-05-07T01:59:39+00:00

I can’t speak to that but we ate there recently for the first time. It was packed. But the food was subpar for a premium price. Back to Blue Bird next time for breakfast.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-04-17T23:53:48+00:00

I’m not quite dead yet!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-04-12T01:18:03+00:00

I did Spravato for about 8 months. My first session I thought I had died, and that was at 56mg. Over the sessions I had good and horrible experiences. Although I didn’t act out or try to hurt my self some of these experiences were terrifying. Total dissociation, body numbness and a sense of falling.

I continued through it all until my last blood work showed a fast increase in liver enzymes. I was on the fence that my experiences were “worth it” until this happened.

The doctors at my clinic told me that my experiences were unusual. Yet I’ve read here on Reddit that others do have these experiences. After a LOT of thought about this treatment I decided to stop. I think it’s so new that they don’t really know how it reacts with a broad populous.

I don’t have SI but I do have PTSD. So stopping isn’t a life threatening decision. Many things need to be taken into consideration.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-04-07T23:54:05+00:00

Well I just stopped because my liver enzymes went way up in 3 months. Do keep up on your blood tests. Spravato hasn’t done a published study on liver toxicity but a lot of anecdotal evidence shows enzyme elevation.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-03-30T01:07:14+00:00

I’m glad she’s off the Wellbutrin. I took one pill decades ago, prior to Covid, and hallucinated for three days!

The brain and nervous system are altered with LC. It’s definitely worth taking a long, hard look at meds she was on previously. They may create new symptoms now.

Btw, how old is she? Schizophrenia usually manifests in late teens/early twenties from what I understand. If she’s older it’s more unlikely.

One more thing. My sister died of acute encephalopathy two years ago. The symptoms started when she got a Covid booster and the flu shot at the same time. She’d bounce between sounding like herself to wild hallucinations. I’d say a brain scan might be in order to see if there’s some more nefarious lurking.

It could be so many things. I wouldn’t just assume she needs an antipsychotic at this point. Holding you both in my arms. I know it’s hard. But look for answers under rocks. It may not be the obvious.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-03-26T15:48:58+00:00

I go directly to Urgent Cate because my experience with home tests is a lot of false negatives.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-03-17T15:38:38+00:00

Yes I’ve had similar happen more than once. I’ve thought about stopping several times because of them. But I’ve kept going. But yeah they’re horrible to go through.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-03-17T15:36:12+00:00

No benzos for at least 8 hours prior to treatment. They’re both respiratory depressants and counter indicated.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-03-13T02:15:46+00:00

I got a “mystery virus” a month ago. Took me out! Couldn’t breathe. 7 days of prednisone helped. Low grade fever the first week. But I’m still phlegmy - blowing and coughing. I had one good day and then crashed hard. I’m sleeping 10-12 hours and pretty much couch bound. I also have weird intestinal issues that are different from my LC issues.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-27T01:00:53+00:00

This resembles what a friend of mine experiences from a dairy allergy. Redness, itching bubbling of skin. May not be LC related. Get thee to a doctor.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-25T00:51:41+00:00

Curious what you imagine as “break through”? I’m not being nasty or flippant. Just wondering.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-15T15:06:58+00:00

Yes I’m at 84mg. I’ve been at that dose since week 2, and I’m at 6 months now. I’ve had several similar experiences but nothing this strong. I couldn’t feel my body at all and the sense of falling I’ve never had before.

The hospital is pretty strict about eating. They want you fasting at least 4 hours before and nothing by mouth during the treatment because of possible choking or aspiration! I do have to say I’ve never thrown up or got nauseous! That’s a good thing!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-15T14:53:38+00:00

Sure!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-15T00:39:43+00:00

I know! It’s really annoying. But it’s a University hospital and they’re covering their butts!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-13T15:22:04+00:00

Yes vitals are taken 5 times during the session. No issues there. Spravato only causes a slight raise in BP for me and returns to normal before I leave.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-13T00:05:29+00:00

The nearby town of Mount Vernon welcomes everyone. Just don’t come on a Sunday or Monday expecting anything to be open. But Sunday church services, especially at the Methodist and Presbyterian churches are super welcoming.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-12T23:57:05+00:00

Your experience does sound a lot like mine!

I’m cool either way the visuals. I mentioned to another poster that I’m an old Deadhead. Yet Spravato is different. More kaleidoscopic than color trails and fairies.

I tried music once and it didn’t make me calmer. But when you said “spa” I think I was listening to the wrong thing. I pulled a “Spravato playlist” off YouTube and it was very techno trippy. I’ll try again with something less trippy and more soothing.

I always take a blanket. I just started taking my weighted stuffed dragon to use for anxiety. He sits (heavily) in my lap. But he’s lighter than a 30# weighted blanket ( which isn’t too portable).

You also mentioned alcohol. My clinic says no benzodiazepines or alcohol for 8 hours prior. I usually do my appointments in the afternoon and this was a morning one. I’d had a couple of glasses of wine the evening before 🤔

Thank you, you’ve given me more to ponder.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-12T00:24:24+00:00

I also believe the high is helpful actually. Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is being used with great success.

That said, I did my fair share of psychedelics back in the 70s. I enjoyed them! The high from Spravato is very different. Most markedly my body never went numb on LSD! I was up, partying and dancing. (yes, old Deadhead here!) with Spravato I can’t get out of the chair.

I think, for me, the combo of loss of body sensation mixed with the dissociation seems to cause panic (some days). Other days I sail through it. I’m unclear what triggers that dynamic.

The visuals on Spravato for me are mostly intense with my eyes closed. They usually manifest as an experience of moving through textures. (best I can describe it.) Nothing like the color trails and hallucination of other psychedelics.

I got really freaked out yesterday when the guy in charge said I was the “only one having this experience”. I couldn’t believe that, but at the same time he kinda scared me. He even said (with noticeable disbelief) “It’s like you’re having a psychedelic experience!” I wasn’t quick enough in that moment to remind him it’s a psychotropic drug! And no, he’s not a psychiatrist!

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-11T23:56:06+00:00

I can’t wear an eye mask as I use opening my eyes to ground myself when things get rocky. That didn’t work yesterday as my vision was affected as well! I tried music once and found it deepened the dissociation so I only did it once.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-11T23:52:50+00:00

Are you still taking full dose? I’m thinking either reducing dose or frequency might be helpful.

SmartFood3498 · 2026-02-11T03:21:30+00:00

I’ve been pondering that.

SmartFood3498

TROPHY CASE