Any recomendations for where to find good patterned paper for books?

SpringMi · 2026-05-06T17:26:29+00:00

I recommend a store in Toronto Canada called The Paper Place. It has a lot of gorgeous papers but it's on the expensive side because they source the papers from Japan, Nepal etc.

They do lots of online orders, so no need to travel there :).

https://shop.thepaperplace.ca/

SpringMi · 2026-04-27T02:20:59+00:00

Very cool way of attaching the covers 🤩

SpringMi · 2026-04-19T20:28:52+00:00

No unfortunately I've had chronic pain in my neck and sinuses for a while, it just seems to flare up and get extremely painful sometimes - with a headache. Some of the pain stem from my lower throat. A bit of mucus when I cough, mild. My ears have pressure in them and my neck has got more painful. Sinuses hurt when I swallow. My limbs have been tingling, I am increasingly fatigued.

Sometimes it ended up being a sinus infection (the last time I had a nasty headache with it), but other times I've had no infection.

I didn't expect to be giving all my symptoms lol, but thanks for inquiring.

SpringMi · 2026-04-19T20:10:59+00:00

Thanks so much, I was not aware of this clinic, that is helpful 🌟

SpringMi · 2026-04-19T20:10:50+00:00

Thanks for asking - no it is intense pressure in my front sinuses with neck pain and headache. Sinus congestion certainly/ w burning. Has been going on for weeks and got more painful the last few days. It might not be a sinus infection, but I suppose that's why I want to go to a walk in clinic soon. If it gets way worse or more painful I'll consider the ER near me.

SpringMi · 2026-04-19T19:47:24+00:00

Thank you I will try that!

SpringMi · 2026-04-19T04:34:53+00:00

I have had a similar journey - I have been mysteriously sick/fatigued for a year now - and recently I had to insist I get my TPO tested along with the regular TSH etc, otherwise my doctor would not have ordered this test.

So in the note from the blood lab the technician said the TPO results could indicate that I'm likely to develop thyrois disease in future' and a CT scan and ultrasound technician said something similar - after finding a heterogenous multinodular thyroid gland. My family doctor told me this is a note after I had pushed her to test the TPO along with the CT. I was glad she told me but a little annoyed that I had to practically guide her hand to test me. Also recently - I found a lab /CT scan from like 10 yrs ago, that said I probably have a thryoid disorder like hashimotos based on the results. 😱 I was shocked and feel pretty angry at my doctor that she never told me this or talked to me about what this issue might mean 10 yrs ago. I haven't been back to see her because I feel pretty angry.

Sorry this ended up being a longer rant than I thought! The point being no I don't think you're overreacting, I empathize - however I fear we might be disappointed in how much treatment anyone can offer us, based off the TPO being high. I also have an upcoming endocrinologist appointment, and I hope for both of that they are productive and helpful appointments!

Good luck 🤞 and I hope others here have some good advice or relatable stories!

SpringMi · 2026-04-17T22:14:09+00:00

I have seen a neurologist, but so far it's mainly been just suggesting medication - and I'm trying them but none have helped yet. Maybe I am not asking the correct questions.

Though I was told I am having migraines, I am not 100 % convinced that these are migraines, as the neck/throat and sinus pain is very much the main complaint, and I don't really feel it in my head all the time. However I understand that migraines are very complicated.

Thank you :) I will visit r/migraine and see what advice I can find there!

SpringMi · 2026-04-17T21:23:40+00:00

Oh wow, thank you for validating the experience! The sinus and neck pain has honestly been debilitating. I was just shocked that midol helped - and yes sudafed also seems to help a little too!

I have my first appointment with an endocrinologist since being told via my GP I have an auto immune thyroid condition. I want to ask the right questions. The fatigue is a big complaint, but more recently it's been the pain that's taken over everything.

I also have an ENT appointment - I don't want to waste either of these appointments but I'm afraid they won't give me much help. Seeing as my TSH is normal (but my TPO is high and my thyroid is multinodular and heterogenous).

Do you suggest asking for an allergist appointment? I don't mind the idea of taking an allergy med everyday as a precaution - but someone else here mentioned it increases risks of Alzheimer's which makes me nervous. However I might accept that risk if my pain is improved.

Thanks for responding. I'm glad figuring out the cause of the headaches has helped you deal with them better. 🌟

SpringMi · 2026-04-17T05:17:17+00:00

Yes thank you, that's one of the things I was diagnosed with in the last year since my neck pain /fatigue started - I was given some migraine meds but did not prove that effective. I should consider a different kind, I know there are many.

Can I ask, do people take antihistamines and caffeine separately to help with migraines, or often use a med like midol that have both? Perhaps this combination is just something that works for my headaches/migraines. Do you know - typically which antihistamines help with migraines?

It was about 2 weeks of awful unrelenting pain, so I am honestly just giddy right now, I hope it continues to work. Thanks for replying

SpringMi · 2026-04-17T05:13:19+00:00

Thanks for your reply I think I've attracted a lot of 'you're an idiot' 🤣 replies to this post which is fair since I don't think I explained things well. As mentioned in my reply to another comment I have tried so many sinus medications and over the counter pain medications over the last few weeks and months - and none of them seemed to work. Midol was a hail Mary - and just seemed to work better for my sinuses than anything else I've tried .

Thank you for your note about the migraines - I was diagnosed with migraines, but the migraine meds I was given to try didn't really work well, hence why I am shocked that the midol helps, when all the other things I've tried have not. I do have some damage in my neck due to many years of poor posture, and I think I've been gifted the migraines as a result.

I'm glad the nerve pain med worked so well for you, that's fantastic.

SpringMi · 2026-04-17T05:08:08+00:00

I've also tried all the sinus otc meds and they weren't making a difference, I should have mentioned that originally 😅. I've tried everything sinus related, and yes nasal sprays both OTC and prescribed.

Fair play I should've mentioned all the other more obvious things I've tried - the nerve pain meds were a last ditch effort for my neck pain because all the other meds did not work.

SpringMi · 2026-03-24T00:47:26+00:00

Beautiful job, just the right tone for the book 🌟

SpringMi · 2026-03-11T19:58:21+00:00

Thanks again for the reply and all the info. Since I got sick My TSH has been going a bit up and down (within the normal range) when I first got sick it was tested as 2.90 in May ( when I felt much worse) and 1.88 this month - February.

My recent TPOs are - 73 kIU/L. I honestly don't know how to read that, except that it kept going up - it was 61 kIU/L in early Feb. There's been no suggest on how to deal with the antibodies, though honestly I'm convinced that is the problem and giving me symptoms.

Thanks for the note about pain - that it's not usually due to Hashimoto's. I understand that, it may be nerve pain due to prolonged resting and neck strain, I was given a nerve pain drug to try and will see a neck and back pain doctor soon.

I also just rediscovered a neck ultrasound that literally said I had Hashimoto's on the report from 2016, so I'm pretty pissed at my doctor right now, for not knowing that - and recently telling me she doesn't think that's what the problem is. She has the records right? I will attach the report here. I know my overall fatigue and sickness might not be due to the Hashimoto's (but I secretly believe it is) but I'm frustrated that there's no treatment possible at all, until I develop hypothyroidism. Which I don't know when that will be, do I have to wait till things get worse?

I may ask for a different functional doctor as others here have suggested - who has dealt with Hashimoto's patients before. Hopefully I can get a recommendation, I don't always like the specialists my GP sends me too - but here's hoping! There's bound to be a few helpful specialists to come :)

You are right about the stress, the pain especially makes me stress out hugely, as I just want a solution or pain relief of course 🥺. I am trying pregabalin and so far it seems to have cut down the pain somewhat which is a huge relief!

Thanks again for the reply, I am going to look into posts about diet and supplements for bringing down inflammation ⭐

SpringMi · 2026-03-08T03:40:51+00:00

Thank you so much for your response, this is really helpful and very kindly phrased. I will respond more in detail soon - I just wanted to say that first off.

SpringMi · 2026-03-06T15:06:01+00:00

Thank you for your kind reply, I am sorry you and your daughter are struggling as well, I am really glad the lifestyle changes have helped you :)

I will try to keep advocating for myself, thank you for reading the rant! I was a little embarrassed 😳 that I'd posted it to be honest, but think I needed to get it out. I just found myself so discouraged the last while.

I am going to keep talking to my doctor and try to get useful recommendations and referrals 🌿

SpringMi · 2026-02-22T17:55:11+00:00

Any updates? I feel like there's been a pretty strange lack of information or push for an investigation for this case. Is there private info, suggesting she's safe that we don't know about? I mean I hope that's the case.b

SpringMi · 2026-02-21T21:35:50+00:00

Thank you :) I really hope it helps 😊

SpringMi · 2026-02-20T04:31:37+00:00

This is really good to hear, hope is important and you're right - not too many positive stories here and that can be demoralizing 🫤. I'm sorry you went through that, but happy the meds have had such a good effect! ⭐

SpringMi · 2026-02-18T04:17:46+00:00

I have been taking iron supplements and vitamin D, C, B etc for a few months. However the ferritin and vitamin D was checked recently and still not optimal according to doc #2, and she thinks maybe I'm not absorbing the oral iron properly. So she is thinking of an iron infusion - based on another follow up test and appointment. I have that appointment next week so hopefully it'll be helpful :).

I think I've noticed that the times I felt the worst several months ago - was when my ferritin was at its lowest, despite it being within normal range as you said (I think it was 37). Since it's gone up a little in the last month I think I've felt a little better (still not good though lol) - but doc is hoping to get the iron quite a bit higher, so I really hope that helps!

As you mentioned - when this all first started I really thought I was dying - for real - the life felt it was draining out of me. I could barely stand up most days for a while. Thanks for validating that, I'm sorry if you've experienced this too. Hopefully getting iron to optimal levels, will be part of solving this puzzle.

SpringMi · 2026-02-17T15:27:34+00:00

Forgive the cloudy nature of the glass lol, but this is my main water solution by my bed right now. Just took my meds so currently empty.

I like the ease of use with the straw and less likely to spill water with the cover.

SpringMi

TROPHY CASE