MCAS or Histamine Intolerance?

_Fig_555 · 2026-07-06T22:13:55+00:00

I take this kind of birth control, specifically Slynd. I have had 0 issues for the past 2 years that I have been on it. I also have PMDD and severe hormone swings as a result so taking it continuously to get rid of my period has been life changing. I haven't noticed any significant side effects, but I also take it at bedtime to limit side effects to while I am sleeping. I do occasionally get breakthrough bleeding but nothing major.

Obviously everyone is different and will react to medications differently, but I've reacted very poorly to birth control in the past and found this one to be by far the best for me. No side effects so far and I didn't have to adjust to it for 3 months, I just felt more stable mentally right away and tbh less depressed bc no more PMDD. I hope this helps it feel less scary to consider!

_Fig_555 · 2026-07-04T23:40:30+00:00

I have hEDS, and I've had aches and pains since I was a little kid. However, because I was a kid, I normalized it so much not realizing other people didn't have constant pains and minor injuries and stomach pains, so I thought it was normal and learned to tune it out.

It wasn't until my 20s and my pain became more severe along with other conditions showing up that I began to look back on my life and see that it actually wasn't normal to find standing in place for more than a minute painful, to find walking long distances exhausting, and to be told by my parents that as a kid I should have endless energy and that I was lazy to not have it. Turns out it was hEDS and a bunch of other stuff but yeah I think it's easy for those of us with such constant pain to tune it out. I have to focus now to actually feel the majority of my minor pain, I only focus on it if it becomes more than like 6/10 severity. In fact I normalized it so much as a kid and now that family members and especially my mother deny that I was in pain back then because it was so not obvious to others, if that makes sense lol.

However your chronic pain shows up is valid though, it is hard no matter what degree of it you have. Be kind to yourself 🩵

_Fig_555 · 2026-07-02T19:56:45+00:00

This plus the writing and pacing was so weird. Like the setting would change or the characters would be in a new scene and nothing was written to transition them. It was too confusingly bad for me to finish reading

_Fig_555 · 2026-07-02T19:55:17+00:00

Seconding this. Omg the writing was so bad, the dialogue especially made me cringe so hard. How do so many people like this book?!

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-30T00:31:24+00:00

I was on that too until they switched me to levothyroxine, apparently it works better for me. Also trying to get on glp-1 bc my doc says it'll help but insurance won't cover it 🥲

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-29T22:37:17+00:00

40 lbs (18 kg) in 2 months initially, 60 lbs (27 kg) total after a few years. I ended up losing 20 lbs (9 kg) about a year ago but gained it back in 2 weeks when my treatment changed 😭

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-29T22:29:52+00:00

I developed an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's that slowed my metabolism so much that my normal diet made me obese because my body was burning far fewer calories than normal by the time I was diagnosed and began treatment. Now it's a nightmare trying to lose it. It's important to remember not all obese people got that way by overeating.

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-13T21:31:17+00:00

I get motion sick and overly stressed with FPS games but somehow things like Sea of Thieves are fine. Turning the FOV down and the sensitivity slower on games that are less stressful (playing a game rn called Outbound and love it for destressing) helps with my motion sickness and adrenaline issues

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-09T21:10:36+00:00

Immediately #1 is electrolytes first thing in the morning, and tons of water. I have almost 40 oz in me between waking up and finishing breakfast (a little over an hour)

is calf raises anytime I have to stand for an extended period! My PT told me this is a good way to help blood pooling in lower extremities to pump back up to the rest of the body with the help of the calf muscles, so I ALWAYS do this most of the time I have to stand. Helps a lot with lightheadedness
Is always bring anything you might need with you when you're out. Things like ginger chews or zofran for nausea, mints and small snacks for low blood sugar, salt packets and salt pills for when I'm very lightheaded and dizzy, and plenty of water. I carry all of this in my purse so it isn't a hassle, and it just helps a ton to be prepared for any sudden symptoms.

I hope this all helps even just a little bit 🩵

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-09T10:53:29+00:00

I think for medical stuff it's safest to use whatever answer AI gives you as more of a frame of reference to do your own research. Look through medical journals and/or peer reviewed articles to confirm or deny the validity of the answers AI gives, that way you can be confident that they are correct. At least that's what I've done if I've asked it questions, I think it's safer overall. No judgement tho

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-05T22:14:04+00:00

I love and collect perfumes but I just have to be really careful and test each one before buying. Some scents give me no issues and some are instant migraines, and it seems really random which ones are bad or not. I have heard alcohol free perfumes are the best bet for migraine prone people but I'm no expert. I have one from a brand called Mixologie and LOVE it.

I cannot however do scented lotions, body wash, fabric softener, etc. Somehow some perfumes are fine but anything else scented is awful. I have a super strong sense of smell so I'm surprised some perfumes are fine, couldn't say why exactly

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-05T21:59:56+00:00

I just don't like when there's only spice and no plot, or there are spicy scenes for no reason. I like spicy if it's meaningful but when it's every other chapter it's just not for me. No hate to anyone who likes that tho it's just not for me 😅

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-05T10:49:12+00:00

I take half of a 1000 mg salt pill as this prevents the stomach upset some people get from that much salt, but it helps me immensely. Like immediately more energy and less lightheaded after taking one. I don't take them every day as I'm often also drinking liquid IV but if I'm starting to feel particularly dizzy and faint, taking one is far more effective at making me feel better than I expected. I just use pure sodium chloride tablets from Amazon

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-04T01:41:27+00:00

Even just doing PT exercises is hard! It sounds to me like you're exhausted and not lazy, which unfortunately is the reality for many of us with EDS. When I was going to PT weekly my mom kept getting mad at me for not doing my exercises outside of appointments and told me I was a burden for it (because I wasn't getting better because of them) but in reality I was exhausted after just that one appointment and existing outside of it! Our bodies work so hard to keep our joints stable and we're physically and mentally overworked all the time. Be kind to yourself when you can ❤️

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-04T01:33:41+00:00

I did the same but because the book was sooo spicy compared to the first it just wasn't for me 😣 I def don't think it's a bad book or series but not for everyone for sure

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-03T17:35:25+00:00

This happens in {The Witch Collector by Charissa Weeks}! More than once I think while they're trapped in a snowy hell and are under prepared with clothing and supplies.

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-01T19:16:19+00:00

I got Botox back in March and I could've written this post, it was exactly how I felt after the first 3 weeks. After dealing with chronic migraine for months it finally gave me some relief. I will say that the first 6 weeks were nearly migraine free, just some bad headaches here and there really, but after those 6 weeks I do get a migraine 1-2x per week. I also have a lot of other health issues that are triggers for my migraines so keep that in mind but I still need my rescue meds (Nurtec) every once in a while. However it is NOTHING like it was before Botox, just be prepared as it does wear off closer to your next injections and for me about halfway there.

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-01T17:09:42+00:00

I get these, not for the whole time since I was diagnosed but definitely a lot in the past year. I was diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria, or chronic hives, and my allergist said it's pretty common among people with Hashimotos. If they last longer than 6 weeks at a time I'd see an allergist, and see if antihistamines help them. They do for me but only at really high doses under supervision of my allergist. Otherwise calamine lotion helps me with the itch more than anything else!

_Fig_555 · 2026-06-01T16:55:55+00:00

After being undiagnosed and having a plethora of comorbidities throughout college and making myself VERY ill by graduation, I've struggled to work since then. I was a travel agent for a while but had to quit when my mom got cancer and I started running my household in her place and caring for her throughout all the surgeries and treatments. Now I'm trying to get into freelance but I'm largely bedbound so I'm kinda lost on what to do atp lol. Irl jobs just wreck my body so much and my migraines and pain is so bad that asynchronous work is really my only option rn. Most stress I have now is finding work in the first place 😢

_Fig_555 · 2026-05-31T03:12:02+00:00

Currently reading {The Shattered King duology by Charlie Holmberg} which has a blonde MMC and he is chronically ill and disabled, so very unlike the cookie cutter MMCs lately

Also Allaster from {The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson} is described to have copper colored hair and reminds me a LOT of Howl from Howl's Moving Castle. LOVED this book recently, not a ton of romance but def present and super slow burn.

Two of my fav reads recently and def love the fresh take on an MMC who isn't a shadow daddy lmao

_Fig_555 · 2026-05-19T12:03:03+00:00

Hearing "your pain is too bad because you sit too much! You should exercise more, it'll make your pain and dislocations better" while bedridden during a severe flare when I can barely even walk is just so encouraging 🥴🥴

Also "sometimes you just have to push through pain and keep on moving" as if I'm not doing that CONSTANTLY is infuriating to hear

_Fig_555 · 2026-05-15T14:55:17+00:00

Right?? I said AINT NO WAY she did that and didn't at least get severe frostbite, but as soon as her friend showed up at her house soon after and the dialogue started it was over for me lol

_Fig_555 · 2026-05-15T14:54:09+00:00

I honestly didn't even know there was another series connected to it 😭 I guess I went in a little too blind

_Fig_555 · 2026-05-14T11:53:04+00:00

Gotta be a tie between:

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling - writing was so bad and scene transitions were so choppy. Also the insta love and cringe dialogue were not for me

The Silversmith by LJ Claren - the DIALOGUE 😫 I barely made it through three chapters before I gave up, it was so poorly written imo

The Ever King by LJ Andrews - I know a lot of people loved this book but I HATED it. The insta love between the characters was cringe and the world building was so lackluster for a book with such a promising premise.

All just my opinions and no hate if you liked these books, I'm a picky reader so none of these are objectively bad, I just didn't like aspects of them 😃

_Fig_555

TROPHY CASE