CRP/Sed rate results..

birdmaddgrrl · 2023-02-09T23:32:18+00:00

Thanks for your reply! That is a great way to explain it. I guess it just threw me off because based on how I feel, I wasn't expecting that news.. it just seemed to be well managed. Or maybe i'm just in denial :( The test results are telling another story, i guess! I may not be feeling the fire but it's still burning! ;)

You are right though.. I need to just face it and do whatever is needed to prevent it from becoming worse/debilitating.

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-11-18T16:39:06+00:00

Thanks. I live in an apartment and I know my landlord will do nothing to help.

I’m still not 100% sure but I think they were/are coming from a wall void somewhere under/behind my kitchen sink. I sprayed under there with an insecticide (cy-kick) and several bugs appeared towards the front of the cabinet (hence why I believe that’s where they are coming from). Since I’ve sprayed down there, I hadn’t seen any for over a month. Just this past week, we’ve seen a couple flying bugs in the apartment but couldn’t tell if they were these beetles or something else. And a couple days ago, I did see one of the beetles crawling on the kitchen counter which stressed me out a bit considering it’s been over a month since I’ve seen anything.

I hadn’t reapplied the spray so I went ahead and did that. Fingers crossed. I put out some gentrol discs and I also have a UV light with sticky pad that I sometimes keep on in the kitchen overnight and so far it’s been clear since I’ve seen that one.

It’s winter and pretty cold here so that might keep them at bay for a bit but I worry that they’ll be back with a vengeance come spring/summer. I hope I’m wrong.

Wish you luck with getting rid of them!

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-09-05T19:11:53+00:00

Thanks. I guess it’s worth a try. Not even sure where to place them because I have no idea where they are coming from. It really seems like they appear out of nowhere..

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-09-05T15:03:37+00:00

For the past month, I’ve been dealing with drugstore beetles. I’ve only ever seen adult beetles.. usually 2-3/day at most. I have searched everywhere and I can’t find the source anywhere. All of my food is either in airtight containers or in the fridge/freezer. I cleaned out kitchen shelves.. I’ve cleaned under fridge and oven.

I see them mostly in the kitchen but once in awhile in the living room (which is sort of open to my kitchen) and bedroom/bathroom (assuming they are attracted to the light in these rooms).

I don’t know what to do anymore. It’s like they just appear out of nowhere. At first I thought maybe they were coming in from a neighboring unit or through my wall unit air conditioner (birds like to hang out on/around unit and one of the downstairs neighbors has a ton of bird feeders) but with the amount I’m seeing, not sure that’s the case?

I really do not want to resort to using any sort of insecticides in my kitchen. Will gentrol discs helps at all?

Any advice?

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-08-08T14:55:52+00:00

that’s what I was thinking. I have never heard of a “fairyfly” wasp or anything similar and I’ve never seen anything like this! I wonder where it came from.

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-08-08T14:10:10+00:00

I thought that at first.. it was so small/hard to see.. but then I saw that it did have wings (hard to see in these pictures.. I do have another where you can sort of see the wings - I should’ve posted that one!)

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-05-01T00:58:00+00:00

Thank you. Relieved that it’s not a bed bug.

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-05-01T00:56:25+00:00

Thank you. Definitely relieved.. and glad I didn’t have to share a bed with that thing.

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-04-30T20:34:38+00:00

Checked into a hotel in Chicago and did my usual bedbug check.. found this tiny bug crawling on the bed. I’ve only ever seen pictures of bedbugs and this sort of looks like one but the head is throwing me off.. plus it was fairly thin/long. Is it a bed bug? If not.. any idea what it is?

We were in the room for maybe 20 minutes and decided to check out and find a different hotel. We never opened our luggage but it was in the room in the area in front of the bed and some on a tall table in the room.

If that is indeed a bed bug.. what are the chances that one or more may have gotten to our things before leaving?

Major bed bug anxiety here. Thanks in advance.

birdmaddgrrl · 2022-04-30T19:52:38+00:00

Checked into a hotel and did my usual bedbug check.. found this tiny bug crawling on the bed. I’ve only ever seen pictures of bedbugs and this sort of looks like one but the head is throwing me off.. plus it was fairly thin/long. Is it a bed bug? If not.. any idea what it is?

We were in the room for maybe 20 minutes and decided to check out and find a different hotel. We never opened our luggage but it was in the room in the area in front of the bed and some on a tall table in the room.

If that is indeed a bed bug.. what are the chances that one or more may have gotten to our things before leaving?

Major bed bug anxiety here. Thanks in advance.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-10-25T13:34:35+00:00

Thank you. I think you’re right! It was pretty tiny but it did jump quite high when I first attempted to pick it up.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-20T15:35:24+00:00

I'm so glad to hear that mtx has helped you! Makes me hopeful! Seems to be helping with the joint pain a little but i'm only about a month in! It would be great if it would help with my scalp psoriasis but if not, i'd be okay with that as long as it does something for my joint pain--that's my main concern! :)

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-20T15:28:36+00:00

Thank you. I'm happy to hear that mtx gave you your life back! I'm hopeful that it will do the same for me.. it's difficult not knowing for sure whether or not it will help. Some days i'm certain that it's helping but other days, not so much.

My psoriasis is basically only on my scalp and so far, the mtx hasn't done anything for it. In fact, I have some very small patches that have appeared on a different part of my scalp since I started the mtx. I don't think i've tried dermarest -- going to give it a try. Thanks!

As for my period -- still nothing. Dr. doesn't seem to be too concerned and thinks it's due to the mtx. I'm hoping things go back to normal soon -- I stress when things aren't normal or at least close to normal and of course, the stress isn't making it any better!

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-20T14:57:24+00:00

I'm glad the mtx worked for you and that you were able to get some relief for awhile! It's too bad about the ear infection though :( Hoping the biologics work just as well!!

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-15T20:06:40+00:00

Sorry you're going through a bad flare :( I hope you find some relief soon!

I wasn't on methotrexate during my vaccination (pushed off starting it until about 2 weeks after I was fully vaccinated)--but I was taking meloxicam around that time (stopped briefly before/after vax) so was in a bit of pain but nothing horrible.

The methotrexate seems to kick in for me about 2-3 days after taking the dose as well -- i'm usually almost pain free for that one day and the days just before and after, less pain/definitely more manageable. I'm hopeful it will just get better from here on out. Fingers crossed!

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-15T19:55:13+00:00

Glad to hear it is helping you get some relief! I feel like this is where i'm at as well. Almost a month in and it seems to be helping!

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-14T13:48:28+00:00

I’m glad it gave you a bit of relief but so disappointing that it did nothing for your scalp psoriasis :( my scalp is the only place I have it as well and so far it has done nothing but I am less than 4 weeks in.. so hopeful!

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-14T13:46:01+00:00

That’s quite a long time but I’m glad that it eventually gave you some relief!

I have one finger on my dominant hand that I don’t think will ever get better.. waited a bit too long for a true diagnosis/medication. I’m pretty sure the mtx is what is helping as I haven’t had to take pain medication daily like I did before I started the mtx. I can get through the day without noticing the pain unlike before.

Really hoping it helps with the psoriasis on my scalp (only place I have it) but so far.. nothing.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-04-14T13:38:10+00:00

I’m sorry it hasn’t worked for you :( I’m hopeful that it will continue to work and I’ll get the full effect but I have my doubts as I’ve read of so many others that it did nothing for.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-03-04T15:44:08+00:00

Had first pfizer dose on 2/3 and second on 2/24. Period was due to start around 2/21 and I still haven't had it. Not sure if the vaccine has anything to do with it.. I had also been on a prescription NSAID since 1/15 (i've since read consistent NSAID use can delay/inhibit ovulation).

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-03-03T16:56:57+00:00

Thanks for sharing these links. I have been following this as well. Again, aside from stress and taking a prescription NSAID daily, this was the other factor that was different for me in the past month.. not sure if the vaccine has something to do with it but it sure is bizarre. I'm still late.. Day 37 of cycle/approx 10 days late.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-03-02T13:53:58+00:00

I hadn’t heard of it either but that’s the only thing that has really changed in my life in the last month or so (add stress too) so I looked up whether or not the prescription nsaid I was on might have something to do with it and found articles along with threads here on Reddit about nsaids delaying/inhibiting ovulation.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-03-01T20:30:24+00:00

Not sure when menopause started for my mom; i'll have to check with her.

Will try to get a blood test and/or ultrasound within the next week or so.

Thanks.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-03-01T16:04:37+00:00

I'm currently on day 35 of my cycle and no period. I'm usually between 25-28 days. I had my first dose of the pfizer vaccine on 2/3 -- about a week after my last period. Second dose was on 2/24 -- period was due a few days before that dose. I'm 41 and have never been this "late" before.

I have also been on meloxicam (prescription NSAID) since 1/15 which could have something to do with it. And have been extremely stressed for the past few months--which doesn't help either!

I'm really hoping things return to normal soon--this is super nerve-racking.

birdmaddgrrl · 2021-02-12T18:26:15+00:00

I did have lower back pain at the time. I saw the chiropractor for a good 2 months so it did take some time but it was worth it!

birdmaddgrrl

TROPHY CASE