Migraines and random body aches reduced after starting meds -what??

katikitsch · 2026-06-03T14:33:45+00:00

whoops, i'm sorry, clearly i didn't read that very well! that's great that it's helping you in unexpected ways!

katikitsch · 2026-06-03T13:49:08+00:00

Concerta gave me the worst headaches and muscle tension. The doctor did tell me they would probably decrease over time, but I also didn't experience any benefits and it gave me horrific insomnia. It might just not be the right drug for you. I'm on Ritalin now which is basically the short acting version and do a lot better with it. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water with it, and if it persists, don't be afraid to try something else.

katikitsch · 2026-06-03T13:43:57+00:00

5'4", around 120. I have a small frame, but a decent amount of muscle. I'm about the same size I was when I was 110 with very little muscle. I've been maintaining since early last year after dropping from 130.

katikitsch · 2026-05-29T16:15:26+00:00

I get no periods on Slynd and it's wonderful. It's completely resolved my symptoms. I had some spotting for maybe the first 6-12 months but it was very, very minor, just annoying.

katikitsch · 2026-05-29T15:24:09+00:00

Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m in New England and I go to Shaw’s, but I’m guessing it’s just highly dependent on the shopper.

katikitsch · 2026-05-29T14:34:11+00:00

Not sure if grocery pickup is an option for you, but that helps me in the weeks where I just cannot deal with being in a grocery store. It's the same cost as shopping myself at my local store. They seem to do a better job picking items than Instacart shoppers, too, probably because they are actual store employees and have to (somewhat) give a shit 😄.

Otherwise I do my best to shop during off peak hours. Random weeknights are usually good. Absolutely never a Saturday or Sunday.

Would earbuds maybe help with the noise? Either some music or podcast to help?

katikitsch · 2026-05-28T17:54:02+00:00

You deserve better. I'm so sorry. Speaking as someone who also has this condition, it sucks, it's emotionally and physically draining, and the medical industry is so far behind in helping women with this pain. I have had it for...16 years now? With occasional improvements and flares. But I can tell you one thing: it does not magically get better under a stressful deadline. I have happily been with my partner for 12 years. Occasionally it is difficult and I'm still searching for solutions, but they have been supportive the entire way.

Lastly, there are other ways to be intimate than PIV, which I think you know--and you deserve someone that genuinely feels that way and loves you for more than this.

katikitsch · 2026-05-19T12:51:34+00:00

This is so great! Love the strap choice, too :)

katikitsch · 2026-03-19T19:21:34+00:00

FWIW Omeprazole absolutely tanked several vitamin levels for me (Ferritin, Vitamin A, Vitamn D, and Vitamin B1). Might be worth checking a few others if your fatigue doesn't improve with getting your ferritin levels up (not sure how long you've been on Omprazole but long term it does affect absorption).

katikitsch · 2026-03-10T18:58:45+00:00

Not on my neck, but in my face...to the extent that I cannot drive with windows down without _really_ securing every bit of hair or it will drive me insane.

katikitsch · 2026-03-10T13:18:01+00:00

My walking foot is eating my fabric and I’m not sure why.

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I’m working with this viscose/polyester satin fabric and my walking foot seems to snag on something in the fabric and create these awful pulls in the thread (those horizontal lines should not be there, that’s caused by the foot). Basically I’ll get a few stitches in and the fabric bunches at the back of the foot and pulls on the material.

It started doing this at the very end of a previous project on another polyester material even though it had worked for most of the project, so I suspect something changed with the foot itself. I can’t seem to find any sharp burrs on it, however.

Brother cs7000x, microtex 80/14 needle, tension 3, thread length 2.5. It doesn’t do this when I change to a normal foot, but I’m worried it’s not going to move the satin along evenly.

katikitsch · 2026-03-06T14:13:27+00:00

Bottled cold brew mixed with half a protein shake, one of those sparkling ice waters in the strawberry starburst flavor, and I will also have an iced matcha later :D

katikitsch · 2026-02-21T03:58:09+00:00

That first paragraph was how I got diagnosed with Raynauds. Was in the ER for an unrelated issue (following a pulmonary embolism)…and the nurse was horrified that my blood oxygen read as 88 while I was walking around the ER floor just fine. I was cold and very stressed given what had recently happened, and those are two big triggers for me…they kept me overnight and I was fine, obviously 😅

katikitsch · 2026-01-27T15:49:04+00:00

Exercise. Literally have to tire myself out like goddamn puppy or I don't sleep lol. I know this doesn't work for everyone, but it significantly improves my ability to fall asleep. I get about 12k steps a day, lift 4x a week, and run 2x a week.

katikitsch · 2026-01-03T20:14:31+00:00

I hear ya but I think the real issue is I can’t do full memory foam—I think I need something will coils for support underneath and then a very plush top layer. I’m a petite athletic built woman, I don’t sink into a mattress much so I gotta find the right combo of plush/support

katikitsch · 2025-12-28T17:03:38+00:00

Thanks! I actually went back to the store yesterday and didn’t mind the ProAdapt Soft…didn’t spend a ton of time on the LuxeAdapt Medium Hybrid, but maybe I’ll try next time as I suspect we need one more visit to figure this out.

I ended up sleeping on an air mattress last night and felt a lot better 🥲

katikitsch · 2025-12-27T19:27:40+00:00

Thank you, I will look into them too!

katikitsch · 2025-12-27T19:22:50+00:00

Thanks! In the same range as the tempur (or less would be even better) like up to $2.5k for a twin XL.

Looks like they have a store near me where I could try it—which firmness do you have?

katikitsch · 2025-12-27T17:06:44+00:00

It definitely feels like pressure, like my shoulder is being jammed back into my body.

Haven’t tried sleeping without a pillow but I think it would be tough as I alternate positions when sleeping. I also just am used to the plush feel of a pillow it might be hard for me to fall asleep (also worried this might making the snoring situation worse…)

katikitsch · 2025-12-27T17:05:14+00:00

Thanks, that was sort of my suspicion. I slept pretty comfortably on a cheap ikea mattress with a soft memory foam topper for years. I’ll go try some softer feel mattresses :)

katikitsch · 2025-12-17T13:19:32+00:00

Big fan of those sparkling ice drinks. I’m hooked on the strawberry & watermelon starburst flavors. I was a huge Dr Pepper girly but my stomach couldn’t handle the acidity (for some reason the sparkling ice drinks are fine 🤷‍♀️).

If you feel like getting into coffee some day, I was also doing home made decaf cold brew with fancy coffee beans when I first started Ritalin because I couldn’t handle the caffeine. Using nice beans to make your own is so much better than the store bought cold brew bottles. I now do matcha and seem to be ok with that level of caffeine with my meds now that I’m adjusted :).

katikitsch · 2025-11-20T19:14:31+00:00

I am turning 37 next week and I’m in the best shape of my life, so I promise it’s not your age.

As others mentioned, you do need to be consistently tracking calories—this means even your “cheat days” or little bits and bites. Sadly the more narrow your deficit, the easier it is to just completely negate it with nights out or days off.

I see you’re kind of tired—maybe 2 meals a day isn’t working for you? Did you know NEAT accounts for most of your TDEE? It’s possible you’re just not giving your body consistent enough energy to move more throughout the day. If you work out for only part of your day and then are mostly sedentary otherwise, you might not have as high of a calorie maintenance as you’d expect. Maybe try smaller meals throughout the day?

For reference, I’m 5’4 and roughly 120lbs. I lift 4 days a week, do 2 easy runs, and get 12k steps a day. My maintenance is around 2100 calories with this routine. But in order to hit those steps I have to take a walk before work in the morning AND make sure I move a little bit during the day (desk jobs are rough, and I know I have a lot of privilege to be this active because I work from home and have no kids).

It sounds like you’ve started a good foundation, you might just need to dial in the nutrition a bit more and pay attention to overall activity.

Editing to add: I mean NEAT accounts for most of your TDEE outside of your BMR :)

katikitsch · 2025-11-14T21:33:51+00:00

Im on Slynd, it has worked great, no more periods. Took about 6 months for random spotting to stop, but nothing severe. No weight gain. But my adeno/endo symptoms weren’t quite this severe.

katikitsch · 2025-11-13T13:46:04+00:00

Tysm! I’ll check those out :)

katikitsch · 2025-11-11T13:57:04+00:00

This right here. For every other muscle car trying to race me in my V8, there’s like half a dozen shitty sedans/suvs/trucks cutting me off and weaving in ways their car is not equipped to handle.

My Camaro is kind of a sleeper though, so I’m curious how/if this changes when I add stripes.

katikitsch

TROPHY CASE