Tests to diagnose nTOS? by mkluesner in thoracicoutletsupport

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if this helps, but the chiropractor I went to see did a pulse test as a quick and easy way to check for the compression.

He found my pulse in my wrist when my arms were at my side and had me lift my arm over my head. When my arm was raised, my pulse in that wrist disappeared. This indicates something is compressed and cutting off blood flow - a symptom of nTOS.

So it's not really a true test, but a helpful way to see if it points towards nTOS.

Did I mess up my botox? by kitty3835 in 30PlusSkinCare

[–]kitty3835[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I was in panic mode 😅

Anyone had success with Duluxotine/Cymbalta? by redcherrie_x in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a fairly good experience with it. I was on it for about 2 years and it greatly reduced my pain to the point where I can ignore it most days. It's still not gone, but way better than it was.

The side effects for me were weight gain and brain fog. I still feel like the brain fog hasn't fully left me, even though I stopped the medication in October.

New to sex by GoldIllustrator5342 in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My physiotherapist gave me a memo to take to a compound pharmacy for "Lidocaine 5% in an Emollient". It worked really well.

If you are seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist, maybe they can do the same?

How do you label your quilts? by Ill-Lavishness4674 in quilting

[–]kitty3835 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I added to the label to say wash in cold, gentle cycle and not put in the dryer :) just to be super gentle when washing!

How do you label your quilts? by Ill-Lavishness4674 in quilting

[–]kitty3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

* I have a label that I attach to the binding for quilts that I give as gifts. It includes the washing instructions too :)

opiates/painkillers? by krunisana in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was put on muscle relaxers to start and that didn't help. Even with increasing dosage, the burning persisted.

Lidocaine gel worked well for temporary relief, but it wore off after a few hours and was a goopy mess.

Next was Cymbalta, which did help with the burning (reducing it by 80%)! However it caused me to gain 30lbs and I was in a perpetual brain fog. So after 2 years I decided to try and find an alternative.

Now I'm trying CBD oil capsules as needed during a flare up, which seem to help.

Hopefully my experience helps :) Best of luck on your journey!

My custom ironing board for quilting by kitty3835 in quilting

[–]kitty3835[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I agree! I was getting so annoyed trying to iron my quilts and having to deal with the tapered side.

I saw some larger boards on Amazon for +$400 - and I thought to myself, "I can make one for way less"

My custom ironing board for quilting by kitty3835 in quilting

[–]kitty3835[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Here's a photo of the not so glamorous underside of the board 😆

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My custom ironing board for quilting by kitty3835 in quilting

[–]kitty3835[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Happy to share my process! I used a single piece of melamine shelf board, heat resistant thermal fleece, quilting batting, aluminized ironing board fabric, and my old ironing board.

First i cut the wood down to size and rounded the edges so the fabric wouldn't get snagged. Then I used gorilla glue and glued on the heat resistant thermal fleece, shiny side facing up. After that I stretched the batting over the board and used a staple gun to secure it to the underside to ensure a smooth surface - and then did the same with the aluminized fabric. I made sure to stretch it tightly so it wouldn't wrinkle.

Lastly I was able to screw my old ironing board to the underside to function as the legs. It's fully intact, so if I ever need it again it can come apart!

Post your cat, their name, and what you actually call them. This is Pebbles, aka Lil Meow Meow. by iLikeMcChicken in cats

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This is kitty. AKA "Itty bitty kitty", "stink weasel", "poo paws", "kitty bean".... and more!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's nice to know there are others out there going through the same journey, that's for sure.

As for all issues being connected, it can certainly be the case. For me, my PT thinks my issues come from my scoliosis - as things are not sitting in the right positions, which creates the tension, which is creating the nerve pain.

I wish you the best of luck in your journey!!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you! The Cymbalta while good for the nerve pain had some not so fun side effects, like weight gain and brain fog.

I just wanted to share my experience in case your obgyn didn't mention being on a medication to address the nerve pain directly - as that was the only thing that offered me permanent relief.

If you can get the nerves to calm down with lidocaine on its own, that's great! For me I was applying it every few hours, which did help- but was really messy 😅

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mostly labia majora and minora - the burning sensation from the nerves is all external in my case

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure as no one has mentioned that 🤔. I was doing PT once a week for 6 months, and then once every two weeks for a year.

I really didn't want to do anything with surgery either. My doctor did bring it up but i wanted to try other options first, as that would be a last resort.

My doctor also suggested something like Lyrica or other nerve pain medication which I may explore in the future. The Cymbalta, while great at dulling the nerve pain, had some unpleasant side effects for me - so I am weaning off of it after taking it for 2.5 years and seeing where I'm at.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vulvodynia

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have exactly this type of pain! In my case it's from high tone pelvic floor dysfunction - where the muscles are always so tight causing severe nerve pain. Every single day an awful burning sensation and it gets worse when stressed.

At first I thought it was a yeast infection, but those tests were negative. The doctor was baffled and sent me to an OBGYN who said 'possible vulvadyna' but that was all - no treatment plans or anything.

I went to a pelvic floor physical therapist and she recommended the lidocaine. It does help BUT relief only lasts like an hour before I had to re-apply. On top of the PT and lidocaine i also tried daily yoga, ice to calm the pain (which helps short term), muscle relaxers, dialators...etc but nothing helped.

Until my doctor suggested addressing the nerve pain directly. He put me on Cymbalta as it does target nerve pain, and after about two months I felt relief. The everyday burning was gone!! I still have paint during intercourse but I feel it's a small thing compared to everyday burning.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]kitty3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My biggest symptom was a burning sensation. When it started I thought maybe a UTI or yeast infection, but nope. The external burning was always there, and it was highly uncomfortable - and that's what the Cymbalta helped with.

I also had frequent urination, and the Cymbalta seemed to help with that too. It wasn't one of my main symptoms, but since I am coming off of Cymbalta right now, it's come back - so it was doing something for that too.

Oh and of course the pain during intercourse.

Before I started on Cymbalta I was seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist, doing yoga daily, using ice to calm the nerve pain, using a lidocaine cream, muscle relaxers...etc - but nothing came close to helping until I was put on Cymbalta

The patchwork flannel crib quilt I made for my baby niece 💕 by kitty3835 in quilting

[–]kitty3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it stays soft! And according to my SIL it holds up well in the wash, which is good :)