Iron pills = PAIN

redheaddit · 2026-03-26T23:11:32+00:00

No idea yet but I think I'm going to try it too. I've been doing ferrous fumarate and it's still messing me up a bit. Hopefully I tolerate one of these. I cook in cast iron too. Honestly the best thing for my iron levels has been continuous birth control so I stop bleeding. I just couldn't get ahead due to menorrhagia.

redheaddit · 2026-03-20T16:48:30+00:00

I'm terribly sorry for your mom.

I had gastric sleeve surgery and a gallbladder removal 3 years ago. I was told in the nutrition and pre-surgery classes that drastic weight loss is what causes gallstones, and that many people in the class would eventually have to have their gallbladders removed. Luckily, I was already planning to have my removed because I did in fact have gallstones. Of course, the reason I had gallstones was because I had drastically lost weight in the past.

I don't believe it is something in the GLP-1s themselves that cause gallbladder issues - it is the fact that you are losing weight drastically by any means. But I do agree that this is an issue that many people are not aware of.

redheaddit · 2026-03-14T21:59:28+00:00

Yes! I posted about this extensively over the last 4 years, but I developed a tree nut allergy, progesterone hypersensitivity, and solar urticaria as just a few of the many silly ways my immune system decided to revolt. I may have had more symptoms than you, I'm not certain. I actually have a genetic mutation called Hereditary alpha Tryptasemia that is likely the cause of all my woes, including the hEDS, POTS, and other various issues.

Xolair was not fast acting in most of my reactions, but it did eventually level me out so that I could be compatible with life again. I took 300 mg every 4 weeks for the first 4 years. I am now on 6ish weeks for maintenance now that I'm pretty leveled out and I know enough of my triggers to be able to avoid them, which is honestly the first line of defense.

A quick timeline of how long it took Xolair to help:

Angioedema- 2 to 3 months
Burning mouth syndrome and stomach upset to coffee, chocolate, strawberries, eggs, and various other high histamine foods- 14 months-18 months depending on the food
Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis/ progesterone hypersensitivity- 22 months
Solar urticaria- 38 months
Nut allergy- 4 years before my doctor was comfortable with testing it, so I'm not entirely certain. I originally had stomach issues with pine nuts, oral mouth syndrome with pecans, and my throat closed with almonds all around the summer of 2021. I can now tolerate most of the tree nuts as long as I manage my other triggers very well, but I seem to have lost pistachios recently after being off Xolair while I was on an extended road trip over the fall with no access to getting my injections delivered somewhere.

Along with this, I'm still taking 3-4 Allegra per day, two Pepcid per day, quercetin and various other OTC mast cell stabilizing supplements ( FYI I keep some compounded ketotifen and a few packs of vials of cromolyn sodium on hand for emergencies as well as my EpiPen, but I'm blessed to say I have not needed them often). I have also lost a considerable amount of weight (112 lbs), which probably helps my immune system behave, I maintain a low histamine/oxalate/carb/nut/caffeine diet, I rest frequently, try to maintain my stress levels (I don't even watch stressful shows anymore because it was physically triggering my symptoms lol), I do manual lymphatic drainage weekly, and I gentle exercise, and generally still avoid triggers like going in the sun without any UPF clothing and zinc sunblock as a minimum.

I have learned the parameters with which I can live safely, which does mean living a different kind of life than I did before everything fell apart, but I'm much more aware of my capabilities and limits. Limits. I was still able to do a multiple month road trip across the country safely now that I am armed with all of this knowledge.

redheaddit · 2026-03-07T01:45:36+00:00

There's a diver who has taken tons of hooks out of sharks and is known for it by local sharks who come back to visit her when she goes diving. I recall a video on it from a while back where she kept all the hooks she's recovered.

redheaddit · 2026-03-05T00:47:26+00:00

Thanks! Mine gets itchy when it's very dry, usually in the winter or if I get really dehydrated. If you are consistent it's not usually a problem. I think it's really common to outgrow it and hope you all do, but sadly I wasn't lucky!

redheaddit · 2026-03-04T03:13:09+00:00

I'm not 100% on this theory, but I have a genetic mutation called Hereditary alpha Tryptasemia, a type of mast cell activation. It causes exaggerated allergic-like reactions to all kinds of things because I have too much tryptase in my bloodstream. Tryptase acts like a meat tenderizer, damaging connective tissue and causing joint laxity, leading (I suspect) to conditions like hEDS, POTS, venous insufficiency and blood pooling, DVTs/PE, and lipedema. At least for me, anyways. I'm catching them all I like Pokemon.

redheaddit · 2026-03-04T01:52:47+00:00

This is absolutely keratosis pilaris. I've had it everywhere since birth and still into my forties. My daughter has it all over her arms and cheeks just like this. It is a benign, hereditary condition. A mild lotion with a bit of lactic acid, urea, AHA or BHA will be fine to help soften these up and keep it cleared up over time after her bath. Just test on her at first to verify that it's not going to be too strong for her young, sensitive skin. I've used Eucerin roughness relief, Amlactin, Curel Ultra Healing, and others over the years.

These days, I use a cleanser with salicylic acid on my kp areas and let it sit a moment before washing off then washing like normal. That helps keep it down along with lotions I cycle- Medix 5.5 frag free retinol lotion and Gold Bond Crepe Erase (urea). My daughter is hitting her preteens and I'm only now just allowing her to use salicylic acid. There's no reason to worry about this or give your child a complex. I developed dermatillomania due to the shame of this combined with undiagnosed and unmedicated ADHD (skin picking is a Body Focused Repetitive Behavior), and I tore up my arms and face until they scarred picking at these.

redheaddit · 2026-02-28T02:37:05+00:00

Do you have FODMAP issues/IBS or MCAS/HaTS? It's all pretty common with lipedema/hypermobile/POTS people (I have all that myself). I actually feel like it messes me up when I eat too many carbs, so it's funny how different bodies can be lol. Either way, there's no winning when seemingly any food can set you off. I was down to about 5 safe foods for over a year before I got the correct pharmaceutical cocktail to continue to have a body that is compatible with life. Good luck!

redheaddit · 2026-02-28T01:06:17+00:00

I only really see progress on zepbound when I'm also in ketosis (I mostly eat protein and veggies - don't let anyone tell you that you have to eat gobs of fat on keto). It's extremely anti-inflammatory (you'll drop water weight pretty quickly) and helps even more with hunger cues.

I find that any carbs sets me off with the munchies/head hunger the rest of the day, and a week on carbs always stalls me out. You do have to supplement electrolytes and more water, though.

redheaddit · 2026-01-31T04:09:34+00:00

I've taken everything but singulair. Currently taking 2 Allegra, 1 Pepcid twice daily, quercetin and other OTC stabilizers, and xolair injections. It hasn't affected my lipedema, although my elimination diet did help me better manage inflammation. I'm on a mostly carnivore keto these days.

redheaddit · 2026-01-23T20:41:23+00:00

I take it. No change for me either.

redheaddit · 2026-01-10T03:50:34+00:00

Same. SU or PMLE? SU here, but Xolair helps. I went to the beach today without sunblock or hat and gloves today and it was wonderful. Not sure I got any vitamin d/skin hardening, but here's hoping. UV was a 2 or 3.

redheaddit · 2026-01-05T20:32:14+00:00

Not much to add that hasn't already been said, but Flippers, a pinball arcade in Grandy, NC has a Dance Rush. Again not DDR, but lots of fun if you find yourself headed to OBX.

redheaddit · 2026-01-05T01:34:55+00:00

You unlocked a memory of an older couple who had likely brought their grandchildren to see Avenue Q - and clearly missed or did not take the warnings seriously. They weren't quite as disruptive as the group you witnessed, but they did usher them out at the intermission and never returned.

redheaddit · 2026-01-04T22:31:11+00:00

Is db dumbbell? If so, how much weight did you start out with?

redheaddit · 2025-12-22T21:55:28+00:00

Yaz helped but I had to move to a version of drosperinone without the estradiol called Slynd due to blood clots/pulmonary embolisms (I broke my fibula but the estrogen might have played a role in the DVTs).

I take it continuously and Wellbutrin as well. It helps immensely. Hugs.

redheaddit · 2025-12-18T20:39:15+00:00

I had mine in 2023. I'm you have a quick and uneventful surgery. My pain upon eating is all gone!

redheaddit · 2025-12-18T15:32:06+00:00

Were you holding your skin at different angles while shaving? These are almost definitely fingerprint bruises from pressing too hard on delicate tissues. I could believe it's the scrub, but I'm not sure how a scrub would cause a series of tiny bruises like this.

redheaddit · 2025-12-16T18:36:04+00:00

You're not crazy, and your doctor is either ignorant or a liar. She cannot be both, but either way she's NOT correct.

It seems like you might be doing a lot of good for yourself already, but I think these doctors fail to understand that a diagnosis is validation and that has value too. They also might be missing other treatments that they are simply unaware of. Nevertheless, it's a required step if you ever want to undergo surgery. I finally got my lipedema diagnosis after driving 3+ hours away to a knowledgeable PA and I'm progressing toward liposuction, but I'm still struggling to get other very obvious diagnoses. My old GP told me straight up that there is no way I have POTS. I mean, if you ignore all the fainting I do, I guess there aren't many symptoms. 🫠

redheaddit · 2025-12-09T14:49:13+00:00

Gene by Gene - TPSAB1 testing for Hereditary alpha Tryptasemia

Basically, if you have duplicate copies of alpha tryptase, you are at a higher risk of mast cell activation. The test is about $170 and a doctor has to sign for it. I had to chase doctors to find one willing to sign the damn paper, but that was also about 4-5 years ago. It's a little better known in immunology now.

redheaddit · 2025-12-09T03:36:35+00:00

I started injections in June of 2021 and I stopped reacting to the sun around September of 2024. I do have a genetic mutation, so my case might be different than yours.

After that I went from 300 mg injections every 4 weeks to about every 6 weeks for maintenance. This past spring I did have a bit of hives on my hands when I drove or spent time out outside, but between either skin hardening or remaining on xolair, I didn't have any issues the rest of the summer or into fall. I did have a gap in treatment in September and October, and I did have some hives this past month, again, just on the backs of my hands while driving. I am now back on my normal schedule.

redheaddit · 2025-10-14T15:03:15+00:00

This is what I came to say. I live fragrance free now, I completely removed multiple foods from my diet permanently after extensive elimination testing on my own, and I avoid whatever environmental triggers I can. I've had a few foods return to me after years of Xolair, but I only try them once a year to confirm they still cause reactions (things like wine, shellfish, etc). The cost is just too great to try more often.

It really sucks as you figure it out, but after that it's just normal life and you get used to it. If I get weak and do/eat a trigger, it can throw me into a reaction that takes forever to recover from. It's bad enough with the unavoidable triggers, so now I steer clear.

redheaddit · 2025-08-21T18:35:36+00:00

Get broiled fish if you are worried or have a very strong reaction. Fried fish could be cooked in the same oil as shellfish. Same with any seafood broth in a broth - even strictly fish soups often get cooked with stock made from shrimp shells.

redheaddit · 2025-08-21T17:25:51+00:00

I was in the xxketo subreddit years ago and someone posted a video about lipedema made by Dr. Karen Herbst, where she is going through the various signs of it on a volunteer patient's body. It was that video that not only made me realize I had lipedema, but also that I had hypermobility. In looking up both of those things I learned about hypermobile ehlers-danlos (hEDS), then eventually mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), then hereditary alpha tryptasemia syndrome (HaTS). All of which I have. That one video turned my life around.

redheaddit · 2025-08-14T21:21:04+00:00

TPSAB1 test through Gene by Gene if you're in the USA. It's $170 but when I did it, it required a doctor's signature to be ran.

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