After years of dealing with painful, dry and bleeding hands, I may have finally found the answer—O’Keeffe’s Working Hands cream. It’s cheap and it’s mostly sold at hardware stores. It has made a huge difference in just a few days, has no scent and isn’t sticky—just use sparingly!
Thanks for the allergy pill answer I didn’t know I needed. I used Mission Allergy products on our bed and highly recommend. Dust mites are not typically airborne once hygiene is taken seriously. We got the air filters first but didn’t do much good for that and the medical grade covers worked right away. I wash bedding at least every 8th day on hot. I got their comforter for summer because humidity makes activity worse so it’s more severe May - Sept where I live. Lastly, I’m getting allergy shots because I know I don’t want to be on 2 allergy pills a day the rest of my life. I got down to 1 a day but with viral congestion I needed to rule out all allergies and back to 2. Allergy shots are intense at first but so worth it!
Question for today: I had a stressful 2 months. I had acute insomnia with anxiety the first week this started during my PMS. It improved as my period came. Once we made a plan I was able to sleep much better no insomnia around day 4 of my cycle. Went on vacation 10 days later and slept deeply for 5 nights. Came home and puppy woke us up for 6 nights so I slept in my daughter’s room (bedtime 9 pm) and slept very well 3 of them, besides stiffness from the floor. I moved back to my room and slept well until we had a large behavioral issue with my son I was worried about and during PMS last week and slept fitfully. Everything is resolved but my sleep is still poor. I keep waking up see a clock and roll over back to sleep. I don’t feel worried as I wake. Just randomly waking 3x for 3 nights in a row plus a cold (no meds). I feel like my brain is going to run out my ears 😭 . Trying CBT-I Coach app. Could a sleep aid help me sleep soundly for 1 night? Z-Quill didn’t in the past, have Larazapam from the last incident but not sure it would help since I don’t feel anxious. I take Zyzal morning and night. Going to reread sleep entry but until the CBT-I app helps or I can pay for a coach $$$$ any aid to help maybe break the cycle. I remember from babies sleep begets sleep!
I have a question about the CA-125 test, Dr. Lucy, and why doctors are reluctant to give that as a regular test. I have ovarian in my family, as well as prostate, but (very fortunately) I do not have the BRCA gene. However, like most of GenX, I used talcum powder from infancy through early adulthood. Hygiene and all that. So I sweetly argue with my GP to run the test when I do my annual physical bloodwork. As someone with gastritis, do you think I'd know the diff from a flare of that to something else? Because gastritis is a party (I miss my ulcers). My stance is, that blood test is the only arrow in our quiver when it comes to early-detecting that silent killer. So why isn't it used more? Yes, I know it can give a false positive. But I'd rather have that than miss a chance to catch it early. The two people I loved who had it only found out when it was stage IV. And the friend who was my age, her doctor kicked himself for not giving her the CA-125 when she first presented. Another patient who came in after my friend's diagnosis got the test from him, and she had a much better result. A year makes a difference. xo
I have a friend who told me her mother died of ovarian cancer but had had a complete hysterectomy many years prior. Can someone get ovarian cancer when they have no ovaries??
A hysterectomy means that the uterus was removed. An “oophorectomy” means that the ovaries were removed. It is common to have both the uterus and ovaries to be taken out together, but, depending on the case, the ovaries will be left in. (For example in the case of a woman whose ovaries are healthy and are still making hormones ie pre menopause).
If you do not have ovaries, though, you cannot get ovarian cancer :)
After reading about strengthening one’s nails and enjoying a cheery nail polish, I went to my favorite local nail salon and treated myself to a great mani/pedi and chose a pretty color for Valentine’s Day!
Thank you, for all your continued commitment to answering our health questions. I always look forward to your weekly writings and podcasts!
Thank you for all of the information this morning. I cannot take Zyrtec because it would cause a negative reaction with low dose Losartan and Metoprolol that I was prescribed for Myocarditis. I use a Saline Nasal Mist that is over the counter. I keep it next to my bed. I can only use generic Flonase twice a day, morning and early evening. I have a thick mattress pad that protects from dust mites and special covers over my pillows that also protect from dust mites. I change my sheets twice a week. In addition I have a humidifier in my bedroom. I change my furnace filters monthly.
After years of dealing with painful, dry and bleeding hands, I may have finally found the answer—O’Keeffe’s Working Hands cream. It’s cheap and it’s mostly sold at hardware stores. It has made a huge difference in just a few days, has no scent and isn’t sticky—just use sparingly!
Thanks for the allergy pill answer I didn’t know I needed. I used Mission Allergy products on our bed and highly recommend. Dust mites are not typically airborne once hygiene is taken seriously. We got the air filters first but didn’t do much good for that and the medical grade covers worked right away. I wash bedding at least every 8th day on hot. I got their comforter for summer because humidity makes activity worse so it’s more severe May - Sept where I live. Lastly, I’m getting allergy shots because I know I don’t want to be on 2 allergy pills a day the rest of my life. I got down to 1 a day but with viral congestion I needed to rule out all allergies and back to 2. Allergy shots are intense at first but so worth it!
Question for today: I had a stressful 2 months. I had acute insomnia with anxiety the first week this started during my PMS. It improved as my period came. Once we made a plan I was able to sleep much better no insomnia around day 4 of my cycle. Went on vacation 10 days later and slept deeply for 5 nights. Came home and puppy woke us up for 6 nights so I slept in my daughter’s room (bedtime 9 pm) and slept very well 3 of them, besides stiffness from the floor. I moved back to my room and slept well until we had a large behavioral issue with my son I was worried about and during PMS last week and slept fitfully. Everything is resolved but my sleep is still poor. I keep waking up see a clock and roll over back to sleep. I don’t feel worried as I wake. Just randomly waking 3x for 3 nights in a row plus a cold (no meds). I feel like my brain is going to run out my ears 😭 . Trying CBT-I Coach app. Could a sleep aid help me sleep soundly for 1 night? Z-Quill didn’t in the past, have Larazapam from the last incident but not sure it would help since I don’t feel anxious. I take Zyzal morning and night. Going to reread sleep entry but until the CBT-I app helps or I can pay for a coach $$$$ any aid to help maybe break the cycle. I remember from babies sleep begets sleep!
I have a question about the CA-125 test, Dr. Lucy, and why doctors are reluctant to give that as a regular test. I have ovarian in my family, as well as prostate, but (very fortunately) I do not have the BRCA gene. However, like most of GenX, I used talcum powder from infancy through early adulthood. Hygiene and all that. So I sweetly argue with my GP to run the test when I do my annual physical bloodwork. As someone with gastritis, do you think I'd know the diff from a flare of that to something else? Because gastritis is a party (I miss my ulcers). My stance is, that blood test is the only arrow in our quiver when it comes to early-detecting that silent killer. So why isn't it used more? Yes, I know it can give a false positive. But I'd rather have that than miss a chance to catch it early. The two people I loved who had it only found out when it was stage IV. And the friend who was my age, her doctor kicked himself for not giving her the CA-125 when she first presented. Another patient who came in after my friend's diagnosis got the test from him, and she had a much better result. A year makes a difference. xo
I have a friend who told me her mother died of ovarian cancer but had had a complete hysterectomy many years prior. Can someone get ovarian cancer when they have no ovaries??
A hysterectomy means that the uterus was removed. An “oophorectomy” means that the ovaries were removed. It is common to have both the uterus and ovaries to be taken out together, but, depending on the case, the ovaries will be left in. (For example in the case of a woman whose ovaries are healthy and are still making hormones ie pre menopause).
If you do not have ovaries, though, you cannot get ovarian cancer :)
After reading about strengthening one’s nails and enjoying a cheery nail polish, I went to my favorite local nail salon and treated myself to a great mani/pedi and chose a pretty color for Valentine’s Day!
Thank you, for all your continued commitment to answering our health questions. I always look forward to your weekly writings and podcasts!
Thank you for all of the information this morning. I cannot take Zyrtec because it would cause a negative reaction with low dose Losartan and Metoprolol that I was prescribed for Myocarditis. I use a Saline Nasal Mist that is over the counter. I keep it next to my bed. I can only use generic Flonase twice a day, morning and early evening. I have a thick mattress pad that protects from dust mites and special covers over my pillows that also protect from dust mites. I change my sheets twice a week. In addition I have a humidifier in my bedroom. I change my furnace filters monthly.