five on friday…

As part of my resolutions for this year, I decided that instead of abandoning this blog, I would try to delve into it deeper. So, I’m starting the occasional “five on Friday” feature, where I discuss five random tidbits that are on my mind. Tidbits might include interesting articles, books I’m reading/what I’m listening to, new supplements, photographs (most likely of my dog), recent purchases, bloggers I’m following, etc. I’m not promising anything exciting, but I promise there will only be five. It won’t happen every week – there aren’t five things worth mentioning in my life every week – but perhaps 1-2x per month.

I have been hesitant to share anything that isn’t directly related to my illnesses, because that’s not why you’re here, and that’s not why I’m here. But I love when the blogs I follow post about other things going on in their life. The best blogs are those that incorporate a variety of topics and allow me to get to know the writer. Which leads me to number one…

1. Weekly Roundup. My blogger friend, Jak, posts a weekly roundup on her blog, which is the inspiration behind starting my five on Friday. I have followed Jak’s blog almost since the beginning. Jak has M.E., mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). She writes about all of those, as well as her gorgeous photography, her adorable dog, and her life in general. If you have MCAD like Jak and I, she has a variety of tasty low histamine recipes. Check out her blog here.
   
2. The Eww Factor. I dropped my glasses in the toilet this week. The public toilet at my office. After getting all MacGyver and fishing them out using standard office supplies, I debated whether it was best to clean them by immersing them in boiling water for a few hours or letting them soak overnight in a vat of hand sanitizer and ultimately decided that seeing is overrated.
3. New Research. In a recently released case report, researchers found that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) can be successfully treated using low-dose naltrexone (LDN), intravenous immunoglobulin (iVIG) and antibiotic therapy for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). LDN was originally developed to treat opioid addiction, but in recent years it has been found to boost the immune system and is sometimes prescribed for autoimmune diseases. Which, by itself is interesting, because of the recent speculation that POTS is autoimmune in nature. Using iVIG in the treatment of POTS isn’t new, but is only beginning to be studied. You can read the case report here.

4. Photograph. My dog destroyed this toy in 15 minutes. My dog destroys every toy in 15 minutes.  Dog lovers, Fletch needs your toy recommendations.poor purple rhino
5. #NationalSpouseDay. Apparently today is National Spouse Day, so naturally I must acknowledge all the amazing ways the BF supports me.  Our relationship isn’t perfect. There are things he does that drive me crazy, and vice versa. We’re not even perfect for each other. Either of us could have ended up with someone else and been perfectly happy, perhaps even more so. But he’s kind and patient, he takes care of me when I need it, he lets me take care of him when he needs it, and he listens to me without judgment. He has never once doubted or questioned me or my illness. He is everything I think a man should be.
   And, it doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy as hell.

Smell ya later.
– Linds