Unanticipated Interactions

It's April and the past week has faked summer with temps hitting the 80s and then dropping into frost. Today, temps dropped 20 degrees within a few hours mid-afternoon. It has also been raining and yet our county is under a burn ban with a drought warning. Weird since there is mud everywhere. 

I've been puzzled by some facial swelling and peeling dry skin near my eyes but not symmetrically. Instead, the upper eyelid of my left eye and just under my right eye have been afflicted. I suspect that it's an interaction between one of my eye drops (I'm on three different ones) and either a new sunscreen (I was testing out two new ones that are both purportedly hypoallergenic), or two new additions to my supplements: niacinamide (in conjunction with calcium pyruvate for glaucoma) and red panax ginseng (for hypertension and cholesterol). 

I stopped taking the ginseng a few days ago but I'm still taking the niacinamide. I'm not even taking the recommended dose because that entails potential kidney damage and needs medical supervision. Niacinamide is a B3 vitamin that is supposed to aid mitochondria (power house of the cell) especially in sensitive nerve cells like the optic nerve. It's also supposed to not cause the dreaded "niacin flush" and yet today, after a vigorous stint on the elliptical machine, my face remains quite red... This doesn't usually happen. 

I'm happy with my Biore sunscreen but it is expensive for such a small tube. After reading sunscreen reviews, I started looking for the Banana Boat Light as Air specifically for my kid with the sensitive skin. Absolutely cannot find it on any store shelf but I don't really want to order a two-pack from Amazon if we can't try it first. I did buy sunscreen from Neutrogena, but it actually stung my face when I applied it. Bought sunscreen lotion from CeraVe, again a reputable brand. I suspect it's not the sunscreen. 

How weird would it be to have this type of allergic reaction from eye drops that I've been administering for months because something changed in my body when I added a new vitamin? 

Favorite old pants

Got to the gym after dropping off two pairs of new yoga pants to be hemmed. I finally found soft silky gym pants that mostly fit, they're just much too long and because they're not a straight cut, I can't hem them myself. The cost for professional hemming is what I paid for each pant, and even that is much less than buying these from a regular retail store. (I'm cheap; I buy my gym clothes at Marshall's.) Thank goodness the leggings craze is over. I hate leggings. They're basically thick stockings and I hate stockings. 

My favorite pair of gym pants is over 20 years old and sadly, the fabric is starting to fray at the waistband. I've made several repairs and the bulk of the fabric is perfectly fine, but once the waistband no longer holds the elastic inside, the pants won't stay on. These are the best pants I've ever owned and sadly, Land's End no longer carries quality items like this anymore. The new pants (one pair actually has pockets) both drape nicely without being clingy. Of course, they're black. It'll be much easier to say good bye to my old standby now. 

I got some new sports bras cuz they don't last forever either. One I bought just because I was intrigued by the one-piece molded neoprene front. No pads to slip into bra pockets. I wondered how comfortable it could be. Also, not horribly expensive. Win win. But what's with the latest sports bra trend -- corduroy texture? I have two pairs from two different brands (and styles) but with the same weird thickly ribbed pattern. 

I got to the gym too late to claim elliptical #1 so I started with the cross-trainer. It made my foot go numb and as hard as I pedaled, I really didn't feel very warmed up. The pull-ups didn't feel good at all and I know it's because I'm better if I start with the Precor elliptical. I did get to the Precor eventually, but only after doing the StairMaster for 13 minutes. 

In the Aerobics Room, I kept waiting for my cheeks to return to normal color, but they never did. I cooled down, but my face didn't. Weird, right?  The FitBit recorded a fairly high HR as well so it wasn't just that my face stayed flushed. Right now, as I'm typing this, my cheeks are still red and I'm not even warm. 

1 April 2026 1:33-3.30

Bizarre Allergic Wednesday

April Fools Basics

Life Fitness X-Trainer #5

(1:35-1:50)

Program Manual L1

Time: 12 (+3 min cool down) = 15

Distance: 1.45

Cal: 116

Avg Hr: n/a

HGPU 15 (not warmed up enough)

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:05-2:18)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (45) / 2 (38) / 1 (29)

Steps 581

Floors 36

Cal 87

Hr 154

Precor elliptical #1 (2:25-2:50)

Program 3

Time: 20 + 5 (3908)

Distance: 2.00

Cal: 221

Precor HR: 155, 200

Fitbit: 45-177 ?!!!

Skip HGPU 16

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30 (legs shoulder width)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga