Update: even after a lot of sleep, I was still too dizzy and light headed to go to the protests by noon and wasn't even able to trust me not to pass out in the shower til nearly 2ish. I definitely feel heavy limbed anemic today (which I did not prior to the two days of dental work fillings) and even just the first sips of coffee made me feel like falling back asleep sitting in the chair and I feel very heavy weighted anemic now. 

I'm not particularly blue colored (for me) and no longer have mild cyanosis at some of my fingertips that I had briefly last night. 

That said, I've struggled intermittently since about the 5th grade with anemia difficulties while my iron levels are high and no doctor ever figured out why AND my skin/veins have always been close to the surface much more blue than most people (even more than anyone else in my family.) I've noticed that raw onions can make it worse so I assumed it was like with animals that lack the enzymes to break down the amino acid that lysis hemoglobin, because that makes my non iron related anemia worse... But when I read the list of known problems for acquired methemoglobinemia, it does fit. I mean, I don't use any drugs recreationally except caffeine and alcohol (not even pot, the only effect I get from THC is not any fun ones or any anxiety/pain reduction but only that it makes me starving and no amount of food I consume turns off the hunger mechanism -- I will eat until I throw up and then still feel hungry. For 12-36 HOURS depending on the strain. So for me, pot isn't fun, but I don't care if other people take it and many people are more receptive with their gifts to me beaming thoughts at them when they're high on it.) I get really light headed dizzy anemia and more blue toned from exposure to pesticides, including walking the dog by lawns recently sprayed. I don't eat cured meats or foods with nitrites/nitrates very often, but when I do they make me very tired and my anemia is worse afterward but with my pork allergy I just don't consider them safe from cross contamination at the slicer so I rarely eat them and don't really like them never have even before the carcinogen risk research.  I react badly to most of the local anesthetics that can trigger methemoglobinemia because they don't provide pain relief instead burn down my nerves. So I've already been avoiding the triggers that would tell me definitively if I have this rare thing where your body produces methemoglobin that can't carry oxygen instead of regular hemoglobin and certain triggers make that worse... 

I've never been tested for methemoglobinemia, even when I have been in for hypoxia related issues, by any of my doctors trying to figure out my exhaustion/migraine/fainting issues. We've found my iron and RBC levels fine but my oxygen carrying RBC low in the past.... I know more about what isn't wrong with me than what is when this happens tbh. Which left me very cynical about modern diagnostic practices because there is clearly something wrong when an otherwise healthy senior in college is sleeping for 18 or more hours out of 24 for over a month on her winter break and is still exhausted anemia without a source and plenty of iron in her blood.... 

But what good would a diagnosis do me really? I would know if it was congenital vs acquired (and clearly it's worsened by the triggers for acquired) and thus if trying methylene blue as first line of dealing with a severe case (where I would be in an urgent care or hospital setting anyway) would be effective. If that isn't available or doesn't work, you treat with ascorbic acid, then vitamin B2/B5 treatment both of which provide the body the building blocks to convert methemaglobin back to hemoglobin that carries oxygen, then if those are unavailable or unsuccessful, either a hemoglobin or full blood transfusion if still in need of care. Basically my self care is to avoid triggers and to have some vitamin c and B vitamins see if it helps with the hypoxia/anemia symptoms and everything beyond that requires medical intervention.

And honestly, I have always mostly self medicated with liquor now I think of it -- if you've ever seen me with a whiskey ginger, I always ask for it with a lime (and bitters if they have it) and eat the lime. I will also eat the lemons/limes from other people's drinks if offered them but only while drinking hard liquor not if I'm just having water/tea and citrus fruits are provided/available. And I have never had any hypoxia issues with hard liquors when I eat the limes and citrus fruit take in vitamin C at the same time -- I've only ever had issues with drinking excess hard liquor and getting to a point of hypoxia even with a low bac and not showing any central nervous or cognitive signs of the impairments of alcohol poisoning (other than vomiting which happens with hypoxia of all causes) when I've not had citrus with my alcohol drinking. 

At some point I should be tested, but why? It's rather like the Ehlers Danlos and redhead gene and my intermittent syncope spells and occasional migraines, there's only medical interventions for managing symptoms/consequences in a major fuckup of circumstances and preventative advice but nothing I could take regularly to do anything about it. And with the health care system as it is and the current regime gutting all consumer protections and medical funding, fuck if I need any pre existing conditions of any sort diagnosed now....

It's just a good thing for me to know and/or maybe a good idea for me to start carrying around those vitamin C chewable supplements/candies/powders for drinks for if/when I'm feeling anemic exhausted and or turning extra blue toned pale even for me. It's a water soluble vitamin, so it would take an absurdly large dose of vitamin C to cause health complications.

Anyway. Skerryvore show in Viroqua was incredible!!! I have missed those Scottish lads more than I realize until I see them again! Twas delightful seeing so many friends and acquaintances in both of the two bands and their merch people (Keito and JJ, both long time friends), and fellow audience members!! Now bedtime -- Crissy is picking me up 8:15ish (which is way too soon) with a Starbucks order for us then off to pick up Mikaela in Oregon (told her mom our goal is 8:30-8:45 for her to be ready will text when leaving my place and will take her to get coffee at the indie coffeeshop in Oregon M likes) and then to Milwaukee for Art in Bloom where our entry time starts at 10am. And I intentionally worked it out with my mum they should expect to keep my dog overnight rather than give Waffles the option of a late night pickup for an early morning drop off and take extra time out of wind down sleep hours, lol. I will pick up Ms O'Whoofigans when back in Madison after the art exhibit.