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One of the worst symptoms of uvulitis is pain when swallowing due to the inflamed, swollen uvula dragging when swallowing. Remaining hydrated is one of the most important parts of recovery but doing so can be difficult when water hurts to drink.

Water is actually a very poor choice of beverage with uvulitis, because it has low viscosity and washes away saliva and mucus which lubricate the area. A much better choice is something which offers a coating of its own and which stimulates salivary glands causing more lubricating saliva.

Ideally you want something non-acidic, non-abrasive, and of a decent viscosity. As a bonus, if it is cold it will numb your throat and reduce swelling. Smoothies are the absolute best I’ve found. Not only because they’re the most soothing, but also because you can use ingredients which offer some actual substance when it is otherwise difficult to consume solid foods.

If you suffer from acne or get the occasional pimple, you may be familiar with pimple patches. The good (non-psuedoscience/gimmick) patches are hydrocolloid patches, which absorb the fluid and form a gel from it.

You can buy rolls of adhesive hydrocolloid dressings for prices that are negligible compared to a comparable volume of pimple patches at their premium prices. Patches cut from hydrocolloid rolls aren’t usually quite as invisible as purpose-designed patches, but they are transparent. The raise around the edge of the patch due to its non-tapered thickness is the most obvious part, but you could feasibly trim them yourself to minimise the visibility.

You can cut these rolls to suit, only using as much as you need, and they’ve been proven both scientifically and anecdotally to work on popped and unpopped pimples while deterring scarring due to the moist healing process. They do not work on deep, blind cystic acne or blackheads, however. In addition to hydrocolloid’s properties, a patch also disincentivises idle picking and protects the site from muck and bacteria. Even if you buy a hydrocolloid roll and find it useless for treating pimples, it is still a valuable tool more generally for burns, cuts, and scrapes.

To use, you should first gently wash and then dry the application site. Next, cut the patch to size, peel off the backing, and apply it where needed. I’ve had great success with them.

I am evidently powerless to resist the alluring temptation of chocolate-coated coffee beans.

My caffeine tolerance is already extremely low thanks to my self-imposed restriction of only actively consuming caffeine a maximum of three times a week. For reference, one cup of coffee past noon will keep me awake into the early morning. A cup of tea past ~15:00 will have a noticeable impact on my ability to fall asleep.

My caffeine consumption the past two weeks has been very low. For reference, about two weeks without any caffeine is about how long it takes for tolerance to be lost.

Yesterday I had a cup of tea followed by an instant coffee (tea first for the possible benefits of theanine). I was jittering, my mind felt sharp, I was honed in, and I felt overheated. I’ve never had such a strong effect from caffeine before. Even with my low intake and care taken not to consume too much, I must have had a tolerance built up.

The best time for productivity is any abnormal hour of the day when I can sit semi-comatose, powered purely by stimulants.

Just registered as an organ donor. Hopefully my bits can be useful when I’m no longer using them.

If you’re in Australia and want to do the same, here’s the link: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today

Also worth reading this set of myths regarding donation: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/all-about-donation/myths-about-donation