So I dug around in my medicine cabinet, and in addition to Monistat and Vagisil I came across a bottle of RepHresh Pro-B, which I had received as a sample while attending BlogHer in 2010. But don’t let the “sample” part fool you – this is a 30-day supply of probiotics that is designed to get my vagina’s pH balance back where it should be. RepHresh promises to “balance yeast & bacteria to maintain feminine health”, and I hope to God that it does. The capsules are small, and look to be thousands of tiny granules (the probiotics, I suppose) held in place by a clear quick-dissolve capsule.

In a few days I’ll be able to tell whether or not they’re working!

So I decided to pick up a pack of Stay Awake — caffeine pills. The recommended dose is one pill, which is said to contain the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee. I made the mistake of taking one pill, which gave me the shakes/jitters about a half hour after taking it, and then insane alertness for a good 6-8 hours after that. After that incident, which resulted in me being up until nearly 5:00am, I take just half of a pill at a time – much more reasonable, and it gives me the alertness I need to make it through a busy day.

Stay Awake pills definitely do the job – just take into consideration any potential caffeine sensitivities before taking them.

Consulting a professional is always a good idea.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Nearly fifteen years later, I still battle painful periods. They were okay for a while, but as I’ve lost weight over the past year and a half and my hormones have fluctuated in response to all of the weight loss and release of hormones in fat cells, my periods have gotten progressively more painful. I’m at the point now where I get through the first 2-3 days of my period in pajamas, at home doing as little as possible, and on a cocktail of Tylenol, Midol Complete, and 1/3 to 1/2 of a prescription strength painkiller (left over from my last surgery). The pain is intense enough that everything hurts, including laying down, sitting, and even standing.

A few weeks ago a representative for the Allay Patch contacted me with information on the product and an offer of a review, and when I read that the Allay Patch, a disposable electromagnetic therapeutic device worn on the outside of the body, has resulted in a reduction or complete elimination of typical menstrual pain symptoms in 71% of users in a study group, I was quick to say yes.

The Allay Patch, as I said, is a device that delivers electromagnetic therapy, via a small soft and flexible biodegradable “sleeve” that uses microchip technology and a small battery. The patch itself is fashioned into a loop, which is soft and flexible enough to be worn inside clothing, positioned over the area where the most discomfort and pain is experienced. In addition to reducing pain, the Allay Patch is also designed to reduce swelling and inflammation. All of these, as most women know, are common side effects of menstruation.

Since I normally experience abdominal pain, cramping, swelling and general discomfort during the first three days of my period, I began wearing the Allay Patch as soon as my period began, in the hopes of catching and curtailing the worst of the symptoms before they had a chance to reach their peak. The patch was easy to turn on and slip inside one of the two included covers, and soft and small enough that once tucked inside my underwear, it was all but unnoticeable. The battery life is 5-7 days once the device is turned on, so the Allay Patch can be worn continuously for the duration of your period, and then safely disposed of once you’re done with it.

I will be honest with my experience: while the Allay Patch did seem to reduce some of my worst pain, it didn’t take it away entirely. I did rely on a few doses of Midol Complete and regular Tylenol to get through the first few days of my period, but the presence of the Allay Patch definitely seemed to reduce the level of the pain. Also, I didn’t seem to be as bloated as I normally get during my period.

In summary, I will probably pick up another Allay Patch or two to use during my periods, but I’ll most likely need to supplement with over-the-counter pain medication. I do like the Allay Patch, and I am impressed with how such a simplistic little device managed to reduce my pain simply by being placed against my abdominal area — no additional drugs required!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer: BioElectronics provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Arnicare sent me a full-sized tube of Arnicare Gel to try out, which fortunately I did not need right away. But believe it or not, the life of a work-at-home mom can be pretty painful; in the last week alone I have given myself two papercuts, a tack-induced stab wound, a minor burn, and a few bruises from bumping into the washer and later hitting my head on the corner of our bathroom vanity. I’ve tried our Arnicare Gel a few times now, and it definitely seems to help with easing some of the tenderness caused by bruises and swelling. My six year old daughter recently bumped her elbow against her night stand pretty hard, and she was excited to let me apply some Arnicare Gel to her to help with the pain.

If you’re looking for a decent homeopathic remedy for everyday aches and pains, give Arnicare Gel a whirl. Psst… go here for a $2 coupon!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer: Arnicare provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Anyway, while I was at BlogHer ’10, I had the opportunity to speak to a few representatives from Boiron USA, the parent company of several homeopathic remedies, including Children’s Chestal, Coldcalm, and Oscillococcinum.

Children’s Chestal: Children’s Chestal is a multi-cough formula that uses honey and other homeopathic ingredients to sooth the throat and relieve coughing due to bronchial irritation. Children’s Chestal can be used to treat all types of coughs, including wet, dry, whooping, day and night coughs. The honey is filtered and pasteurized to ensure that it is a safe flavoring and throat soother, and the medical is free of artificial colors, flavors, and PPA.

Coldcalm: Coldcalm is a multi-symptom cold reliever that tackles nasal congestion, runny noses, coughing, sneezing, and minor sore throats. It works natural and has no side effects, and comes in easy-to-take pellet form — the pellets are tasty and simply melt away when placed in the mouth.

Oscillococcinum: Oscillococcinum, or Oscillo for short, has been shown by clinical studies and a long history of use to be effective in reducing the symptoms of flu-like symptoms. It helps to combat that run-down feeling, chills, aches, and fevers, so that the body can rest and hopefully more effectively fight off whatever bacteria or virus that is making you sick in the first place.

Up until now I have only used cold medications and symptom relievers that are found in grocery stores, retail stores and pharmacies, so it’ll be interesting to see how well these three products work. None of us are sick, so obviously we can’t review anything, but as the holiday season approaches I’m sure that one or more of us will get sick, at which point I will reach for Children’s Chestal, Coldcalm, and Oscillococcinum..

There’s the Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation, which consists of (psst, fill out this form for a $3 coupon!) a large can filled with the special saline-based solution, and two nozzles. For flushing and sinus irrigation, there’s the orange tip (actuator). For a soothing, moisturizing mist, there’s the white tip (actuator).

Ocean Complete also offers a general saline spray, the Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray. It can be used as needed to provide moisture and relief from hotel rooms, airplanes and other dry environments; it can also help to flush out allergies and relieve congestion. Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray is available in two sizes; both are small enough to take along with you in your purse or travel bag. In fact, I’ve been throwing it and my plus size swimsuits in my pool bag, since irritated sinuses go hand in hand with chlorine!

For little ones, there’s the Ocean Complete Premium Saline Nasal Spray For Kids. This spray is formulated just for newborns and children up to 12 years of age. Relieve dryness, congestion, and general irritation with a gentle mist that contains glycerin for additional moisture and protection from burning and stinging. This formula also features a smaller spray tip, which is more appropriate for smaller noses.

What do I think of Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation? I love the products. I just wish I had thought to stock up on these sooner! In the spring and summer, Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation is ideal for relieving dryness, itching, burning, and general irritation from allergies and the sudden introduction of ceiling fans and air conditioners. The product can be used to combat the same issues in the fall. In the winter, when sinus infections and congestion-causing colds are sure to raise their ugly heads (they always do for me), Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation can be used once again.

There are plenty of “alternative” uses for Ocean Complete Sinus Irrigation as well, including providing soothing relief and moisture after nasal surgery, and flushing out nasal passages after an injury or a nosebleed.

As far as usage goes, it really is easy to use these products. There’s no mess, no fuss, and no complicated setup or cleanup to worry about!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

• Contact lenses (14-20 hours per day)
• 6-10+ hours of computer work
• Lots of reading up on and designing of baby shower invitations and other baby products
• Air conditioners (in the summer)
• Forced air (in the winter)
• Ceiling fans (one in the living room and in each bedroom)
• And now that it’s summer, chlorinated water 2-3 times per week

Needless to say, strained, dry, irritated and itchy eyes are fairly commonplace for me. I tend to worsen things by not always taking my makeup off, so I wake up the morning with colorful, glittery wads of shadow, mascara and eyeliner often in my eye. And on my tired mornings (which I have an awful lot of these days), it isn’t uncommon for me to wind up getting facial cleanser and makeup remover in my eyes.

Bottom line? My eyes are subjected to a lot. And when they get dry and irritated, they drive me nuts. So for the past few weeks, in the mornings before I put my contacts in, and again in the evenings after I have taken my contacts out, I have been reaching for Rohto Eye Drops. The company sent me all four varieties, with each variety doing something a little different, although all four have a unique cooling sensation to soothe eyes, and all provide generous lubrication for eyes.

• Hydra for general irritation relief
• Artic for eye strain
• Cool for redness relief
• Ice for the relief of burning, irritation, and itching

These eye drops ROCK. I have been using all four varieties, and all four do a great job of alleviating dryness, irritation, itching, burning, and general eye strain and irritation — two things that I unfortunately experience often. And the relief isn’t just short-term, as it often is with generic eye drops or rewetting drops. The relief and lubrication lasts for several hours. The bottles may look small, but you only need 1-2 drops at a time, so each bottle will last quite a while. One thing worth noting is that the cooling sensation, particularly in Artic and Ice, is quite strong — almost to the point of burning. The good news is that the cooling/burning sensation triggers a flood of tears, for me anyway, so there’s no more dry eyes to deal with!

You can pick up bottles of Rohto Eye Drops from any pharmacy or major retailer. Psst… you can purchase a 3-pack that contains two bottles of Cool and 1 bottle of Hydra for just $20 + $3 S&H! Get the deal here!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars