I made an appointment. I couldn't take it anymore.
The pollen. Sweet love, the pollen.
I went to the doctor today because honestly, I have gone past the point of what Allegra itself can do. He asked me what he could do for me.
"Please make it stop."
My voice is altered from all of the stuffiness.
I have a throat cough from drainage.
Easter Sunday, my instant runny nose left me blotting my nose into my sweater as I coughed into my elbow.
Yes. Thank you for asking. I am 40 and wiping my nose in my sleeve. Later on that day, I used the hem of my shirt at home when nothing else was close by when the faucet attack came again.
High times of my life.
I told Dr. W that my husband bought for me the fluffiest Kleenex he could find and 2 bags of my favorite cough drops. I told him that I found him sneaking back into bed and asked why he had gone to the couch.
:insert grin:
"I wasn't snoring, was I?"
:chuckle:
"Didn't you turn me over?"
"It didn't work."
He said he knew that my nose was so stuffed up and that the drainage was so bad that there was nothing that I could do. My allergies sent my husband running for the hills, though I wasn't quite as bad as Bernadette when Howard got back from space. It was close, though.
Dr. W gave me an allergy shot. I've never had one, so I wasn't particularly prepared when he announced that I needed to turn around and get it in my backside.
"I haven't gotten a shot in my butt since I was a kid."
[An aside- do you guys remember always getting a penicillin shot EVERY SINGLE TIME you went to the doctor?]
My backside hurts. Oh, it is up high and to lay down kind of puts pressure on it, but if it makes me feel better, it is well worth it.
It rained today. That alone helped so much. I have K's soccer to sit through for the next few months. The next few weeks are supposed to be the worst. I'm hoping that the shot is just what I needed.
In the meantime, Ultra Soft Kleenex, Cherry Honey Ricola and Allegra-- they comfort me. (And my people!)
Be well and allergy free!
Showing posts with label Aller-geeze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aller-geeze. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Hello, Pollen. You are killing me.
We walk K to school each day. I saw "we" because 98% of the time, Hubs is able to join us. We walked this morning and as soon as we got back, I got a migraine. Before we left, I took Allegra (Rx strength.) When I started with the migraine, I took what Hubs refers to as my "concoction." I take an Advil, a Tylenol, and 2 baby aspirins. That generally does it.
It didn't touch it.
An hour later, I followed it up with an Advil Cold & Sinus.
That didn't do anything.
I pulled out a Coke and rolled a lavender headache essential oil roller all over my forehead, temples, up the back of my neck and into my hair.
Praise God! It started to let up. I had a haze for a while and that feeling like I thought that maybe I would vomit, but I wasn't certain. I had life to live and I wasn't light sensitive with this one, so I rocked it out.
I also watered it to death, meaning I drank a whole boatload of water.
Wow.
We went for another walk tonight because, well, this winter weight is not melting off on its own. Add another 2 1/2 miles to the 2 we did earlier. My eyes were burning, but my 24 hour Allegra still held. I looked the pollen count up this evening. Surprisingly, it was high! :much sarcasm:
We're suffering here. We can't open the windows or we would all surely curl up in the fetal position from the intense cranial pain.
Welcome spring. Rain. Rain is very good. It rinses this out of the air. At least the cars aren't yellow-- yet.
It didn't touch it.
An hour later, I followed it up with an Advil Cold & Sinus.
That didn't do anything.
I pulled out a Coke and rolled a lavender headache essential oil roller all over my forehead, temples, up the back of my neck and into my hair.
Praise God! It started to let up. I had a haze for a while and that feeling like I thought that maybe I would vomit, but I wasn't certain. I had life to live and I wasn't light sensitive with this one, so I rocked it out.
I also watered it to death, meaning I drank a whole boatload of water.
Wow.
We went for another walk tonight because, well, this winter weight is not melting off on its own. Add another 2 1/2 miles to the 2 we did earlier. My eyes were burning, but my 24 hour Allegra still held. I looked the pollen count up this evening. Surprisingly, it was high! :much sarcasm:
We're suffering here. We can't open the windows or we would all surely curl up in the fetal position from the intense cranial pain.
Welcome spring. Rain. Rain is very good. It rinses this out of the air. At least the cars aren't yellow-- yet.
Friday, June 22, 2012
The results are in and . . .
Nothing has changed. I only had a slight reaction to the venom-under-the-skin test. No RAST, as Dr. A- figures that the results are going to be the same. Basically, live with an Epi at my side, make sure that it doesn't go south, let him know to call in refills and come back to see him if I get stung again. A plus is that K- stood there and watched it and was rather impressed with the process.
I have a dotted arm and absolutely no more answers. I think that sometimes, it just kind of rolls that way. In the meantime, I refuse to discontinue gardening or being outside where there are bees. I'm not stung that often, so I'm hoping that it will continue to be a rarity and that perhaps, the reaction was just a fluke. Somehow, neither I nor Dr. A- think that with the family history I have. :crinkly nose:
If all I have to do is to carry an Epi Pen just in case, it seems like a simple solution to me.
Smiles in my day:
- I haven't done these in a while and it's not that I haven't had anything to be joyously happy about.
- My cousin called this morning and insisted that she aid us in putting K-'s Webkinz online. Of course, the only code we don't possess is for the one that she bought K-. (ARGH!) At any rate, K- is all thrilled having been introduced to the land of Webkinz. Her time is bought by reading (interchangeable now with TV time credits.) It took a bit of time (an hour and a half!) to get the land set up and to acquaint us with the inner workings. It is something fun for her to do.
- The green beans and some of the corn are up!
- Keeping the sale peacock eye out for Rachael. We've been texting back and forth about the lovely peacock that she found at Target some time ago. P has now gone on clearance, but is not in Rachael's area. We'll see how low she goes here and we just may have to have the peacock fly by USPS. We're watching.
Must go cook dinner! Have a lovely day!
I have a dotted arm and absolutely no more answers. I think that sometimes, it just kind of rolls that way. In the meantime, I refuse to discontinue gardening or being outside where there are bees. I'm not stung that often, so I'm hoping that it will continue to be a rarity and that perhaps, the reaction was just a fluke. Somehow, neither I nor Dr. A- think that with the family history I have. :crinkly nose:
If all I have to do is to carry an Epi Pen just in case, it seems like a simple solution to me.
Smiles in my day:
- I haven't done these in a while and it's not that I haven't had anything to be joyously happy about.
- My cousin called this morning and insisted that she aid us in putting K-'s Webkinz online. Of course, the only code we don't possess is for the one that she bought K-. (ARGH!) At any rate, K- is all thrilled having been introduced to the land of Webkinz. Her time is bought by reading (interchangeable now with TV time credits.) It took a bit of time (an hour and a half!) to get the land set up and to acquaint us with the inner workings. It is something fun for her to do.
- The green beans and some of the corn are up!
- Keeping the sale peacock eye out for Rachael. We've been texting back and forth about the lovely peacock that she found at Target some time ago. P has now gone on clearance, but is not in Rachael's area. We'll see how low she goes here and we just may have to have the peacock fly by USPS. We're watching.
Must go cook dinner! Have a lovely day!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
From the allergist's office.
Today I went back to have a nice, long visit with Dr. A-. It seems as though my bee sting from October 23, 2011 flared up when I smacked my shin on the step, it was healing and I itched it, causing the bee sting area to get big, red and welted.
Y'all, it wasn't so pretty.
On Monday morning, I called the allergist's office to see if he had any available appointments. He didn't have any, but they said that they would call if he added some to his schedule. I told her that I would go ahead and make an appointment with Dr. W-, my family doctor. An hour later, I got a call that there were free appointments and would I like to have one.
Yes, please.
I had to leave work for an hour and a half, but the time was more than well worth it. Here's the scoop:
Dr. A- said that he was "stunned by the negative bee tests given [my] family history" and my reaction to the yellow jacket sting. I said that I was rather surprised myself and it was a two-sided coin. On one hand, I was relieved to have it come back negative. On the other hand, I told him that I feared that it made me look like a fool.
He assured me that wasn't he case.
He went on to tell me that though I tested negative, he's having me come back in 6 months for a retest on the bee venom (skin only) and to continue with the remainder of the skin testing for general allergies. Then, I was told the most interesting piece of information.
He's not convinced that I'm not allergic to bees.
Seems as though there is 3% of the bee allergic population that tests negative. Though he has never had such a case in his office, he said that he certainly would not discount it. Family history (Grandpa died as a result of bee stings) and my reaction are enough to keep me hauling the Epi. He said that I should have one, especially if I go down south. "Do you go golfing?" "No, but we camp." "Do you camp in cabins or in a camper?" "No, we tent camp." "Oh! Hearty people!" He asked where we go and I told him Hocking Hills and Ohiopyle were a few places, and those aren't particularly close to hospitals. He reviewed my concerns, discussed my welted and discolored leg and has given me a delightful prescription for a cream to apply "one week on and one week off" as it can cause skin atrophy.
"I like my skin. I'd rather not have atrophy." He smirked.
He discussed that when I shave my legs, I want to make sure to use the cream 12 hours later. "Dr. A-, it is the winter and women don't shave their legs much in the winter." "I didn't really know that." "Just take a poll. Others will agree." He couldn't help but to laugh.
So, the wind-up is this. I have this cream. I'll use it as directed. If the cream doesn't make the bee irritation bit go away, I'll need to go to Dr. W- and have him perform a "punch biopsy" to remove the core of the scar that I have. Perhaps that is something in there that is causing an irritation and the punch biopsy would possibly take care of it. Hey, it could be worse.
What is truly delightful is that Dr. A- is extremely thorough. He takes his time with you. He was with me for about a half hour. He didn't think that I was a nut case and completely understood my concerns. Hooray for scoring yet another wonderful doctor!
On a somewhat related note, I took my cream prescription to the local grocery up the street. I was able to speak with the pharmacist at length about my need to fire my pharmacy, my desire to switch over to them and how things will be filled through their pharmacy. I explained what happened with the Lipitor and he explained that insurance companies will possibly not be honoring the name brand version anymore. Generics have to be the same active ingredient as their name brand counterpart, but their filler components can be different. I explained my concern about switching to generic from name branded Lipitor and he understood. He told me that I would need to have the prescription written "dispense as written" and all would be well with the insurance companies. He was a wonderful young man who really took his time with me. I did find out that they only carry Allegra D OTC, so I'll have to have the prescription for that transferred over to another Giant Eagle, or just bite it and leave it there. Argh.
Hooray for good medical people! What a wonderful thing to be thankful for!
Have a great day!
Y'all, it wasn't so pretty.
On Monday morning, I called the allergist's office to see if he had any available appointments. He didn't have any, but they said that they would call if he added some to his schedule. I told her that I would go ahead and make an appointment with Dr. W-, my family doctor. An hour later, I got a call that there were free appointments and would I like to have one.
Yes, please.
I had to leave work for an hour and a half, but the time was more than well worth it. Here's the scoop:
Dr. A- said that he was "stunned by the negative bee tests given [my] family history" and my reaction to the yellow jacket sting. I said that I was rather surprised myself and it was a two-sided coin. On one hand, I was relieved to have it come back negative. On the other hand, I told him that I feared that it made me look like a fool.
He assured me that wasn't he case.
He went on to tell me that though I tested negative, he's having me come back in 6 months for a retest on the bee venom (skin only) and to continue with the remainder of the skin testing for general allergies. Then, I was told the most interesting piece of information.
He's not convinced that I'm not allergic to bees.
Seems as though there is 3% of the bee allergic population that tests negative. Though he has never had such a case in his office, he said that he certainly would not discount it. Family history (Grandpa died as a result of bee stings) and my reaction are enough to keep me hauling the Epi. He said that I should have one, especially if I go down south. "Do you go golfing?" "No, but we camp." "Do you camp in cabins or in a camper?" "No, we tent camp." "Oh! Hearty people!" He asked where we go and I told him Hocking Hills and Ohiopyle were a few places, and those aren't particularly close to hospitals. He reviewed my concerns, discussed my welted and discolored leg and has given me a delightful prescription for a cream to apply "one week on and one week off" as it can cause skin atrophy.
"I like my skin. I'd rather not have atrophy." He smirked.
He discussed that when I shave my legs, I want to make sure to use the cream 12 hours later. "Dr. A-, it is the winter and women don't shave their legs much in the winter." "I didn't really know that." "Just take a poll. Others will agree." He couldn't help but to laugh.
So, the wind-up is this. I have this cream. I'll use it as directed. If the cream doesn't make the bee irritation bit go away, I'll need to go to Dr. W- and have him perform a "punch biopsy" to remove the core of the scar that I have. Perhaps that is something in there that is causing an irritation and the punch biopsy would possibly take care of it. Hey, it could be worse.
What is truly delightful is that Dr. A- is extremely thorough. He takes his time with you. He was with me for about a half hour. He didn't think that I was a nut case and completely understood my concerns. Hooray for scoring yet another wonderful doctor!
On a somewhat related note, I took my cream prescription to the local grocery up the street. I was able to speak with the pharmacist at length about my need to fire my pharmacy, my desire to switch over to them and how things will be filled through their pharmacy. I explained what happened with the Lipitor and he explained that insurance companies will possibly not be honoring the name brand version anymore. Generics have to be the same active ingredient as their name brand counterpart, but their filler components can be different. I explained my concern about switching to generic from name branded Lipitor and he understood. He told me that I would need to have the prescription written "dispense as written" and all would be well with the insurance companies. He was a wonderful young man who really took his time with me. I did find out that they only carry Allegra D OTC, so I'll have to have the prescription for that transferred over to another Giant Eagle, or just bite it and leave it there. Argh.
Hooray for good medical people! What a wonderful thing to be thankful for!
Have a great day!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Hello, Allergy doctor.
How are you this fine day? You say that you want to give me pokes to my arms and to see what bubbles up in reaction? :pushing sleeves up: Okay.
Today is the day that I find out what I'm allergic to and more importantly, get down to the details of the bee thing.
I don't like being poked.
I don't plan on watching.
I wonder if they have TV.
Today is the day that I find out what I'm allergic to and more importantly, get down to the details of the bee thing.
I don't like being poked.
I don't plan on watching.
I wonder if they have TV.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Out of the boot and Epi-fied.
The good news-- my foot is healing and while it is not fully healed, I'm out of the Aircast boot. Dr. W- said that if we didn't get me out of it, I would end up with mobility issues, particularly with my ankle. He told me that things are healing, look great, I have good muscle support (or something like that) and to ditch the boot and get into a good supportive shoe :insert pointing at my tennis shoe: and NO FLIP FLOPS. Um, it's about 46 F now and it was 30 this AM when I walked K- to the bus stop. Don't worry. I will not be wearing flip-flops. I'm supposed to take it easy and "don't do anything crazy" and I'll ride it out and be okay. I asked if he needed a follow-up and he said, "Not unless you do something dumb." :insert Dr. smirk: Okay then.
I gave him the bee sting story. "Oh yes. Well, then, you need epinephrine." He explained to me IGG's and IGE's (I'm needing to research) and how now each reaction will only get worse. I'm to take a dose of Benadryl and a dose of Zantac when I get stung. Give it 15 minutes and if I end up worse/major . . . , I must do the EpiPen. I also have extreme reading to do with that. I did talk to the pharmacist who said that the instructions are very detailed and that if I had any questions whatsoever, to give her a call and she will go through it step by step with me. (I may need back-up EpiPen knowledge here, Janeen.) I do know that the little tiny purse that I own isn't going to cut it anymore and now I'll need to graduate to the bigger one that I have from long ago and far away. Hooray! I found it!!! It needs a good polishing and some mink oil and it will be good to go.
A side story, but related-- my lovely aunt wanted me to go and get my feet fit for some specially made diabetic shoes so that she knew that I had excellent shoes to wear. Now, as much as I appreciate her thoughtfulness, I find nothing attractive about the shoes she wanted me to purchase and asked if she was insisting, may I please just buy another pair of Saucony? She said that was fine, she just wanted me to have good shoes. I have good shoes. My shoes weren't worn during the two months of casting because I didn't want to kill one and have one. Bless her heart.
So, I'm very carefully limping my way along. I've now been slowed considerably, as I am back to building up the muscles in the lower portion of my leg. I'm also cautious, as I don't want to re-break the metatarsal, as it is a very easy thing to do.
So I'm bootless and Epi-ful. Have a great weekend!
I gave him the bee sting story. "Oh yes. Well, then, you need epinephrine." He explained to me IGG's and IGE's (I'm needing to research) and how now each reaction will only get worse. I'm to take a dose of Benadryl and a dose of Zantac when I get stung. Give it 15 minutes and if I end up worse/major . . . , I must do the EpiPen. I also have extreme reading to do with that. I did talk to the pharmacist who said that the instructions are very detailed and that if I had any questions whatsoever, to give her a call and she will go through it step by step with me. (I may need back-up EpiPen knowledge here, Janeen.) I do know that the little tiny purse that I own isn't going to cut it anymore and now I'll need to graduate to the bigger one that I have from long ago and far away. Hooray! I found it!!! It needs a good polishing and some mink oil and it will be good to go.
A side story, but related-- my lovely aunt wanted me to go and get my feet fit for some specially made diabetic shoes so that she knew that I had excellent shoes to wear. Now, as much as I appreciate her thoughtfulness, I find nothing attractive about the shoes she wanted me to purchase and asked if she was insisting, may I please just buy another pair of Saucony? She said that was fine, she just wanted me to have good shoes. I have good shoes. My shoes weren't worn during the two months of casting because I didn't want to kill one and have one. Bless her heart.
So, I'm very carefully limping my way along. I've now been slowed considerably, as I am back to building up the muscles in the lower portion of my leg. I'm also cautious, as I don't want to re-break the metatarsal, as it is a very easy thing to do.
So I'm bootless and Epi-ful. Have a great weekend!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Happy 3rd Blogoversary of "Am I beginning to develop my grandfather's allergy to bees?"
You see, yesterday was pretty simple. We went to my sister's house to enjoy a nice fall day, go to the pumpkin patch and hang out as a family and carve pumpkins. As the kids were carving pumpkins, I was sitting on a little chair. I had just hauled my aircast boot into a mini pile o' dog poo, and my sister was going to tend to the removal of said substance. In the meantime, my boot was all undone and I was sitting watching and giving carving advice.
Then, I felt something on my leg. I gave my pant leg a quick brush and felt pain. Hmmm. That can't be right. I'm thinking something is in there. I decided to give the pant leg a big roll up, figuring that if I pushed it up, I would make matters worse. My niece gasped when she saw what was going on.
There was a yellow jacket trying to fly away, but it was completely attached to my leg by the stinger. It flapped and flapped and I thought, "Crap. What do I do?" The kids were sitting there. I didn't want them stung, so I gave it a quick swipe with my hand, then grabbed a hold of the aircast boot along the sides and stomped it to death with my healing broken foot.
Mark, my sister's partner, looked and dashed for mud. He tried pack it on. Where I thought the sting was wasn't where it was actually at. Then, we started packing the mud where it needed to go, but it wouldn't stick. LeAnne and Mark went to the house hunting for a straw to "suck the poison out," but they could only find a crazy straw. :) They came out with baking soda paste, which worked for a few minutes, until Lily, the Pond House Dog, decided to be all loving and distressed at my pain that she took my baking soda paste along with her on her backside.
My leg started getting splotchy and the darned sting hurt worse than I remember a sting hurting ever. About 45 minutes after the sting, K- and I started off for home.
Then my mouth started feeling funny.
My throat wasn't swelling. My tongue wasn't swelling, the area below my lower lip was swelling. I decided to stop by the drug store to get Benadryl. I hate the stuff, as it makes me feel like an ogreous zombie, but it was a must. I couldn't tell if I should stop by the fire station or take a run to the ER. It kind of freaked me out. I took the Benadryl in the parking lot and hoofed it to the neighbors when we got home. (The neighbor's partner is a nurse.) While he wasn't home, Mr. D- was and told me he could see swelling in my lower face. He made me call him to verify that Hubs arrived home.
Eeek.
The Benadryl kicked in and in an hour and a half, the fuzzy, swelling feeling went away.
Then, it came back. I took another Benadryl, as I could have technically taken 4, but decided that 2 initially were good. Very soon thereafter, it made me feel so tired. I made Hubs promise that he would wake me up a few times to see if I needed to take more. Thankfully, I didn't.
Today, my leg still hurts. (I'm not normally a complainer about such dumb things.) It also itches and there is an area of redness. It isn't swollen or hot, so that is good. Still, I have a family history.
My paternal grandfather developed an allergy to bee stings in his 40's. Sometime in his late 60's was when he passed away. He was attacked by a nest full of bees, he was diabetic, admitted to the hospital and the stubborn mule he was, he signed himself out. He wasn't there long enough for the time needed to heal and died as a result. I also have a maternal 1st cousin with an allergy to bee stings. Her allergy developed in her teens. I believe that there is enough there to catch Dr. W- on Friday and make it a double-it-up appointment for the foot. Hubs thinks that the bee unloaded everything he had on me, but certainly understands my concerns, particularly given family history.
So the 3rd blogoversary? That one must be the Benadryl anniversary.
If I haven't said it enough, thanks to all of you for stopping in and reading the drivel that I put out. It's nice to have you here.
:)
Have a great day!
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