4 posts tagged “allergies”

So last night I got the results from a blood test I had a couple weeks ago when I had a really fun (note sarcasm) allergy test. My doctor, Zeb (we're on a first-name basis...mostly cuz I can't remember his last name), did a skin test, poking my back with 42 different allergens, the results of which were almost comical. Joe says it takes longer to list what I AM allergic to than what I'm NOT allergic to. So anyway, a few of my skin test results were bad enough that Zeb wanted to follow up with blood tests on them. Peanut, sesame seed, and mustard. Now the odd thing is, I don't think he actually DID a skin test for mustard, and I thought the third blood test ingredient was going to be walnut (which did have a reaction on the skin test). But I guess I was mistaken, and he chose mustard because of my verbal explanation of reactions I've had when eating things that have mustard on them. Anyway, the results of the blood test are: yes, I'm allergic to mustard. No, I'm "probably not" allergic to peanut. Yes, I'm allergic to sesame. He recommends that if I want to eat sesame seed or anything containing sesame seed oil, etc., I should do it first under his supervision in the office. This was all written in his ever-so-legible doctor's scrawl on the results I got in the mail last night. He says, "Avoid mustard." And to that, I say, crap. I like mustard.

Anyway, I did a little research on what kinds of foods contain mustard (because it's not just yellow table mustard, but mustard seed, powder and flour? Did anyone else know that they make mustard flour?)...and basically, if I really am going to try to figure out this whole stupid allergy thing in my body, I think my life is going to become considerably (read: exponentially) more complicated in the coming days, months, years. I may have to start some kind of rotation or elimination diet to filter out all the possible allergy foods and reintroduce them one at a time... But even aside from that, I think I'm gonna have to start reading the ingredient lists on EVERYTHING. Bah. Darn you, Zeb. Couldn't you have just said, "Yes, you have some food allergies, and we have a miracle shot that we can inject into your body and fix everything!" That would've been nice. Heck, I'd even take a freaking weekly injection if it meant I could just eat in peace, without stressing over what I can and can't have because of this or that ridiculous allergy.

I think what is most unpleasant to think about right now, is that if I want to see a nutritionist or dietician who could help me plan a proper food-allergy rotation/elimination diet routine, I have to pay my regular doctor the stupid copay that they make me pay every time I'm in there, JUST to get his friggin' signature on a referral to ANOTHER doctor, who will ALSO charge me a copay. Bah. Humbug.

I'm also reading Dickens' Christmas Carol right now. Can you tell? :-D It's actually pretty short. I can't believe I haven't read it before now. I think I might finish it this week...and I started it on Monday. Go me!

P.S. Next weekend, I'm going to the Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco. Sooooo excited! I hope they have sans-mustard-and-sesame food items for me to devour. *furrows brow* Here we go.

The last week has been hectic in more ways than one. And writing about a lot of it every day has taken a toll on me that I didn't expect. I'm really exhausted. And the strange thing is, I kinda feel like I'm more at odds with myself. My thoughts. My emotions. I keep writing about it, and if there's anything to be said in history, I should be feeling a smidge more relief...self-awareness...inner...uhm...chi? Or something. I mean, I'm not saying I'm a nervous wreck or anything. But speaking of nervousness...I think that this afternoon I had a moderate anxiety attack. At about 4:15, almost instantaneously, I felt this wave of shakiness flood through me. My hands became clammy, my heart started racing, my face felt flush, and then I thought, Anaphylactic shock! I'm about to die! Aaahhh!!!

Okay, to explain that little freakout of an inner monologue, I got allergy tested today. And while I'm pretty sure a skin test wouldn't result in anaphylaxis, given the mildness of the reactions I had to the stuff I was tested for, it was seriously the first thought I had. Because I am a freak. And I don't think rationally when my body does irrational things. So sue me.

Anyway, I don't really know where I was going with all that deep stuff at the beginning. Basically I'm just a little disappointed in the lack of togetherness as a result of my daily explosions of musings. And if that sentence didn't have enough prepositions for you...well...take comfort in the fact that I had to look up the word preposition to make sure it was the word I was looking for.

I need to go back to school.

Ha. Or just find my old books and re-teach myself.

ANYWAY. I'm officially not allergic to shellfish or seafood, according to the skin test. Which means, after 23 years of avoiding shrimp and all things shelled (well, not ALL things...but you know) on the basis that I might die because my dad is deathly allergic to it (but mostly because it looks and smells icky and I just never really cared to try it), I now no longer have an excuse. And thus...on or before New Year's, when Joe's parents make their famous blackened pepper shrimp, I think I'm gonna have to try it. Ack.

Aaaaand that's all I have in me for tonight. Like I said...

Drained.

Okay, this is really getting ridiculous. I am being followed. By fire. Last night, Joe and I went swing dancing in Whittier, and came home to his parents' in the San Fernando Valley and there was a definite smoke smell in the air. This morning I woke up to news that there are like SIX separate fires in LA County today. Yorba Linda, Brea, Sylmar (right across the way from Joe's parents' backyard view), Corona... What is going on??

The fire in my neighborhood in Montecito is now 40% contained. I'm relieved to hear that they are making progress. But now all these new fires are making me feel just as vulnerable as ever. Honestly, is this Armageddon or something? I'm only half kidding.

My allergies are going crazy. Funny, because I can't take my allergy medicine until after I have my appointment this coming Wednesday to test for...allergies. Talk about timing.

I just...don't even know what else to write today. But hey, I'm still sticking to my post-a-day commitment. That's dedication, wouldn't you say? Or maybe it's just distraction.

Today my mom turned 50. Joe and I drove down to the desert yesterday afternoon, and tonight we threw Mom a '50s-themed party, which was a huge hit! It was great to see my mom enjoying herself, celebrating life with friends she's known anywhere from a couple years to close to twenty. Just about everyone dressed up in '50s outfits, ranging from the tough greaser look to major nerds, conservative librarians (Mom in her pencil skirt) to diner waitresses...it was really fun!

Anyway, I'm barely making it on this post tonight, since it's 11:30 p.m. And unfortunately, I'm skimping on both length and creativity, because I'm distracted by a bout of allergies that came on toward the end of the party. Let's just say that by dose is really stuffed up, ad' also really ruddy. Ad' I keep sdeezi'g.

So...that's it for tonight. Tomorrow I'll try to be funnier. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! You're the greatest. :-)