Last Friday, Matt & I went to have allergy testing done. We had to fast 5 days from our allergy medicine. It was a LONG 5 days! First you have to pass a breath test. You blow in a tube and try to blow hard enough to ring the bell with a clown at the top. It was a lot harder then it looked. Good thing I had three chances! Matt thought is was funny that it was so difficult for me. (Foreshadowing for another post).
For the actual testing they prick your back with a bunch of different known allergens and then wait and measure your skin reaction. Based on my discussion with the Doctor he had me take some Allegra beforehand to help a little. My back was itching like crazy and the LONG wait for the reading of the results took forever. Realistically probably 10 minutes. Then they gave me some more Allegra. I was still itchy 2 days later.
This is a picture of some poor stranger off the Internet, but gives you an idea of what it's like. (Yeah there's no way I'd put a picture up of my back!) ha ha
For the actual testing they prick your back with a bunch of different known allergens and then wait and measure your skin reaction. Based on my discussion with the Doctor he had me take some Allegra beforehand to help a little. My back was itching like crazy and the LONG wait for the reading of the results took forever. Realistically probably 10 minutes. Then they gave me some more Allegra. I was still itchy 2 days later.
This is a picture of some poor stranger off the Internet, but gives you an idea of what it's like. (Yeah there's no way I'd put a picture up of my back!) ha ha
My doctor told me I should move back to New Mexico where nothing grows, since I am basically allergic to the outdoors in general. Here is my rundown, on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest. Lots of 4's & 3's. Most tree pollens & grass and cats. A little bit shellfish too, but there's no way I'm giving up crab legs. *(I think you can click on the picture to enlarge it.) Thank goodness I'm not allergic to chocolate!
Now I get to carry an EpiPen when I go in for my weekly allergy shot. (Just in case I go into anaphylaxic shock. Don't think that will ever happen.) Hopefully by the spring onset I will see some improvement.Is anyone else allergic to the outdoors? What are you allergic to?
7 comments:
Oh, goodness, Jamey! That is crazy. You are sure a trooper!
Yikes! Watch out with those epipens...if you use it the wrong way, you could inject it into your thumb and possibly lose the thumb itself!
Oh Jamey I feel so bad for you. I have been stabbed a few times with those EpiPens and they are not fun! Good luck with the allergies!
Yikes, I had no idea you were so sensitive to the outdoors. Especially being married to Mr. Outdoors himself.
I wonder if I have allergies, but I am not about to take that mean looking test. Are they genetic?
That picture of your back is looks so painful.
You remember my reaction to penicillin, right? I looked like the kid from Mask. I can't imagine being allergic to everything.
Oh, and please don't move.
DANG...TALK ABOUT PAIN?!!
I feel your pain. I am allergic to grass and dustmites, and that is just from the blood test. They wouldn't do the skin test because I was nursing at the time. I really should have it done one of these days!
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