Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Allergy Testing

Today was the day. I had put it off for years and looked forward to it for years. All for nothing, well maybe not “nothing”.  I will fill you in in a minute.

I have been working the last two nights and I am anxious to get back into my craft room. I am almost finished up with a great bunch of items. No pictures yet of the stuffed ones. I have finished up some stitcheries and stained those when I got home from work this morning.

This is a stitchery design by Moonchild Primitives.

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This is a stitchery design from Primitive Blessings.

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This one is a Primitive Stitches pattern.

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I am stitching a little slower than normal. My eyes have been very blurry lately, I think they are tired.

I had about 50-60 skin pricks, test came back with possibly allergic to mold and bermuda grass, so the doctor ordered up the next tests because he did not believe the first one. The next test  would include more of like a shot just under the skin, 17 of those. I was there for two hours, my little care taker Alice came with me and snapped some pictures of my arms, which are quite sore right now.

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Bottom line is this, I am NOT allergic to ANYTHING!!!!!! That’s right, all of you who know me and who have witnessed my so called “allergy” attacks, well I must be a good faker. I am upset, I was hoping to go and find out what I was allergic to and get a series of shots that would do wonders, but that is not happening. I am most likely allergic to guinea pigs, the doctor said he did not have a test for that, but since they do cause be to break out in hives, the doctor assumed that one would be positive.

I was a little upset at first but after talking with him he assured me we could still fix it, well mostly. My diagnosis is Non-allergic Rhinitis Nonallergic rhinitis involves chronic sneezing or having a congested, drippy nose with no apparent cause. The symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but there's no allergic reaction involved. Although nonallergic rhinitis is more annoying than harmful, it can make you miserable. Triggers of nonallergic rhinitis symptoms vary from person to person and can include certain odors or irritants in the air, changes in the weather, some medications, certain foods, and chronic health conditions. A diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis is made after an allergy is ruled out.(definition from Mayo Clinic)

I can stop popping the benadryl and all the rest of the allergy medicines that don’t really help much. I have a new nasal spray, sinus rinse once a day and maybe a higher dose anti-histimine if the first two don’t work in the next two weeks.

Anyway, I hope you guys are having a great week and are finding a little stitching time!!

~ Jennifer ~

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Girl...Well I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis!!! Stinks though....what about trying a netty pot? It's a saline wash that you use to clear out your sinuses...saw it on Oprah years ago..people seem to swear by it....
I spy a tat-you wild girl!! ;)
Have a great week. Were thinking of coming down to the outer banks next summer with my sister+family and my brother+family who live down there...I'll let ya know for sure!! :)
patti

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

You look like a walking road map!
Sorry you didn't get the results you were hoping for.
Your stitcheries are all wonderful.
I love primitive stitches patterns.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Prim Blessings
Robin

MaryMaryQuiteContrary said...

Ack! You are so brave! Glad you got the results you did, though. It must be great to know whats what finally. Your stitcheries are really lovely (as usual) hehe. Keep it up; you're obviously on a roll!
Mary Jo

Mary Ann Tate said...

I had those tests before too and I'm allergic to mold and grass pollen and strangely enough I am also allergic to cold water detergents? I used to be so bad with allergies for years but I have to say I seem to be better now. I use a product called HydraSense and it really helps. I know I'm allergic to rabbits and I only found that out after our 13 year old rabbit died. Instant cure:(

livy said...

FYI all. It is only my experience but at age 51 after eating wheat, nuts, potatoes, tomatoes, green chili, shellfish, and watermelon for years an IGe test showed a tiny blip of a reaction to wheat and walnuts. I eliminated wheat, nuts, mayo, tomatoes... from my diet (I ate grilled chicken and asparagus for 6 months), the rashes stopped. It took about six weeks to get used to it, but the itching and rashes were so severe there is no option. I have read here and there that allergy tests are useful maybe 30% of the time. I was tested four times--twice for molds, etc., once for chemicals. I have been sensitive to strawberries and celery, but please be aware that allergies get worse as we get older. Has your skin ever cracked using finger cots or rubber fingers? Do you ever feel like someone is brushing a feather across the side of your face and nothing is there? Have your eyelids ever swelled, turned red, and peel. Nothing else, just your eyelids? Does any part of your skin feel really dry or feel sunburned and you have never been out in the sun? If it is bad, please consider changing your diet. It may change your life.

Tins and Treasures said...

Good Morning, Jennifer,
Both of my girls went through allergy testing...so I can relate to what it was like. So sorry that they couldn't pin-point something.

Take good care of yourself. Make a thoughtful Thursday. ~Natalie

livy said...

More information... In my previous post I forgot to mention that after the 4 the skin prick tests and two biopsies the doctor said I was allergic to nothing. All I know is that I have no skin rash if I avoid wheat, nuts, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, shellfish, and latex. Tests have ruled out Celiac. From what I have read, I think it is a form of eczema if that is helpful to anyone else. I just read another enlightening article in the Aug 16 Wall Street Journal. For those who are interested please visit http://online.wsj.com/article/health_journal.html and look for "Adult Myster: Sudden 'Allergy'. It describes great details and also Adult onset allergy, vasomotor rhinitis, or seasonal allergies. The comments are worth reading as well.

Unknown said...

Thank you Livy for all of the information. I went to the article and that is exactly what my doctor had told me.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Livy. I can eat certain foods and look like I've gained 20lbs. I had doctors time and time again tell me I had IBS or something worse onlyy to do the tests IGe and IGG, I think they were, and come to find out I have a high sensitivity to eggs and dairy. Quit eating those things and it all cleared up. I went to a regular allergist to be skin tested for penicillin. Everything is fine. I mentioned the food sensitivity tests I had through another doctor and he said it's all a bunch of hoaky medicine. I said NO WAY! I told him I quit eating those offending foods and I've had no problem. He still does not believe it. I believe wholeheartedly in the food sensitivity tests only from my own experience. I also did what I needed to do to eliminate the candida in my body. From what I have read candida/yeast is a big contributor to allergies. Clearing it out of my body cleared up my sinuses. It's getting time to do that again.

Best to you Jennifer!!
Brenda
The Vintage Polka Dot