Carmella's Hang Out

This morning while my Dad was at work, he told his co-workers about our Thursday night to Friday morning ER visit. They all had pretty much the same reaction, “They didn’t give her an epi-pen??” As a wonderful answer to prayer, one of the doctors there {a very nice man who has always been so great to my Dad and our family!! When I was 16 I needed to get my heart checked out, and he took me on as a patient even though I was one of the youngest patients!!} called over to a friend of his and got me in to see them!! So this morning, I went to have the first visit with the allergist. Since I am still on the medication from the ER, those being Benadryl four times a day, Prednisone, and Pepcid, I could not have the scratch test done, as it would result in a false reading. However, he told me that what I told him, and from the photos I took in {We have photos of my first attack, really gross!!} it was a classic anaphylactic reaction. He also told me what my RN at the emergency room said. They will only get worse, and my next ones could be life threatening.

From now on, I must carry meds with me at all times. My medical luggage is getting bigger by the month! hee. I have to have benadryl around all the time, I must have an inhaler, a “puffer” as he called it, and an Epi-Pen. He also gave me some Zyrtec to have with me for awhile.The Epi-Pens should be ready tomorrow.

Monday, I have to go back for the scratch test, since by then the medicine will be out of my system. That is, unless I have another episode and have to take any of my medication, in which case, I would have to wait another three days from my last dose. Though I do not see that happening. After my appointment there, I had to go across the street for some blood work. The doctor told me that was a preliminary blood work up that will help come the scratch test. They took SEVEN vials of blood this time!

I am odd though, I now like IV’s and blood work! lol. In the last few years, I have had so much blood taken, and so many IV’s put in, they are no big deal anymore, and I really do like to watch it!! hee. This morning, while fun to watch that much blood come out of me,….did make me pretty light headed and I had to drink some orange juice before I could stand up.

So that is the latest on that. We shall know more Monday. I think I shall do some research on this scratch test before I have it done…just so I know what I am getting into.

Thank you to all who have been praying for me in this. I greatly appreciate it and know it is helping me.