Carmella's Hang Out

So I had my tests done today. The results were in some ways just what I expected, and in others a total shock!

First, I shall tell you about the tests themselves, and then the results.

I had read that they did the test on arms for adults, and on kids backs. Not so! There is not nearly enough area on my arms to do the tests they did on my back! The nurse first numbered the top of my back, I think it was 1 through 9. Then, she began to drop liquid in each row. Row one was all different kinds of grass. I think there were 9 droplets in that row. Since each row was for a different thing, they each had a different number of droplets. I think it was 6 that had the most, with twelve drops. Some had 10, others had as little as 6.

After all the drops were in place, she had one control spot, a dot that had only the liquid solution, making sure that I was not allergic to the base. There was also one spot that she put a bit of water on, then stuck a piece of latex to my back. We were checking that, because I have very bad reaction to band-aids. The nurse then took what looked almost like a knitting needle, and she rolled it over the area. It was enough to sting in some places, but not enough to actually puncture the skin in any of those spots. I was then left for about 15 minutes, to let those sit on the now irritated skin, and react that which was going to.

When the 15 minutes was done, the doctor came back in, read the results off, marking them on the chart, and wiped off the liquid for me. Some of the rows, like three, did not have anything react. Others, like row one, had everything!

He then said he needed another test, we were going to move to my arms now. First, though, he had his nurse come back in and put some cream on my back to help with the itching. Once finished with that, she left to get the next round of test liquids. I was taken aback when I saw her come back with them, cause they did not look like the first ones. No….these ones had needles in them. Now, as I have said before, I do not mind IV’s or having blood taken. Those kinds of needles do not bother me at all. I like it actually, but I was not sure how I would feel about these ones. Let me tell you…..they are not IV’s or blood draws!! Some actually brought tears to my eyes. It all depended one what was in them. Nine per arm. She had to put the needle in and inject a small bit of the extract, leaving a little bubble under the skin. When she was done with my right arm, and moved to do my left, I thought I was going to pass out. I had been holding my hands so tight, that my fingers were going blue and I was feeling light headed. So I had to try really hard not to have a panic attack, or cry, or throw up. After I took some deep breaths, we were ready to do the left arm….which hurt even more than the right. I had to be left for another 10 minutes to let those set, even though some began to swell, itch, get red, grow a rash, and BURN right away, heh. The doctor came back in to say that he needed another scratch done, but this one could be done on my arm, since he had forgotten to have Brazil Nuts done on my back. Christmas day, I began to have one of my reactions after eating one of those nuts. We were able to stop it with Benadryl and rest, though.

Ten minutes passed, and all of the results were in{or so we thought! The Brazil nut had no reaction…..till I was on my way home! Then a hive showed up and began to itch like crazy}

THE RESULTS:

Well, Grass……but we already knew that. Like I said, every test bubble of grass tested positive for allergy. Dust and mold also were a plus for allergy. No shock there. The scratch test on my back showed no allergy to dogs or cats, but the arm test {which I found out was everything that I tested negative to on my back. They needed to be sure that I was not allergic to it, so needed it inside me this time. Many of them then tested with a yes.} showed that I am allergic to cats. This I already knew. What I did not know, was that I was allergic to feathers! Not good when you have a parakeet. What also is not good, is that I am highly allergic to a mold that grows around birds, and in their cages. The doctor says it is from me being an allergic person, and then having birds for so many years of my life….being around them, instead of building a resistance to them, made me sicker. He told me I must get rid of Noe’ah, or risk getting worse.

Other things that tested positive, were chicken and eggs!! WHAT?? I eat those both ALL the time, and have little hope of getting away from them totally. They will be some of the things that I will have to try and cut down on, and eat in moderation, while praying for the Lord’s protection.

Now…came an even bigger shocker. My blood results.

Last week, I had the seven vials of blood taken for testing. He told me that it came back good, showing that nothing else was the cause of my allergies….liver functions were good, etc. What was not good, was my allergic numbers. I can’t remember the exact name of it. Normal numbers are to be 0-125…….mine was 600. /jaw drops.

SIX HUNDRED!!!!!

What does that mean? Well, as it was explained to me…..it means I am a highly allergic person. It also means, that many, or almost anything, could send me into anaphylaxis. It is why just going out for a walk has proven hazardous to my health. And it can happen again at any time.

I really thought that I would go in today, be told I was allergic to a few things, and just had to be careful, but no big deal….and kind be done with it. Never again to have to deal with any of this, but just always make sure my epi-pen was not far away. Instead, I have to start a three to five year treatment, and take medicine everyday for the rest of my life to keep from having a potentially life threatening reaction.

Tomorrow, I have to go back for the first of my weekly shots. Since we had already pumped my arms with allergens, and dripped them all over my back, we could not do the shot today. For the next three months, I have to go in weekly and have a shot of the things I am allergic to. This will help build resistance to them. After I have gotten the jolt from these weekly treatments, I will move to less and less frequent treatments, and then it will go to only once a month or so. This is the one that will take three to five years.

Every morning, I must use a nasal spray. Every night, I have to take Zyrtec. These are just to keep my normal everyday allergies at bay, and to help fight off anything, should I go outside. However, I still have to keep Benadryl with me at all times, in case I begin to feel a tickle in my throat or anything else indicative of a reaction. This is on top of making sure my Epi-pen is always near, along with an inhaler. It would seem I underestimated my allergies. Here I was thinking I would be able to forget about it, and instead, it kinda felt like the world was once again spinning a bit differently after that appointment.

And yet, as I reminded Mum, when have I ever done anything small?? lol!! I don’t just get back pain, I get a broken back, and a degenerative disease. I don’t just get abdominal pain, I get PCOS. Guess it is the family way, eh?? lol.

Right away, Mum and I came home and cleaned my desk off. Noe’ah does not yet have a new home outside of ours, but she can not stay on my desk anymore. We had to clean any of the feathers and seed from the basement. We are also talking about the other changes that will need to be made. Caeley is so very allergic to her hamster as well, and to try and prevent her from getting like me, they will have to give Matthew away also. A new dehumidifier will need to be purchased, to combat the moisture in our house. It seems like allot to me, but I know it is what any other family with allergies does. Trust me, I do not think I am special or unique when it comes to getting sick, I know many other people battle the very same things I do.

I took some photos of the welts that grew on my arms from the test, I shall have to post those later.

I just keep thanking the Lord that this happened now. A few years in the future, and I may not have the good insurance that I do now, that allows me to get the treatment and doctor visits that I need. I also keep thanking Him that I never knew it was this bad. In the past few months, just think of all the times I could have had one of these attacks, and would not have been able to get to a hospital in time!! I went to Canada, Yellowstone, Alabama, and Texas all with no problem! When I let my mind get the better of me, it does worry me. It makes me laugh now, though in a few years it may be a source of tears, when I think about how I am going to get insurance with all these pre-existing conditions. My poor future husband!! What have I gotten him into?? lol. My brother commented, when I told him about this all, ‘You are going to have to marry a pretty rich guy to deal with all the medical problems!” tee hee. That is for another time, to worry for I mean. Now, I just keep thanking the Lord that I have Him for strength!! I really don’t know how those without Him do it. I do not think I am strong enough to.

SO…anyone want a pretty green Parakeet?? The poor kids were crying so hard when I told them that I had to give her up, and the tears only multiplied when we realized we would have to get rid of the hamster also. I will confess I shed some tears also, since I greatly like being a bird owner and will find Noe’ahs absence very odd and sad.

I did find another thing to be thankful for, in all of this. They did not find that I was allergic to chocolate…..so I shall be able to survive I am sure.