Category: allergies
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Medical Tests of the Itchy Sort
2 comments on Medical Tests of the Itchy SortIn May 2018 I was short of breath. I thought I might have pneumonia. Turned out they found a pulmonary embolism and I spent 4 days in ICU. I was finally discharged to go home and rest. This also came shortly after a kidney stone and high blood pressure diagnosis, and I was really, really, tired. But my lung capacity, while better than with the PE, still…
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N Things Make a Post
Thanks to This Is Thin Privilege for the shout-out. Jeanette took on the “Obese women get only an hour of exercise a year” thing. …as did This is Thin Privilege. …as did Marilyn Wann and many commenters on Facebook (signin needed). On a personal note, my allergies are bothering me much less since Sunday. Why? I spent over 3 hours Saturday doing “soak, rinse, repeat until the water…
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Itch, Itch, Itch
Ever use a long-handled bath brush to scrub your back? Swap the brush for a dense sponge, and that’s basically the long-handled lotion applicator I got from Amazon. This morning I used it to put Aveeno anti-itch lotion on the itchy spot on the middle of my back. At bedtime I decided to try Benadryl cream – it’s definitely helping. Part of me feels weird to use…
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Histamines in Food
A bit of background: An allergen is something that triggers an allergy. When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in an allergen such as pollen or dust, the body releases chemicals, including histamine. Histamine […] causes dilatation of the blood vessels (flushing, rash, itching) and increased mucus production (runny nose, productive cough), and bronchoconstriction (wheezing, cough). Because histamine is contained in almost all body tissues, […] it…
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I’m a grownup, right?
Forty-seven years old. Working in software (not rocket science, but involves brains) over 20 years. Employed and promoted by a company that prides itself on “hiring and promoting the best.” Have been taking various meds for allergies for over 30 years. ….so why did I forget the Flonase again??? (I’m sure it has nothing to do with flonase being a nose spray, which I inhale better after…
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N things make a post
17) It’s the 17th week of 2013. I think. 12) I’ve been married 12 years. 11) My car (which currently isn’t starting) is 11 years old. Probably needs a new battery. 8) I’ve interviewed eight potential coworkers recently. 5) Five loads of laundry today. This is not counting the mattress cover and comforter, which went in the dryer on high to kill dust mites. 3) I worked…
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Allergist update
Had a follow-up appointment with the allergist last week. It was nice to confirm that the new meds and cleaning regimen not only feels good for me, I did better on the lung capacity test this time than on my first visit. It was nice to confirm that needing to use albuterol prior to aerobic exercise is expected (exercise is an asthma trigger, especially if combined with cold…
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Operation (de-)Dust Mite a Success
The quest to cut down dust mites in our bedroom was a success. I woke up Monday morning without a headache and without needing to blow my nose. I hadn’t noticed these symptoms much until they were gone, but they were. Even better, I seemed better able to handle other asthma triggers the rest of the day. It was even better than the additional meds (Flonase and Spiriva)…
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Operation de-Dust Mite
In October I noticed I was having more anxiety about the whole “going to the doctor” thing. I ended up calling the asthma specialist I’d been referred to at least six months previously and going in on Monday. This was stressful in many ways. I’m freak-folks-the-hell-out fat. I’ve got the whole mental “You mean it’s asthma, not just that I’m fat and out of shape?” thing going. There’s…
Living ~400lbs 