Allergic Reactions

Today's post is not the one I had intended to do but seeing I've had an exciting morning I decided to write about this instead.

I, like most people living in this state, have allergies.  Over the years I seem to have become more sensitive to many more things so I finally decided to see an allergist.  (after taking my son in as a guinea pig...such a good mom, I know).  They did some testing and my symptoms became so exacerbated that I felt as if I had the flu for over a week.  (my husband, who I swear is the only one living in this state that DOESN'T have allergies, did not seem to understand how truly awful I felt)  They put me on a cocktail of medications and I slowly but surely began to feel better.  I returned for more testing and I can say that I reacted to 98% of the things they tested me for. 

After going through what medications I've taken and what has worked, not worked, or I can't take, my doctor called me a pain in the a$$.  Well, to his credit, he first called me a delicate flower.  I told him it was okay to say it how it really was and call me a pain in the a$$.  He then laughed and told me I took the words right out of his mouth but he was trying to be polite.

So, fast forward to today which was my appointment for my first allergy shots which I will go for weekly for the next year.  After reading the consent I've got to tell you that I almost backed out!  But desperate for relief I decided to give it a try.  Now, because I am me and can't do anything simple, I fully expected a reaction of some sort.  I thought the reaction would be localized and I'd have very swollen, itchy spots around the injection site.  Nope, not me.  Like I said I can't do anything the easy way.  They gave me 2 shots, one in each arm then sent me out to sit for 30 minutes and then they would check me and send me on my way.  Within 10 my eyes were itchy, followed by my ears and throat.  They gave me a dose of benadryl and sent me back out to wait.  Instead of getting better the itching got worse and I began to break out in a small rash.  So they pulled out the big guns... the epinephrine.

I've never had epinephrine and I really hope never to need it again.  First, it burns when they give it to you.  Then within seconds you feel as if you want to jump out of your skin.  Your heart races and I shook like a leaf.  It was almost as if I could feel it coursing through my veins, I had such a weird feeling all over.  Luckily it doesn't last long.  They loaded me up with some prednisone, made me stick around the office for a while longer and made me watch a video on administering epipens.  It seems that I "broke the rules" by having a reaction to my shot and now have to carry an epi pen around!  The nurse joked and told me I'm "a big girl now" with my epipen and I joked back that the only people I know with them are the 10 and under set. 

What should have been a 30 minute visit turned into a 2 hour adventure.  The doctor has re-declared me a pain in the a$$ and told everyone in the office I was going to make them all work for their money.  I am now home, feeling much better except very tired.  Between the dose of Benadryl and the post-adrenaline-rush-let-down, I feel as if I could curl up and sleep for a week.  (if I wasn't waiting for the bus I would!). 

The craziest part?  I go back next week for another shot.  I will pre-dose myself with antihistamines and my epipen will be on hand. 

Yup, just another ordinary morning!