Medic Alert bracelet

So I am sorry that you aren’t getting your weekly tree today. In fact I am writing this blog while using Dragon software because I can barely string two sentences together if forced to type them out. Last night I had another reaction — food allergy reaction, that is. It has been quite a while since I have written anything on the subject, so now seems a good time.

For one thing, I want to remind you who are supposed to carry your EpiPens—make sure you have them with you at all times along with your Benadryl.

I went to bed as usual last night, after eating a light snack. A few strawberries, this time. Now, over the years I have been cautious about strawberries, because my mother was – my sister is — anaphylactic allergic to them. And since my sister and I seem to mirror reactions in terms of developing them, I just try to be careful. Anyway, I went to bed and everything was fine until 3:30 when I woke up in the middle of an asthma attack. The kind you wake up from gasping for breath, totally terrified.

I decided that I had better go sit in the living room for a while until it eased up, and was about to do so when I noticed that not only was I having trouble catching my breath, but my lips, my left cheek, and left eye were all tingling. I was also experiencing that familiar sense of spaciness that I get with reactions.

I woke Sam and asked if he would come and sit while I waited to see how strong the reactions were going to get. He did. A few minutes later it was getting worse so I took a full dose of Benadryl. Now for me, that’s like slamming several shots of hard liquor one right after another. It hits my system hard. I used my inhaler, made sure my EpiPen was ready, and waited. Twenty minutes later the tingling was a little better but not much, and neither was my breathing, so I took another full dose of Benadryl and used my inhaler again. By then, my chest was itching and turning red, and my scalp was itching and my face was looking puffy, which scared the fuck out of me. That seemed to jog the reaction and it started to fade. Within another 20 to 25 minutes I was able to fall asleep in the chair.

So, today. I feel like I was slammed by a truck. My body’s relaxed, but aching, and my mind is about as swift as a tortoise. I’m exhausted and I feel very fragile, like I could burst into tears at any minute. I am also having trouble getting anything done that requires any effort. Tomorrow, I should be relatively okay again, but I expect this week to be one of recuperation.

What makes it so incredibly hard is that I don’t know what triggered it. It could be a new reaction—either to a food I never had a problem with, or to one of a couple I’ve suspected as being troublemakers. It could be cross contamination. Sam could have forgotten to rinse his mouth out after he ate something that I can’t touch before he kissed me. Maybe some of his creamer got on the counter and dried there and I forgot to wash the counter before I set some of my food down. And the thing is: I probably will never really know. All I know is that I’ve spent one more night in hell due to my allergies, and that I’m tired and my body needs me to chill out.

This morning I emailed my doctor so she can file this episode away in my records. And for the next 3-4 weeks, I’m going back on the diet I go on when these things happen. Give my body a chance to rest by eating only those foods I know are absolutely safe. It will be boring, but I’ll have a chance to recover. And then? I may go back to my stand by. Add in one food at a time every few days until I run across the culprit. The elimination diet has been the most accurate diagnosis for what foods hit my body hard and what don’t.

So yeah, tired. And going to rest for a couple days while I quietly do some work. And this is why you didn’t get your tree picture today—I could barely think, let alone go out of the house. And please, if you need an Epipen or Benadryl, for the sake of the gods carry them—know where they are, and train your peeps in how to use them.

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Reactions, Reactions…Food Allergy, That Is
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18 thoughts on “Reactions, Reactions…Food Allergy, That Is

  • 02/17/2015 at 5:52 am
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    ohmygosh. Feel better soon!! These kinds of things are super-exhausting, not to mentino scary and frustrating. Well, that’s not telling you anything you don’t already know.

    FEEL BETTER SOON! And do what your body tells you to do and don’t worry re the tree picture – unless going and looking at it would help you feel a little better. In which case, okay, worry re the tree picture. 🙂

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  • 02/16/2015 at 3:16 pm
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    I’m so sorry to hear this. 🙁 my son has but allergies, but luckily they’re not as severe as yours. I hope you get to feeling better. Thoughts and prayers with you. <3

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  • 02/16/2015 at 1:00 pm
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    Yasmine, I am really sorry to hear about your allergy problems. I am one of those fortunate souls who has never had any kind of food allergy. I do, however, have anxiety attacks and they are mostly compelled by nightmares or just uncomfortable dreams, so I know what it’s like to wake up terrified like you did. I started having them when I was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2003. They don’t happen often anymore, and I’m really glad about that. I hope yours are infrequent as well. Blessed be!

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  • 02/16/2015 at 8:40 am
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    Scary! Glad you will be ok :/

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  • 02/16/2015 at 8:39 am
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    That is so scary Yasmine, and even worse is the knowledge that when you find out the new culprit, you will be so ill again. Is there no way to test that outside of your body? Take your time to get over this episode.

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  • 02/16/2015 at 7:13 am
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    Am very sorry you had such a horrible allergic reaction. That is very scary. Have a great-niece and nephew (brother & sister), both very allergic to anything with nuts. Have a friend with asthma and she carries at 2 inhalers, etc. Do hope you are feeling right and tight soon. Much health and healing from all your fans and friend.

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  • 02/16/2015 at 5:37 am
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    So sorry hon, I hope that you get better soon. <3

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  • 02/16/2015 at 4:16 am
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    I am so sorry that happened and I know how it is I have asthma, it makes you tired. so take it easy and rest. take care and god bless

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  • 02/16/2015 at 3:49 am
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    Hope you get to feeling better soon. I know about allergys and dread taking the meds, but what can we do? Love them or leave them! Lol. When I just had my oldest daughter, we went for a vist and my daughter had an allergy attack. Scared me crazy. The only thing I remember is I took her to the bathroom started the hot water for steam and then scrubbed every inch of that room. My other was with his sister doing a little shopping, when he came in , I demaned he take us to the hotel. He said I looked like a ghost. Thank goodness that I remembered those few steps. I got her on her meds and everything was back to normal. Now that she is grown we are best of friends.

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  • 02/16/2015 at 12:38 am
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    Saddened to learn of this frightening experience… thank Goddess Sam was able to attend thee in dire time of need.
    Maintaining ‘safe’ diet shall be key…
    Although food allergens shall not be an issue – moreso, than food compatibility shall ever be present.
    As such, dietary nourishment, although considered by many as ‘bland’ …shall be ‘Safe’ – agreeable to one’s digestive system. Less unpleasant side effects.
    Be well…
    Bright Blessings ~
    Natasha

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  • 02/15/2015 at 8:14 pm
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    Hope you feel better soon….my granddaughter is 8 and has to keep an epipen handy as she is allergic to tree nuts,we found out the hard way when she was just 2 she scraped a cashew across her teeth and had a severe reactiin within half an hour of doing so

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  • 02/15/2015 at 7:39 pm
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    Oh wow, I hope you feel better very soon.

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  • 02/15/2015 at 7:32 pm
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    My great-niece, Melissa, is allergic to 45 different foods, and has had some near-death experiences from eating the wrong thing. Her father ate a candy bar with peanuts in it, kissed her on the cheek, and she went into shock. She is a freshman at a private University in the Oakland, CA hills who take these things seriously and make sure none of her foods are cross-contaminated. Very scary!

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  • 02/15/2015 at 6:56 pm
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    Oh no ~ what a nightmare !
    Be calm and rest this week. Let your body heal.
    Sending healing and calming energy your way.
    Blessed Be to you and the whole Galenorn clan !

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  • 02/15/2015 at 6:52 pm
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    Your health is more important than a picture of a tree darling. Get well.

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  • 02/15/2015 at 6:41 pm
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    So sorry to hear… I hope you feel better soon!!

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    • 02/15/2015 at 7:36 pm
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      So sorry that happened. It sounds scary. Glad you had your meds ready right away. Feel better.
      Andrea Guazzo

      Reply

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