Allergies 101 November 2, 2008

I developed allergies in my late 20’s, to typical things like dust and pet dander.  I had a mild allergy to cats in college, but only found out when faced with a friends cat collection.  I ended up leaving her house looking like Rocky after a fight.  My allergies were always something I could easily handle with an over the counter remedy.  Things are much different now.  I live in the Great Northwest.  It’s a really beautiful area unless you have allergies to some of their favorite things, like Evergreen trees.  I had lots of headaches, my ears popped all the time and of course the lovely drippy nose.  I finally decided to take serious action and move beyond the typical remedy, allergy pill and nose spray.  I decided to get weekly injections of what I was allergic to, in order to become immune.  I know, it sounds crazy.  They say it works wonders.  The only catch, it may take up to 3 years to take affect.  I made an appointment first to see what I was allergic to and waited a week or so for my results.  It turns out, I am allergic to the state of Washington.  Every tree, grass, mold and weed, plus dogs and cats.  That’s discouraging.  So I have been getting weekly shots for about a year now.  I have noticed a slight difference.  I have less headaches, but still the dripping nose and popping ears.  Week after week I have endured being shot in each tricep with a witch’s brew of my allergens.  There is some consolation after each visit when I am allowed to pick from the sticker or candy basket to ease my pain.  I typically get a knot anywhere from the size of a grape to a small plum.  It gets hot and sometimes stays hot for more than a day.  OUCH!  I guess after having kids, it puts my pain in perspective.  It could be worse, right?  There are certain rules you have to follow when you go to the allergy center.  Absolutely, no perfumes or scented lotions.  When I first started going, I forgot about the smell-good stuff and went fully lathered in warm vanilla sugar body butter.  I was reprimanded for my glorious smell and told “please don’t wear lotions or perfumes to our office again”.  I was slightly embarrassed and never forgot again.  Well, there was that one time when I showered on shot day.  I got out and, not thinking about what day it was, sprayed my body spray and spread my body butter all over.  I was so afraid of getting in trouble again, at the shot center, that I showered again.  I have never been that well exfoliated in my life.   In addition to no smell goods on shot day, you would think that no pets allowed would be a given.  Well, I guess no one told the man I saw this week.  I walked in, signed in for my shot and took a seat.  Seated several seats away from me on a love seat was a man.  He was probably late 60’s early 70’s.  He had a stroller in front of him with a canopy over it.  I assumed there was probably a grandchild inside and he was being a dutiful grandfather.  Upon closer inspection there was a D-O-G in the stroller.  That’s right a DOG!  I was infuriated, because if he could bring his dog, surely I could spray a little body spray on, right?  I told the ladies in the back, when I went for my shot, but I guess I overreacted.  They weren’t phased by the presence of a dog, I guess he doesn’t use body spray.