ALLERGY ANSWERS!

 

Now that it's September and we are back from our vacations and life is starting back to the new year tomorrow (new school year  for all you non-teachers), I'm reflecting back on the last couple of weeks. We are unpacked, the house is clean, the laundry is (mostly) done, the cottage stuff put away until next year, the lawns are mowed, and our plans for the new small group Bible study/book group we are co-leading are up and running.  Meanwhile, this past week between all of the back home chores and back to school shopping I've done, I had my long awaited allergy testing!  Wow...my sisters weren't kidding that it takes MONTHS to get an appointment. I made the appointment last May and finally saw the allergist on Tuesday. It was my first experience getting tested and I had absolutely no problems. This place no longer  does the back scratch testing on adults.....just children....so she used my arms. She was an excellent tester and explained every step. They score on a 0-6 scale. 6 means you are the most allergic, 3-4 is somewhat allergic/not a big problem, and 0 means no allergy.

My results:

Dog = 0!!  This was a complete surprise because I've been allergic my  entire life so far to all kinds of dogs!  I even questioned the validity of the test. She assured me it was accurate and explained that our bodies change in regards to allergies every 5-7 years!  So apparently I can be around dogs now (although I choose not to be very often). 

Cats = 6.  No surprise there.  I've been allergic to cats since I was a baby.  I choose to not own pets and I definitely don't allow myself to be around cats unless the person keeps them outdoors all the time. (like at my sister's house...I can be in her house for a couple of hours before getting all stuffed up). 

Molds:  all 7 different kinds they tested for were 0!!  Thank the good Lord because we do get mold in our basement from time to time as well as on the north side of our house when very rainy/wet due to lack of sun on that side.   

Dust Mites including Mouse droppings (this was new to me...didn't know they tested for mice):  out of the 6 different kinds I tested at a 3 for normal dust mites in a house and a 3 for mouse. She explained that if I buy from Target (or walmart which i refuse to do business with), Hannaford/other grocery stores, or Amazon, to NEVER bring the cardboard boxes into the home. Open Amazon in the garage or on the porch and place in recycling bin right away and then wash hands. Wash hands immediately after putting away Target/grocery store items.  Why? because their warehouses are overrun with mice. EW. Who knew?? she said this is not a bad allergy for me....she said most people test at a 3-6 for dust mites. So that was a relief. I do know that if Dave or I don't vacuum the basement once a month, if I spend any long amounts of time down there, I will end up sneezing alot. 

 TREE POLLENS:  all 0's except for Birch Trees which was a 3. She said it might be a problem in the Spring season and gave me a list of foods to either eliminate during the Spring months or to use minimally during Spring while Birch trees are blooming. I found this fascinating as I didn't realize there are foods associated with the different allergens. She called it Allergy Overload.  So I know now to avoid certain pitted fruits in the Spring (or at least not eat a lot of them).  Thankfully those fruits aren't in season anyways in our area until Summer. There were other foods listed too and she said I wouldn't have to eliminate them completely from my diet but to be aware of them and eat minimal amounts each day.  Thankfully she gave me the printout of the foods. 

GRASSES:  a 6!!  She saw I was surprised. I said this is a totally new allergy for me. I have lived in grass my entire life. I used to lie in the grass with the girls when they were young, played on the grass, hike through grassy areas, etc etc.  Never had an issue until this year. She is very sure this is why I've had the congestion and allergy headaches every day since April.  She said it was a bad pollen year for grasses.  By frost the symptoms should be dying down. (they actually already are, glory to God). She gave me the food list for that which wow...totally makes sense.....I should cut down on wheat products, breads, cereals, certain veggies and  fruits during grass season. 

Thankfully all the mold testings were 0 because I sure as heck would have trouble cutting back on coffee, chocolate, wines, cheeses, etc etc. The food list was really interesting to me and I'm going to share it with my sister Hope because her allergist didn't give her one. 

That was it!  My two worst allergies are grasses and cats. So my follow up appointment is next week with my ENT who I am sure is going to try to talk me into getting allergy shots for the next 3 years. I've already decided I'm going that route. I will deal with the end of Summer just fine (i mean, when you've had a headache almost every day for 5 months, what's another couple of weeks??) and then come March I can start the Claritin D and Rx meds if I begin to see those sinus symptoms. I truly feel like the Lord wants me to trust Him and that I am not to put so much medicine into my body.  Meanwhile, my new doctor will get the results and will order  a neurology visit if the headaches continue past Autumn.  I'm asking the Lord to completely heal this and I know He can if it is His plan. 

At least I have some answers now!

Thank you to all of you who said you were still praying for me. I have loved  and been encouraged by all of your emails, texts, and  blog comments.