Thursday, March 2, 2017

#Allergy, #Asthma, and #Polyps Oh My

I mentioned I had my big allergy asthma appointment on Monday. I scheduled the appointment at the end of the day, so I wouldn't miss work. I kept them way past their work day, and feel bad for it. They closed at 6:30, but I was there with me from 5:30 to 7:30. Saying the boys and Travis were hungry by the end of my appointment is an understatement. We never eat that late!

History

I haven't been to an Allergist Asthma Specialist, since about 2003 or so. I got shots for about a year. Then their office moved way far away.

My Dad talked about his allergies acclimating themselves - meaning that he got shots for certain things, became less allergic to those certain things, and more allergic to other things.

Before that I got allergy shots when I was a kid from about the age of 4 to about the age of 10. My Mom used to give them to me. She was an RN for years. I was annoyed as an adult because all the sudden I couldn't have my Mom give me my shots. They made me go in the clinic to get them, then wait 20 minutes afterwards to see if I had a reaction. I get it. They didn't want a law suit if someone died from a reaction. At the same time diabetics give themselves shots. They too could have a reaction.

Feeling annoyed about my Dad's allergies acclimating themselves, spending money on shots, gas money on driving, my Mom not able to give me my shots I quit.

Fast Forward to Two Months Ago

I got sick with an upper respiratory infection something. I went to my primary doctor. He gave me some antibiotics, and an inhaler for my asthma. I've been hoarding inhalers in case I need them.

I kept get an asthma attack each and every night. It wouldn't stop. The inhaler gave me relief, but I was puffing one every night. I was so done with it. That lead me to make the appointment to go to the clinic.

Allergist Asthma Specialist

I have a new doctor: Ebrahim Shakir. I love him. Travis said, "Am I going to have to watch you with him?" Ha! No. He is informative, supportive, concerned, and handsome. My husband is handsome as well. :)

He looked in my nose and said, "Has anyone ever told you you have polyps in your nose." I'm like, "No. I thought that was snot." He said, "They are the biggest polyps I've ever seen. I'm going to send you to an ENT. One that I'd only send my own family to. I'm going to treat you with ibuprofen, and allergy meds." I said, "I can't take ibuprofen. I'm allergic to it." He said, "What? What does it do?" I said, "Well I start sneezing, then my lungs close up." He said, "WOW! Well that changes things. You're at high risk for getting polyps because you can't take ibuprofen to reduce swelling for you asthma and allergies." I said, "Well this would explain why I haven't been able to smell anything for a few years."

Medicine:

I'm on 2 inhalers, Zyrtec in the morning, Singular (off brand) at night, a nasal wash at night followed up with Flonase. That is only until I can visit the ENT doctor to discuss surgery to remove the polyps and more than likely fix my deviated septum I've had since birth.

Testing:


I failed the first breathing test. They gave me a breathing treatment, while they testing me for my allergies. I'm 70% down in my breathing for the little branches in the picture. I'm 20% down in the bigger branches. Basically I'm not able to breathe properly. I don't smoke, I'm not around smoke, I don't own any pets, I don't have carpet, and I wash our bedding regularly.


10 minutes of this...

Dr. Shakir questioned if I should do the back prick test at all. He didn't want to throw me into an asthma attack. They decided to do it anyhow. One good thing...I'm not allergic to milk like I thought I was all these years.

...while this was going on.

28, 29 30, and 31 are all grasses.

Luckily it doesn't really hurt to get the back prick test done. It just tickled. My back is really ticklish. It didn't even itch that bad. Maybe I'm just used to itching. Ha! I had my breathing treatment going on, and my kids in the room to take my mind off the itching. 

This is after the test is done, my back is wiped down, and calamine lotion is put on it:


Dr. Shakir says I'm a special case. As if I didn't know that all ready. ;) After I meet with the ENT doctor, I meet again with Dr. Shakir. He has 2 plans of action I could do: 1. I can't remember exactly. 2. Allergy shots. I explained my frustrations with them. He said he could send them to a clinic close to me. 

Right now I'm tired, even when I'm sitting up. I would think steroids would get me moving! I kept falling asleep at 8 last night. Maybe I'm catching up for lost sleep. I also feel like I have small bees buzzing in my head. 

Later in March I see my ENT doctor. I was hoping it was earlier, but nope that's when they could get me in.

5 comments:

~ Noelle said...

While I hate you had to go through it, it's neat to see the prick test, as I've always heard of it. With savannah, they just took blood and ran for allergies.
Hope you get relief soon, glad you have a Dr really there to help you.

Anonymous said...

It has nothing to do with your health problems, sorry about it. I'm not American nor British but European. I saw your comment on a so called Harry flashman blog ( whose posts are those of a crazy racist) ..just some words about your new president who for us here in Europe is a shame for America. How one can respect a man who imitates and makes fun about a disabled journalist. How disgusting is this ...who speaks about women , well no comment and who hates culture and intellect in general. Every one not thinking like he does is an ennemy. He got the profile of a narcissic pathology. Wish you much strength and good luck to live under his government. You and your family as artists will have to struggle and your little son supporting a spanish child, how nice. "Harry Flashman" speaks about the Latin community as dealers and rapists. He is not a humanist and has less charism than an oyster.
Friendly regards
Johanna

Theresa Mahoney said...

Glad you have a good doctor you trust that can help you through this. Hopefully, the month will fly by and you can finally get a good treatment plan in place.

An Apel a Day said...

Johanna - I totally understand what you are saying. I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech. That's not to say that I agree with everyone. I work with a lot of people and have family that think very different than I do. While it's sad that they think the way they do about others (in my opinion) I still want them in my life.

I very much dislike the way things are going with our leadership in America.

If you look at my comments on Harry Flashman's blog - I don't agree with him much of the time. Possibly maybe some of my opinions will rub off on him, possibly not. Maybe our only common thread is that we are so different.

Yes I'm an artist. It saddens me that art is being swiped out of our culture. It's not just visual arts, it's journalism, writing, acting that are all not appreciated right now. :( Arts in little kids help develop the brain in a different way. Friends of mine are loosing their jobs. My job may be in jeopardy.

I love our differences through and through. I heart all kinds of people. I have friends that are Jewish, Muslim, Christians and atheists.

I'm happy to discuss this more with you, if you leave an email. You could even leave in the comment box off to the side of my blog. Then no one will see it, but me. Peace to you!

Terra Heck said...

Dang girl, you've been put through the wringer! Hope they are able to get you feeling better soon. I had deviated septum surgery several years ago.

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