What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.

I went to an allergist and had allergy tests and consented to beginning allergy shots as soon as my personalized serum is concocted. After years of misery, and the entire year of 2006 bordering on DYING from allergies without even a season of respite, I figure the gradual desensitization of allergy shots may allow my liver enough of a rest from the constant deluge of chemicals that it may be encouraged to last me a few more years.

The process of poking teeny holes in my back was a breeze. It wasn’t until a variety of nasty substances were rubbed into the teeny breaks in my skin that I began to wig out. About 2 mins after the nurse who administered the poisons exited the room, the left side of my back felt like it was on FIRE. I was SUPPOSED to be listening to the video on the TV while waiting for my back to rise in a quagmire of ugly whelps, but instead, I spent most of it attempting to psych myself into believing that I could handle the increasing discomfort with maturity and composure.

So here’s the diagnosis…on a scale from 1-4 (1 being negative and 4 being the highest sensitivity:
39 out of 60 registered at 1+
Willow tree pollens: 3+
Every kind of grass they tested me for (except cannibas): 4+
Every kind of weed they tested me for (except cannibas): 3+ and 4+
Dust mites: 4+ (the whelp these little bugger made was considerably bigger than a silver dollar)
Horse epithelium: 2+ (???!!!#$%^$#@@!@!!!!!!)
Cat epithelium: 2+-3+ (ditto)
Penicillium notatum (WTH is THAT?!): 2+

I actually fared far better than I had expected I would…I was under the assumption that I was allergic to AIR in general. (On the form where it asked me ‘What sets off your symptoms?’ my answer was ‘BREATHING.’)

I’ve always wanted a willow tree. So much for THAT idea. I have noticed however, that since I went back to using my gas logs as my primary source of heat, instead of the heat pump, my allergies seem somewhat less cruel (perhaps because the heat pump’s fan serves to keep all the dust mite crap (I learned that it’s the dust mites’ CRAP that causes allergic reactions, not the mites themselves…though who ever heard of a dust mite that didn’t crap?) stirred up and circulating wildly throughout the air and my overly sensitive respiratory system.

Well anyway, I’m rather proud, as well as dumbfounded, that I’ve survived 4 days now, with NO medications whatsoever for my allergies. The past 2 days were rather hellish at moments, though admittedly, not as bad as I’d expected (I had EXPECTED that I would surely DIE). Today, however, has been quite comfortable. I’m going to see how long I can go ‘clean.’ I’ve been taking supplements and trying to purge my body from all these toxins that are supposedly intended to make me feel better (?!), and have reacquainted myself with the treadmill. Now, if I could just get my APPETITE on the healthy living bandwagon. Unfortunately, I’m not allergic to FOOD.