Well, it was the only thing left...
Well, I figured out what the whole breathing issue thing is from. Apparently,the original reaction from the pills in June lead to me developing a brand new allergy:
Milk
People who are allergic to cow's milk react to one or more of the proteins in it. Curd, the substance that forms chunks in sour milk, contains 80% of milk's proteins, including several called caseins (pronounced: kay-seenz). Whey (pronounced: way), the watery part of milk, holds the other 20%. A person may be allergic to proteins in either or both parts of milk.
***I'm not sure which I'm allergic to yet. I'm assuming both.
Every time the person eats these proteins, the body thinks they are harmful invaders. The immune system responds by kicking into high gear to fend off the "invader." This causes an allergic reaction, in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. The release of these chemicals can cause someone to have the following problems:
•wheezing Check!
•trouble breathing Check!
•coughing Check!
•hoarseness
•throat tightness Check!
•stomachache
•vomiting Check!
•diarrhea
•itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
•hives Check!
•red spots
•swelling
•a drop in blood pressure I'm not sure... when I can't breathe right, my heart starts pounding... but that might be from not being able to breathe...
Milk allergy is like most food allergy reactions: It usually happens within minutes to hours after eating foods that contain milk proteins. ***That's about right.
Although it's not common, milk allergies can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis may begin with some of the same symptoms as a less severe reaction, but then quickly worsen. A person might have trouble breathing, feel lightheaded, or pass out. If it's not treated, anaphylaxis can be life threatening.
***I dunno... there are so many levels of bad, I don't really know what stage I'm at. I'm thinking I'm not this bad...
Milk allergy is often confused with lactose intolerance because people can have the same kinds of things happening to them (like stomach pains or bloating, for example) with both conditions. But they're not related:
•Milk allergy is a problem involving the immune system.
•Lactose intolerance involves the digestive system (which doesn't produce enough of the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in milk).
***Nope, not what I have.
I'm also wondering, would something else counter that? I had baked macaroni yesterday, but no reaction (would the tomato sauce, oil, something, counter that?). Later last night I had eggs with buttered toast... THAT I had a reaction to.
I'm not going to an allergist for two reasons: 1) They're not covered under my 'pity me, I'm poor' plan at the hospital. 2) All they do is poke me with stuff to see if I react, and then tell me "Yup, you're allergic to that. Take benedryl and avoid XYZ (actually, in my case it's A-Z). And then my body changes and we're back to square one.
What I'm going to do? Same thing I do with every other allergy that pops up in my life: plow through it. I know it seems like a childish way to deal with things, but if I avoided everything I was allergic to, I'd have to live in a bubble. My friends have tried, but they can't get the oxygen flow to work yet in the bubble-space.
My regular doctor gave me a 'scrip for an inhaler to help with my issues (actually two inhalers, but one is like $150, so that one will wait...). So I will use that when I have an attack, along with my normal regiment of benedryl and sudafed...
Stopping the milk won't happen. I tried that once with chocolate... and tomatoes... and nuts... and citrus... and strawberries... The allergy doesn't go away until my body gets used to it or my body changes. Also, the reactions won't go away completely ever because I'm also having reactions to moisture in the air, pollen, pollution, dust, animals...
So yes, basically, I'm screwed.
Milk
People who are allergic to cow's milk react to one or more of the proteins in it. Curd, the substance that forms chunks in sour milk, contains 80% of milk's proteins, including several called caseins (pronounced: kay-seenz). Whey (pronounced: way), the watery part of milk, holds the other 20%. A person may be allergic to proteins in either or both parts of milk.
***I'm not sure which I'm allergic to yet. I'm assuming both.
Every time the person eats these proteins, the body thinks they are harmful invaders. The immune system responds by kicking into high gear to fend off the "invader." This causes an allergic reaction, in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. The release of these chemicals can cause someone to have the following problems:
•wheezing Check!
•trouble breathing Check!
•coughing Check!
•hoarseness
•throat tightness Check!
•stomachache
•vomiting Check!
•diarrhea
•itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
•hives Check!
•red spots
•swelling
•a drop in blood pressure I'm not sure... when I can't breathe right, my heart starts pounding... but that might be from not being able to breathe...
Milk allergy is like most food allergy reactions: It usually happens within minutes to hours after eating foods that contain milk proteins. ***That's about right.
Although it's not common, milk allergies can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis may begin with some of the same symptoms as a less severe reaction, but then quickly worsen. A person might have trouble breathing, feel lightheaded, or pass out. If it's not treated, anaphylaxis can be life threatening.
***I dunno... there are so many levels of bad, I don't really know what stage I'm at. I'm thinking I'm not this bad...
Milk allergy is often confused with lactose intolerance because people can have the same kinds of things happening to them (like stomach pains or bloating, for example) with both conditions. But they're not related:
•Milk allergy is a problem involving the immune system.
•Lactose intolerance involves the digestive system (which doesn't produce enough of the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in milk).
***Nope, not what I have.
I'm also wondering, would something else counter that? I had baked macaroni yesterday, but no reaction (would the tomato sauce, oil, something, counter that?). Later last night I had eggs with buttered toast... THAT I had a reaction to.
I'm not going to an allergist for two reasons: 1) They're not covered under my 'pity me, I'm poor' plan at the hospital. 2) All they do is poke me with stuff to see if I react, and then tell me "Yup, you're allergic to that. Take benedryl and avoid XYZ (actually, in my case it's A-Z). And then my body changes and we're back to square one.
What I'm going to do? Same thing I do with every other allergy that pops up in my life: plow through it. I know it seems like a childish way to deal with things, but if I avoided everything I was allergic to, I'd have to live in a bubble. My friends have tried, but they can't get the oxygen flow to work yet in the bubble-space.
My regular doctor gave me a 'scrip for an inhaler to help with my issues (actually two inhalers, but one is like $150, so that one will wait...). So I will use that when I have an attack, along with my normal regiment of benedryl and sudafed...
Stopping the milk won't happen. I tried that once with chocolate... and tomatoes... and nuts... and citrus... and strawberries... The allergy doesn't go away until my body gets used to it or my body changes. Also, the reactions won't go away completely ever because I'm also having reactions to moisture in the air, pollen, pollution, dust, animals...
So yes, basically, I'm screwed.
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