First Allergy Test

Yesterday I had the first of 4 Allergy tests... A little bit of mis-communication during scheduling because I thought that I would be done with all the allergy testing today.

Nope.

Today's fun and excitement was in the form of 48 pricks of various allergens usually inhalants.

Dogs, Cats, Weeds, Grasses, stuff like that.

Here's what my forearms looked like right after the test. (Strange picture alert!!)

Left Arm

Right Arm

As you can see, the left arm wasn't as bad, although the picture (taken on my phone) doesn't really show the 3 or 4 strong reactions. The testing went up onto my biceps, 24 scratches/pricks on each arm.

My right arm, had LOTS of reactions. Apparently I'm allergic to pretty much everything weedy outside. Ragweed and Sagebrush were SUPER high, which explains the crazy allergies I had up in Island Park Idaho at our cabin surrounded by sagebrush. Not a fun time to be on vacation with flu-like allergies!


I didn't get a comprehensive list this time, although I want one, but I was able to read off the charts what was being written.
I am definitely allergic to cats and dogs, but I'm NOT allergic to horses.
Random but interesting as well, my level of allergy is the same for both cats and dogs, but I swear I have stronger reactions with cats. Probably because I don't like them as much!

Monday I get to go back and get the Foods portion of testing done, then after that there are some finer testing to find the stuff they might have missed.

I really hope I find out the most possible trigger to this anaphylaxis during the food portion so I don't have to worry so much about it anymore.

If I can manage other allergy symptoms, that'd be great too!

Awesome Moves and Allergy Updates

This video is just awesome - "Turfing"



And some crazy Ladder Parkour... makes human possibilities seem a bit endless in Urban environments.



(both via Kottke)

And finally, in Allergy news... It's definitely Anaphylaxis, now I need to find out WHAT the trigger is.

In some ways I feel like the response or reaction to this allergy (Pump some epinephrine into yourself and call 911 or go to the Emergency Room) is a bit extreme... At the same time I REALLY don't think now would be a good time to leave my wife and kids without a father. That's probably one of my biggest fears is losing one of them, or them losing me. So it's an interesting situation. I am getting prick tests for Foods and Inhalants today. SO much fun I'm sure.

Allergies

Last night I had a fairly severe allergic reaction to something. No idea what caused it.

This is the 5th or 6th time this has happened to me, and it has always been the same (although thankfully the symptoms seem to be a bit less each time) - a bout of diarrhea followed by feeling very itchy all over and hives appearing, anxiety, slight shortness of breath (but no major airway obstruction), partial feelings of impending doom (that one is really annoying), and various other random discomforts.

Today as I'm reading up a bit on Anaphylaxis I'm starting to think it might be a good idea to go get allergy testing again, as this COULD be fatal, and avoidance is probably the best plan.

I just don't know what to avoid!

While the chances of dying are small, they are actually a lot higher than anything else in my life! So I think it's worth figuring out, right?

If anybody has any thoughts or experiences with Anaphylaxis and prevention that they would like to share with me I'd appreciate it!

Thanks.

Muppets Bork Bork MEEP!

And because I missed a post on the 4th of July...

Too Awesome - and Sad too.

I really am amazed how long they kept this campaign going!

Old Spice Ninjas and Pirates

Today the Old Spice guy has given me all sorts of problems.

Problems being unable to stop laughing that is!!

This video seems to fit this blog very well...



Thank you Old Spice!

New Fitness Blog

Usually I think one blog is plenty for anybody to deal with.

Lately I've been feeling the need to get motivated to focus more on fitness, so I decided I'd try a 2nd blog to be my Fitness record/thoughts/motivation.

The Fitness Adventures of Warlord Blade

This blog will still focus on all the other random things I usually blog about.

Thoughts, advice, suggestions, desires are all welcome. Thanks!

Final Quote of the Week - 50

"We don’t rise to the level of our expectations – we fall to the level of our training."

- Archilochus

- This ends (at least for a while) the Quote of the Week section of my blog. I love quotes so I may bring it back sometime. It remains to be seen. Hopefully somebody has enjoyed it! - WLB

Muppets are Awesome!

So is the Swedish Chef.

Thanks to my wonderful friend Nadia for pointing me to this one!



Looks tasty!

Muppets are kind of tradition on here too now, eh?

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay

Two weekends ago I participated in the Ragnar Relay's Utah race, The Wasatch Back with my awesome team.
"We Arrrrr Pirates Out Chasin' Booty!"

The course runs 188.2 miles from Logan, Utah down through the mountains and lakes of Northern Utah ending in Park City. Teams of 12 runners switch off running 3 legs each for an average of about 15 miles per runner.

(Read on after the break)