Allergy Testing and Diagnosis Complete

As I sit here dealing with a STILL itchy forearm from the last allergy test (see below), I think maybe it would be a good idea if I just became a bubble boy!!

Yeah that'd be GREAT!

Basically I'm allergic to EVERYTHING outside (weeds, grasses, trees, rainbows) but surprisingly I'm not allergic to many foods. I am sensitive to nuts (not Almonds or Sunflower seeds thankfully!), gourds (watermelons, squash, etc) carrots, and some milk products (milk protein, but since I've never really had any problems with cheese, I'll try to cut back but not eliminate it.). Good stuff to keep an eye on, but I really shouldn't have to worry too much. Nuts was my highest reactant in Foods, so I should try to be aware of that, but I don't think it will stop me from occasionally enjoying a Snickers bar!

So on to my 4th skin test:

Right Arm

See that big bump on the inside of my right arm? That is "Tree Mix B". I should find out WHICH trees those are... but as of right now I have no idea.

The "flare" (redness) was huge and the "wheal" was bigger than any other reaction I've had. This is what still itches. Yesterday the whole part that had flared had puffed up a bit and itch like crazy. It has gone down a little today, but still itches a lot. It's very difficult to not scratch it like crazy.

I have the results of the 2nd under the skin tests at home, I'll take a picture and put 'em up here, as they are somewhat interesting.

So what does all of this mean now that I know?

Option A is that I enter a bubble like I mentioned before. At the moment I can't think of many reasons that this appeals to me.

Option B is allergy shots, carrying an epipen with me as often as possible, and avoiding mowing the lawn (amongst other things)

So after the rest of this crazy summer is done and we figure out our finances, I'll most likely be going with option B. On top of that I'm very excited to try out this pre-exercise inhaler I've got now. For years I've felt totally fine while running, but at the same time I was always ridiculously out of breath. I thought "Huh, I guess I need to work on my cardio more!" but after all of this testing (and feeling the same feeling when not exercising due to the wear and tear on my body) I'm very interested in seeing if it helps.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Second and Third Allergy Tests

So I don't know if anybody really cares about all this stuff - but I figured it'd be good for me to document it, and if it DOES help somebody with their allergy problems, then great!

But before that - I thought I'd discuss something near and dear to my heart:

BADMINTON!



There wasn't that nice?

Now for the allergies:
First here are my arms after my 2nd skin test:

Right Arm after Foods

Left Arm after Foods

I thought for sure that I would have some more reaction to the foods tests, but I'm really not allergic to much there!

I was able to get a picture of the Allergy Prick test today - here are the full results:

Today's test was a few things to pinpoint problems, like Horses, House dust, Cockroaches, Aspergillus (a mold), Histamine (control) and a few others (I'll have to get the full list tomorrow when I go AGAIN) but instead of pricks they inject a little bit just under the skin. Looks like this:

Left

Right

So tomorrow I get to do more of the same.

My wife did some research considering that I have pretty strong reactions to most common forms of grass. She thinks it is highly possible that rather than something I ate - it was camping in Idaho amongst the sage and trees up there followed by playing in my Aunt's backyard a bit with the kids, and then playing more (and doing other things Dad's normally do) with the kids who had been more exposed to grass along with the high amount of exercise I've been doing. Interesting to think about.

I guess I need to stop doing yardwork!!

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!