Allergy Test Results

Met with the allergy doctor today to go over the results of the test. I do not have allergies. I didn't react to much except dust and dust mites. I pointed out the lab results that I had dropped off ordered by my PCP doctor. He went over them with me. He pointed out that the high white blood cell count was due to the prednisone, so the number was not reliable. I told him my PCP was referring me to a rheumatologist and he agreed based on my ANA titler number. He tried to make it seem like it was not that significant, but as he was going over the scale he acknowledged that the number was quite high. It doesn't mean I have lupus, there are many more tests to be done, it can be indicative of many conditions.

So, I'm off to make another appointment with doctor.

Lab Tests

I got a call/message from my PCP doctor. She said the lab tests came back and she is referring me to a rheumatologist. Great...I heard the word "lupus" so that is now freaking me out. Has my body betrayed me and is making me ill. I actually think this is a likely situation. I don't think I have allergies. There is something in my body that is attacking me.

I have to wait and be patient. Wait to for the doctor. She said she was returning on Mon, so I could contact her then...great...

Allergy Test Part 1

I got tested for food allergies today. I had heard about it, and it's pretty much the grid and they put the allergens on each segment of the skin, to find any reaction.

Allergy Testing Tomorrow

I got insurance approval and am scheduled for testing. There are two tests, one scheduled for tomorrow, the other for Friday. So, hopefully by the end of the week I'll know what bothers me. Hopefully it won't be everything. I've been looking on the internet and there people who are suddenly alergic to everything...not good.

Weekend Update

I made it through the weekend without the rash and irritation getting worse. My neck is still red but not inflamed. My eyes are washboard rough but not red and not swollen. Overall, from about Monday, it is better, but I really would have though it would have gone away by now. In the past, when it had gotten to this point, it cleared up in a couple extra days.

I pretty much kept to my normal routine on the weekend. I went to the gym, did yoga and little on the eliptical. I was pleased that the getting hot and sweat didn't irritate it like I thought. So, I can't really use the condition as an excuse not to exercise.

I made the Fortified Drink for Sat, but didn't get to do it for Sun. I ate mixed okay, salad when I could, but went out to eat a couple meals so the goal of eating freash foods had to be put aside. I'm still mixed on the diet. Part of me thinks it doesn't matter what I eat, because I used to be able to eat anything. The other part of me does believe that eating fresh foods will help me get healthier, faster.

Behind my knees started to itch this weekend. Like the warm part, opposite my elbow...the uncontrolable itch. There were several times the weekend when I just itched all over my body.

I continued the meditation/relaxation. I'm focusing on this because that is the only explanation that makes sense to me. Unless I'm seriously sick, I think some sort of cumultive stress has thrown my body off, and I just need to consciously will it back to normality.

Hopefully this week I will find out the blood test results and have the allergy tests approved by insurance.

Allergist

I met with the allergist today. He was good, had personality. Talked a bit fast...I wonder how most keep up. He took a history, a fairly detailed one...the first to do so. Well, Dr. Swilling took a fairly detailed history too. He looked at my nose and ears and throat and checked my lungs. He prescribed prednisone, changed the dosage schedule. He wants me tested, just need insurance approval. He prescribed a different cream for the eyes, nonsteroid. Only problem is insurance wont cover it, but they are trying to get it approved. So, it was nice and felt good to be headed down a path, but it's still frustrating because I itch.

As I wind down my night, I feel the itch and I scratch. I was doing so well, but I don't know why the itch keeps coming back.

I've been searching youtube...meditation...hypnosis...NLP whatever that is. I'm trying it all. Maybe I should go back to the acupuncturist. At least she said I was sick, and could cure me.

The Itching Continues

I'm still itching. Now it's behind my knees. I'm sort of use to this area, its an area that gets hot, so is prone to heat hives. I've had those before. Where my neck creases, I notice it gets hot and the itchiness and hives are also there. At night, I get hot, the neck just sweats, it's so gross and I scratch uncontrollably. I just hope I don't scar on my neck. I'm pretty sure there will be scars around my eyes from all the rubbing.

Hopefully with tomorrow's appointment with the allergist, I can get some new insight and relief.

I bought some ph testing strips to test for alkalinity. I've been paying more attention to the alkaline diet. I feel like it's assumed that I'm acidic, but I really question this because I have a balanced diet. I eat my vegetables, at least I think I do. Can I really have an acid balance? We'll see...my testing strips should arrive by this weekend.

Naturopath Doctor

Later on Monday I met with Dr. Swilling. The center has a lot going on. He met with me for an hour, going over my history. He was just as puzzled because I don't have any triggering event, major change in life, etc that can explain my symptoms. He then went over the "theory"...the explanation behind "all" ailments. It starts with diet. The bad diet leads to sugar spikes and then crashes. This causes the hormones to react. The hormones overreact, which leads to a wearing down of the cells. Where cells are weak, the are further weakened by the hormones. The cells react and release waste, which he said is histamine. That is the allergy, the body reacting.

So, he put me on a fortified drink. I purchased the kit from him (not cheap), went to the store to buy other items, and started to make the drink. You take it throughout the day. Part of the ingredients is raw milk and raw eggs. It's a little unnerving to create this drink, and take it throughout the day, trying to keep it cold in my lunch bag. The idea is to drink this between meals so you never get hungry. Hope it works!

My Regular Doctor

I had my follow up appointment with my regular doctor on Monday. She sympathized, prescribed me more prednisone, added zyrtec and cimetidine, ordered some lab tests, and referred me to an allergist. I have the allergist appointment tomorrow. I am not happy that she added 2 new drugs to take.

I tried to skip the prednisone, but by Tuesday night I was itching even more and had to go back on it. I decided not to take the zyrtec and cimetidine. I'm going to wait to see what the allergist says.

Excited About My Appointments

I'm actually excited about my appointments because I've been so uncomfortable for the whole week, I'm looking for answers. I was doing well, until Thursday when the puffy eyes and itchy neck came back. The dryness and stinging increased. At times, my neck would just sting even though I didn't move it.

I've also tried to meditate/relax. My goal is 10 minutes. It's hard.

2 Appointments On Monday

I made two appoints for this Monday, June 13.

At 11:OO a.m. I have a follow up appointment with my PCP. I've been taking prednisone and the swelling has gone down. My skin is still raw, but it's healing. Strangely, while I've been at home this week, my arms, body start to itch. That leads to a cycle of a rash and I scratch more. Maybe it is my apt causing my problems.

At 1:30 p.m. I have an appointment with Dr. Jacob Swilling. He was referred from a friend of my mothers. I'd love to know if others have had good experiences with him. The consultation is $180. Is my health worth it? I tried to find out what to expect, but the receptionist wasn't helpful. What I'm concerned is that he'll prescribe expensive pills, or recommend this test or that cleanse, all of which will add up, and have questionable results. Got to let go of the skepticism. Right?

I tried internet searches to get reviews of Dr. Swilling. All I found were his websites, publications, and other professional articles. Couldn't really find any random reviews or experiences.

Acupuncture

I went to an acupuncturist. It was a few months ago. I knew I had to try something and the regular doctors weren't helping. I found a woman online. My main criteria was someone not too far. Probably not the best way to pick someone.

Her consultation was only $20, so that's not bad. She spent over an hour with me. That in itself was worth the $20. She offered me 3 plans...but that's where it got difficult. I couldn't really understand her, what the difference between the plans were, what the cost/benefit was. The 3 plans correspond to less treatment, more treatment, which translates into less and more money.

She had a quirky personality, which I was drawn to. But the skeptic in me made it hard to understand how the treatment works. All she could say was that I was really sick and that I could use treatment.

After a couple weeks debating, I went to her. What's $60 a session. Three needles in my forehead. I know that results take multiple sessions so I didn't expect anything. But then she gave me the same non-understandable 3 options discussion. She wasn't pushy, which she could have been, but she wasn't helpful in explaining what the plan for me would be. I mean, if she couldn't even explain the treatment plan, then how could I trust her. Her quirkiness, which I found fun and intriguing, turned out to be the turnoff, and I didn't go back. Plus, the prepared the herb pills for me. Wanted me to spend another $60 for them...that was too expensive for me. The skeptical in me could not pay the money for the herb pills...not when I didn't know what was in it...not when she couldn't explain what they were for.

So while I don't trust the reg doctors, it's hard to blindly trust the alternative medicine doctors.

The Reason For this Blog

I had another blog, but it's no longer relevant since I'm in a healthy and happy relationship. But, just as that was developing, and all things seemed perfect, I began experience some health issues.

As I'm looking for something new to write about, to chronicle, it occurred to me that this could be a useful topic.

The history thus far:

For a long time, I don't even remember when it started, I would have some puffiness around my eyes when I woke up. I'd wake up, one eye would be slightly swollen and puffy. By the time I showered, and readied for work, I was normal. No big deal.

By October November 2010, I noticed my eyes were bothering me. I noticed I constantly itched them. There would be some dryness or roughness around the eye lid area. It would get better in a day or so. I made a point of noticing it and marked the date in my head. On my return from spending Thanksgiving in DC area, I bought body shop eye cream to help, bought the super sensitive skin one. Thought it would be cooling, and help relieve the dryness I'd been experiencing.

The symptoms continued to get worse. I really dislike doctors. I'm rather skeptical of doctors, and pretty much everything. It was time for me to schedule my annual exam so thought I could combine the two. Do the exam, and ask about my eyes. The exam wasn't scheduled until February 2011, that was the first available.

Made the mistake of scheduling the appointment with the nurse practioner. While normally I'm happy with a NP, the scope of her advice was limited. When I saw her, she saw the eyes, immediately attributed to the dry weather. It's been particularly dry and cold, causing more dryness. While that is an explanation, it didn't make sense to me. I've never had dryness problems. She prescribed patanol and a steroid cream. I used the cream as needed, and it worked, can't deny it. But EVERYONE says don't use the steroid cream too much. The package warnings say don't use around the eye. I never got the patanol because it was over $100, with insurance.

Friends said I needed to see a dermatologist. So I asked for a referral. She gave me one and off to the dermatologist I went.

In the meantime, my neck started to itch and itch and I scratched and scratched. I went to the dermatologist and asked about both the eyes and neck. I expressed concern about steroid creams and continued usage. He dismissed my concerns, and sent me off with desonide and hydroxyzine. Desonide is an old steroid cream, supposedly mild. Hydroxyzine is an antihistimine pill; may cause drowsiness.

Took the pills for a weekend. Made me crazy. Like, I yelled at my bf. Cried like a wreck. This was a weekend where we ran together, so the frustration of running added to it I guess.

Using the desonide for a few days worked. And it does work. The problem is that when I stopped using, the itchiness came back. This leads to puffiness, redness, watering etc etc.

Basically since February I've been using the desonide cream on and off. The eye and neck problems have gone on weekly cycles. One week good, then slowly a flare up, then recovery, good for a few days, then the itchiness comes back.

I went to an allergy lecture given my a natropath doctor. She suggested an elimination diet. So, for 2 weeks I didn't eat any dairy or grains. Nothing changed. Symptoms didn't really clear up.

I then suffered through, there being good week and bad week.

This past weekend, things turned bad. I had a small flare up over Mem Day weekend. It started to get better...I was so hopeful. Then I started to itch by Wed-Thurs. Then Sat morning I woke up to very puffy eyes. I turned to claritin. Sun, I woke up to very very puffy eyes and itchy neck. I continued claritin and benedryl. Mon my eyes were so puffy it scared me. The numbness was from my cheeks to the eyes, half my face. I could see, but my vision was limited. With the wateriness it was very hard to see.

I went back to my PCP. She was better at listening and showed sympathy. She gave me an allergy shot and a 5-7 course of prednisone. And, here I am ready to blog.

What to do next? Continue with the PCP or go see a naturopathic doctor.

I've done some internet searches and it's even more confusing.