Yeah, yeah I know; I AM A TERRIBLY INCONSISTENT BLOGGER!
There, are you happy? Good.
Well since the Easter Egg Hunt and camping, not a whole bunch has happened. We began a family tradition of hiding Easter baskets in our one bedroom apartment. I hid Amy's in the bedroom and she hid mine in the kitchen. It was fun and we both only went a few dozen cents over our $15 budget. I did not grow up doing this, but I liked it and it will definitely be something I will enjoy doing with my kids someday.
In other news, Amy is really battling her allergies. They are resulting in throbbing headaches and itchy eyes. It's tough for me because I cannot identify with her pain. I never have had and don't have allergies at all. I want to help her in her misery but there's not a lot I can do besides not opening my big yapper so much and keeping the volume down on my voice. Of course, you all know that that can be a struggle for me at times. Okay, okay . . . most of the time.
Tomorrow night, Amy and I are headed north to Santa Clarita for Santa Clarita Christian School's 25th Anniversary Celebration. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping to see some friends that I haven't seen for a while. It will be a late night but it will be worth it.
Friday night is Friday Night Live at Village Bible Church. Two weeks ago I helped out with the sixth through eighth grade ministry and played basketball with two sixth grade church kids and three boys from the neighborhood. Steven Tanner, one of my friends from VBC, also came and helped. We played ball for about an hour and then sat down to enjoy some nachos! Myron Plotz, Steven's father-in-law, led a devotional on what being a real man is. Friday night is my turn and I'm going to talk about Elijah and his duel with the prophets of Baal. Actually, it's all about the God of Israel defeating the s0-called Canaanite god Baal. If you want to read about it, it's in I Kings 18.
Lord-willing, you can find us at Disneyland and California Adventure on Saturday morning! Grandma and Aunt Tracy gave us their tickets when they were down here a month ago. We had to use them within a month of their visit so we had to go this weekend or not at all. Amy and I have never been to California Adventure so we're looking forward to a long day at the Happiest Place On Earth (besides our apartment of course!).
Maybe if you're lucky we'll post a little more regularly now . . . maybe.
Showing posts with label Allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allergies. Show all posts
4.18.2007
1.24.2007
Bacteria
Yes, that's what's in my sinuses right now. After a couple weeks of fairly regular headaches and fatigue (and at the prompting of my wonderful husband) I finally visited my allergist to see if there was something wrong. He said my ears look great, which I'm very thankful for, but my nose is a mess. Actually, he looked in my nose and said "You have a bacterial infection in your nose." He gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, which I began taking last night. I'm thankful that it seems to be as simple as that. I'm hoping that it is.
I learned last night that most nasal passages are like a maze, designed to keep bacteria from getting into the sinuses where it can cause worse problems. Unfortunately for me, my nasal passages are keeping the bacteria in my nose. Bummer. But, God's design is pretty amazing. He's got great ideas :-)
I learned last night that most nasal passages are like a maze, designed to keep bacteria from getting into the sinuses where it can cause worse problems. Unfortunately for me, my nasal passages are keeping the bacteria in my nose. Bummer. But, God's design is pretty amazing. He's got great ideas :-)
11.09.2006
Issues
That's right, I have issues. This photo was taken earlier this week (I forget which night) when I noticed I had a bug bite on my arm. I didn't scratch it at all but put some anti-itch cream on it. After a while, I looked at the bite and noticed I had another welt right next to it. Soon there was another, and another, and another, and another.... until my arm looked like this:
I have yet to figure out exactly what happened because I went to bed with my arm like this and woke up the next morning with all the welts pretty much gone. WEIRD. Anyway, I took a picture of it (of course) so I thought I'd share it with the readers of our blog.
With that, I'm going to get back to reading. Have a wonderful Thursday evening!
P.S. Abigail, Heather and Ruth came to visit this weekend! Check out the pictures here. 
10.25.2006
Happenings
Since I've run out of things to do at work, I thought I'd spend a few minutes updating about the happenings of our life.
For those of you who have been wondering, my allergies are doing much better, although I do still get random headaches every so often. But, I'm definitely not as miserable or as exhausted all the time. Praise the Lord for that! Oh, and I'm hoping that I never have to have another scratch test as long as I live. I'm wondering if I should warn all my doctors in the future that I really don't like needles?
Happy has been videotaping Liberty's football games for the season, as you may recall. Last week Liberty lost 64-30 to Saddleback Valley Christian, continuing their losing streak. They are now 0-6 on the season, but everyone was very excited that LCS was able to score a whole 30 points in one game! Actually, it was pretty exciting, despite the comment I heard later that Saddleback Valley was hardly putting forth any effort at all. Interesting how getting more points in one game than you have the entire season can boost your spirits. I will say though that last week's game was much more exciting to watch than most (all?) of the others. Plus, the Saddleback Valley cheerleaders were actually pretty good (even though they did have their share of cheesy cheers--"Let me hear that left foot stomp! Boom! Shake it up, shake it up!") and I got to watch the game with Katie :-)
I finally finished Jerusalem Interlude and have moved on to Danzig Passage, the fifth book of the series. ONE more after this one! I'm hoping to finish them before I go home for Christmas so then I can be reading something else. Like I said a long time ago, I think I want to read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, but we'll see how many times I change my mind. Speaking of books, we finally got our very first dictionary (of our married life)! Happy really loves it. Whenever I ask what a word means he gets an excited look on his face and jumps up to retrieve the dictionary. Oh the joy of little things in life!
Ok, that's all I've got for today. Hopefully the mail will come soon so I can sort it and get to more invoices! It's also payday today so I'll have lots to do once the checks are all cut and signed. YAY!! Have a lovely Wednesday!
For those of you who have been wondering, my allergies are doing much better, although I do still get random headaches every so often. But, I'm definitely not as miserable or as exhausted all the time. Praise the Lord for that! Oh, and I'm hoping that I never have to have another scratch test as long as I live. I'm wondering if I should warn all my doctors in the future that I really don't like needles?
Happy has been videotaping Liberty's football games for the season, as you may recall. Last week Liberty lost 64-30 to Saddleback Valley Christian, continuing their losing streak. They are now 0-6 on the season, but everyone was very excited that LCS was able to score a whole 30 points in one game! Actually, it was pretty exciting, despite the comment I heard later that Saddleback Valley was hardly putting forth any effort at all. Interesting how getting more points in one game than you have the entire season can boost your spirits. I will say though that last week's game was much more exciting to watch than most (all?) of the others. Plus, the Saddleback Valley cheerleaders were actually pretty good (even though they did have their share of cheesy cheers--"Let me hear that left foot stomp! Boom! Shake it up, shake it up!") and I got to watch the game with Katie :-)
I finally finished Jerusalem Interlude and have moved on to Danzig Passage, the fifth book of the series. ONE more after this one! I'm hoping to finish them before I go home for Christmas so then I can be reading something else. Like I said a long time ago, I think I want to read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, but we'll see how many times I change my mind. Speaking of books, we finally got our very first dictionary (of our married life)! Happy really loves it. Whenever I ask what a word means he gets an excited look on his face and jumps up to retrieve the dictionary. Oh the joy of little things in life!
Ok, that's all I've got for today. Hopefully the mail will come soon so I can sort it and get to more invoices! It's also payday today so I'll have lots to do once the checks are all cut and signed. YAY!! Have a lovely Wednesday!
10.11.2006
My Scratch Test
Happy's summary was quite accurate, but I thought I'd go ahead and explain a little bit of the experience from my perspective.
The whole thing started when I went to our doctor and found out my insurance hadn't completely gone through yet. After a few phone calls and talking with the receptionist in the doctor's office, I learned that the doctor doesn't actually do allergy tests. After leaving work early to find this out I was a bit frustrated and called my boss, Rebecca, to let her know. She then called a bunch of allergists and dermatologists to see if anyone could take me today. Finally she found the one in Long Beach (Dr. Ochsner) and we went, after I picked Happy up to go with me. I thought perhaps I might not be ok to drive home after the scratch test.... Good hunch I'd say.
When we got to the allergist there were a few people in the waiting room, so we just sat and read our books for a while. Once it was my turn, Dr. Ochsner brought me in, looked in my ears ("Nice ears!") and nose ("Not so nice nose...") and then listened to me breathe. He asked if I ever have trouble breathing and I said only a little when I'm around cats for a while. Then he explained to me how the scratch test works. It's actually not a scratch, but a puncture... with a needle. As he pulled out six different bottles, he explained to me that he'd test out six different things I might be allergic to. He drew three red lines on my left forearm and then proceeded to stick me with six different needles and substances--one on each tip of the three red lines.
At this point I should mention that Dr. Ochsner was probably easily in his 60s and an extremely kind and friendly man. He definitely had that grandfatherly way about him and I felt very comfortable with him.
Before he started I told him I really don't like blood. He said I should be fine. After the first shot I said I really don't like needles either. He proceeded to tell me that he used to not like them either, but after so many years and experiencing such wonderful things from needles (i.e. birth), he has sort of gotten over it. "Plus," he said, "it helps to be on the other end of the needle!" I wasn't very amused as he pointed out that there were only four more to go! By the third one I said I wasn't feeling so good and could feel the color draining from my face. He said I could put my head between my knees and it would help. I immediately did so, holding my left arm out of my range of vision as he injected me with the fourth substance. Here my legs started to shake and I began to get dizzy. I kept saying, "I don't feel good... I don't feel good... I don't feel good..." He continued with his countdown "Just two more! You'll be fine!"
The fifth and sixth ones felt like they took forever. I had my eyes closed and was digging my right index fingernail into my right thumb to distract myself from the needle poke. It didn't work. When he finished the sixth one he said, "Alright, you can go back into the waiting room with your husband." I staggered out and collapsed into the first chair, which happened to be two seats away from where Happy was sitting. He gently said, "Come sit next to me..." While I did hear him, I didn't respond because I was concentrating on not vomiting or passing out. After a minute he said, "Ok, I'll just move then..." By then I had put my head down again between my legs and was asking where the bathroom was. Happy got up and glanced around, but it was too late. I puked right there on the carpet of the waiting room. Thankfully there were no other patients waiting there.
Dr. Ochsner, as Happy said, wasn't fazed by my vomit and calmly brought out paper towel after paper towel--wet ones and dry ones, for me and the carpet. Happy cleaned it up and could definitely tell I had eaten strawberry yogurt. Interestingly enough, I felt much better afterwards. Dr. Ochsner said it usually works that way. (I think he knew that and was just helping me to get to the point of vomiting!)
After a few minutes the doctor brought me back in from the waiting room and explained to me the welts that were developing on my arm from the shots. Five of them were ones he thought I'd be allergic to and one was an injection that he knew I wasn't allergic to (as a point of comparison with the others). I got a 100%! I was allergic to all five of the injections, but the most allergic to rye grass, which was like a mini-continent on my forearm. The others were just little islands--dust mite, Chinese oak (I think), and tumbleweed were ones I remember. Tumbleweed was the next largest welt. He then brought us outside to the parking lot to show us what Chinese oak looked like. Soon, we learned about all of the trees in the parking lot, from this knowledgeable doctor. Meanwhile, I'm sneezing every 5 seconds or so and in dire need of a tissue, which is waiting for me back inside the office. When we got back inside, I grabbed several tissues and Dr. Ochsner explained my allergies a bit more.
Apparently my nose is super healthy because it has been working 24 hours a day to deal with all the pollen in the air. That, however, means that I am exhausted all the time because my body keeps trying to fight the pollen. He also explained that I have a slight case of asthma, but if we deal with my nose, the asthma should never be much of a problem. So, he gave me free samples of two different nose sprays (Nasonex and Astelin, for those who are interested) and told me how to spray properly (nose to toes and opposite hands). He did one dose for me and then explained that it could make me feel drowsy, but might not. We went home (Happy drove) and I basically felt like I'd been attacked and was indeed exhausted, but not from the nose spray, as I have since learned. The scratch test wore me out.
So, the next morning (yesterday) I woke up to a swollen and burning hot forearm, along with tingly fingers. I went to work, cried on the way (because I called my mom and started thinking I might need to have my arm amputated or drained with a huge needle), and then called Dr. Ochsner when the office opened. They said I could come back in and he'd take a look at it. I did and he gave me Benadryl and said to put heat on my arm to increase circulation. I then decided to go home for the day and conk out with the Benadryl. Over the last few days I think I've slept more than I've been awake! Last night the swelling moved up to my elbow a bit more and the inside of my elbow is a bit fat. But, the redness has lessened and my arm isn't as burning hot as it was yesterday. Still, it's pretty heavy and tight, and I'm looking forward to it getting back to normal! It's been quite an exciting week for me, but the good news is, the nose sprays are helping a lot--and my arm does not need to be drained with a huge needle or amputated :-) Thank you for all your prayers and concerns!
The whole thing started when I went to our doctor and found out my insurance hadn't completely gone through yet. After a few phone calls and talking with the receptionist in the doctor's office, I learned that the doctor doesn't actually do allergy tests. After leaving work early to find this out I was a bit frustrated and called my boss, Rebecca, to let her know. She then called a bunch of allergists and dermatologists to see if anyone could take me today. Finally she found the one in Long Beach (Dr. Ochsner) and we went, after I picked Happy up to go with me. I thought perhaps I might not be ok to drive home after the scratch test.... Good hunch I'd say.
When we got to the allergist there were a few people in the waiting room, so we just sat and read our books for a while. Once it was my turn, Dr. Ochsner brought me in, looked in my ears ("Nice ears!") and nose ("Not so nice nose...") and then listened to me breathe. He asked if I ever have trouble breathing and I said only a little when I'm around cats for a while. Then he explained to me how the scratch test works. It's actually not a scratch, but a puncture... with a needle. As he pulled out six different bottles, he explained to me that he'd test out six different things I might be allergic to. He drew three red lines on my left forearm and then proceeded to stick me with six different needles and substances--one on each tip of the three red lines.
At this point I should mention that Dr. Ochsner was probably easily in his 60s and an extremely kind and friendly man. He definitely had that grandfatherly way about him and I felt very comfortable with him.
Before he started I told him I really don't like blood. He said I should be fine. After the first shot I said I really don't like needles either. He proceeded to tell me that he used to not like them either, but after so many years and experiencing such wonderful things from needles (i.e. birth), he has sort of gotten over it. "Plus," he said, "it helps to be on the other end of the needle!"
The fifth and sixth ones felt like they took forever. I had my eyes closed and was digging my right index fingernail into my right thumb to distract myself from the needle poke. It didn't work. When he finished the sixth one he said, "Alright, you can go back into the waiting room with your husband." I staggered out and collapsed into the first chair, which happened to be two seats away from where Happy was sitting. He gently said, "Come sit next to me..." While I did hear him, I didn't respond because I was concentrating on not vomiting or passing out. After a minute he said, "Ok, I'll just move then..." By then I had put my head down again between my legs and was asking where the bathroom was. Happy got up and glanced around, but it was too late. I puked right there on the carpet of the waiting room. Thankfully there were no other patients waiting there.
Dr. Ochsner, as Happy said, wasn't fazed by my vomit and calmly brought out paper towel after paper towel--wet ones and dry ones, for me and the carpet. Happy cleaned it up and could definitely tell I had eaten strawberry yogurt. Interestingly enough, I felt much better afterwards. Dr. Ochsner said it usually works that way. (I think he knew that and was just helping me to get to the point of vomiting!)
After a few minutes the doctor brought me back in from the waiting room and explained to me the welts that were developing on my arm from the shots. Five of them were ones he thought I'd be allergic to and one was an injection that he knew I wasn't allergic to (as a point of comparison with the others). I got a 100%! I was allergic to all five of the injections, but the most allergic to rye grass, which was like a mini-continent on my forearm. The others were just little islands--dust mite, Chinese oak (I think), and tumbleweed were ones I remember. Tumbleweed was the next largest welt. He then brought us outside to the parking lot to show us what Chinese oak looked like. Soon, we learned about all of the trees in the parking lot, from this knowledgeable doctor. Meanwhile, I'm sneezing every 5 seconds or so and in dire need of a tissue, which is waiting for me back inside the office. When we got back inside, I grabbed several tissues and Dr. Ochsner explained my allergies a bit more.
Apparently my nose is super healthy because it has been working 24 hours a day to deal with all the pollen in the air. That, however, means that I am exhausted all the time because my body keeps trying to fight the pollen. He also explained that I have a slight case of asthma, but if we deal with my nose, the asthma should never be much of a problem. So, he gave me free samples of two different nose sprays (Nasonex and Astelin, for those who are interested) and told me how to spray properly (nose to toes and opposite hands). He did one dose for me and then explained that it could make me feel drowsy, but might not. We went home (Happy drove) and I basically felt like I'd been attacked and was indeed exhausted, but not from the nose spray, as I have since learned. The scratch test wore me out.
So, the next morning (yesterday) I woke up to a swollen and burning hot forearm, along with tingly fingers. I went to work, cried on the way (because I called my mom and started thinking I might need to have my arm amputated or drained with a huge needle), and then called Dr. Ochsner when the office opened. They said I could come back in and he'd take a look at it. I did and he gave me Benadryl and said to put heat on my arm to increase circulation. I then decided to go home for the day and conk out with the Benadryl. Over the last few days I think I've slept more than I've been awake! Last night the swelling moved up to my elbow a bit more and the inside of my elbow is a bit fat. But, the redness has lessened and my arm isn't as burning hot as it was yesterday. Still, it's pretty heavy and tight, and I'm looking forward to it getting back to normal! It's been quite an exciting week for me, but the good news is, the nose sprays are helping a lot--and my arm does not need to be drained with a huge needle or amputated :-) Thank you for all your prayers and concerns!
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