Dust, dust,

everywhere. :(
Stirring up lots of dust with the spring cleaning of my room... Sneezing, teary eyes, ...
Going through my Zytec D (antihistamine) like nothing. :(

Firstborns more Prone to Food Allergies

According to a Japanese study, presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in San Francisco, firstborn siblings are more likely to suffer from food allergies than their younger brothers and sisters. (The abstract for the study can be found at http://annualmeeting.aaaai.org/, and is No. 525.) (Source: Yahoo News, AFP Relax 24 March)
I think there is truth to this study. Based on my personal experience. :P I am a firstborn and I suffer from several allergies. I suffer from swelling of the airways, swelling of the eyelids, and difficulty breathing (the most severe allergic reaction symptoms. SIGH). My brother used to call me goldfish eyes because my eyes would swell up (HUGE) whenever I have an allergic reaction. Every now and then, I still suffer from them. :( I also know of two other firstborns who suffer from food allergies - my eldest nephew in UK, and a family friend's firstborn son.

Allergy II

I didn't go for my counselling today. I didn't want to aggravate my throat any more than I should as my throat would get extremely "ticklish" when I talk for prolonged period of time and I would start to cough. :(

It was nice that I could sleep in late, lol. :P After the second antihistamine tablet in the morning, the constriction in my throat has more or less disappeared. But I rested my throat as much as I could so I didn't talk much and I didn't even scold the girls which really delighted them alot, lol. As the day went by, my throat definitely felt better, my voice sounded like me again and I was almost like normal again. I think by tomorrow, I would be my usual talkative self again, haha. :)

Allergy

Late last night, my throat became really constricted and my voice was all changed. It was just like the times when I had allergic reactions to Aspirin and Panadol but not as bad as I could still talk. I had dinner like the rest of the family. So it was not the dinner. But I recalled eating a chocolate bar and some veggie crackers. I had the crackers before and had no problem. So it is the chocolate??

In the morning, I went to see the doctor again. He checked my throat and there was no redness or soreness but just swelling. He confirmed that I had an allergic reaction, what they called fixed food allergy. Darn! Now, not only am I allergic to certain medication, I am also allergic to food?! :( :( For the moment, I will have to stay off chocolates and nuts because the chocolate bar I had was a real nutty one until I can test what I am really allergic to via blood testing. SIGH. :(

Painless Sunday

Today is a day of rest for me. Literally, for my knee.

Woke up in the morning, my injured knee was a little stiff. Thank goodness, I haven't suffered from any leg/ calf cramps lately (usually on the right leg too) , otherwise I won't know how to tolerate the pain from the cramp and from the knee. Hahaha. Must really give thanks. Applied the gel, took my anti-inflammatory medication and my painkiller, put on the knee guard and all systems on the go. Lol.

So far, I seemed to be taking well to this painkiller, haven't broken out in any allergic reaction yet. Shhh... better don't speak too soon, lol. Well, that was what happened with panadol. I was initially okay with it and then one day, anaphylaxis (the most severe type of allergic reaction) just hit me! Now, only the children's paracetemol suspension is safe for me. But then, I also can't take more than 1 teaspoon or the allergic reaction would kick in too. But with just 1 teaspoon, it doesn't help much to relieve pain (or fever, depending on what I am taking the paracetemol for). I can't win, huh? Lol.

Am thinking about finding out if there are other painkillers out there that I can take without causing me a severe allergic reaction. It seems my body doesn't do half measures. It has a mind of its own, "Hmm, allergic reaction? Hell, let's a party and go for the most severe kind". LOL. I would have to undergo a patch test. Sigh. Why can't just use my blood and see the reaction?? See how lah. Definitely don't relish the idea of being poked with various drugs to see how I would react. Yikes.

So far, so good. No pain from my knee except once this evening when I walked too fast. Ouch. Getting kind of worried as I would finish my painkillers by tomorrow morning. I hate the feeling of pain. Oh no, am I getting reliant on the painkiller? Lol. Really hope I will be okay, lol. Keep me in your prayers, ok? Thanks. :)