Who knew?!

Since moving to Utah, my asthma and allergies have seemed to continually get worse.  After Asthmageddon, I began debating with my husband about whether I should get allergy tested again.  I was tested several years ago at a homeopathic office in Oklahoma City.  By the end of the test I had PAGES of foods, ingredients, and crap that I was allergic to.... it named things like apples, oranges, wheat, etc, etc, etc.  I thought it was bunk and dumb so I didn't pay much attention to it because.... well, I was like 20 years old and cared more about the upcoming frat party than I did my health.  Truth.

Fast forward 8 years and I was getting annoyed of having to always make sure I had my Claritin/Inhaler in case there was a smoker within 100 yards of me, cat dander on some stranger's coat, or any other worldly residue on the seat at the movie theater.  It's annoying... and exhausting. 

Enter J's friend Mike.  J has been recording Mike's band for years and years.  Mike swears by this doctor that helped him with insomnia, his dad with shellfish allergies, etc. etc.   Mike had been trying to convince J to send me to this doc for about 6 months.  But since the last time was dumb, I resisted. 

Well... that resistance hit it's wall last Saturday.  We had to take Cleo to the vet so of course my asthma started in immediately.   Followed by the roof of my mouth itching to high heaven.  And I started getting allergy bumps galore!  ... (Allergy bumps are these oh so pleasant bumps that randomly appear on my face when there is some sort of irritant within a 2 mile radius close by.  They are like mosquito bites and swell up all puffy and itch like hell.  Basically they are Awesome and every little girl's dream)

... We were supposed to go help clear the land for a farm that AFLA is starting here in Utah.  But I, of course, ended up not being able to go due to the dumb allergies.  That, piled on top of the fact that I have been having to carry around throat numbing spray to subdue my itchy mouth was about all I could take.  I decided right then that I was going to give this allergy doc a shot. 

Today was my first appointment.  The doctor follows various chinese medicine techniques and did a muscle test on me.  Low and behold, he was able to pin down my top allergens!  Here they are in order of severity:

• Shellfish
• Cats
• Eggs
• Calcium
• Wheat
• Brewers Yeast (dang it, I love Beer SO SO much!)
• Cheese
• Vitamin A
• Trees
• Dairy Mix
• Hormones

Wow!  This was an amazing process and it was crazy to see my body react to little vials of the substances.  He also said I have minor allergies to Pollen, Dogs and Dust.  But having Calcium and Wheat so high on the list really surprised me!

I knew the dairy and yeast sensitivities since they are something I have been irritated by my whole life. I was on antibiotics for a solid 2 years when I was a baby so I have had yeast problems since infancy.  TMI?  oh well.   

Today I was treated for the calcium allergy and had shown some great improvement by the end of the appointment.  Once he can get my allergy under control/fixed, then I can start incorporating more calcium into my diet.  SUPER EXCITED!  I am looking forward to my visit next week and am curious as to which one I will be treated for next!  

Who Knew Allergy Testing Could Be So Fun?! :)