Saturday, June 15, 2013

Halting my pollen allergy experiement

Some times experiments work and some times they have to be put on hold to be completed at another time. This is the case with my pollen eating, allergy trials. I had my good days and my bad days with the pollen, and I think ultimately the method of allergy relief would work for me. There are some barriers I am experiencing right now that make it difficult for me to keep going.

1.) I am not on all of my allergy meds and do not have the ability to go back to full strength right now. I had to stop getting my Nasonex refilled at the pharmacy because I can't afford the drug. That is a big component of the allergy relief plan developed by my doctor. Adding additional pollens and triggers to my system when I am not fully medicated is a recipe for disaster.

2.) I began this regimen during the worst possible time of the year, mid spring. All the flowers and grasses were really starting to bloom, and I was left defenseless.

3.) I probably should have started at a lower dose and when I do attempt my experiment again in the fall I will remember this. I'll start at an even lower dose and very gradually raise it. This way I am poisoning myself with pollen during the more dormant months and my system will have a change to build up a stronger immunity.

4.) I love apples. For all the previously mentioned reasons I was having stronger reactions to this favorite fruit. I know I'm allergic to them, but I generally just medicate and continue munching. Every once in a while I will experience itchy, burning lips. Well, I had one bad day while on the pollen that consisted of itchy, burning, swollen lips combined with a very warm face and neck and itchy arms and fingers. This is the worst reaction I've had yet. So, in addition to stopping the pollen I sadly had to decide to stop eating apples.

Now that I'm off the pollen my life has returned to what has become the norm for me. I'm not 100% allergy free, but I am very functional and I mostly do not have problems. No itchy knuckles, no flaky eye lids, etc.

No comments:

Post a Comment