October 18, 2008

So, a couple of years ago, I was getting allergy shots. They make you wait a half hour after getting your shots in case you have a "systemic" reaction--AKA it hates you and makes you die. If they catch the reaction soon enough, they know what to do to prevent the full anaphylaxis (is that the right spelling?). Anyway, I had received my shot and all was well, and I went off to my class. It was something like 3-4 hours later, after I'd eaten some sushi rolls, when that nasty systemic reaction started to emerge. Started with a really flush and hot face, then a scratchy voice, then tightness in my chest. I figured it was a reaction, but didn't know if it was what I ate or the shots earlier. I didn't know how serious it could be, so I just drove myself to the ER after taking some Benedryl. On the way to the hospital, I remember it was starting to get a little hard to breathe. But, by the time they got me in, the Benedryl was kicking in, and it was all slowly subsiding. I got a nice (understatement of the year) lecture from my allergist that week about NOT DRIVING cuz if it had been worse, well, you know. Anyway, she wasn't sure if it was the food or the shot, either, because a systemic reaction usually shows up within 20 minutes of getting the shot, and this was 3-4 hours. She actually had me bring in the food I ate, ground it up in a blender, and shot it under my skin to see if I reacted to it. Nothing. So, she wasn't sure.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years to now. For the past month, I finally started getting shots again. Woohoo! This past allergy season was a BUGGER, and I am ready for it to get better again (my seasons were much better after I got the shots, even though I didn't finish the series, until this last year). I've been going in weekly, getting a bunch of shots, to get up to "maintenance" so I don't have to go so often. Last week was my last "big" week of lots of shots, and then I get to start coming in every 2 week and then every month. No big deal. Anyway, after the last shot last week, I was to wait 90 minutes before I could leave; still plenty of time from what they expect a reaction to start taking place. Well, at the 90 minute mark, the gal checking me over to send me home said, "Uh, you look kinda flushed. Do you feel alright?" Oh crap! Yup, it had begun. Same symptoms. Luckily, I was right there, so they loaded me with anti-histimine and watched my blood pressure (drop and then go up again as it subsided) and everything else. Took another hour. All was well, and I went home.

So, the first time it took 3-4 hours to start, this time it was 90 minutes.

Yesterday. First week on the same dose, but this time in the shot clinic (no doc around, just the shot nurses). Oh, you see where this is going, don't you? 20 minutes after the shots, I walk back into the area and say, "Um, I think something's happening." Yup. This time faster and more furious. Internal cramping, breathing difficult, drop in blood pressure. Eek! So, they pump me full of anti-histimine again, some inhaler thing, and then shoot me with Adrenaline! Have you ever had Adrenaline? Man, tripiest thing ever. It's like you just downed a 6-pack of Mountain Dew. And the darn shot hurt (and my arm ached so bad for the rest of the day). Oh, and it made me pass out. Anyway, cramps were really bad (felt like really horrible female cramps, ugh). Took about an hour to start to improve. Dave came and drove me home, and I crashed. They said that would happen--that the anti-histimine would want to make me relax and the Adrenaline would do the opposite, and it would make my body really exhausted.

I got a little cat nap and then headed up to Seattle. All's well now! It was a fun day.

So, I have to see the doc again before the shot nurses will "touch me" (their words; they were really funny).

Now, we're out in Sequim doing the family boogie (my parents' missin homecoming). Back to the grind on Monday!