Adventures in Healthcare

I have atopic dermatitis (exzema, 'pre-asthma', chronic/recurrent bronchitis-rhinitis-conjunctivitis, the works). Certain things 'set me off' with rhinitis, bronchitis, rashes and occasional GI disturbances typical of allergic reactions, but rarely the same thing twice, and depending on lifestage things will express differently.  Right now it's my legs. When I was little it was coughing-sneezing-itchy eyes.

Anyway, I have had a persistent outbreak of something on my legs, particularly the left one.  So it's off to the allergist I go.  Gotta love Canadian health care.

So on Tuesday I see the allergist.  Get my arms prict with about 70 common allergens, no reactions all around. I get prescribed the world's strongest antihistamine/sedative (well, world's strongest is a gross overstatement, but the sedative effects linger into the following day in a not wholly unpleasant but not particularly work-productive way), a topical gluco-corticosteroid, and get taped with six more potential allergens and told to a) not shower and b) come back on Friday (today).

Well, the air conditioning at home is out, which you know if you've been following my Facebook entries.  And it's been freaking hot and humid.  So the no-shower thing is a no go.  Figured out how to shower without getting my patch test/tape stuff wet, yay.

Anyway, in this morning and the patch comes off, airs for 10-15 minutes and the doctor takes a look.  No reactions to anything.

So allergist has confirmed a) I'm not obviously allergic to anything I'm probably eating or coming into contact with on a regular basis, b) I have exzema, and c) what I've done all my life, which is to knock down any symptoms as fast as I can as they come up, is the right strategy.  Got a new prescription for a less sedating antihistamine for when I want to get work done. I can take the other one for serious flare ups when having to be entirely lucid the next day isn't a priority (like today, when I'm trying to read a thesis, and next week when I'm counting money at the Fringe 7 hours a day), and I will probably end up back on daily bendaryl just to keep everything down in between.

So no news is good news, like not having Celiac disease either. Which no one has actually told me yet, but I presume since that by now the test has come back and no one has called me saying "never eat wheat again".

So off to shower, anti-inflame and moisturize.