[Douglas]

Allergies

I am so sorry you are having such a tough time.
Allergies that lead to cardio-pulmonary oedema are my thing. I almost envy peole who get itches (but not really!). For years everyone thought it was a discreet allergy (to fruit in my case) even though I pointed out the wierdness of being allergic to both distinct classes of fruit, pommes and ovarian fruit (and that is the end of the botany lesson for today, class).
Lupus is sometimes thought of as being allergic to oneself and that certainly covers the ground in my case.
I was blessed to finally find an understanding medico and am doing much better now, although I still cannot be in the presence of fruit of any sort without heading into anaphylaxis. It makes for a restricted life but it is still a good one.
Lots of pills; lots of support; and keeping expectations very low makes for a fine life. And as I keep reminding myself, one good day makes up for weeks of misery.
Douglas+

 

[Douglas]

for JoanneS

The allergy thing is amusing in that I never much believed allergies were real. (In the Canadian army our squad was exhausted one dya when we found some poison ivy. All six of us rubbed our forearms with the noxious weed and all but one were on sick call the next morning; but not me!) Anyway, we discovered I was allergic to fruit when they revived me in the hospital. The oddest part was that my "allergic arthritis" abated shortly thereafter. As things developed I had to cut out more and more foods as I was reacting anaphylactically to all fruit and then found that I could no longer digest meat, poultry, fat fish, scallops, clams, etc. Then reactions started to air born fruit odors. (One day an aged colleague who did not believe in allergies sat beside me at a meeting, his briefcase between us. When I started to fade and got out of there he was not appologetic but baffled, as he told a friend, "How could he react to something when he couldn't see it?") Now, with the exception of some skin troubles that are very minor, it is only the fruit problem plus "normal" Lupus symptoms: sensitivity to sunlight, joint pain and swelling - the usual stuff. The biggest problem is not being able to travel "by common carrier". It would be nice to take a bus, a train or best of all an airplane to visit our grandson but such is not to be. I love our car!
I don't know if this helps or is even all that accurate - blame the Lupus! - but I pray the best for you.
Douglas+