Allergy Tests: Waste of time, money, and energy?
The gist is that I am allergic to everything I thought I was with one glaring exception: according to this test, I am NOT allergic to cats, which anyone who has spent time with me and cats knows to unbelievable and possibly just WRONG. The doctor offered me blood test to verify, went over the results of the prick test, and then walked out of the exam room and left the door open, which to me is universal for “GO NOW” so I left without going to the lab or the pharmacy so I probably screwed that up and Tom is confused about why I just left and I tried to explain it to him but it just sounds stupid when I say it out loud.
I’m still upset about it, but the nurse made a couple of comments along the lines of “People in better shape than you…” and “People like you don’t usually have this low of a resting heart rate” and everyone who is overweight knows when they are being insulted by medical staff, and I just didn’t want to deal with that shit more than once today. I was feeling bad and I just wanted to go home and THAT OPEN DOOR WAS CALLING TO ME.
I will probably email the doctor later and complain.
Anyway, aside for the psychological trauma, the only option I was given to treat my allergies was using nasal spray and taking Zyrtec everyday. Seriously? The same treatment that I told you hasn’t worked for me for years is my only option? Apparently, my reactions were not severe enough to warrant allergy shots. I will never get to go on hikes, ride bicycles, or do any other kind of outdoor activities.
WASTE OF TIME.
Join me in two days when I go get my pre-op bloodwork done. EXCITMENT!
Second opinion. Seriously.
Ugh. “People like you…” *Stabbity stab!*
Would Tom understand if you said it was a case of take the open door or (totally justified) physical violence?
Ugh, how suck-ass!
Allergy shots are the absolute worst. I did a year and a half of them before I stopped going in to get my weekly dose. It is the bare essence of every shitty thing you’re allergic to distilled down into a syringe. You get the shot, itch and break out and sneeze and swell up for about three days. After that, you just feel merely awful for another two days. Then, just about when you’re feeling a bit better about everything, you have to go in for the next shot. FOREVER. Or at least until you’re not allergic to any of that stuff anymore, which for me at least seemed like would never happen. And I was paying for that! Like, “Hey Mr. Allergy Doctor- please take my money, every week for eternity. And all I want is for you to stab me with something that makes snot pour out of my head and causes my eyes to swell shut. OH! I almost forgot- hives. I need giant puss filled hives in my life. THANK YOU.”
I’ve learned to own my suffering. And, as it happens, when I hit 35 a lot of my really severe allergy symptoms went away on their own. In the meantime, while I’m not a very outdoorsy fellow, I do ride my bike a lot with the magic of double Sudafed doses. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but Sudafed scrubs my shit right out. None of the other stuff I’ve had pushed on me by any number of doctors (sprays, pills, drops, inhalers) has ever worked. I buy enough Sudafed that I’m on a government watch list as a possible crystal meth manufacturer. So I’ve got that going for me.
And hello by the way.
I have to second Annika’s suggestion of a second opinion. And it must have been the day for miserable nurses & doctor’s assistants. Mine weren’t quite as snide as yours, but they were pretty stupid.
I agree about getting the second opinion. I too was allergic to almost everything they tested me for. They suggested allergy shots because of that.
With the reactions that matty had from his shots, his doctor, if he were a good one, would have stopped them immediately. My guess is he was started on a ridiculously high dose instead of working up to that higher dose. He had a shitty doctor and nurse staff.
I am really sorry you had such a horrible experience. But I really believe allergy shots help. Get that second opinion.
And like you, I tested low for cats.
Ahh- that’s true- I should asterisk a “results may vary” there. Shots may not have been all butterflies and rainbows for me, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t worked for somebody out there. Probably.
And now I’m all about conflicting messages. God I suck. Ignore me please.
I actually had really good experience with allergy shots for about a year when I was a teenager, then the allergies sort of just… I dunno, went into remission? But I was allergic to EVERYTHING. Dust, pollen, cats, dogs, hair, bedrock, nicotine, sheet metal…
I love everything you’ve had to say matty. I love sudafed. And I’ve decided I need to fly down there next week and kick some ass! Just point me in the right direction! Don’t worry, this mystery will be solved!
mayhem. I am sort of glad you’re not dead, but also grossed-out that you’re alive and bringing your scab-encrusted carcass over to my blog.
I’ve missed you, I guess.
You still know how to sweet talk a guy. Don’t ever change, you.
“People like you.”
Ohhhhh, dear. They can’t have been expecting your pulse to be resting at that point, surely? Boiling, more like. Patronizing bastards.
Also, second opinion.