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quinn222 at 07:17pm on 17/08/2006
quinn222 at 07:17pm on 17/08/2006The good news is that I have no food allergies. The bad news is, we still have no clue what I am allergic to (other than Latex, which I already knew.)
The reason for this is that the chemical allergy test takes two days. They stick this thing on your back and you have to wear it for two days (no shower! OMG) and then you go back and they take it off and see what you've reacted to. The problem is that in two days it's Saturday. So they couldn't do it today. When I called for the appointment I told the receptionist that the appointment was for a scratch test. Why she gave me a Thursday appointment is beyond me. So now I have to go two more times. I'm not taking off work again. I got the latest appointments that I could and I'm just leaving work 90 minutes early.
I left early for this appointment because you always have to fill out forms at a new doctor. It's a few towns over and according to Miss Brilliant Receptionist it's 'across the street from the hospital.' That works, a hospital is a pretty damn big landmark and I knew where the hospital was. So I get there and sure enough, Doctor's offices across the street. Just not this particular doctor's office. In a fit of intelligence I hadn't brought the referral with me so I had no address and no phone number. I tried finding it but managed to get myself lost in a Not Good Neighborhood. The way this town works is that you can go to the hospital or you can drive a block and self medicate with something cooked up in someone's garage. Finally displaying a modicum of sense I called my referring Dr. and got an address. Punched it into the GPS and the nice lady started guiding me in the direction of Dr. Allergist. Yeah, I know. I bet you're thinking, "She has a GPS and still got lost???" It's my stupid year okay?
Thanks to the GPS lady (she's really remarkably patient with me. I get the 'recalulating route' message a lot) I arrived at the place. Didn't have time to wait and get nervous. The Dr. informs me that he will test today for food allergies. He'll give me a scrip to have blood drawn in case I have lupus or some other fun thing, and then I have to come back for the chemical test next week. Oh, and by the way (I kid you not, he actually said it) because I take beta blockers if I should have a full blown reaction to any of these things that he's testing me for, treatment will be very diffucult. But no one has actually died. Yet. Please sign the release form absolving him and everyone else of any blame should I be the first to do so.
Having done that the technician/nurse/whatever she was came in with a tray full of stuff, including a sharpie. She took the sharpie and begining at each wrist she drew a series of dots all the way up each arm from inside of the wrist to the shoulder. It's the world's most unattractive tat. She then jabbed me once on each side of each dot. A total of 70 jabs. Only one of which I reacted to and that was the one I was supposed to react to. And it was over. And they didn't even make me give them any money.
I stopped for the blood test on the way home. I'm exhausted. Saturday night I'm going out for dinner with a bunch of friends and I'm having lobster!
In a completely unrelated matter, did I mention that a customer asked me out? He asked one of the techs if I was married. The mere idea makes me nervous. A totally blind date. I'm not sure what to do. John pays no attention to these things and can't tell me the first thing about this guy. He's very sweet on the phone though. Surely the fact that I have semi-permanant dots drawn all over my arms will excuse me from making a decision on this for a while. Right? Right??
The reason for this is that the chemical allergy test takes two days. They stick this thing on your back and you have to wear it for two days (no shower! OMG) and then you go back and they take it off and see what you've reacted to. The problem is that in two days it's Saturday. So they couldn't do it today. When I called for the appointment I told the receptionist that the appointment was for a scratch test. Why she gave me a Thursday appointment is beyond me. So now I have to go two more times. I'm not taking off work again. I got the latest appointments that I could and I'm just leaving work 90 minutes early.
I left early for this appointment because you always have to fill out forms at a new doctor. It's a few towns over and according to Miss Brilliant Receptionist it's 'across the street from the hospital.' That works, a hospital is a pretty damn big landmark and I knew where the hospital was. So I get there and sure enough, Doctor's offices across the street. Just not this particular doctor's office. In a fit of intelligence I hadn't brought the referral with me so I had no address and no phone number. I tried finding it but managed to get myself lost in a Not Good Neighborhood. The way this town works is that you can go to the hospital or you can drive a block and self medicate with something cooked up in someone's garage. Finally displaying a modicum of sense I called my referring Dr. and got an address. Punched it into the GPS and the nice lady started guiding me in the direction of Dr. Allergist. Yeah, I know. I bet you're thinking, "She has a GPS and still got lost???" It's my stupid year okay?
Thanks to the GPS lady (she's really remarkably patient with me. I get the 'recalulating route' message a lot) I arrived at the place. Didn't have time to wait and get nervous. The Dr. informs me that he will test today for food allergies. He'll give me a scrip to have blood drawn in case I have lupus or some other fun thing, and then I have to come back for the chemical test next week. Oh, and by the way (I kid you not, he actually said it) because I take beta blockers if I should have a full blown reaction to any of these things that he's testing me for, treatment will be very diffucult. But no one has actually died. Yet. Please sign the release form absolving him and everyone else of any blame should I be the first to do so.
Having done that the technician/nurse/whatever she was came in with a tray full of stuff, including a sharpie. She took the sharpie and begining at each wrist she drew a series of dots all the way up each arm from inside of the wrist to the shoulder. It's the world's most unattractive tat. She then jabbed me once on each side of each dot. A total of 70 jabs. Only one of which I reacted to and that was the one I was supposed to react to. And it was over. And they didn't even make me give them any money.
I stopped for the blood test on the way home. I'm exhausted. Saturday night I'm going out for dinner with a bunch of friends and I'm having lobster!
In a completely unrelated matter, did I mention that a customer asked me out? He asked one of the techs if I was married. The mere idea makes me nervous. A totally blind date. I'm not sure what to do. John pays no attention to these things and can't tell me the first thing about this guy. He's very sweet on the phone though. Surely the fact that I have semi-permanant dots drawn all over my arms will excuse me from making a decision on this for a while. Right? Right??
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I think its cute.
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Did they also test you for any florals?
The date with the guy from work can be fun. If you really don't know him, just meet at a public place (restaurant) so he won't know where you live and you won't have to be alone with him.
Good luck with everything!
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Allergies suck. I have a few - food and medicine - but nothing that is too much to deal with at this point. My one dog has bad allergies - everything that grows in dirt sends him into massive scratching attacks. I have to give him allergy shots once a week. Can you say high maintenance dog? I did get over my immense fear of needles - I had to.
As for your blind date - I have a bit of advice. Meet for coffee or something short - there's nothing worse that having a full night planned if you don't click with the person. You can always suggest something like a movie for later the same night if it's going well. I say GO FOR IT! But yes you can wait until the semi-permanant dots go away. :)
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Three times in the past two months I've broken out in hives all down my arms and down my sides.