I am getting close to graduating, and I have been trying to find good jobs. I got offered a pretty good opportunity (its the best one I have bene able to find), but there is an issue. Its doing research, but before I can have the job, I need to be an intern (paid) with them for 6 to 9 months. Its a rules thing, and also to make sure I am a good match and I like working there. Intern stuff is mainly being a lab tech. The issue I have is that even though I wont be working directly with animals, I will be near them a lot. I told them about my allergies, and that's why I don't have to actually work with them. So I am wondering what to do - I am worried that my allergies might be so bad that I can't work well, and then they aren't going to want me anymore. Of course I am also worried about being exposed to allergens constantly for so long. The thing is, its a really good opportunity, and once the internship is over I won't have to be around the animals.
I got to thinking about mean things people have said to me about my allergies. Some I wasn't meant to hear, and some I think were misguided attempts to be nice. It got to bugging me lately, so I wanted to list some of the things that have been said within the last week or so:
You'd be very attractive if it wasn't for your allergies
Does she do anything else besides sneeze?
Are you sure its allergies? You might be sick, and I don't want to catch anything
Maybe its all in your head?
Your allergies are being very disruptive
If you would blow your nose your allergies wouldn't be so bad
I also hate when I get 'advice' like the last one, but they don't seem to understand if I tell them I tried/it doesn't work, they should believe me and not argue with me. Ugh!
I haven't gotten any new questions. I am wondering if my last post wasn't very interesting? please feel free to comment and to contact me!
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Happy Mother's Day and Q+A
I hope everyone is talking to their moms on Mothers Day :)
I have a number of questions to answer, so I will get to them below. For some reason, I am not getting e-mail alerts about comments on my blog posts, so I am sorry if I miss things.
My allergies have been very bad. I mentioned before that they seemed to start up 2 weeks earlier than usual. They got bad a bit quicker than usual, and they are staying more consistently bad than usual, if I am remembering correctly. Of course, what is happening in the moment always seems worse than the past, so I might be wrong on that.
I think I found all the questions:
Q: When you're in the middle of a sneezing fit, how many times would you say you sneeze per minute? And when you're not in a fit, do you sneeze often anyways? If so, I have a kind of strange idea.
A: Per minute? Not sure. When my allergies are bad like this its over 20 sneezes in a fit. I do sneeze often, but its pretty much always in fits. What is your strange idea?
Q: Answer other questions, but every time you sneeze type a symbol or something, just to give us the idea of how often you sneeze in real life.
A: I don't like to do this. One benefit of chatting online is that my allergies get less in the way, especially the sneezing.
Q: When you are in a long sneezing fit, do the sneezes ever cause you to feel relieved? I know a few people who feel relieved after fits which makes them feel better.
A: People tell me I am weird because that doesn't happen to me. My sneezing fits don't make me feel any better, just tire me out. My nose still feels very itchy and tingly after, and I am still congested after.
Q: Another question, have you ever sneezed so much that you couldn't function?
A: Oh yes, it happens often when my allergies are bad.
Q: Lastly (I'm really sorry I'm just super interested) if you could some how be allergy-free, what things would do you differently?
A: Many things. I'd own cats, I'd probably get into horseback riding. I'd swim more, play more sports, maybe get back into singing. I'd have more job possibilities, and I'd go out much more often.
Q: We know that you get various symptoms from your allergies. Is there some "interdependence" between them in a way that one certain symptom is annoying especially when another certain symptom is there?
A: Its a bit hard to say. I know lots of sneezing makes my sinuses feel worse and makes my nose more snotty. I think the itchiness and tingles in my nose makes my eyes water more. I don't think I can tell much more as I do not get symptoms in isolation from each other.
Q:You wrote that your sense of taste is affected from your allergies because it is dependent upon smelling which is affected because of the congestion. What does that mean for your eating? How does it feel for you to eat or drink something when you cannot properly taste it? Do you recognize whether something you eat is spicy?
A: Its like eating when you have a bad cold - nothing has much flavor. I can taste things being salty or sweet or the other tongue flavors, but that's about it. Yes, I can tell spicy because that it a tongue/mouth thing. If you ever had a bad cold where you are all stuffed up, eat something, and that's what its like for me.
Q:Does it happen that your allergies get so bad that it's difficult or even dangerous for you to walk into the street, e.g. because dizziness or blurry vision due to watery eyes?
A: I am not sure if 'dangerous' is the word, but it certainly is difficult. It is the blurry vision, the dizziness, and also the distraction with all the symptoms, and lots of sneezing will interrupt me. Its also a problem if I get a bad allergy attack outside because then I can't really go anywhere and I am unable to get away from what it causing the allergy attack.
Q: Are there other people but Allison with whom you talk about your allergies in real life?
A: Yes, my best friend Jessie, but she lives in Washington so I don't see her very often since I started grad school.
Q: Imagine that every day you could choose one allergy symptom not to appear. Would you choose the same symptom every day or would you vary between different ones? And which symptom(s) would you choose?
A: In general it would be sneezing. That is the thing that causes me the most problems. If there was a day I had to do a lot of talking, but noone would see me, like lots of phone calls, maybe I'd choose congestion. I'd think about snotty/runny nose, but if I wasn't sneezing that would be more under control anyway.
Q:Imagine that you could live without any allergies for a week by some miracle. Which things would you do during this week?
A: Play with cats, spend lots of time outside, be as active as I can, go visit people I usually can't because of there pets. Probably also do a crazy amount of cleaning (not having to worry about dust).
Thanks for all the questions. keep them coming, and please feel free to contact me directly. With my allergies being bad I'm stuck at home and online more often.
I have a number of questions to answer, so I will get to them below. For some reason, I am not getting e-mail alerts about comments on my blog posts, so I am sorry if I miss things.
My allergies have been very bad. I mentioned before that they seemed to start up 2 weeks earlier than usual. They got bad a bit quicker than usual, and they are staying more consistently bad than usual, if I am remembering correctly. Of course, what is happening in the moment always seems worse than the past, so I might be wrong on that.
I think I found all the questions:
Q: When you're in the middle of a sneezing fit, how many times would you say you sneeze per minute? And when you're not in a fit, do you sneeze often anyways? If so, I have a kind of strange idea.
A: Per minute? Not sure. When my allergies are bad like this its over 20 sneezes in a fit. I do sneeze often, but its pretty much always in fits. What is your strange idea?
Q: Answer other questions, but every time you sneeze type a symbol or something, just to give us the idea of how often you sneeze in real life.
A: I don't like to do this. One benefit of chatting online is that my allergies get less in the way, especially the sneezing.
Q: When you are in a long sneezing fit, do the sneezes ever cause you to feel relieved? I know a few people who feel relieved after fits which makes them feel better.
A: People tell me I am weird because that doesn't happen to me. My sneezing fits don't make me feel any better, just tire me out. My nose still feels very itchy and tingly after, and I am still congested after.
Q: Another question, have you ever sneezed so much that you couldn't function?
A: Oh yes, it happens often when my allergies are bad.
Q: Lastly (I'm really sorry I'm just super interested) if you could some how be allergy-free, what things would do you differently?
A: Many things. I'd own cats, I'd probably get into horseback riding. I'd swim more, play more sports, maybe get back into singing. I'd have more job possibilities, and I'd go out much more often.
Q: We know that you get various symptoms from your allergies. Is there some "interdependence" between them in a way that one certain symptom is annoying especially when another certain symptom is there?
A: Its a bit hard to say. I know lots of sneezing makes my sinuses feel worse and makes my nose more snotty. I think the itchiness and tingles in my nose makes my eyes water more. I don't think I can tell much more as I do not get symptoms in isolation from each other.
Q:You wrote that your sense of taste is affected from your allergies because it is dependent upon smelling which is affected because of the congestion. What does that mean for your eating? How does it feel for you to eat or drink something when you cannot properly taste it? Do you recognize whether something you eat is spicy?
A: Its like eating when you have a bad cold - nothing has much flavor. I can taste things being salty or sweet or the other tongue flavors, but that's about it. Yes, I can tell spicy because that it a tongue/mouth thing. If you ever had a bad cold where you are all stuffed up, eat something, and that's what its like for me.
Q:Does it happen that your allergies get so bad that it's difficult or even dangerous for you to walk into the street, e.g. because dizziness or blurry vision due to watery eyes?
A: I am not sure if 'dangerous' is the word, but it certainly is difficult. It is the blurry vision, the dizziness, and also the distraction with all the symptoms, and lots of sneezing will interrupt me. Its also a problem if I get a bad allergy attack outside because then I can't really go anywhere and I am unable to get away from what it causing the allergy attack.
Q: Are there other people but Allison with whom you talk about your allergies in real life?
A: Yes, my best friend Jessie, but she lives in Washington so I don't see her very often since I started grad school.
Q: Imagine that every day you could choose one allergy symptom not to appear. Would you choose the same symptom every day or would you vary between different ones? And which symptom(s) would you choose?
A: In general it would be sneezing. That is the thing that causes me the most problems. If there was a day I had to do a lot of talking, but noone would see me, like lots of phone calls, maybe I'd choose congestion. I'd think about snotty/runny nose, but if I wasn't sneezing that would be more under control anyway.
Q:Imagine that you could live without any allergies for a week by some miracle. Which things would you do during this week?
A: Play with cats, spend lots of time outside, be as active as I can, go visit people I usually can't because of there pets. Probably also do a crazy amount of cleaning (not having to worry about dust).
Thanks for all the questions. keep them coming, and please feel free to contact me directly. With my allergies being bad I'm stuck at home and online more often.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Embarrassing week
I wanted to make a quick post as a check-in. Allergies have been very bad. Tree pollens are very high, and really affecting me. I don't have any questions to answer, so please ask me some if you can.
A few embarrassing/gross things from this last week or so: While walking down a crowded hallway, I had a sneezing fit come on very quickly while my hands were full carrying things and it was very snotty and people were grossed out and some were laughing. I was dozing off in class (allergies keeping me from getting much sleep), and apparently my nose was dripping but I didn't realize cause I was half asleep and there was again laughter at me and people being grossed out. I was working on a project with someone and my allergies were getting so bad I went into the bathroom and she came in after 20mins to check on me and I couldn't stop sneezing and she got worried I guess and other people came and wanted to call the ambulance and so this group of people were watching me sneeze and sneeze non-stop for so long.
The last embarrassing thing was my doctors appointment. He had 2 others in to look at me too. Lots of observing my allergies and asking questions. They wanted to look in my nose again and that is always problematic, so that was a long snotty embarrassing mess.
Sorry I am not going into too much detail. It feels embarrassing to just write it out. I'd probably be ok chatting about it one on one if you want to know more.
A few embarrassing/gross things from this last week or so: While walking down a crowded hallway, I had a sneezing fit come on very quickly while my hands were full carrying things and it was very snotty and people were grossed out and some were laughing. I was dozing off in class (allergies keeping me from getting much sleep), and apparently my nose was dripping but I didn't realize cause I was half asleep and there was again laughter at me and people being grossed out. I was working on a project with someone and my allergies were getting so bad I went into the bathroom and she came in after 20mins to check on me and I couldn't stop sneezing and she got worried I guess and other people came and wanted to call the ambulance and so this group of people were watching me sneeze and sneeze non-stop for so long.
The last embarrassing thing was my doctors appointment. He had 2 others in to look at me too. Lots of observing my allergies and asking questions. They wanted to look in my nose again and that is always problematic, so that was a long snotty embarrassing mess.
Sorry I am not going into too much detail. It feels embarrassing to just write it out. I'd probably be ok chatting about it one on one if you want to know more.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Spring allergies, dream, and modes of transport
My allergies this spring seem to be coming on quicker than usual. I don't know if it will end up being a worse spring, but it feels like its been coming on about 2 weeks earlier than usual. Like right now my allergies feel like they usually do in the middle of April. Maybe everything is just 2 weeks early this year.
I had a weird/interesting dream a few days ago. I was a consultant for a video game about allergies. The dream got very detailed, but mainly it was a game where you played someone with allergies and had to get through daily life and other things for a set amount of time - like a day or an allergy season or a year or something. There were different difficultly levels, what things you are allergic to, and other settings to choose from. Winning was based on what version of the game you played. I think one was based on finding a cure for your allergy, or a way to keep them totally at bay. Another was minimizing how much resources you needed to use on controlling your allergies, and another was limiting impact your allergies had on your social life. I never saw the actual game in the dream, but it was some game developers talking to me about what they wanted the game to be about and me giving them information on how it would be realistic for someone with allergies, what the challenges are, etc. If you are interested in more, message me and I can probably remember more about it if we chat about it. The dream and game was actually kinda cool. I sort of wish a game like that was being made. I sure could consult on it, lol!
Someone suggested a blog topic to me I want to try. It was talking abut modes of transport and the advantages and disadvantages they have for my allergies. I will mention a few here, and if people want, I can add a few more/talk about ones people suggest. Just note, I am putting the ones down I think have the biggest impact, so off the top of my head, I am not sure how interesting others may be.
Airplanes: This is probably the worst for me. I have mentioned plane trips before. Its not that planes themselves make my allergies bad (I can run into random thing that make me allergic, but that can happen anywhere), but the altitude changes can get very painful for me. My sinuses get really intense pressure and pain and my ears can hurt so badly. The intense pressure and congestion makes me sneeze less, but the sneezes are pretty painful from it. After a trip across the country, I need about a day to recover and feel better.
Cars: This really depends on time of year/pollen season. In the winter I am usually fine. Some days in pollen seasons my allergies are too bad to drive. I also have had times where I have had to pull over if I feel a bad allergy attack coming on. As a passenger, again if pollen isnt an issue, everything is fine. During pollen season, the longer the car ride, the worse my allergies can get. If I am just with Allison, its not that bad, but if I am in the car with other people, its very embarrassing because I can't go run off anywhere, and my bad allergies can become the center of attention in the car.
As I mentioned above, if you want to know about other modes of transport, let me know. For ideas, these are some the person suggested: walking, riding a bicycle, travelling by bus, train, boat/ship.
I will keep trying to make posts more often, so please keep coming up with questions/ideas for me. As always, feel free to contact me to chat.
I had a weird/interesting dream a few days ago. I was a consultant for a video game about allergies. The dream got very detailed, but mainly it was a game where you played someone with allergies and had to get through daily life and other things for a set amount of time - like a day or an allergy season or a year or something. There were different difficultly levels, what things you are allergic to, and other settings to choose from. Winning was based on what version of the game you played. I think one was based on finding a cure for your allergy, or a way to keep them totally at bay. Another was minimizing how much resources you needed to use on controlling your allergies, and another was limiting impact your allergies had on your social life. I never saw the actual game in the dream, but it was some game developers talking to me about what they wanted the game to be about and me giving them information on how it would be realistic for someone with allergies, what the challenges are, etc. If you are interested in more, message me and I can probably remember more about it if we chat about it. The dream and game was actually kinda cool. I sort of wish a game like that was being made. I sure could consult on it, lol!
Someone suggested a blog topic to me I want to try. It was talking abut modes of transport and the advantages and disadvantages they have for my allergies. I will mention a few here, and if people want, I can add a few more/talk about ones people suggest. Just note, I am putting the ones down I think have the biggest impact, so off the top of my head, I am not sure how interesting others may be.
Airplanes: This is probably the worst for me. I have mentioned plane trips before. Its not that planes themselves make my allergies bad (I can run into random thing that make me allergic, but that can happen anywhere), but the altitude changes can get very painful for me. My sinuses get really intense pressure and pain and my ears can hurt so badly. The intense pressure and congestion makes me sneeze less, but the sneezes are pretty painful from it. After a trip across the country, I need about a day to recover and feel better.
Cars: This really depends on time of year/pollen season. In the winter I am usually fine. Some days in pollen seasons my allergies are too bad to drive. I also have had times where I have had to pull over if I feel a bad allergy attack coming on. As a passenger, again if pollen isnt an issue, everything is fine. During pollen season, the longer the car ride, the worse my allergies can get. If I am just with Allison, its not that bad, but if I am in the car with other people, its very embarrassing because I can't go run off anywhere, and my bad allergies can become the center of attention in the car.
As I mentioned above, if you want to know about other modes of transport, let me know. For ideas, these are some the person suggested: walking, riding a bicycle, travelling by bus, train, boat/ship.
I will keep trying to make posts more often, so please keep coming up with questions/ideas for me. As always, feel free to contact me to chat.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Sorry it has been so long, and a Q+A
It has been a really long time, and I am sorry it took so long. I was kinda busy with school, I was sick a few times, time got away from me, and I kept putting off posting.
Over the winter I have had a few colds, 2 turned into sinus infections, and one was a sinus infection, strep throat, and pneumonia. That then got my asthma a bit bothersome for a while. I'm all recovered now though.
The weather has been fluctuating a lot between cold and warm and I bet that has something to do with it. My allergies have also been more bothersome than usual for winters. Someone said the temp fluctuations might be making mold more of an issue. It hasn't been severe, but just more allergic than usual.
I have a number of questions, so I will get right to them:
Q: When you are talking to someone and you have to start sneezing, do you say anything to them? Like, "I have to sneeze.." or do you just start sneezing without saying anything? And do you just walk to the bathroom or do you tell them you are leaving?
A: I don't say anything when I am going to sneeze. I'll often just walk off, especially if its people I know. Otherwise I'll say something like "I'll be back in a bit" or "I have to go to the bathroom"
Q: Do you have time to get out a tissue or do you just sneeze into your elbow and get a tissue later?
A: Luckily I usually have time to get out tissues before I start sneezing. Its not much time, but I have practice getting tissues quickly. If its bad enough that I don't have time, I am often staying at home/away from people anyway. My sneezes can be pretty snotty, so I put a lot of effort into making sure no one sees that. Its very embarrassing the few times I am not able to get a tissue out in time.
Q: You've mentioned doctor's visits before- do you still go regularly to an allergist? What kind of things specifically do they do to examine you, and you've mentioned they use you as a patients for students to learn from- can you give more detail?
A: Yes I still do. Now its mainly just checking in, seeing how things are going, trying out different meds, etc. I am a pretty unique case I guess, so they sometimes bring in students or other docs to look at me, ask questions, do exams, etc. Its kind of boring and embarrassing at the same time. Its the same questions and the same stuff over and over again - they talk about my case, they ask me a lot of questions, and they observe and examine me. Its embarrassing because I have all these people interested in my allergies and watching them in me, and I can't run off and hide. Exam-wise, its a lot of looking up my nose (which gets problematic) and in my ear and in my throat, etc.
Q: Have you ever spoken to family or friends about how they feel about your allergies and how it affects them? How do they feel?
A: Not really. I don't like talking about my allergies in real life. I'm not really sure how they feel. I guess kind of concerned, but it seems they are used to how I am.
Q: What's your worst nightmare relating to your allergies?
A: Two I guess - that they will keep getting worse and worse and I won't be able to do anything ever. And having really long allergy attacks that won't ever stop in public and be unable to talk/tell people what is going on or get away from lots of people staring at me while it happens.
Q: Is there anything you're concerned or worried about relating to them in the future?
A: Mainly them getting worse, and just more of what is already been happening - being embarrassed by them, them interfering in things, making me miss stuff, etc.
Q: Have you ever tried that herbal, powdery stuff called Chhinkni to help clear your stuffy nose? It's supposed to help clear your sinuses but usually makes you sneeze a little first. Supposed to smell like eucalyptus or Vicks.
A: I have heard of he stuff, but I have no interest. It apparently makes you sneeze a lot, and I already sneeze a lot. Sneezing doesn't help clear my nose. My nose isn't all stuffed up from snot, although I do get very snotty, its stuffed up because the nasal passages are smaller than they should be, and they get swollen shut easily.
A: Oh, this is a repeat of one above, just check out that answer :) I will add that my family and my good friends don't seem bothered by my allergies. Many people have been bothered by them, but not anyone who is a close friend.
Q: Would love to chat when you're homebound and bored! You mentioned yahoo and fb chats- what are your names for each?
A: Absolutely! I always would like that. On skype and yahoo I am sneezykate (in skype you might need to use sneezykate@hotmail.com). I am not on FB too much though.
I am sorry if some answers are short. I like to fully answer the questions, but sometimes I can't think of much to say. Let me know if you have any follow-ups.
As usual, please keep the feedback and questions and ideas coming! And as I mentioned in the last answer, feel free to contact me!
Over the winter I have had a few colds, 2 turned into sinus infections, and one was a sinus infection, strep throat, and pneumonia. That then got my asthma a bit bothersome for a while. I'm all recovered now though.
The weather has been fluctuating a lot between cold and warm and I bet that has something to do with it. My allergies have also been more bothersome than usual for winters. Someone said the temp fluctuations might be making mold more of an issue. It hasn't been severe, but just more allergic than usual.
I have a number of questions, so I will get right to them:
Q: When you are talking to someone and you have to start sneezing, do you say anything to them? Like, "I have to sneeze.." or do you just start sneezing without saying anything? And do you just walk to the bathroom or do you tell them you are leaving?
A: I don't say anything when I am going to sneeze. I'll often just walk off, especially if its people I know. Otherwise I'll say something like "I'll be back in a bit" or "I have to go to the bathroom"
Q: Do you have time to get out a tissue or do you just sneeze into your elbow and get a tissue later?
A: Luckily I usually have time to get out tissues before I start sneezing. Its not much time, but I have practice getting tissues quickly. If its bad enough that I don't have time, I am often staying at home/away from people anyway. My sneezes can be pretty snotty, so I put a lot of effort into making sure no one sees that. Its very embarrassing the few times I am not able to get a tissue out in time.
Q: You've mentioned doctor's visits before- do you still go regularly to an allergist? What kind of things specifically do they do to examine you, and you've mentioned they use you as a patients for students to learn from- can you give more detail?
A: Yes I still do. Now its mainly just checking in, seeing how things are going, trying out different meds, etc. I am a pretty unique case I guess, so they sometimes bring in students or other docs to look at me, ask questions, do exams, etc. Its kind of boring and embarrassing at the same time. Its the same questions and the same stuff over and over again - they talk about my case, they ask me a lot of questions, and they observe and examine me. Its embarrassing because I have all these people interested in my allergies and watching them in me, and I can't run off and hide. Exam-wise, its a lot of looking up my nose (which gets problematic) and in my ear and in my throat, etc.
Q: Have you ever spoken to family or friends about how they feel about your allergies and how it affects them? How do they feel?
A: Not really. I don't like talking about my allergies in real life. I'm not really sure how they feel. I guess kind of concerned, but it seems they are used to how I am.
Q: What's your worst nightmare relating to your allergies?
A: Two I guess - that they will keep getting worse and worse and I won't be able to do anything ever. And having really long allergy attacks that won't ever stop in public and be unable to talk/tell people what is going on or get away from lots of people staring at me while it happens.
Q: Is there anything you're concerned or worried about relating to them in the future?
A: Mainly them getting worse, and just more of what is already been happening - being embarrassed by them, them interfering in things, making me miss stuff, etc.
Q: Have you ever tried that herbal, powdery stuff called Chhinkni to help clear your stuffy nose? It's supposed to help clear your sinuses but usually makes you sneeze a little first. Supposed to smell like eucalyptus or Vicks.
A: I have heard of he stuff, but I have no interest. It apparently makes you sneeze a lot, and I already sneeze a lot. Sneezing doesn't help clear my nose. My nose isn't all stuffed up from snot, although I do get very snotty, its stuffed up because the nasal passages are smaller than they should be, and they get swollen shut easily.
A: Oh, this is a repeat of one above, just check out that answer :) I will add that my family and my good friends don't seem bothered by my allergies. Many people have been bothered by them, but not anyone who is a close friend.
Q: Would love to chat when you're homebound and bored! You mentioned yahoo and fb chats- what are your names for each?
A: Absolutely! I always would like that. On skype and yahoo I am sneezykate (in skype you might need to use sneezykate@hotmail.com). I am not on FB too much though.
I am sorry if some answers are short. I like to fully answer the questions, but sometimes I can't think of much to say. Let me know if you have any follow-ups.
As usual, please keep the feedback and questions and ideas coming! And as I mentioned in the last answer, feel free to contact me!
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Just a quick note
I wanted to let everyone know I am sorry its been a while since I posted. I was planning on making one today, but things got busy. I am hoping to have time to make a post tomorrow sometime. I have plenty of questions to answer, but not sure if I have much else to post about.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Q+A for end of Oct
Sorry, no ideas that fit into a Halloween theme.
Ragweed season is finally slowing down, so my allergies are starting to lighten up a bit. Still will take a while for them to settle down though.
Sorry its been a while since my last post. As usual, its hard for me to think of what to write.
Since I don't have much else to say, lets go to the Q+A:
Q: What kind of mean comments? People are so rude.
A: Yup, they can be. I think I have answered this before in the past, but a few examples: "Can't you control that?", "You are being disruptive", "That sounds pretty gross", "can't you stop sneezing?", etc.
Q: Could you please upload a few seconds of you so we know what you sound like? Will help to relate better to you and what you are writing. You could do an entry by video (without pics if youd prefer), just what you say, instead of typing out the entry and it would be more personal and interesting.
A: Nope, I'm not going to do that, sorry. the benefit of being online is that People can't hear/see me when my allergies are acting up.
Q: You often say that you get mean comments- can you be more specific and tell us specifically people say and have said? Do they say it directly to you and how have you responded?
A: Like I said in the first question, I have talked about it before. I usually don't respond - because my allergies are too bad, or I'm too embarrassed.
Q: High school sounds like it was tough with some mean people- did teachers ever notice and stand up for you or say something?
A: Not usually. Most weren't that understanding. A really good thing about college was that I could leave the rom anytime I wanted instead of sometimes having to stay in the room as I was sneezing like crazy.
Q: When things are getting heated with your SO, do you ever have to stop because of sneezing or dripping or something? Does it happen often and what exactly happens and how does she deal with it?
A: Yes, my allergies make us have to stop often. Allison is very understanding about it. She is very patient and caring. Definitely the best GF I have ever had :)
Q: Are you able to stifle your sneezes? And if yes, do you do it, e.g. when you're among others?
A: I seem to be starting to get questions I already answered :) I usually can't. I have figured out a way to, but it makes me constantly have to stifle, so its pretty obvious and it won't let up til I let myself have a regular fit. Because of that, and because it tends to hurt my sinuses, I don't do it.
Q: When your eyes are watery, do you always wipe the tears away or does it happen that you let them run down your face?
A: Depends on how bad my allergies are. I usually will wipe them away, but if its bad and I'm really worn out, I wont as it becomes too much hassle or I'm too wiped out to keep up.
Q: You wrote that sometimes you get dizzy when your allergies are bad. How bad can this dizziness get? Does it happen that it's difficult for you to walk or ride a bike because of the dizziness?
A: It can be pretty bad when my allergies are bad. Luckily the dizziness doesn't happen much if my allergies aren't really bad. When it does happen, I try to keep my head as still as possible. Turning my head or my body will make it worse at those times, so walking can get a bit difficult, and riding a bike is too hard when my allergies are bad, or a number of reasons.
Q: You wrote that your hearing can be affected when your allergies are bad. Does it happen that you don't understand what others say or have to turn the TV louder because of affected hearing?
A: It feels like my ears are stuffed with cotton so everything sounds muted. I can usually still make out what people are saying, but sometimes I do have to ask again and I probably make the TV a bit louder.
Q: Which allergy-related websites do you visit or look for?
A: I used to look for allergy support groups, but everything online is for food-related allergies. I don't really look around anymore. I do sometimes look at sites for pollen or mold levels. Some allergy-site and weather sites. They all tend to be a bit different so I will try to look at more than one.
Ragweed season is finally slowing down, so my allergies are starting to lighten up a bit. Still will take a while for them to settle down though.
Sorry its been a while since my last post. As usual, its hard for me to think of what to write.
Since I don't have much else to say, lets go to the Q+A:
Q: What kind of mean comments? People are so rude.
A: Yup, they can be. I think I have answered this before in the past, but a few examples: "Can't you control that?", "You are being disruptive", "That sounds pretty gross", "can't you stop sneezing?", etc.
Q: Could you please upload a few seconds of you so we know what you sound like? Will help to relate better to you and what you are writing. You could do an entry by video (without pics if youd prefer), just what you say, instead of typing out the entry and it would be more personal and interesting.
A: Nope, I'm not going to do that, sorry. the benefit of being online is that People can't hear/see me when my allergies are acting up.
Q: You often say that you get mean comments- can you be more specific and tell us specifically people say and have said? Do they say it directly to you and how have you responded?
A: Like I said in the first question, I have talked about it before. I usually don't respond - because my allergies are too bad, or I'm too embarrassed.
Q: High school sounds like it was tough with some mean people- did teachers ever notice and stand up for you or say something?
A: Not usually. Most weren't that understanding. A really good thing about college was that I could leave the rom anytime I wanted instead of sometimes having to stay in the room as I was sneezing like crazy.
Q: When things are getting heated with your SO, do you ever have to stop because of sneezing or dripping or something? Does it happen often and what exactly happens and how does she deal with it?
A: Yes, my allergies make us have to stop often. Allison is very understanding about it. She is very patient and caring. Definitely the best GF I have ever had :)
Q: Are you able to stifle your sneezes? And if yes, do you do it, e.g. when you're among others?
A: I seem to be starting to get questions I already answered :) I usually can't. I have figured out a way to, but it makes me constantly have to stifle, so its pretty obvious and it won't let up til I let myself have a regular fit. Because of that, and because it tends to hurt my sinuses, I don't do it.
Q: When your eyes are watery, do you always wipe the tears away or does it happen that you let them run down your face?
A: Depends on how bad my allergies are. I usually will wipe them away, but if its bad and I'm really worn out, I wont as it becomes too much hassle or I'm too wiped out to keep up.
Q: You wrote that sometimes you get dizzy when your allergies are bad. How bad can this dizziness get? Does it happen that it's difficult for you to walk or ride a bike because of the dizziness?
A: It can be pretty bad when my allergies are bad. Luckily the dizziness doesn't happen much if my allergies aren't really bad. When it does happen, I try to keep my head as still as possible. Turning my head or my body will make it worse at those times, so walking can get a bit difficult, and riding a bike is too hard when my allergies are bad, or a number of reasons.
Q: You wrote that your hearing can be affected when your allergies are bad. Does it happen that you don't understand what others say or have to turn the TV louder because of affected hearing?
A: It feels like my ears are stuffed with cotton so everything sounds muted. I can usually still make out what people are saying, but sometimes I do have to ask again and I probably make the TV a bit louder.
Q: Which allergy-related websites do you visit or look for?
A: I used to look for allergy support groups, but everything online is for food-related allergies. I don't really look around anymore. I do sometimes look at sites for pollen or mold levels. Some allergy-site and weather sites. They all tend to be a bit different so I will try to look at more than one.
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