Friday, September 17, 2010
Today's notes, possibly TMI
My allergies and my PMS seem to make each other worse. I have to deal with PMS for about a week leading up to my period. Often my allergies seem worse during that time. Maybe I just notice more/it annoys me more though. I will spare you the details, but all my sneezing also makes things hurt more and be more ouchy. I hate it! :(
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Discovering my horse allergy
This happened when I was about 14. I didn't know yet I was allergic to horses. Maybe I was tested for it, but back then I was really in denial about my allergies so I didn't pay attention to alot of stuff.
Some friends wanted to go horseback riding, and I had never done it before so I thought it would be cool to try. Being spring, pollen was bothering me some, but I was just mainly sniffling and had some sneezing. I hated using tissues back then and I usually could just sniffle and be ok, so I just kept a few tissues in my pocket.
We got there and everything was ok for a while. A few minutes after we got on the horses, I noticed that my nose was getting very stuffy and it was tingling pretty badly. My nose started to run more and I was trying not to sneeze. Eventually I couldn't keep from sneezing because of this constant tingle all inside my nose. I kept having sneezing fits while we were going around on the trail. People kept asking me if I was ok, and I would just nod yes because I didn't want them to hear me sounding all stuffy. My nose was too runny and I went through the few tissues I had pretty quickly. I kept on wiping my nose on the inside of my shirt and I was trying really hard not to let anyone see my nose being snotty. My friends kept looking at me when I kept sneezing and I could tell that they felt kinda bad for me and I just felt more and more embarrassed because I couldn't go run off anywhere.
By the end of the trip I was feeling miserable and I probably looked it too. As soon as we got off the horses, I told my friends that I would be in the car. My nose and sinuses were all stuffed up and my eyes were all itchy and puffy and watery. I got in the car and I just kept sneezing and sneezing. I couldn't find any tissues so I kept sneezing inside my shirt and kept trying to wipe my nose as much as I could.
I was bad like that the whole trip home. My friends kept asking how I was and they were acting all concerned and I was really wishing I could be away from everyone. I wanted to die from embarrassment. They were going to hang out but I asked them to drop me off at home 1st. They did and I just went into my room and felt pretty miserable for the rest of the day.
Since then, I haven't ridden on a horse and I haven't been around any that much. Out of curiosity I have been around one for a bit every year or so just to see if I am still allergic (I do that with most things I am allergic to that I usually can avoid), and I am.
Some friends wanted to go horseback riding, and I had never done it before so I thought it would be cool to try. Being spring, pollen was bothering me some, but I was just mainly sniffling and had some sneezing. I hated using tissues back then and I usually could just sniffle and be ok, so I just kept a few tissues in my pocket.
We got there and everything was ok for a while. A few minutes after we got on the horses, I noticed that my nose was getting very stuffy and it was tingling pretty badly. My nose started to run more and I was trying not to sneeze. Eventually I couldn't keep from sneezing because of this constant tingle all inside my nose. I kept having sneezing fits while we were going around on the trail. People kept asking me if I was ok, and I would just nod yes because I didn't want them to hear me sounding all stuffy. My nose was too runny and I went through the few tissues I had pretty quickly. I kept on wiping my nose on the inside of my shirt and I was trying really hard not to let anyone see my nose being snotty. My friends kept looking at me when I kept sneezing and I could tell that they felt kinda bad for me and I just felt more and more embarrassed because I couldn't go run off anywhere.
By the end of the trip I was feeling miserable and I probably looked it too. As soon as we got off the horses, I told my friends that I would be in the car. My nose and sinuses were all stuffed up and my eyes were all itchy and puffy and watery. I got in the car and I just kept sneezing and sneezing. I couldn't find any tissues so I kept sneezing inside my shirt and kept trying to wipe my nose as much as I could.
I was bad like that the whole trip home. My friends kept asking how I was and they were acting all concerned and I was really wishing I could be away from everyone. I wanted to die from embarrassment. They were going to hang out but I asked them to drop me off at home 1st. They did and I just went into my room and felt pretty miserable for the rest of the day.
Since then, I haven't ridden on a horse and I haven't been around any that much. Out of curiosity I have been around one for a bit every year or so just to see if I am still allergic (I do that with most things I am allergic to that I usually can avoid), and I am.
Quick notes
To help me keep posting, I am starting to post quick notes about things that are allergy-related in some way.
Today I have 2 quick notes:
1. I have noticed over the last few months my nose either feels very warm or very cold much of the time. I have no idea why. It never happened before. Does anyone know why this might happen?
2. Trying to eat a meal when you keep having sneezing fits is very difficult to do!
I will make my next real blog post a bit later tonight. I think I worry over my posts sounding too stupid, being too long or too short, or getting too embarassing.
Today I have 2 quick notes:
1. I have noticed over the last few months my nose either feels very warm or very cold much of the time. I have no idea why. It never happened before. Does anyone know why this might happen?
2. Trying to eat a meal when you keep having sneezing fits is very difficult to do!
I will make my next real blog post a bit later tonight. I think I worry over my posts sounding too stupid, being too long or too short, or getting too embarassing.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
My Symptoms
Since I posted about what I am allergic to, I am also posting about what symptoms I get from my allergies.
I am a bit stuck with what to write next so this is a good tangent. Forgive me if it is a while before I post again, I just don't know why I am a bit stuck with what to write.
Major Symptoms. These are the main symptoms I have pretty much all the time, and they tend to be the ones that affect my life the most.
Sneezing: I sneeze LOTS. I have very long fits, and I have many fits all through the day. Sometimes it feels like I will never stop sneezing. My sneezes aren't overly loud, but because I sneeze so much, its easy for everyone to tell. This is one of the main parts of my allergies that makes me very embarrassed. I will try to run off or duck into a bathroom when I am having a sneezing fit because of the embarrassment I feel. I hate when my sneezing interrupts me trying to have a conversation or when I am trying to do things. Most of the time I feel the need to sneeze to at least some degree. It can either feel like a tickle, thousands of tiny needles, or a tingling. It can be mild or intense and I usually feel it back deep in my nose and sinuses. I know I am going to start sneezing when the feeling starts to spread. Sometimes it doesn't do that though and a fit can hit me by surprise. The one good thing about so much sneezing is that it helps keep my abs in good shape :)
Sinus Congestion: I always have sinus congestion. It can range from not too bad to lots of sinus pressure and pain. It can sometimes hurt to move my head too fast, and often I feel it when I bend forward. On occasion I wish I could drill a hole into my sinuses! Luckily I only get an actual sinus infection one or two times a year.
Nasal Congestion: I am always very congested through most of the year. I am so congested that I usually can't smell anything and I can't really blow my nose or sniffle. It can get extremely annoying. I sound very nasally and that embarrasses me too. Sometimes my noses feels throbby inside because of all the congestion.
Runny Nose: I don't understand how I can have such a runny nose when I am also so congested! Ugh! My nose runs alot. Not being able to sniffle or really blow my nose means I have to wipe my nose all day, sometimes almost constantly. I am REALLY embarrassed about anyone seeing my nose being snotty. Its hard to tell when my sneezing is going to be messy, so I always use tissues or something if there is any chance anyone will see me. I also am always wiping my nose just to make sure no one will be able to see anything being drippy. I just don't understand how my nose can make so much snot!
Other Symptoms. These can bother me to lesser or greater extents, but they tend not to be as big a deal unless my allergies are getting bad.
Itchy/Watery Eyes: When my allergies get bad my eyes can water so much that it looks like I am constantly crying. They also can get very itchy. Sometimes, if they are very watery, itchy and swollen, it makes it harder to see details well, like in reading. I try not to rub them because I know it can make them worse, but sometimes I just have to. I have to be careful when I do rub them because if something I am allergic to is on my hand, it can make my eyes really puff up and swell up and look very bad.
Itchy/Red Nose: I HATE when my nose is all red! Its another thing that embarrasses me a ton. My nose is red very often though, just from all the sneezing and wiping and everything else. Sometimes my nose gets very itchy but I usually am able to not rub it because rubbing my nose will be sure to throw me into a long sneezing fit. It can get very distracting though.
Clogged Ears: When my allergies get really bad, my ears will feel all clogged. Its like having cotton stuffed in my ears, and it makes things I hear sound like it too. I think its this (or maybe sinus congestion too) that sometimes makes me feel a bit dizzy when my allergies are bad.
Different symptoms
I don't think these are direct symptoms of my allergies, but they happen because of my allergies. I feel tired a good deal of the time, it interferes with my sleeping, and I do sometimes get sad or angry about my allergies. I know it affects my moods. Sometimes that can really suck. I think I get overly sensitive emotionally at times because of my allergies.
There are a few other random things, but I will bring them up in other posts if/when I remember them.
I am a bit stuck with what to write next so this is a good tangent. Forgive me if it is a while before I post again, I just don't know why I am a bit stuck with what to write.
Major Symptoms. These are the main symptoms I have pretty much all the time, and they tend to be the ones that affect my life the most.
Sneezing: I sneeze LOTS. I have very long fits, and I have many fits all through the day. Sometimes it feels like I will never stop sneezing. My sneezes aren't overly loud, but because I sneeze so much, its easy for everyone to tell. This is one of the main parts of my allergies that makes me very embarrassed. I will try to run off or duck into a bathroom when I am having a sneezing fit because of the embarrassment I feel. I hate when my sneezing interrupts me trying to have a conversation or when I am trying to do things. Most of the time I feel the need to sneeze to at least some degree. It can either feel like a tickle, thousands of tiny needles, or a tingling. It can be mild or intense and I usually feel it back deep in my nose and sinuses. I know I am going to start sneezing when the feeling starts to spread. Sometimes it doesn't do that though and a fit can hit me by surprise. The one good thing about so much sneezing is that it helps keep my abs in good shape :)
Sinus Congestion: I always have sinus congestion. It can range from not too bad to lots of sinus pressure and pain. It can sometimes hurt to move my head too fast, and often I feel it when I bend forward. On occasion I wish I could drill a hole into my sinuses! Luckily I only get an actual sinus infection one or two times a year.
Nasal Congestion: I am always very congested through most of the year. I am so congested that I usually can't smell anything and I can't really blow my nose or sniffle. It can get extremely annoying. I sound very nasally and that embarrasses me too. Sometimes my noses feels throbby inside because of all the congestion.
Runny Nose: I don't understand how I can have such a runny nose when I am also so congested! Ugh! My nose runs alot. Not being able to sniffle or really blow my nose means I have to wipe my nose all day, sometimes almost constantly. I am REALLY embarrassed about anyone seeing my nose being snotty. Its hard to tell when my sneezing is going to be messy, so I always use tissues or something if there is any chance anyone will see me. I also am always wiping my nose just to make sure no one will be able to see anything being drippy. I just don't understand how my nose can make so much snot!
Other Symptoms. These can bother me to lesser or greater extents, but they tend not to be as big a deal unless my allergies are getting bad.
Itchy/Watery Eyes: When my allergies get bad my eyes can water so much that it looks like I am constantly crying. They also can get very itchy. Sometimes, if they are very watery, itchy and swollen, it makes it harder to see details well, like in reading. I try not to rub them because I know it can make them worse, but sometimes I just have to. I have to be careful when I do rub them because if something I am allergic to is on my hand, it can make my eyes really puff up and swell up and look very bad.
Itchy/Red Nose: I HATE when my nose is all red! Its another thing that embarrasses me a ton. My nose is red very often though, just from all the sneezing and wiping and everything else. Sometimes my nose gets very itchy but I usually am able to not rub it because rubbing my nose will be sure to throw me into a long sneezing fit. It can get very distracting though.
Clogged Ears: When my allergies get really bad, my ears will feel all clogged. Its like having cotton stuffed in my ears, and it makes things I hear sound like it too. I think its this (or maybe sinus congestion too) that sometimes makes me feel a bit dizzy when my allergies are bad.
Different symptoms
I don't think these are direct symptoms of my allergies, but they happen because of my allergies. I feel tired a good deal of the time, it interferes with my sleeping, and I do sometimes get sad or angry about my allergies. I know it affects my moods. Sometimes that can really suck. I think I get overly sensitive emotionally at times because of my allergies.
There are a few other random things, but I will bring them up in other posts if/when I remember them.
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