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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Inflammation of the Allergy Bone

Well, I broke down and scheduled an appointment with my doctor to investigate my ongoing sinus issues.  Fascinating to you, I'm sure.  But what else CAN I write about while the contents of my sinus cavities are controlling the quality, or lack thereof, of my days?  This summer has definitely been one of increased allergy activity for many folks here in the Middle Tennessee area; I'm not alone in that.  (And I cling to that as the primary cause for my clogging issues as the alternative involves an adorable active white pup who stole my heart!)  My husband generally suffers with fall and winter allergies that outpace the warmer season problems which most people have.  So, he has struggled with chronic headaches which often turn him into a grumbly bear in the mornings.  And my entire childhood was punctuated by the continual presence of my mother's both sinus AND migraine headaches.  Though a common enough occurrence, extended sinus-related problems are not pleasant and can really affect one's health and mindset.

"Hello, purrrrr, I really raise some people's 'dander' with my personal grooming habits!"
I've probably ingested more over-the-counter drugs in these past few months than have ever entered my body over the entire course of my life!  Nasal decongestants, especially Mucinex-D with it's guaifenesin for thinning and loosening mucus (ah, mucus, mucus, mucus!) and pseudoephedrine HCI for clearing nasal and sinus congestion, pop right out of their tiny foil pouches and into my eager mouth.  Antihistamines like Allegra and Zyrtec and generic Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCL) rotate in my line-up, escorted into my system with a pain-reliever chaser.  Ibuprofen for the evening; Excedrin Migraine for the daylight hours -- contains caffeine, you know.  Though this merry mob of OTC's has been effective enough for the summer, this past week they pooped out and the pain and pressure has escalated.

And let's not forget the Neti pot, saline solution for rinsing sections of the sinus maze -- I've graduated from one potful for both nostrils to one PER nostril.  Drinking coffee, probably because it offers a further boost of caffeine and releases that 'good feeling' with me, seems to help, too.  Oh, and yesterday my good friend suggested a head steam with herbs: I loaded up a ceramic mixing bowl with fresh peppermint, pineapple sage, parsley and a dash of melaleuca oil, emptied a whistling teapot of boiling water over the mix, and perched at the counter under a towel, inhaling and exhaling.  It afforded relief for about an hour -- a very gracious hour -- and there was the bonus of open pores.  At least my skin can look great while I feel like a dung heap is festering behind my eyes and nose!  My son noticed the bowl with its odd contents and, after a brief explanation from me as to its purpose, gave it a go for himself and loved it: even through my discomfort, I enjoyed that.



All of this reminds me of what I consider an existing 'issue' between those who suffer from allergies and those who do not.  I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with well-intentioned friends and family members who offer up natural remedies involving various essential oils, plants, teas, candles, etc.  When I tell them that I can't have that scented candle in my home or that oil under my nose because they cause allergy headaches (like rosemary, which I grow and eat, but which also delivers an instant stabbing headache to the center of my brain if I crush the leaves and smell the oils on my fingers; similarly goes lavender), I'm always, ALWAYS met with, "But it can't.  It's 100% natural.  Straight from the source," or "Well, if it's pure and/or organic, that won't happen."

"I'm sorry -- did I cause that sneeze?"

"I'm beautiful.  I'm natural.  And I pack a wallop of ugly for some of you!"
 This has always puzzled me.  But I realize it is simply a lack of circumspect thought before speaking.  We are ALL guilty of that in some area.  Most allergies involve a bio-chemical reaction to things found in, of all things . . . wait for it . . . wait . . . wa-a-i-i-t . . . NATURE!  What could be more natural than a rose freshly unfurled from its bud-state, its scent drifting sweetly through the air . . . and straight into some poor unsuspecting nose, causing a sudden release of histamines throughout the body, incurring instant sneezing and runny secretions down the back of the throat and into awaiting white tissues?  What more direct source could there be than those horse hairs or saliva-encrusted cat hairs which are released from their epidermal animal moorings and transferred onto the dermis of a child who suddenly develops welts, hives and uncontrollable itching?  What about peanuts and shrimp, perhaps tastily prepared  -- I'm thinking hot red peppers and snow peas -- in a Chinese restaurant and brought home confined in that familiar white box with the thin metal handle, traveling down the gullet and closing the windpipe as it goes, encouraging anaphylactic shock in the chopstick holder?  Need I mention bee stings and pollen and grasses and molds?!  My husband and daughter react almost instantly to honeydew melons and eggplants; my sister to walnuts; a good friend of mine to soy in any state.  And all have had these food items in an organic state.
"We don't mean to make you itch!"

The long and short of it is this: we are allergic, in varying degrees, in some individuals, to the very world and environments around us.  There are even stories of those who react to things within their own bodies, to the very air that we breathe, to the conditions within which change during childbearing.  Unfortunately, that is just how it is.  And that is less than ideal.  Uncomfortable -- like, say, a bowling ball where the head should be.  Irritating -- scratchy throats which invoke pig-like sounds from the sufferer attempting to internally alleviate that itch!   Sometimes dangerous -- that's why they make epi-pens.  Good for certain large drug-producers -- I mean, you saw MY short list.  Painful at times -- did I mention the wee little people running around with pickaxes inside of that bowling ball?  A real downer -- especially if shifting sinus cavity contents cause one to stagger in a dizzying episode . . . or force one to sleep upright with three or four pillows to maintain the position.

Enough said.  I've got a headache from all of this!

  

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