It's 4:29pm

They look so pretty and green, the grass and trees...how on earth could they be something I am allergic to?

...and I don't feel like I accomplished much of anything today.  Which isn't entirely true.  I got things done, but I am still sitting here wondering how the clock managed to reach this late in the day without my realizing it.

I did make some progress on the allergy front with my first round of allergy testing this morning.  With every new bit of information new light is shed on issues and problems I knew I had but thought were just normal annoyances.  Today my reactions to grass and trees were off the charts, so I have apparently been dealing with that for who knows how long without having any outward allergic symptoms.  This does explain, however, why I usually feel like the Bionic Woman when I am running on the treadmill at the gym but feel like I am about to lose a lung when I go for runs outside around my neighborhood.  I kept chalking the difference up to being in the sun, less consistent terrain, maybe a little wind here and there, but instead my skin swelled up as if I was bitten by a dozen mosquito bites, and every time my doctor compared the reacted site of my skin to the prick test chart, it always came up the same - grass, grass, tree, grass, tree, tree, etc.  Dealing with this will most likely involve an ongoing round of allergy shots, which will begin as soon as I see the next allergist to try to find out what I am eating that is causing my other, very outward reactions.  Today's test ruled out wheat, eggs, milk, chocolate and corn, but it showed I am allergic to soybean.  Soybean may be the mystery culprit, but neither my doctor nor I believe that is the only thing going on in the food allergy department, so on to the next doctor I go...stay tuned.

I got a few other odds and ends done today, but nothing particularly creative.  I leave Thursday to go back east for ten days and I think my brain is already on that path, feeling a tad anxious about flying (I love to travel, but am not too keen on airplanes), trying to figure out how to pack for ten days in a suitcase small enough to carry on the plane and trying to get a few website updates done only to have my software crash every time I try to upload a new page.  I also tried to find an icon to put on my blog to help me raise money for the upcoming Breast Cancer 3-Day I will be participating in this November, but I instead got distracted by all the other widgets available for my blog and browsing those killed about an hour.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day will be November 9-11 in San Diego and I just sent out my first round of emails asking for donations.  I have set a personal goal to raise $5000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, and every donation made will bring me closer to that goal.  I have already started training to walk 60 miles over three days, just like I did when I participated in the very first 3-Day event many years ago, walking from Santa Barbara to Malibu.  I will be posting a very special thank you on this blog and my website to anyone who donates...please spread the word to anyone & everyone!!

[P.S.  I just added a new entry with more details about the walk, as well as a link to my donation page.  Click here for more information.]

Comments

[Kerstin]

I never knew that you felt a bit anxious about flying. Somehow that comforts me, and confirms to me that I should never let my own anxiety about flying get in the way of my traveling.

Good luck with sorting out the allergies, hopefully you will get to the bottom of these so that you can start addressing them and moving on.

And I admire your guts and stamina to do the walk. I once did the Flora walk in London which is nothing compared to this one. I am so unfit these days, I wouldn't last more than an hour, which is very sad. But at least I can help with a donation :)

[Frida]

I'm allergy ridden - which always seemed unfair because my older and younger sister escaped. I'm allergic to grass and to cows - and I grew up on a dairy farm. It takes soooo much out of me when my allergies flare up so I send lots of empathy and hopes that this process will really help identify the triggers and help with a solution.

I love the idea of the 3-day walk. Good for you! I'm going to have to start builing up my walks as well so that when I see you in October we can walk and talk til we run out of breath - I love walking and talking.

x

[kelly rae roberts]

oh christine, i'm so glad you are FINALLY getting some answers to the mysteries...how did the shellfish test come out?

[sunny]

Hey Christine - Please email me with donation info!
And I understand the allergy stuff -- my daughter has been suffering with a strange variety for years. Ugh.
Sending you wishes for a quick resolution. :-)