So, the verdict is in.
There were a few things I knew already, a few things I don't really believe, and a few surprises as well.
Apparently… you know, you might want to sit down for this. Are you seated? Okay. Good. Apparently…. I'm *highly allergic* to dust mites!!
*GASP*
Um… wait. Isn't everyone? I mean, it's a fucking dust mite. It's an arachnid! Doesn't *everyone* react to spiders? Anyway. They want me to buy special covers for my mattress and pillows and comforter and get rid of all the carpet in my house and switch to wood or leather upholstery and use HEPA A/C filters and get HEPA air filters in every room. Yeah, and live in a bubble too. And only wipe my ass with the finest of swiss cheeses.
Apparently, I also scored pretty high in trees, grasses and weeds as well. But… again, isn't *everyone* allergic to these things? I mean, isn't that why the people that make Claritin and Allegra make so much money every year? Granted, maybe my allergy is worse than normal, but still. When I was a kid, it was pretty bad. I couldn't walk barefoot in the grass without getting itchy. It's still that way, a little, but it's not a big deal. I can mow the lawn without getting stuffy, or go hiking in spring without suffering anaphylactic shock.
Oh yeah… and cats, too. Duh. Yeah. I know.
Apparently, my ENT feels that I should subject myself to an injection every single week for *at least* a year if not longer in order to relieve the "symptoms" that I have from these allergies. The best part is that the injection will contain the very things I'm allergic to. And this will somehow make me feel better? Um. Okay. I guess the idea is that I'll build an immunity to it, or something. But, I mean, if it's possible that I could build an immunity to it, doesn't that explain why I no longer suffer every spring with terrible allergy attacks?
They also gave me two medications (an antihistamine, and a nasal steroid) to help with my "symptoms". Except… I wasn't complaining of any symptoms. At least, not *those* symptoms.
Now for the more interesting part. It was also determined that I'm highly allergic to Soy Beans, and somewhat allergic to Peanuts and Yeast.
Ummmm… ok. When I was a kid, and I walked on grass barefoot, I *felt* that. Well, I eat Soy Beans and Peanuts all the time. I don't seem to notice increased or decreased symptoms because of them. Not in the least. So I'm not really sure what that means. I scored pretty high with the Soy Beans. You'd think I'd feel it. I mean, if I eat walnuts or cantaloupe… I feel it.
I don't know how "quacky" these "scratch tests" are. And "scratch test" is a terrible name. It should be called the "violent jab test". 80 violent jabs, actually, one at a time, in your back with 80 very small needles. But, it can't be a lie. I mean, the stuff I expected was positive and the stuff I expected to be negative was, with the exception of those food allergies.
The injections, for whatever reason, can't help with the food allergies. My ENT suggested that I ignore the food allergies for now and simply get the injections. If they don't help, then we'll consider limiting my intake of those foods. I don't know if he's saying that because he wants ye money every week or because there's actually some method to that madness, but it seems to me like, if I'm allergic to something, I should avoid it or at least reduce it as much as possible. And the food is a *lot* easier to control than the stuff in the air around me. Maybe I'm just being too rational.
But that does lead me to a theory which fits quite well with other theories being presented by a couple of other people in the field. Little is known about what makes Meniere's happen. And, most of the things that have been "determined" have subsequently been ruled out in other studies. But one theory that does have some supporting evidence, and not enough information to discount, is that Meniere's is either caused, or at least aggravated by, allergies.
So, knowing how bad my grass, weed and tree allergies were as a child, I always assumed they just went away with age. But, this test showed that I reacted strong enough to them to warrant the highest score on the scale. So maybe, due to the drugs I took to relieve my symptoms, or due to an adjustment in the way that my body handles allergic reactions, Meniere's is just a manifestation of this same allergy.
Who knows. but, I guess it's possible. It certainly can't hurt to consider. So, this antihistamine will, hopefully, reduce my reaction (even though I don't notice them) to these allergens. It's possible that the nasal steroid will find it's way up the Eustachian tube and into my middle ear where it might actually do some good. And neither are going to kill me. Well, I don't think they will, anyway. So I'll take them for a little while.
And while I'm still not sure I want to subject myself to injections (which will take 6 months before I see any benefit from) I can't certainly see how taking the foods I'm allergic to out of my diet could help. So, just for fun, no more peanuts, yeast, or soy products for me for a while.
Next time your eating something that comes in a package, check and see if it has "Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil". I bet it does.
I wanted microwave popcorn for a snack last night. Nope
I went to have a granola bar for breakfast this morning. Nope.
Then creamer in my coffee. Nope.
Ugh.
