Benefits of Living in the Desert..or Not

Let me start off by saying (or writing) that I loathe going to the doctor. I avoid doctors at all costs and have not been to a doctor in 2 years. Of course this does not include my wonderful OB when I was pregnant and all the drama with Marlee's birth and postpartum. I mean just a regular ole' doctor.
One example of this, two years ago I had a bad cold that just would. not. go. away. After ONE month of misery, I broke down and went to the doc. I had a sinus infection and bronchitis. This goes to show you how much it takes to get me to the doctor.
Another example, I have yet to go back and get an x-ray done of my bladder, as requested by my OB and Urologist, due to the damage Marlee did when she was born. Mom, please don't yell at me.
I have a theory that my extreme dislike has to do with my childhood and rarely going to the doctor as we didn't have health insurance growing up. Yep, six kids and no insurance.

So, I broke down and did it. I finally went to an allergist.

A little back story..
I have had allergies for as long as I can remember. They have gotten increasingly worse over the past year and a half. Horrible, horrible allergies and sensitive skin. Dave is off this week (yipee)and he forced me to make an appointment. I am so glad I did.

So, as I said, I went to an allergist today. It was nothing like I expected.
After explaining to him my issues, he recommended we do a skin test. This would test for the 60 most caused allergies here in the desert. I thought they would just take some blood, um...nope. They poked me 72 times (60 to test for allergic reactions to environmental factors and the rest for food allergies).

So, I laid on my stomach and the nurse poked me with each of the allergens she was testing me for. She said "wow, you're already having a reaction to some of these". What happens is if I am allergic, I will develop a hive type irritation where I was poked.

Ten minutes later, the nurse comes in, takes a look at my back and informed me that I am allergic to almost everything they test me for (excluding the food). Here is what my back looked like when I got home..


Please ignore the fat back.

I would list everything but there's like 50 or so things that I'm allergic to.
So, the doc gave me a bunch of different nose sprays, eye drops, and medicine to try. He also suggests that I start immunotherapy.

Long story short, immunotherapy is basically a series of weekly injections (1-4 times a week) over the course of about 6 months, until I reach my "maintenance" dose. I will be injected with the actual allergens I am allergic to in liquid form. This in turn will build up an immunity to the allergens. Once I reach my maintenance dose I will keep receiving injections, just less often.

I go back for a follow up in three weeks. At this point, if I should decide, I will start the immunotherapy. You know me, first I have to do some "research" and put a call into my crappy insurance to see just how much this therapy will cost me.

Okay, so that's that. Everything you wanted to know about allergens and then some.

One more thing I would like to add. Why, oh why, does it take a diagnosis from a doctor to make my complaints valid?