whirlwind health-related post
I had my three month allergy follow up last Tuesday, and for the first time since I started seeing Dr. Engler last October, I have no inflammation in my nose! The bad news is that my exhaled NO readings are up since that last visit. Exhaled NO measures airway inflammation and is used as a measure to monitor asthma. I started around 45 pm, then when I started using my Alvesco as prescribed, my number went down to 24 (which is normal! -- that's a big deal for an asthmatic), and now it's back up to 33. In the past 3 months, I decreased my exercise unintentionally and intentionally stopped taking my steroid inhaler. I think all the cardiovascular exercise I was doing before combined with the steroidal inhaler really improved my number, so I'm going to go back to that.
When I first started allergy shots, I started on the fast track, because I wanted the best results in the shortest amount of time. About a month and a half into my allergy shots, I had this strange reaction, where everywhere from the bottom of my feet to my arms got really itchy. I had to use cortisone cream and take Benadryl to control it because I was so uncontrollably itchy. After that, my doctor took me of of the fast track and I resumed shots with normal dosing. On the fast track, you get a larger dose of allergens injected into your arms, and also have to wait for 30 minutes after each shot; when on a regular course, you increase doses slower and don't have to wait after shots. Well, I finally finished my last vial on the regular course and was finally able to go back to fast tracking today. No negative effects, so I'm pretty happy. I hope that by spring the allergy shots will make a noticeable difference. If not, I would be really disappointed that all of my efforts were for naught. Keeping my fingers crossed!
I also got my seasonal flu shot today. I was supposed to get it last Thursday, but wasn't sure what time the flu shot clinic was at my primary doctor's office. When I first called to ask, I could have sworn they would be open for giving flu shots until 1pm, but by the time I called, the answering service was taking all of the calls, so they couldn't give me an answer. I thought I would be OK because they would be giving them again this Thursday, but it turns out that they're short on flu vaccines because they only got half of the shipment that they ordered. It's sort of funny. Michelle, the girl who answers the phones and schedules appointments was like, "Is this Amy?" So, apparently, she knows my voice. I ended up totally lucking out because she said she'd check if there were any flu vaccines left and if there were, she said she'd save me one. The 8 hours or so after the injection my arm hurt so badly and I exhibited flu-like symptoms-- headache, runny nose, dry cough, tiredness. My arm is still sore and my throat is dry and itchy, but I'm feeling better than before. The new medical assistant or R.N. said that people were saying this year's vaccine hurt, but I think the one from last year or the year before was way worse.
I'm not sure what to think of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine aside from: I am getting it. My allergy doctor said that he strongly recommends that I get it because of my asthma and allergies, and also said he was recommending it to all of his other patients. Behind pregnant women and the infirm, I am in the third wave of priority patients-- young with pre-existing conditions. Neither of my doctors have gotten the vaccine yet, but I'll need to stay on top of calling both so I can be sure to get the shot. I wonder what the after effects of that shot will be. Hopefully it's not too dreadful.
When I first started allergy shots, I started on the fast track, because I wanted the best results in the shortest amount of time. About a month and a half into my allergy shots, I had this strange reaction, where everywhere from the bottom of my feet to my arms got really itchy. I had to use cortisone cream and take Benadryl to control it because I was so uncontrollably itchy. After that, my doctor took me of of the fast track and I resumed shots with normal dosing. On the fast track, you get a larger dose of allergens injected into your arms, and also have to wait for 30 minutes after each shot; when on a regular course, you increase doses slower and don't have to wait after shots. Well, I finally finished my last vial on the regular course and was finally able to go back to fast tracking today. No negative effects, so I'm pretty happy. I hope that by spring the allergy shots will make a noticeable difference. If not, I would be really disappointed that all of my efforts were for naught. Keeping my fingers crossed!
I also got my seasonal flu shot today. I was supposed to get it last Thursday, but wasn't sure what time the flu shot clinic was at my primary doctor's office. When I first called to ask, I could have sworn they would be open for giving flu shots until 1pm, but by the time I called, the answering service was taking all of the calls, so they couldn't give me an answer. I thought I would be OK because they would be giving them again this Thursday, but it turns out that they're short on flu vaccines because they only got half of the shipment that they ordered. It's sort of funny. Michelle, the girl who answers the phones and schedules appointments was like, "Is this Amy?" So, apparently, she knows my voice. I ended up totally lucking out because she said she'd check if there were any flu vaccines left and if there were, she said she'd save me one. The 8 hours or so after the injection my arm hurt so badly and I exhibited flu-like symptoms-- headache, runny nose, dry cough, tiredness. My arm is still sore and my throat is dry and itchy, but I'm feeling better than before. The new medical assistant or R.N. said that people were saying this year's vaccine hurt, but I think the one from last year or the year before was way worse.
I'm not sure what to think of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine aside from: I am getting it. My allergy doctor said that he strongly recommends that I get it because of my asthma and allergies, and also said he was recommending it to all of his other patients. Behind pregnant women and the infirm, I am in the third wave of priority patients-- young with pre-existing conditions. Neither of my doctors have gotten the vaccine yet, but I'll need to stay on top of calling both so I can be sure to get the shot. I wonder what the after effects of that shot will be. Hopefully it's not too dreadful.