Starting An Allergy Journal

[Mal12345]

I have recently been found to have 39 allergies to various environmental factors, so I have decided to start an allergy journal.

I looked online for an allergy journal site but the form I have to fill out every day is overly detailed, so I guess they are just trying to make me do a lot of work in order to provide them with a study they don't have to pay for.

Create Your Account - My Nasal Allergy Journal is the allergy journal site. That site is stupid. When intending to start a journal like this, start small. Just write down some basic facts, in my case, how long the sheets and blankets have been on the bed and how I feel symptom-wise the following morning after sleeping in them.

I have three symptoms to keep track of, and I can track them as mild, medium, or strong. The categories are itchiness, sinus pain, and nasal blockage.

So let's try it like this:

Bedding - x days on bed.
itchiness -none, mild, medium, strong.
sinuses -none, mild pain, medium pain, strong pain.
nasal - clear, mild blockage, medium blockage, can't breathe at all.
sneezing - yes or no
post nasal drip - yes or no
coughing- none, mild, medium, severe
eyes (itchy/watery) - yes or no

The nasal blockage is caused by allergic swelling of the nasal turbinates. There are two causes in my household: dogs, and dust mites. The dogs like to camp out on the bed during the day; and dust mites are just everywhere.

One solution to the itchiness is to wear clothing to bed.

It was my wife who encouraged me to go see an allergist because I was literally clawing myself with my fingernails until I bled due to severe itchiness.

 

[Mal12345]

The allergy clinic I went to didn't care for the Neti pot idea. Just thought I would throw that in before someone suggests trying one.

 

[gromit]

I did a poop + food journal for awhile.

 

[Mal12345]

I did a poop + food journal for awhile.

Why?

 

[gromit]

Actually it was on the computer

 

[gromit]

Why?

To see if I could find any connections. I was getting a lot of upset stomachs (is that the plural?) over the summer and wanted to see what was causing it.

 

[Mal12345]

To see if I could find any connections. I was getting a lot of upset stomachs (is that the plural?) over the summer and wanted to see what was causing it.

Did you find the cause?

 

[gromit]

Did you find the cause?

As far as I could tell

Starchy food = better
Too much fat + fiber + alcohol (and maybe caffeine) = worse

But now that things have settled I have a little more freedom.

 

[gromit]

Also, I heard on the radio the other day that not making your bed encourages dust mites less than making your bed, because of the fresh air and light or something.

It was the radio though, so no idea how reliable that info is.

 

[senza tema]

Also, I heard on the radio the other day that not making your bed encourages dust mites less than making your bed, because of the fresh air and light or something.

It was the radio though, so no idea how reliable that info is.

This is going to be my excuse for not making my bed from now until forever.

Not that I needed an excuse before this ...

 

[Kas]

Do you have same symptoms during all the months?
Because if it's about most common allergens:
mites- whole year (often during the night or in dusty places)
trees- I-V months
grass- V-VIII
mould- VIII-IX


You can also try to change your cosmetics (even soap) for those for allergy sensitive people.

 

[violet_crown]

I did a poop + food journal for awhile.

That's the most phenomenal idea I've never had.

 

[highlander]

I have allergies + asthma. As a kid, I used to hate it because it was restrictive. You learn to live with it and avoid the things that bother you. The most inconvenient allergies I have are to mold and coffee.

 

[Mal12345]

Also, I heard on the radio the other day that not making your bed encourages dust mites less than making your bed, because of the fresh air and light or something.

It was the radio though, so no idea how reliable that info is.

This regards leaving the covers open to let the bed air out. Dust mites hate this and eventually die of "exposure".

But the allergen in dust mites is not the dust mites

 

[Kas]

I have allergies + asthma. As a kid, I used to hate it because it was restrictive. You learn to live with it and avoid the things that bother you. The most inconvenient allergies I have are to mold and coffee.

Coffee?
I think that food allergies are the worst. Trace amounts of peanuts can be in everything.

I'm allergic to mites and cats. It's annoying, but with antihistamine drugs, not so terrible.

 

[Mal12345]

Do you have same symptoms during all the months?
Because if it's about most common allergens:
mites- whole year (often during the night or in dusty places)
trees- I-V months
grass- V-VIII
mould- VIII-IX
You can also try to change your cosmetics (even soap) for those for allergy sensitive people.

Would you like me to scan you a copy of my allergies? It's a 2-page list.

 

[Kas]

Would you like me to scan you a copy of my allergies? It's a 2-page list.

I understand that it's a lot of things, but you can react more to some of the factors you are hypersensitive to (e.g. I test hypersensitivity to dogs, but I feel good where there is a dog around, when I'm with cat I have all the symptoms including asthma attack). So it's best to find out what causes the most severe symptoms...


Also if it's about mites, clean floors instead of using vacuum cleaner and air house often. Probably you were told....

 

[windoverlake]

A journal is a great idea.

It will also help if you looked into strengthening and supporting your immune system. Some basic info about allergies and immunity here.

 

[Mal12345]

I understand that it's a lot of things, but you can react more to some of the factors you are hypersensitive to (e.g. I test hypersensitivity to dogs, but I feel good where there is a dog around, when I'm with cat I have all the symptoms including asthma attack). So it's best to find out what causes the most severe symptoms...


Also if it's about mites, clean floors instead of using vacuum cleaner and air house often. Probably you were told....

Allergens blow in from outside too.

- - - Updated - - -

A journal is a great idea.

It will also help if you looked into strengthening and supporting your immune system. Some basic info about allergies and immunity here.

That will involve injections once a week for two years unless they have to create a new mix.

 

[Mal12345]

I just found out that the allergy doctor gave me an antibiotic that I am allergic to.

This is pretty par for the course with physicians around here.

I am SO PISSED OFF right now. The antibiotic, known familiarly as Ceftin, is a Cephalosporin drug - Cephalosporium caused The Highest Fucking Allergy Score On My Test Results.

Here it is in the list Second generation cephalosporins | Drugs.com

Here is exactly the same chemical from page two of my allergy report:

Everything that has a number I had a reaction to. The number signifies the diameter of the wheal in millimeters. This wheal was 13 mm in diameter, the highest score out of the 39 I tested positive for.