What are you allergic to?
By dazeylaze
@dazeylaze (256)
June 8, 2007 4:25am CST
I'm pretty boring when it comes to allergies, as, well, I don't have any! But I guess it's a lot easier to live life without them (even if a tad uninteresting). Some people have it really bad, like being allergic to water and things like that.
What are your allergies, if any? And how do they affect your life?
3 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I am "allergic" to salicylates; though, technically it is called a "sensitivity" because my body does not form antibodies that can be tested for.
Here is a link that explains a bit about what salicylates are:
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what_are_salicylates_could_salicylates_be_zapping_your_energy_and_making_you_feel_ill.htm
Even though it is a sensitivity, the reaction is the same and just as strong. In the US, they really don't know a lot about this and I am constantly having to educate both my doctor and my pharmacist about what I need to avoid.
I actually had to figure out what was wrong with myself on my own. The doctors just kept saying "you are allergic to a bunch of things; so, take antihistamines".
It took me years of taking more and more prescription antihistamines before I figured out what the cause was.
I eliminated salicylates from my diet and as much as possible from my environment and now I occasionally take one OTC antihistamine when I get exposed to something I can't avoid.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
16 Jul 07
I agree that an allergy to latex is not fun to have: no allergy/sensitivity is "fun". But, I believe in counting my belessings, things could be worse.
The absolute worst allergy/sensitivity, in my opinion, is amine sensitivity. These people only have THREE foods that are 100% amine free. Amines are found in everything they eat and drink and are even in water. Drawing a bath or taking a shower can be deadly. Here is a link that discusses it - http://www.eklhad.net/manage-amines.html
So I count my blessings and am glad I am not one of these unfortunate people.
@ahamon69 (30)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Latex is everywhere! It is not a fun thing to be allergic to. It is in soap for dishes, many shampoo, some plastics, medical supplies, laundry products, balloons, gloves of course,
When having hair done, i buy the expensive nitrile gloves and give those to the hairdresser so she won't burn her hands with chemicals, or blister me with the latex.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I dont have alot of allergies but the ones I have are very annoying LOL I'm allergic to Strawberries (that sucks because I love them and cant eat them)...I'm allergic to pollen etc (hayfever) which sucks because I love to be outside during the warm months....and this one is the real kicker..I am allergic to the sun...that sucks the hardest because again, I love being outside in the warm months and I love tanning...
@dazeylaze (256)
•
8 Jun 07
Wow, your allergies are REALLY bad. It must be so awful to be allergic to strawberries. I think I'd be depressed if I was. And the sun?!? How do you go about your daily life? You don't live in a really hot country, do you? Because that would be impossible.
Oh, and I tell a lie, I have hayfever too, but I don't really count that as an allergy as everyone seems to have it.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Jun 07
The sun allergy has caused much stress in my life LOL when I was a toddler I had to wear long sleeved tops and pants in the summer, stay inside where its cool, only allowed out for short periods of time etc and the other parents in the area thought it was cruel..the reason for it though was to prevent hives..As I got older though the reactions seem to change..it became an issue of only being in the sun for 15-20 mins at a time..drinking LOTS of water, keeping cool by being in the shade or taking frequent dips in the pool/lake etc (I dehydrate too quickly) and things like that but oddly enough this yr for some reason the reactions have changed again and I still get the hives, and dehydrate way too fast but now I also blister and get headaches.....Its a real pain in the rump to say the least and my case isnt even a major one..I coudnt being to imagine what its like for ppl who have severe cases of it..they are very rare but wow I pity them....
I grew up in Canada and live in Western New York now....
