Poisoned Again!
By Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
United States
April 1, 2018 8:12pm CST
So, time for the next round of health problems and breathing issues!
As most of you who have been following this know, I finally found the root cause of my difficulties and have been getting progressively better. Tonight, during Easter dinner, my mother was fixing a salad from a kit. I asked if there were sunflower seeds. "No, I don't think so," was the reply. I investigated the kit. Of course there were... some knuckle head seems determined to put them in every salad mix there is.
So I told her that I wasn't interested, but the seeds were contained in a small bag, so the salad was safe. I was going to take a bowl but she insisted to mix the salad dressing in first. Afterwards, set my bowl aside (I had returned to the table to enter a conversation with my uncle and father). About finished with my salad, guess what I taste in it? Sunflower seeds! The whole first half didn't have any, but towards the bottom, there they were.
Of course, I had already eaten them by the time I noticed, so as usual, my allergic reaction (a mild but still painful one) occurred and my tongue and throat itched. And of course, now my breathing - that was getting better - is back to where it was before, and painful.
When I asked her what happened, she said, "You didn't have as much as the rest of us, so I added some from my bowl."
Once again, she was trying to be nice, but that might as well be doing it intentionally.
From today on, if I see any hint of a sunflower seed near food there, I'm leaving. This is too painful to just let slide. How many times have I mentioned it? Only about 30! Enough is enough.
Oh, and that pesky anxiety I got rid of? It's also back, though mildly. I can only hope I feel better tomorrow, because right now I feel awful. 
9 people like this
9 responses
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
2 Apr 18
I am sorry if I sound mean, but I laughed... because your mother seems to be taking your allergies on a stroll. My mom would do that sometimes to me or my siblings knowing we would hate it but I guess it was her way of being funny. 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
A lot of people are laughing, probably because it didn't kill me this time. XD
I just don't understand if I have to spell it out for her that it causes me pain and anguish for hours. I was so happy this morning because the mucus was breaking in my lungs and I was about a day away from recovering. Now I might be stuck like this for days longer.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
@mlgen1037 She is 66, but looks younger.
I talked to her today, and she thinks I'm making it up, and doesn't believe that the small amount I ate can do anything. She actually said, "Well I don't believe that!" to the reaction.
I have no reason to make something up a food allergy. I used to love roasted pumpkin seeds, but now they also cause the same reaction. Do I want to eat them? Yes. But will I? No.
I developed lactose intolerance 8 years ago, and can't eat that either. Soon there will be nothing left to eat! XD
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
2 Apr 18
@OneOfMany Morgan, am not laughing at what happened to you. I just think that amidst all, your mom just want to make to smile. I do not think that she means to cause you pain and anguish. But you can talk it out to her. How old is your mom?
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
4 Apr 18
I am so sorry Morgan, your poor mom and you. I know what you go through, I am allergic to the acid in the tomato and when I get even a little bit my throat closes up and I can't breath at all. My husband and I both carry Benedryl in our wallets just in case because if I get to it soon enough I can counteract it a little bit better. You should try it, if it works for me it would do the same for you.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Apr 18
I'm sorry, for you as well, more so that tomato is used in a lot of things common for foods. I got some Benedryl yesterday, and took some. It did help me, but it also made me really sleep and I couldn't stay awake. I did feel better, and I probably needed the rest as well. I will certainly keep it around, as I certainly don't want to experience that again.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Apr 18
@cintol It was the pink ones that made me tired. I just took one now, because of other non-food allergy symptoms. Just to see if it will help (it does say 'allergy' on the box, after all). I still have some lingering breathing issues, though they have gotten better.
Currently, my lymph nodes are swollen. Probably as a result of all the coughing.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
4 Apr 18
@OneOfMany Yes, I can't eat at Italian or Mexican restaurants and very seldom order a salad unless I know it doesn't come with tomatoes. Its a pain but I get through. They have two different types of Benedryl, some are little capsules (pink and white) I think, they make me tired, the solid little pink ones don't. Carry it with you always and take it if you ever feel you are gonna need it.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
3 Apr 18
some people just don't seem to grasp the concept of allergy.
my boss keeps bringing in sweets tho i've told her numerous times sugar makes me ill.she'll say "i know you don't like it,but.."
it's not a matter of like..i.can't.eat it.for the millionth time..
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
3 Apr 18
Before I even knew I had one, I never second guessed any one else's allergies. It was more of a "that's too bad" response. :P
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
2 Apr 18
They don't seem to understand that you have an allergy to sunflower seeds. Your mother, of all people? 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Apr 18
@1hopefulman I would like to be healthy as well. Fortunately, I went to the store and bought some anti-allergy antihistamines and they did a lot for improving my situation. Now I don't feel as desperate, and occasionally get a deep breath that doesn't hurt.
Once there is warmer weather, my windows will be open more often, to let fresh air inside.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
No matter how many times I tell them. I first mentioned it when I was in junior high, when I tried one and it burned my mouth. I didn't need to be tested to understand what it meant. After that, whenever I denied multigrain breads or ate something with the seeds in it, I would say "My mouth is burning, this has sunflower seeds in it. Don't give this to me." and she'd get mad that I wouldn't eat it, and was being 'picky'. I'm not picky about any food.
Many years have gone by, and nothing has changed. Tonight, I even said "Do not put anything in my bowl." And did it register? Not one bit!
Fortunately, my breathing has gotten a little better, but it still hurts. I'm dealing with my anxiety to get it under control.
2 people like this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
2 Apr 18
As much as I hate to think it, that sounds intentional to me. Why can't your mother respect your wishes? You took enough for yourself from the salad bowl before the seeds were added and then you found some "hidden" at the bottom of your bowl. My dear, as much as you love her, and as much as you "hope" she loves you, stay away from your mother until she starts taking you seriously. Your disconnection from her may be what is needed to wake her up.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
She has never taken my allergies serious because I have never gone a doctor to get them confirmed. I don't need to to know that they are there. I'm not defending her this time, but they weren't seeds as much as little pieces of seeds. She said that she didn't see any in there, but having it touched is enough to cause the reaction.
I plan to stay away in terms of anything food related. I drew a line, and she keeps crossing it.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
@Starmaiden She won't do it again. I won't eat anything without knowing what is in it. I have trusted her several times, and though I honestly believe it is not intentional, it is a lack of being aware. Therefore if there is anything with 'sunflower seeds' or any of my other allergens, I won't touch it. So far, I think the current list is: sunflower seeds, lamb (a meat allergy, it happens!), clams (which sucks, I love clams), shrimp (I used to eat it a lot, now I can't), and possibly other shellfish. I hope crab never makes it to that list. I love a nice plate of crab legs!
I don't like making arrangements with doctors, though I guess I should get the shellfish thing looked into, since that could be bad in the future.
It's getting late, but my breathing is almost under control. I don't want to try to sleep until it is settled a bit more. At least the anxiety has melted away.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
2 Apr 18
@OneOfMany You should go to a doctor and get it confirmed. Show her the confirmation. If she keeps doing this to you and...as you say... It kills you one of these days, the proof will be in your system AND on paper. Your mom could be charged with a very serious crime.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
6 Apr 18
Well, it was more a test of her own that was foolishness on her part. She doesn't believe the allergy to be real.
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
2 Apr 18
I'd be fuming!! They dont seem to be taking it serious!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
I am fuming here. I actually have screamed my head off in my own home. Just when I was finally starting to breathe again, this happens. When I mentioned that my breathing isn't back to normal yet:
"Oh, you mean you're still having that problem?"
It's not being taken serious at all. One of these days it might kill me.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
I don't understand it, frankly. It's like she thinks that it isn't real. Because whenever I mention the effects, she says something like, "Oh come on, it's not that bad."
Even though side effects are light currently, that doesn't mean they will remain that way, especially since the last exposure was a week ago.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
2 Apr 18
Thank you. I hope so too! I'm going to stay awake until things start to improve, but it's almost been four hours, so I should start to be better any time now.
1 person likes this
