Allergies, resolving life's past issues, blocked emotions...
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I do not
know what it is about returning or coming or moving back (right now it seems
like a temporary thing for me for reasons you will read here) to the
Philippines that made me "overly=sensitive" to my physical environment,
food, and air, and everything else really. It seems that suddenly I am so
sensitive to cigarette smoke (even my neighbours at the compound think I am so
dramatic when I tell them to refrain from smoking that I recently got into
arguments with the male owner who is also a big-time smoker), or some food I
eat, or people burning rubbish, all types of chemicals, especially paint
thinners, even shampoos, soaps and hair conditioners, garters on my bras,
knickers not made of cotton, hair dyes/colouring, and more...
I wonder
if it is because I was never really exposed to them in the past (as I now lived
in an area in the North that is known to be one of the most-polluted cities in
Metro Manila), or that I was going through the perimenopausal stage (I read you become
sensitive to these substances), or that I have emotional blockages,
frustrations, and issues that are manifested by getting irritated to all of
those supposed allergens.
It would
be good to discuss reasons here but they are just my personal analyses really
based on my readings and research as I try to find out the cause of all these
"too many irritants" affecting me constantly that life for me became
"unbearable" - seriously. At the same time, based from my experience,
I can suggest and perhaps, advise some of my personal products that may help
those who also are quite sensitive to the irritants I mentioned above.
But,
these are my personal experiences that worked for me, and I still adhere to
such products and practices.
For
example, just very recently, I went to this large fast-food chain, McDonald's in Matalino Street (in Quezon City, Metro Manila), for my usual cup of
brewed coffee (Starbucks can be too
expensive really!) together with my youngest son, CJ. I decided to try their
sandwich with sausage and egg, well, just a two bites really as I am trying to
go back to my vegan diet (not easy in Metro Manila - but that is another
story).
Two hours
after, my hands started itching. Then I got this rash on my lower right ankle.
Okay, so I didn't mind, and the day went on. I went back to McDonald's, hanged
out, on my laptop, and tried to use their Wi-Fi (which is really crappy), and
even tried to charge my mate's Ipad, ignoring the rash and itchiness on my hands
thinking they will eventually go away. Well, after three hours of stay, CJ met
me there after school; he had lunch, then suddenly a loud noise, smoke, and a
sting on my back! Whoa! The charger of the Ipad exploded! Crap!
I called
the manager. I was told he was in a bloody seminar. An assistant manager came.
She tried to assist. I told the security guard to sort the matter. He called
the assistant manager. Time passed. I waited. Finally, I went to the counter
and was told they had to speak with the customer service over the phone. Apologies.
Assistant manager said they ask electrician to come (up to this time, three
days after, none came and no report came regarding the reason why my Ipad
charger exploded). I then suggested for
them to call the local Barangay.
Note: For non-Filipinos not
knowing this, a Barangay (Filipino: barangay, [baɾaŋˈɡaj]) is the smallest administrative
division and basic unit of government in the Philippines, and the local term for a village, district or ward.
In colloquial usage, it often refers to an inner city neighbourhood, a suburb
or a suburban neighbourhood, and whenever there are complaints, we file them at
our own Barangay where we live, or where the crime, complaint or event took
place.
Anyway, the Barangay representative came. I told
him what happened. He took down notes. I read. The assistant manager also read.
I just said I was not filing a complaint but just want the event documented
(excluding the allergies which was not in my mind at this time). Quite tired
really, I went home. Around 7 o’clock that night, the itchiness became worse
even the rash on my ankle. Hmmm….not really good. From the looks of it and my
Googling, looked like allergies. To what? Think…yeah, the McMuffin sandwich
with sausage and egg!
How can I be allergic to egg when I can eat
chicken? Or why then did I had Tuna with Egg sandwich at Starbucks twice last week
and did not get this reaction? Maybe the eggs were not fresh? The manager,
finally done with his seminar told me, eggs have “Best before 27th
August 2012,” and I ate on 23 August. I told the manager over the phone that my
charger exploding did not really hurt my back but more of the rash and the
itchiness that were bothersome as I cannot stop scratching. He insisted on
going to the E.R. I vehemently disagreed – no way, I get a shot of Benadryl and
an IV again, feeling high, dozing off, and then waking up like a zombie! I said
I will take something and observe myself.
Red rashes, very itchy on my right ankle
I took this antihistamine, scientific name, Cetirizine Hydrochloride which when I Googled, is a “Second generation antihistamine; piperazine-derivative, carboxylic acid metabolite of hydroxyzine” which is for allergies like mine. I took u antihistamine, unbranded, or generic, 10 mg from RiteMed at 8 pm. I applied Caladyrl on the rash at my right ankle but the itch persisted throughout the night giving me no sleep at all!
I dozed off at midnight, woke up several times due to the itch, and fell asleep again, waking up almost 9am the next day feeling woozy, literally falling off when I forced myself to get up. I didn’t wake up on time, CJ late for school, and headed back to McDonalds, as the itchiness lessened 50% only! Then I rubbed rock salt on my palms and between my fingers to lessen the itchiness. It helped a somehow.
The manager was apologetic, of course. He forced me to see a Dermatologist at the nearest hospital, Philippine Heart Centre (PHC). We went but seeing I had to wait for three more hours, I insisted to come back as I needed to bring CJ at PCMC. Of course, the rain caused traffic and we were late returning to McDonald’s. Again, the manager left word to assistant manager we should go to E.R. of PHC. I said no as I know they treat more of patients of life threatening illnesses due to stroke or heart disease. Ahh…the assistant manager was so insistent. I said sure, okay, we go. We were at the E.R. of PHC, and after a few minutes the doctor told us our situation is not life threatening and were not of stroke or heart life-threatening illnesses! What did I say…?!
I insisted to go home
whether McDonald’s liked it or not. But that night, the rash became rashes and
itchiness on my hands worsened, such that the next day my fingers were swollen.
This time I decided to see the dermatologist (and abstract painter as well, she
told me later, a nice, friendly doctor who never hurries you during
consultation), Dr. Montina Alcantara -Macam,
as McDonald’s manager had wanted me to see (I wanted an allergologist really).
I rubber lemons on my rashes to lessen the itchiness and swelling
(rock salt also minimises the itchiness)
Verdict:
Allergic reaction to the processed meat (sausage) which probably has food
colouring.
Someone told me having bouts of allergies,
especially in very unusual ways, repeatedly, and being oversensitive to factors
in my environment is no longer “normal.” And how our life, or spirituality, or
our Chakras are intertwined into this is the subject of future other blogs. For
now, I am focusing on my experience with one McMuffin sandwich at McDonald’s as
a food allergy that could be related to my “imbalance" Chakras - Allergies (Heart Chakra); Food Allergies – Navel Chakra (http://www.myss.com/chakra/chakrasflash.asp) and my current life.”
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| Seven Chakras |
Moving on, I read that an allergy is an “exaggerated”
immune
response or
reaction to substances that are generally not harmful – unless they cause
death. As
I said earlier, when I came back to Manila, I suffered about of Allergic
conjunctivitis, various allergic
reactions
(usually environmental), even
allergy to mold, dander, dust, or Atopic
dermatitis (eczema),
Contact
dermatitis, Drug
allergies
(penicillin and aspirin), Food
allergies
( seafood, some fishes),Hay
fever
(allergic rhinitis)…anymore? Yeah, I get allergy-like reactions to hot temperatures,
hot weather, sunlight, or other environmental triggers. Sometimes, friction
(rubbing or roughly stroking the skin) will cause symptoms too, including
sweat, extreme loud noise (which are normal for other people), strong perfume,
using earrings of fake gold or silver, wearing rubber slippers….
Honestly, sometimes I am even like paranoid that
any moment something, or some smell occurs that will trigger allergic symptoms
on me.
I read: “A specific allergy is not usually passed
down through families (inherited). However, if both your parents have
allergies, you are likely to have allergies. The chance is greater if your
mother has allergies.” My Mum has none but my Dad has some. However, I
never suffered them except for rhinitis ( my stay in the UK cleared this). In www.averonicacortes.blogspot.com,
you will know more of this….
In this case, diagnosis
was an allergic reaction to what I ate that morning: the McMuffin sausage and Egg sandwich. I
was prescribed another type of Antihistamine,
called, Generic Name: levocetirizine (LEE
voe se TIR a zeen), Brand Names: Xyzal,
which is “used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in adults
and children who are at least 6 months old. Xyzal is also used to treat
symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years
old. Xyzal is also used to treat itching and swelling caused by chronic
urticaria (hives) in adults and children who are at least 6 months old.
If you Google, you will read these: Xyzal may impair your thinking or
reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be
alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Xyzal. Tell your
doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as other
cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle
relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to
sleepiness caused by Xyzal. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve,
if they get worse, or if you also have a fever.
Source:
http://www.drugs.com/xyzal.html
Dr. Macam told this is Xyzal is a “First Generation
Antihistamine” which means the drowsiness is lesser as I cannot take
the side effects of being woozy and lethargic. I even read it is a “State of the Art
Antihistamine,” whereby the sedation side effect is cut into half! I am taking
my first Xyzal of 5mg tonight (and will tell you later). I was
prescribed seven Xyzal to take once days
for seven days or until allergic symptoms are gone. However, in my experience, when I
got allergies last year due to chemicals found in this rebonding of hair (and
that is another story), I used Virlix,
a “
potent second-generation histamine H1 antagonist that is effective in the
treatment of allergic rhinitis, chronic urticaria, and pollen-induced asthma.
Unlike many traditional antihistamines, it does not cause drowsiness or
anticholinergic side effects. [PubChem],” 10 mg once a day plus oral steroids (yes, awful
experience) in which the former did not give me that terrible sedative effect
when I wake up.
NOTE: For more information regarding feedback on
Xyzal, you can check out his link: http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/rxlist_view_comments.asp?drug=xyzal&questionid=fdb148996_pem
For information on Virlix, please see: http://www.flexyx.com/V/Virlix.html
Added to this, Dr. Macam prescribed this cream for skin
allergies and her own “Oatmeal Powder”
to be used for feet and hands (on a bowl of water mix this Oatmeal Powder, soak
both hands and feet, then apply the allergy cream).
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To end this three-day
saga, even if I was disappointed with the initial handling of my complaints on my allergic reactions to the Egg and Sausage McMuffin at McDonald’s,
and their seeming lack of knowledge of the contents of the food they serve
(which is very important, to be honest), one thing for sure, they were
courteous, polite and never stopped offering me coffee, or meals for CJ (too bad
I do not eat burgers), or concerned with my well-being (hopefully they were
sincere, or maybe just worried I will sue them, hahaha), including that of CJ’s. Perhaps, it will not be too much to mention
their names: Anne Estepa, Liza Maniquiz
and Angelito Ang of McDonald’s
Matalino branch.
Allergies. There are those childhood allergies that
are possible to be treated in various ways. And there is this allergy that occurs
on your adulthood to your mature years, so I was told by my GP or general practitioner
not too long ago. She said it just happens. But I think there is more to that
really. Both genes and environmental factors play a role, of course. But in a
person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes
an allergen, it releases chemicals such as histamines. which fight off the
allergen. This causes allergy symptoms.
Now, my BIG question to myself is “Why now and How
did this happen Now?” Recurring allergies for four years? Normally to my
environment is for me – very unusual.
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On my next blog, I will
discuss results of these medications, and the if there is any relation between
blocked emotions, issues and personal unresolved situations in our lives that
manifest into allergies which really is “a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune
system.” And why I get allergies because my immune system is down or weak and
why such…? Because really, I have noticed that I seem to be sensitive to so
many in my environment that I even learned the term: “Highly Sensitive Person,”
or HSP, and why various blocked and unresolved personal issues may cause
allergies.
Have
a great weekend!
Cheers!
Note- Top and bottom photos from Oprah magazine
Seven Chakras, Image Source: wikipedia.org
Oprah Magazine - always a fave inspiration...
