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8 february 2002

a friendly jab or six

Monday:
Ow.     Ow.    Ow.

Then again on Wednesday:
Ow.     Ow.    Ow.

My allergy shots have begun in earnest. As you'll remember a few weeks ago, I shared with you the horrendously itchy and uncomfortable testing process, which is tempered only by the hope that you might feel better in a year or so. After evaluating the severity of my reactions, Dr. R. began to mix my very own allergy serums. In the meantime, I have begun taking four different medications to ease me into this whole process. The goal with immunotherapy is to keep me as healthy as possible (with top-notch asthma meds and antihistamines), while gradually increasing my tolerance to all these allergens. Or, in my case, nearly everything that grows in North Carolina.

Since I felt really lousy after the testing, I decided to hold off on the shots until after the show wrapped. But on Monday afternoon, I was first in line to get my shots. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to too many substances for them to have one serum. Instead, they were able to dilute purified forms of my personal allergens into three serums. That means three shots, twice a week. Two in the right arm, one in the left.

Now, I don't get too bugged out by shots. Giving blood, not a problem. Vaccinations, whatever. My only request is that you don't show me the needle. Don't tell me it's going in. Just do it and be done with me. I don't know what happened to me on Monday, but I nearly passed out after the first one. The nice nurse made a note in my chart: Kim is to get her shots while seated.

Here's the other problem--have you SEEN my arms??? Even before I started serious weight training a couple of years ago, there was NO FAT on my arms. Zippo. These days, my triceps are like rocks, and it hurts like hell when they poke those needles in. The serum burns, and the next day I've got bruises like some kind of heroin addict! I either need to increase my butter intake, or start getting these somewhere...uh...softer.

This is a process best suited for squishy people.

So far, I feel fine. They're giving me trace amounts at the moment, and the meds help a lot. I should feel progress in about three to five months. I'll keep you posted.

This weekend looks very, very quiet. I'm happy about this, because next weekend is nuts. Two plays are opening, and I've got a big party on Saturday night. I might go to SECCA to see the William Wegman exhibit on Saturday and then a play, but plan on doing little else but finishing Song of Solomon and Love in the Time of Cholera. Oh, and eating strawberries. I got a big bag at Whole Foods. It will be empty very soon. Yum.