Almost There

Sorry if you’re getting tired of hearing about all my allergy problems, but… it’s hard to concentrate on much else when it makes me feel so sick.  Hopefully I will be able to survive the last couple of days.

The doctor had predicted that my symptoms would be too hard to handle for the week without antihistamines.  I agreed with her, so I started taking the prednisone she gave me on the first day.  Everyone thought that would make it so much more bearable.  Turns out… I had a really bad reaction to the prednisone!  The last time I was on a similar steroid it was a much lower dose, so I hadn’t connected the dots on what was causing the problem.  This time, it was really obvious.  I felt sick shortly after taking it in the morning, and the nausea came and went throughout the day.  By the end of the day the pain and swelling in my legs and feet was so bad I could barely walk.  After an urgent call to the doctor, I had permission to take a couple doses of benadryl until the swelling and itchiness was gone.  Apparently prednisone can stay in your system up to 36 hours, so it took a while until I felt better.

The doctor was very surprised at my unusual reactions.  When I listed all my symptoms to her over the phone, she just kept saying “huh!”  Then I would continue and she would say “wow, that is very interesting.”  I guess most people are fine taking this drug?  That left me with nothing to take for this week.  Now I’m just back to having a stuffy head, and I can’t wait until this is over.Calendar

Wednesday morning I go for my testing.  They will poke me with all kinds of allergens and see what happens.  I’m just really hoping that my reactions will hold off long enough to complete the testing.  I do not want to do another week of cleaning my system of antihistamines to finish the tests.  Both my mom and my brother have had to have the same tests done.  Both of them had a bad enough reaction that the testing had to stop and an epipen was given.  I hope that doesn’t happen to me!

Flash Me Friday: Favorite Comfort Food

This week’s Flash Me Friday is your favorite cold weather comfort food. Jen, from The Groettum Family blog, decided to switch it up this week and have us all share a recipe that we love. Join the fun and share your favorite too!

Chicken Pot PieOne of our favorites is chicken pot pie. This recipe is a mix of a few recipes for pot pie that I altered to our taste and to make it quicker.

1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup chopped onion (or I use onion flakes)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 pepper
1 3/4 chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 cups cooked chicken
1 bag of frozen mixed veggies (or I use leftover veggies if we have them)
1 tube Pillsbury crescent rolls

Heat butter in saucepan until melted. Blend in flour, onion, salt, and pepper. Simmer. Slowly stir in milk and chicken broth (a little at a time). Boil while stirring until sauce is thick, but still creamy. Stir in chicken and veggies.

I like to use an 8 x 8 baking dish. Spray the bottom with cooking spray. Place half the tube of crescent rolls on the bottom, press seems together. Add chicken mixture, and top with second half of crescent rolls. Bake according to directions on crescent rolls. Enjoy!

I think the crescent rolls are better than a pie crust because they are buttery and flaky, and the cook really fast! We usually eat half and save the other half for yummy leftovers.

Cold Turkey on Antihistamines

PillToday begins day one.  Day one of misery.  Day one of operation allergy testing.  The doctor’s office called me this afternoon to remind me to stop taking any and all medications containing antihistamines. 🙁

For the next seven days I have to give up my new, favorite medicine.  I’m not allowed to take the only medicine that has been able to take away my symptoms.  The doctor doesn’t want anything in my system to interfere with the results… or they want to see just how bad I can get before they make me better.  I did at least get a prescription for prednisone that should help some, and it was only $2.64.  Jesse got scared for second when the cashier told him the total, until he saw the decimal point.  When she said 264 she meant two dollars, sixty four cents.  That’s my cheapest one yet.

I’m not really being this negative about it, but I’m not looking forward to it either.  I’m trying to maintain a positive attitude and tell myself that I will be fine.  I have to not think about it and just get through it.  I will make it through the week… I WILL make it through this week…