Falling of the Plateau

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking my vehicle to the dealership, if you can call it that. The pleasure, I mean. The engine light was on. I couldn't fix it with oil, antifreeze, or transmission fluid. They plug your vehicle into the computer to find out what's wrong. That is an immediate charge of $89. Why? They don't have to spent 2 hours looking for the problem. Then they don't have the part, but they can get it. Also, along with the fee for the sensor, there is a list of things my vehicle needs that will total $2,000. I decide to just do the air sensor. It won't take too long, so I decide not to have them shuttle me home.

Alas, the trip starts going downhill fast. They are inflating gigantic balloons near the waiting room. I try to wait outside, as I have done before, but the temperature is 32o. It won't hit 50o for a couple of hours. I spend my time in the service area next to the pile of tires, no chair to sit on, but I can lean against the wall a lot while I read. also, for my enjoyment, it's all windowed so I get "free" entertainment watching all the mechanics working in their bays. I can't figure out whose working on my van, but the guy in the next bay is snapping his latex gloves on & off . My hood is open. The airborn rubber protiens have become hitchhikers on my engine. I end up spending 4 hours there because the part was only available at the furthest dealership.

The hives are popping up in my mouth, and my driving is poorly focused as i drive home. I'm having a reaction. Of course. I can't stay much longer than 15 minutes in any public place. i'm usually homebound for 2 days with a reaction and stoned on benadryl, even tho' I know it can take 3 days to recover. Well the 3rd day, I was still in the reaction. The 4th day I had to cancel an important fun day for me. (Latex Allergy allows me about 3 of those a year and not necessarily the ones most important to me.) The 6th day I get some groceries. I'm still reactive or I'm rebounding. After 7 days stoned on benadryl, not getting out of the reaction, I am frustrated with my whole life and what I can't do. On the 8th day I hold the benadryl and get into the doctor's office for a script for prednisone.

I haven't mentioned all the anger, frustration, feeling like crap, and the revelations about what I can no longer do that have gone through my mind this past week. I do know in my heart that this disease is progressive. There is no textbook about NRLA, just those of us who have it.

Sal

Thanksgiving Blessings

This year, fall has been difficult for me. Since Labor Day I have been on 4 prednisone tapers to get out of rebounding reactions to latex. I've also been painting the outside of my house which seems to be intolerable now unless I wear a mask.

I seem to react now to less latex exposure than I have in the past. The reactions seem worse, or it's just harder to recover from them. I've begun reacting at estate sales. That isn't fun. At least I was able to make some nice purchases each time.

I had a bad reaction to Kilz paint, even using it outside. I've been ok with Dutch Boy until the Kilz reaction. Then one day while I was cleaning a super dusty corner inside, I began reacting. I've really been living in "cottage mode" for too long. I now own 95 particulate masks to filter out the latex proteins. I just have to stop being so stubborn and wear them.

I have found that many of my friends in LAForum have been way more reactive this fall. We've all tried to figure out why. The best answer seems to be so little rain. The other answer could be we are getting worse. But we don't like facing that problem. Well, I don't. For me, it has become a bit depressing with shorter days and heating bills coming in now.

I have been praying more, not just for myself, but others as well. I began knitting preemie caps to go to local hospitals. This is giving me a great outlet to give back to the community again, and I just love to knit. My favorites are the smallest caps.

As I plan for Thanksgiving, I can't help but reflect on my blessings. Since the cold weather set in during my last prednisone taper, I am feeling much better. I've made the decision to stop smoking. I haven't stopped yet, but there are 2 ashtrays left after having 5. I no longer smoke all the times I get up during the night, and there's no smoking in the bathroom. That has been a habit for years while I got ready to go to work or for the day.

Again, I'm cooking all day long on Thanksgiving. I love doing that, and I do it even if I will be alone. I do have a friend coming over. There may be a few more. I love to pick at the leftovers for several days. Then comes turkey soup.

I seem to be spending more time already reflecting on my blessings. Roof and food come first. The companionship of Casey when I'm stuck at home makes such a big difference. I'm paying bills before they are due. I have wonderful family. Even though they all live out of state, we always keep in touch. My friends should be included in my family. They are all very wonderful and supportive people. Then I have all my wonderful friends in LAForum.

It's only Monday. Just think of all the other blessings that may come to mind by Thursday. We are entering into the holiday season when there is kindness to others that should happen all year.

Sal

Balloons!!!!

I held off for 2 weeks to take my vehicle to the dealership for my free oil change and inspection because of all the latex balloons tied to the new and used cars for sale in the lot. I gave myself a good pat on the back for watching out for that.

I drove into the dealership yesterday and all the balloons were on the pavement with most of them totally deflated. I just patted myself on the back again. I was doing a great job keeping myself safe from all those latex proteins. After all these years, I can stay on top of exposures.

I checked in with a new person working in the service department. He had no idea about latex allergy, but my account stated no latex gloves. I told him I was waiting for my vehicle.

While walking past the parts department & cashier with the half wall exposing the mechanics bays, I noticed new rubber floor runners. I almost made it to the waiting room when I saw all the latex balloons waiting to be tied to the vehicles for sale. They had been blown up, were up at the ceiling, and had their ribbons, or whatever, hanging from them to attch them to the vehicles.

Oops, time to go outside for an hour or so waiting for my vehicle and pray that I wouldn't have a reaction. I did try to accomplish a couple of errands after that. My mistake, I'm now homebound on benadryl again.

Life is truely a challenging experience with natural rubber latex allergy.

Sal