Add One More Thing ...

Well, it turns out I have something called angioedema.

My trip to the new allergist went amazingly well. Quite frankly, it's how a visit to a doctor should go. During my appointment, I told Dr. A. about the recent problems I was having, swelling up and not being able to breathe after having come into contact with something (who knows what), as well as my history of asthma, allergy-testing, celiac disease and food allergies. And here's the amazing part: He actually listened.

So, after our conversation and a brief examination, Dr. A. explained that he believes I have a form of angioedema, either idiopathic or the rare hereditary type, and a blood test would help determine which one. He said that he didn't want to put me through more environmental allergy testing, as it probably would be inconclusive -- an approach that I very much appreciated.

Then we talked about preventative measures. First, I need to take an antihistamine for six to eight weeks to break the cycle, then wean myself off. I have to carry Benadryl and an EpiPen with me at all times, which is sort of a nuisance, but truly, I feel relieved. I have an explanation as to what I've been experiencing. It may not precise -- I still don't know what triggers these reactions -- but at least I know what to do when I have one. Importantly, I felt like someone heard and helped me.

After about a week, my blood test came back negative for acquired or hereditary angioedema, which is a good thing. With a diagnosis of idiopathic angioedema, it means that I won't necessarily know what causes the reactions I've been having, but at least I've been equipped to deal with the situation when something does happen. It's an answer of sorts and I'm OK with that.