My bet is that you didn't know I have a part-time job. I do, and boy, it fills up my life.
My childhood plan was to become a concert pianist, or a doctor. When I decided to have Ethan, those plans went out the window. Since then (and since my children have become school-age), I have wondered when I could finally enter the job market.
Thank goodness I didn't pursue that dream, because I'm already busy with my part-time job.
My health.
Until I was 35 years old, I never had a health problem with the exception of monthly colds/flu. Turns out, I was suffering from chronic sinusitis and never knew it. All those "colds" were actually bacterial infections and should have been treated with antibiotics. Since they weren't, they would return after a few weeks. I could still function through it all, and mocked those people who used illness as an excuse to not do something.
As I hit age 35, my body just fell apart, and it has been a humbling experience.
We all know about the back surgeries and the recurring back pain which now requires steroid injections. And the broken ankle? Wow--I have only recently pulled myself out of that two-year depression. The sinus surgeries were just traumatic, with me crying in my ENT's office this past time after the surgery because of the pain.
The worst though (because it doesn't go away and because I deal with it on a daily basis) is the allergies. Again, I only had seasonal hay fever until we were about a year away from leaving Germany.
I have terrible mold allergies, but thankfully, my allergists have aggressively treated them, and I was almost allergy-symptom free two years ago. And then, this past spring, everything started going haywire.
I returned to my allergist last month and told him that I was having more allergy problems than I have had in years. Boy, this doctor was good--he felt more like an internist, asking me a million questions.
One of those questions was about my aspirin sensitivity. Yes, what a crazy thing, eh? After my second back surgery, I refused to go back on the narcotics (because of the side effects), so I took Motrin. 800mg every eight hours for about six months. I finally stopped taking it because I realized that I was having allergy symptoms within 20 minutes of taking the Motrin. Turns out, it's called an aspirin sensitivity, and I can no longer take any form of NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
Turns out, I also have asthma (due to the allergies) and nasal polyps (gross, I know, but that's why I had the two sinus surgeries I did). And this is where all of my physician family members can take a guess at the diagnosis....
Know what it is?
I have Samter's Triad. Here's a definition:
Samter's triad is a medical condition consisting of asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and nasal/ethmoidal polyposis. It occurs in middle age (twenties and thirties are the most common onset times) and may not include any allergies. Most commonly, the first symptom is rhinitis (inflammation or irritation of the nasal mucosa), which can manifest with symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, or congestion. The disorder typically progresses to asthma, then nasal polyposis, with aspirin sensitivity coming last. The reactions to aspirin vary, but can be severe, ranging from mild nasal congestion and eye watering to lower respiratory symptoms including wheezing, coughing, an asthma attack, anaphylaxis, and urticaria in some cases. Patients typically react to other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and any medication that inhibits the COX-1 enzyme, although paracetamol(acetaminophen) in low doses is generally considered safe.
And that's what I'm doing today and tomorrow. Sitting in the allergist's office for nine hours each day, becoming desensitized to aspirin. I can't tell you how much I hope this works! This is the cause of most of my misery, and feeling just sick and crappy on a daily basis.
My childhood plan was to become a concert pianist, or a doctor. When I decided to have Ethan, those plans went out the window. Since then (and since my children have become school-age), I have wondered when I could finally enter the job market.
Thank goodness I didn't pursue that dream, because I'm already busy with my part-time job.
My health.
Until I was 35 years old, I never had a health problem with the exception of monthly colds/flu. Turns out, I was suffering from chronic sinusitis and never knew it. All those "colds" were actually bacterial infections and should have been treated with antibiotics. Since they weren't, they would return after a few weeks. I could still function through it all, and mocked those people who used illness as an excuse to not do something.
As I hit age 35, my body just fell apart, and it has been a humbling experience.
We all know about the back surgeries and the recurring back pain which now requires steroid injections. And the broken ankle? Wow--I have only recently pulled myself out of that two-year depression. The sinus surgeries were just traumatic, with me crying in my ENT's office this past time after the surgery because of the pain.
The worst though (because it doesn't go away and because I deal with it on a daily basis) is the allergies. Again, I only had seasonal hay fever until we were about a year away from leaving Germany.
I have terrible mold allergies, but thankfully, my allergists have aggressively treated them, and I was almost allergy-symptom free two years ago. And then, this past spring, everything started going haywire.
I returned to my allergist last month and told him that I was having more allergy problems than I have had in years. Boy, this doctor was good--he felt more like an internist, asking me a million questions.
One of those questions was about my aspirin sensitivity. Yes, what a crazy thing, eh? After my second back surgery, I refused to go back on the narcotics (because of the side effects), so I took Motrin. 800mg every eight hours for about six months. I finally stopped taking it because I realized that I was having allergy symptoms within 20 minutes of taking the Motrin. Turns out, it's called an aspirin sensitivity, and I can no longer take any form of NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
Turns out, I also have asthma (due to the allergies) and nasal polyps (gross, I know, but that's why I had the two sinus surgeries I did). And this is where all of my physician family members can take a guess at the diagnosis....
Know what it is?
I have Samter's Triad. Here's a definition:
Samter's triad is a medical condition consisting of asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and nasal/ethmoidal polyposis. It occurs in middle age (twenties and thirties are the most common onset times) and may not include any allergies. Most commonly, the first symptom is rhinitis (inflammation or irritation of the nasal mucosa), which can manifest with symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, or congestion. The disorder typically progresses to asthma, then nasal polyposis, with aspirin sensitivity coming last. The reactions to aspirin vary, but can be severe, ranging from mild nasal congestion and eye watering to lower respiratory symptoms including wheezing, coughing, an asthma attack, anaphylaxis, and urticaria in some cases. Patients typically react to other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and any medication that inhibits the COX-1 enzyme, although paracetamol(acetaminophen) in low doses is generally considered safe.
Anosmia (lack of smell) is also common, as the inflammation reaches the olfactory receptors in the nose.
Remember how I lost my smell about six years ago? Yeah, I couldn't fit this condition any better!
So, the only treatment to help with the extra allergy symptoms (that aren't cause by allergies) is to desensitize me to aspirin. It has an 80-85% efficacy rate, so the allergist suggested that I do it.
And that's what I'm doing today and tomorrow. Sitting in the allergist's office for nine hours each day, becoming desensitized to aspirin. I can't tell you how much I hope this works! This is the cause of most of my misery, and feeling just sick and crappy on a daily basis.
They started me this morning on a 1/4 tablet of aspirin. Really? The crazy thing was within 20 minutes my eyes started gooping up. I've now had two complete tablets over 5 hours, and I can hardly see. My breathing is tight, and my nose is running. I was a bit skeptical if this really was the problem, but holy smokes, I'm a believer now!
So, back to the title of this post. My part time job. When I look at the calendar (and as musicians, we do that a LOT in the month of December), I have too many doctor's appointments. Seriously, it takes up a lot of my time, and I'm ready for this to be over! I would like my "part time job" to be reading, or accompanying, not visiting the doctor!
I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis and hope the aspirin desensitizing works. It just sounds like such a crazy thing to be allergic to!
ReplyDeleteIts not fair that you have had to deal with this. I really admire your strength and faith. You've admirably lived your life even though every day has been a "sick day". I'm glad you have a new diagnosis.
ReplyDeleteSure hope you get the best results possible!! I have never had to deal with a chronic illness or disorder, but Mark does and just watching him cope with it is miserable and I feel so sad for him. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI am happy to say, it looks like Aris' allergy to aspirin desensitization has helped her overall allergy problems improve, hooray for modern medicine
ReplyDelete