Worst Allergy Days of My Life

The other reason I didn't go to hospital for allergy is I knew what I'd hear from doctor.
One of my friend told me he went allergy test and find out he's allergic to everything on the earth.
He thought about hyposensitization but it takes very long. Then He decided to take loratadine everyday.

I took Benadryl everyday because loratadine didn't work for me much. It made me really sleepy.
It was OK while I was getting rashes only night time. Usually But soon after, I starting having rashes after dinner then after every meal. I had to carry Benadryls wherever I went. I started feel really tired because of medicine and fear of sudden rash outbreaks. I knew shell fish was one of my allergen but even I avoid shell fish I got rashes. Sometime mild, sometime really bad! When it's really bad, I couldn't breath well and had asthma. I couldn't work well, couldn't eat out with friends much, couldn't practice well. Where was my life? I was suffering like that for almost 6 months.

Then I met Ms. Andrea Beaman...

Unstoppable Rash & Emergency Room

It was 2 years ago, my allergy rash came back...

After I ate lobster at my favorite restaurant, my upper lip suddenly got swollen. Actually I had this problem several times when I ate shell fish but usually I was OK after I slept.
But a few days later, my lip got swollen again, and then a few days later I started having rashes night time...
It got more frequent when I got rashes. I recollect my rash problem 7 years ago, too...

One day, I went to emergency room because it was the day before a concert, I cannot play the flute with this swollen upper lip.

I waited about 1 hour and a doctor saw me for less than 3 minutes. Then he said,

"It's allergy. I've seen worse. Take Benadryl, you'll get sleepy, don not drive......"

He handed me 2 tablets of Benadryl and a cup of water. That was it.

Later they sent me an outrageous bill. They charged me about $640 ($440 for hospital, $200 for doctor) for that 3 minutes, 2 tablets of Benadryl and a cup of water.

My friends gave me a lot of advice about health system in US later. But how do I know at that moment? It was an emergency for me!

Anyway, I paid the bill and I decided not to go to hospital for allergy anymore. (If I get any acute allergy reaction and need a shot, I may go...) But all they can do is give me some antihistamines.

Antihistamines don't cure allergy, they just stop the symptom.

Don't kill the messenger! Just killing messengers makes your health worse.

Harvesting Corn!

Before I write about another rash episode. I'd like to show my organic corn!!

Corn is very easy to grow. (at least in my area.)
I soaked seeds in water and sowed them then forgot about them.

It tastes very sweet and each kernel is very firm and sticky.

If you want organic harvest in your garden, try corn! Green Thumb Not Required!