Another Day, Another Reaction

Remember that blog plan I posted the other day? Perhaps I should instead call it a "this is what I want to do but probably won't be able to" plan.

I've been feeling pretty stinky lately, both literally and figuratively. A few days ago was one the most unique and funky reactions I've had.

My husband was awesome and picked up some produce at the local Save-A-Lot for me. I couldn't believe it was so good for this time of the year. It wasn't organic, but I figured since it was labeled as coming from a greenhouse it couldn't be that bad. Plus, I was craving fresh food like nothing else.

Noshing on some brightly colored bell peppers, I felt like the happiest girl in the world! But then my tongue started tingling slightly. I immediately got a bunch of Benadryl down me, which is my default action whenever I start to have any symptoms of a reaction as well. Since it takes time to get going, this is how I've been able to avoid using my epi-pens and having to call the ambulance to get me to the hospital before the epi-pen wears off.

Anyways, I went back to the peppers and noticed they were starting to taste a little weird. Chemically. Realizing that was the problem, I set them aside and tried to make a comment to one of my nearby cats. My tongue was numb! Not feeling weird or tingly, but actually numb. As in, I can't feel it there anymore.

I tried to explain what happened to my hubby after about 15 minutes, knowing that I was "out of the woods." Here's how the conversation went:

Me: "I canth feel ma tongth but ahm ak."

Hubby: *chuckles* "Huh?"

Me: "Splthe gween peppasth-"

Hubby: *uncontrollable laughter*

Me: "Shpthe-"

Hubby: *turns around* "Hold on let me get control of myself I can't stop laughing!"

We went back and forth for a little while, until we were both to the point of being unable to even look at one another without busting out laughing. I eventually wrote down what I was trying to say, that the green peppers aren't organic and they made my tongue numb. And this is what it sounded like:

"Splthe gween peppasth awen't argwanic and splthay made ma tongue numbbbb."

If we didn't have a sense of humor about all the crazy stuff caused by this latex allergy, I don't know how we'd get through. Just another day in paradise, where we bring another meaning to speaking in tongues!

Food Drama: Part 1

Growing up, I had awful allergies (something else associated with fibro). I was literally allergic to everything I was tested for in the environment. However, I was never tested for food allergies, and was always enthusiastic to tack on "but I'm not allergic to any food!" at the end of my allergy list. But was this really true? I'll never know for certain...

A few years ago I was tested for food allergies and was found to be allergic to wheat, rice, lettuce, garlic, and soy. Talk about limiting! I dare you to go to a grocery store and pick up a random box. I can just about guarantee that it has one of these ingredients in it- at least. However, I was permitted to eat each allergic food once every 3 days. But... then I felt like crud and had awful allergies the next day. So out it all went!

For years I had sinus infections 9-10 months out of every year. Yeah. Sinus surgery didn't help at all, and I ended up on harmful antibiotics all the time. Referred to a different otolaryngologist (my last one wouldn't see me because I owed him money), I was given Diflucan and  put on the Candida diet for a month. At the time I was staying with my mother at the only job I was able to find then, and she almost lost her jaw when I told her what I couldn't eat for the next month. No cheese, no sugar, limited fruit- what in the world was I to eat!

Needless to say, we figured something out, and it could not have been more worth it. Currently I am not on the diet, but do have to limit my sugar and cheese intake. Whenever I fail to do so, I end up with a sinus infection and put myself back on the Candida diet until it's cleared up. Works EVERY time- no antibiotics, no Dr. visit, no Mucinex! (Diet #2)

Sounds like enough of a challenge, right? Of course not! Stay tuned for Part 2 with more fun food adventures!

And so it begins

Whether or not you suffer from fibromyalgia, the purpose of this blog is to share, motivate, and maybe even provide a few chuckles every now and then. What's it going to be about?

MEEEEE!!!

You know you want to....

Here are some topics that are relevant to yours truly that you can expect in future posts:

• Fibromyalgia and associated conditions, and how I deal with it all.
• Recipes for food allergies.
• Organization for people with no time/energy/money.
• Organic gardening.
• Non-toxic cleaning.
• Upcycling.
• Faith.
• My three cats, cause it's all about them!
• Self-employment/working from home.

And so it shall be....