Monday 12 September 2011

Me Not Healthy: Allergies

I'm not exactly spitting image of health and wellness. With a BMI of 16 I weigh less and have a thinner body than most people including girls. I have poor circulation which results in me having cold hands and feet constantly. I burn incredibly fast in the sun causing itchy, red rashes. It's a never ending list of problems for poor Damian at the ripe old age of 21.

What's ironic is that this character is part of my Chinese name and it stands for "Good Health".

But those aren't even the worst problems. In recent years more "interesting" ones have appeared such as the lung cysts and the sleeping problems. Today I'd like to share with you what seems to be my allergies with too many plants.

Allergies have always been a problem. I remember summer and spring being a sticky and itchy hell as pollen from every piece of fauna in the city decided to release pollen simultaneously. Plus, most anti-histamines only last for 24 hours and in instant those 24 hours are up, my face becomes a mess. I hate forests and fields of wild plants with a passion as these can be the worst offenders for me.

Making similar faces is how I've managed to stay so attractive.

But this is pretty normal, I'm quite sure a lot of you have similar problems. But how many of you are also allergic dozens upon dozens of edible plants and plant products? It's not a death sentence if I eat them, but they do make my mouth and palate itch like crazy if it even touches my lips. This isn't a problem if I hate the food. Eggplant is my favorite example. I don't know why anyone would want to eat this thing.

Also fairly certain it's a euphemism in Japanese culture.

But I'm also allergic to things like avocados, almonds, kiwis, lychee, cherries, peaches, nectarines, and even apples. What's even more frightening is that recently I've developed a mild allergy to watermelon and bananas.

I actually went to get an allergy test done to prove that it was a reaction as opposed to me being crazy. It's fun, they prick your skin in a dozen sections and then expose the broken skin to oils containing whatever you may be allergic to. Then you sit and wait while your entire forearm turns red and itchy. I learned that day that birch trees really, really hate me.

I also have an EpiPen now in case I ever get a deadly reaction to something. I highly doubt I'll use it, but if I do, I'm going to pretend it's adrenaline from Left 4 Dead 2.

And pretend I'm Ellis.

62 comments:

  1. Every day in winter, I sneeze constantly until about 9 am. Then I'm fine. I don't know why. But I feel your pain

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  2. Is that really you? I like your t-shirt!

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  3. I feel so bad for you. I have poor circulation too so everyone constantly shies away from my icy touch. Let's clasp cold hands and turn things to stone.

    I love eggplant

    If it is a euphemism

    What does this say about me

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  4. Owch! It sucks to be you!
    I feel bad for you, I don't know what its like to get allergies or be allergic, heck I broke my hand once and didn't realize it was brocken for a couple hours (just thought it was swollen).

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  5. I still remember one time I had hives all over my body because I drank some juice that was past the expiry date. I had an allergy reaction to the mold that was in it. =/

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  6. Allergies are the worst friends of many people. I have some friends that can't even step on the street in Spring

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  7. That sucks that you're not feeling well. Hope you get well soon

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  8. think im coming down with something as well

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  9. WTF? You are the sickest asian person i've ever known :( Get well!
    Now i will go enjoy a fruit salad :P

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  10. You have a lot of allergies :( I think I have exact opposite health issues than you lol. I'm heavily overweight, and don't burn in the sun at all. I'd also rather be cold than hot, so I think I wouldn't mind being naturally cold.

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  11. I hear ya! I got horribly sick back in March/April and thought I had some kind of demon cold. Two weeks and still no better I went to the doctor to discover I had a sinus infection due to nasal allergies! I left with a giant prescription for Flonase, not to mention antibiotics, and have to always have Zyrtec on hand. It's like I'm now allergic to springtime. Go figure!

    ~ Angela
    grahamandangela.blogspot.com

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  12. If I was allergic to delicious food,my nick name would be rash because that's exactly what I'd look like.

    Me, I'm allergic to some plant. I found out when I was helping someone garden, put everything into bags so I have no idea WHICH plant I'm allergic to. But yeah, hives all around reaching the neck and stuff. Bad stuff.

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  13. Sorry to hear about your allergies and everything dude. Those lung cysts are worrying sounding too, hope you feel better sooner rather than later

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  14. Man I hate allergies! I'm allergic to apples ;/

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  15. That is a lot of conditions. I am empathetic and sympathetic for you, buddy.

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  16. glad I dont have any allergies

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  17. Me no healthy, also. D:

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  18. You should give up now. Just kidding! That sounds crappy though. Bananas and watermelon and apples? Poor guy.

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  19. EGGPLANT IS DELICIOUS.

    :O Man, you make my allergies seem like they don't even matter.

    I'm glad I'm not as sickly as you!!

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  20. Sorry to hear that you were sick

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  21. Allergies do suck, though remember it shouldn't restrict you on nutrition.

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  22. As asian parents might say...

    "You need to live up to your name!"

    a.k.a. hope you feel better.

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  23. Holy crap, man, everything is out to get you.

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  24. ugh, that's never fun... my grandfather had a major allergic reaction once and almost died. keep that epiPen handy, just in case.

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  25. Awww...that's no good! Allergies are the worst. Hope you get some relief soon.

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  26. Oh yeah, pollen allergy. I'm with you man, I've got them all.

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  27. Eggplant is cultivated in Europe under the normal

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  28. I'm sorry to hear that you are allergic, you have poor circulation. Start doing more sport and you'll start to gain weight and get rid of bad circulation, but I can not help allergy :D

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  29. Wow, thank God for my health.
    That sucks, mate. :S

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  30. If it makes you feel any better, I am the only person I know that is also allergic to Avocado.

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  31. Damn, so you are allergic to 50% of plants on the planet, and none of animals? :o

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  32. many allergies can be acquired and lost.
    i suggest trying to change your lifestyle a bit and see how it goes :)

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  33. I'm so glad you carry an epi-pen!!! Yes, you probably need that nasty scratch test...and maybe you can get some allergy shots (not fun, I'm sure!) so you are not so miserable~

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  34. Oh that sucks! I've never heard of someone being allergic to so many foods!

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  35. oh, you poor darling, problems really never stop for you :((

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  36. hope you will get well soon. Btw, I'm Vietnamese and we usually have names that have chinese origin. Mine is 安 , means "safe" :D

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  37. God that sucks. I still haven't have anything allergic to because I basically eat anything edible.

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  38. I can't imagine my life without cherries, apples, watermelon and almonds... This just sucks :/

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  39. You poor thing, this sounds awful.

    erica

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  40. Yeah, I feel you...
    Come check me out =) alphabetalife.blogspot.com

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  41. i have a cold, but don't thing that stands near close your problems. good luck though

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  42. Sounds like a pain in the ass :/

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  43. Feeling better yet? Keep us posted man

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  44. yeah gotta love that adrenline. i always save some for the finales so i can escape and abandon my team mates to the hordes XD

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  45. Allergic to avocados?

    My man...

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  46. You wanted to be the 4th? You are the 4th hahaha contact me at hasidicplumber@gmail.com for further details.

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  47. Wow. Posts like these always make me thankful for my overall general health. Hope you feel better soon.

    +1 Follower. :)

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  48. Ouchh thats unlucky man. Not for me I have 0 allergies ;D

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  49. I am allergic to tylenol. It sucks because I never was before but now I break out in hives whenever i take it.

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  50. Oh God. I am underweight too. I am 5'11 and I weigh 120 pounds! =c

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  51. You've recently devoloped allergies? How does that work? Don't tell me that by the year 2030 you'll be allergic to every food on the planet?

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  52. allergies are seriously the worst.

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  53. @amy b.s. is certainly right
    It sucks

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  54. Allergies are the worst. Hayfeaver FTL.

    ps, in response to your post on my blog, which part of Canada are you in??

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  55. Bro, I have allergies too. I hope you get better. I hate allergies >:|

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