Reacting

For the first twelve years of my life, I wasn't allergic to anything. I vividly remember the first August when I started reacting to something (hay fever, probably). From that point on, I was pretty much in a Benedryl induced trance from the middle of August through the end of September. It was miserable. But on the upside, I knew it was only about six weeks out of the year. Five years ago I developed a horrible case of poison ivy. It was so awful that my eyes swelled shut and I was in bed for three days. Everyone asked what I had been thinking by ignoring the poison ivy I saw, and it was easy...I'd never been allergic to poison ivy before. About 18 months ago I was prescribed Erythromycin for an upper respiratory infection. Not a problem. I'd taken it before. This time however I developed a violent reaction to the medication and was in the e/r. Now here I am, in the middle of May, no where near the end of summer, and I'm miserable. Absolutely miserable. Apparently my body has now decided that it is also allergic to pollen. Yippee! I can't take antihistamines, except at bedtime, because they cause an extreme case of drowsiness...even the ones that are "non-drowsy" formula. Since I can't control the sneezing, etc. my asthma is also starting to kick in. I've already warned my husband that I'm not sure I'll be at the ball game this evening. Sitting in the middle of a field sounds almost overwhelming!