chasing X's and Y's

1. 1
   20
   Jul
   

   the itch

   Three years ago, I was diagnosed with cholinergic luticaria. I never understood where I got it from or what triggers it. I thought my dermatologist felt the same way ‘cause, lo and behold, she wanted me to go on a hypo diet, which is practically the same as saying “Don’t. Eat. Anything.” She gave me a list of what not to eat, and I thought of sharing the despicable list just because I don’t have a clue on how I survived that drastic moment.

   Here’s my what-not-to-eat: sodium, seasoning blends (Ajinomoto, garlic, salt), oily food, saturated fat (butter, cheese, margarine, etc.), salted [wafers, popcorn, biscuit, snack, chips, etc.], papaos (all varieties), pickles, chutneys, curry powder, commercial preparation, salad dressing, sauce, soup cubes, bakery products, bread, cashew nuts, pistachio, peanuts, preservatives, baking soda, noodle mixes, pasta, canned goods, luncheon meat (turkey, ham, bologna, salami), soy sauce, catsup, fatty cuts of red meat, egg yolks, poultry skin, monosodium glutamate, disodium phosphate, potassium.

   I remember suffering from a bad throat due to a suppressed chuckle after being handed that list. I wanted to throw the paper back to my dermatologist and tell her, “Excuse me, I think you just gave me a list of everything I eat on a daily basis.” I seriously considered that, but pushed the idea aside when she said it’ll only be for a week, just until we figure out what I’m really allergic to. I should’ve known better, though. We never figured it out and the hypo diet went on for weeks.

   Lemme bring you back to 2010.

   Last Friday, I met another dermatologist who shook my brains out of AllergyVille. For the past previous weeks, I’ve been trying to shy away from food that could worsen the red spots all over my body, which I thought were an allergic reaction to something I ate. Apparently, they weren’t. They were insect bites, most probably from bugs which are too small for me to shoo off.

   So hey, I was ecstatic. There I was, in front of Dra. Sarmiento, telling her how relieved I am that these weren’t allergy marks and that I wouldn’t have to undergo another hypo-allergenic diet when she stopped my oh-yeah-boo-ya dance and told me I still have to cut down my what-not-to-eat intake (forgive the beastly, out-of-the-world description). I gave her a grin as a reply. My family and friends know I wouldn’t really follow that list anymore. Okay, I still would, but not completely. Point is, I don’t have to go on a hypo diet! I’m sporting a huge grin just by thinking about that.

   Ah. Yes, this feels good. :)

   • personal entry
   • allergy
   • health