hiddenmuse | "Pinhead" lives on my back

Well, that's how I looked post-allergy testing - I felt itchy in spots, and relieved to have a definite diagnosis, as well as knowledge of *exactly* what I am allergic to.

Anyways - to start from the start - I walked into the doctor's office, and aside from boxes of tissue on every table in the waiting room, he has a framed picture of the Fab Five (yes,

full4zaccordion, I'm talking Queer Eye For The Straight Guy here).

When the good doctor came in and reviewed my chart, he said, "let me guess - you're a lesbian with cats. I could write a book about cases like yours." Then, he proceeded to tell me that he was one of the few gay allergists in town - outside of another doctor that came out a few years ago.

I mentioned that I was coming to him because of the dismissive treatment I received from the internist towards my asthmatic symptoms, and he replied, "well, you can dismiss her too." - later in the visit, he gave me a list of internists, putting an "L" by certain doctors' names (to indicate which ones are lesbians ... hehe). When he got to one doctor, he said, "I'm not sure if she is - but all signs point to it!" Gotta love that.

Oh yeah - perhaps I should talk about the outcome of the testing, eh?

The numerous pinpricks in my back (over 60) found that I am allergic to dogs, grasses and dust mites. Further testing - with allergens injected under my skin - found that I am allergic to cats, too.

The spirometer testing had me at 60% lung function prior to receiving a rescue inhaler treatment. Post-treatment, I was much better. The kicker? The doctor was sitting about five feet away from me, and could detect my wheezing. Yet, my internist, who was listening with her stethoscope, didn't hear a thing.

As for meds, I am supposed to stay off the Zyrtec - still. But, most likely, this is to make sure that my asthma medicines are working, and that the asthma is under control, before going back and treating the allergies.

To treat my asthma, I'm on Advair 100/50 for the long-acting inhaler, Albuterol for the rescue inhaler, and for emergency use only - Prednisone tablets.

I have a Peak Flow Meter, so I can monitor my lung function through the day - as well as when I start to have symptoms, and an Asthma Action Plan, so I know what to do should an attack happen.