Okay, so it all started with a prayer...simply asking for more capacity. More capacity to handle life at large, teaching efforts, challenges in life and overall becoming a better person.
So time goes by, and I kept on getting this recurrent cold which lingered on and off for about 5 weeks. I figured it would go away, but as soon as I thought I was clear of the symptoms, it came back. Finally after my recurring sneezing was heard loud and clear at work, my colleague Nancy told me: "Go see a doctor...Go, go go!!" SHe said this with an exclamation because she knew that I would likely turn down the suggestion. I decided to go.
The Dr. checked for the usual suspects, strep, a cold, allergies, flu etc. After describing the meandering but un-severe symptoms, she reccomended a blood test for allergies. Okay, not a bad thing, further research is required, and a blood test has to happen. No problem.
Meanwhile, about a week later, I am feeling better, less symptomatic of a cold, but still I am wondering if it will come back.
Dr. calls and suprisingly informs me about my test results (suprisingly to her, and to me I actually made her "most allergic" record ) I end up finding out that I am allergic to 15 of the 19 tree/wildlife items AND I am allergic to 5 out of the 9 food items. 5 out of 9...5 out of 9 food items that I eat every day, wheat, peanuts, corn, walnuts, soybean...(not the scallops, which I never order)
Wow. Never knew, never suspected, not even a scratchy throat. Until now! Well, I could go on about my trips to the store looking for spelt bread and rye flour crackers, and how my trip to the allergist is already scheduled...but frankly I am curious what this all means. (after all, I am the big picture person where I like to see overall reasons and patterns that answer life's questions)
I guess I connect it back to the capacity I am seeking. I do not believe that my capacity is increased simply becuase I happen to be allergic. But I am interested in figuring a way to change my behavior, a very well known habitual behavior into something positive, graceful and better for me overall. So I will be without my crossants, Lu cookies, spaghetti and the hearty grain bread I so enjoy. But I am really lucky that I do not yet have anything that is worse, and am ever thankful about that too.
Besides, espresso and assam tea is still allowed, and so are spices. Life is still good. :)
2 comments:
Does this mean new and exciting treats at the Spiritual Cafés? ;-)
Dearest Nish,
Just a humble suggestion: before you give up any food, please talk to someone who is a specialist in the field, what the REAL interpretation of these RAST-tests are. Just finding food-specific IgE values don't necessarily mean clinical reactivity; all it means is that there are IgE antibodies in your blood. There are classes I through VI of IgE-values. Generally, classes I to III rarely have clinical significance (except for peanut allergy) I have seen many patients over the years who have restricted their diets, only to find out that they were not really allergic to those foods! You being such a lover of great food, I would hate to see you restrict anything unnecessarily!
Much love... x
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