So, I'm really allergic to a certain chemical in insecticides and I don't know what it is. But I sprayed around the house yesterday and, starting yesterday, have broken out in a horrible rash. It's like a mega mutant mosquito bit me and my whole body is the bite site. It itches so bad and my skin is so angry and red, and of course itching only makes it worse.
So, I had to go to urgent care, I couldn't stand it anymore. And it was nice because I was the only patient there and they did exactly what I expected - prescription for benadryl and steroids for the inflammation.
The first time I found out about this allergy is when I was working where I was bullied for 7 years. I would come in to work Monday and Tuesday, and by Wednesday I was so miserable and my hands so swollen that I couldn't go to work and had to go to urgent care and would be out Thursday and Friday. That happened about 4 weeks in a row. Everyday I had to give a full report of how I was doing over the phone several times a day. I'm sure they were just calling to make sure I wasn't out partying or something, but they always made it sound like they were the ones who were suffering (although, if I was really a worthless employee, I don't see why they'd miss me).
Finally, on the third week, I went in to the office on Wednesday and showed my supervisor the rash. The second I walked into her office, she exclaimed "Oh my god, what happened to you!?" and I explained that THIS was what I was dealing with. The harrassing phone calls stopped and they got rid of the plants that were being sprayed with insecticide and it all cleared up and went away.
Today, in Urgent Care, by the time I got to the triage nurse, I was clammy, sweating, shaking, dizzy, faint, and nauseous. Several times I almost vomited. When she got me to the examining room I had to lay down right away and she had to help me do so. The staff and doctor were very very nice and accommodating. They were really worried by all the dizziness and stuff but I explained that I have PTSD and it was probably caused by anxiety instead of the rash. Every time I tried sitting up, I would be fine for a couple minutes and would have to lay back down. I kept wondering what I was going to tell my boss, was she going to be mad at me, I have to remember to get a doctor's note.... Except I'm not employed anymore at all.
When my cell phone rang, I just about jumped out of my skin. I was sure it was Them. But it was just my fiance wondering where I had gone.
The dizziness wouldn't go away, so they told me I had to have someone drive me home. I've never been so humiliated. The only one I know in town that can drive me somewhere is my fiance's father and we're not entirely comfortable with each other. On top of that, I looked terrible, the rash was all over my face and legs and arms and it was just so embarrassing.
It's been a pretty horrible day. I don't know if I experienced triggers (I think I did), had flashbacks (I think I did) or had a panic attack (I think I did, but I can never tell because my breathing is trained). And tomorrow I have to have my fiance's dad give me a ride back to my car so I can bring it home. And it may or may not start, because it's been doing that lately.
On the bright side, this morning before it got bad, I went to the store and, along with groceries, bought myself some daffodils. They were $1 and grown in the USA. They're SO pretty. I'll post pictures in the nature thread tomorrow. They're here with me in bed as I type this and I can smell them, so that's nice. I'm just terrified of tomorrow and having to go get my car, especially as I have a psychiatric appt at 1230.
So, I had to go to urgent care, I couldn't stand it anymore. And it was nice because I was the only patient there and they did exactly what I expected - prescription for benadryl and steroids for the inflammation.
The first time I found out about this allergy is when I was working where I was bullied for 7 years. I would come in to work Monday and Tuesday, and by Wednesday I was so miserable and my hands so swollen that I couldn't go to work and had to go to urgent care and would be out Thursday and Friday. That happened about 4 weeks in a row. Everyday I had to give a full report of how I was doing over the phone several times a day. I'm sure they were just calling to make sure I wasn't out partying or something, but they always made it sound like they were the ones who were suffering (although, if I was really a worthless employee, I don't see why they'd miss me).
Finally, on the third week, I went in to the office on Wednesday and showed my supervisor the rash. The second I walked into her office, she exclaimed "Oh my god, what happened to you!?" and I explained that THIS was what I was dealing with. The harrassing phone calls stopped and they got rid of the plants that were being sprayed with insecticide and it all cleared up and went away.
Today, in Urgent Care, by the time I got to the triage nurse, I was clammy, sweating, shaking, dizzy, faint, and nauseous. Several times I almost vomited. When she got me to the examining room I had to lay down right away and she had to help me do so. The staff and doctor were very very nice and accommodating. They were really worried by all the dizziness and stuff but I explained that I have PTSD and it was probably caused by anxiety instead of the rash. Every time I tried sitting up, I would be fine for a couple minutes and would have to lay back down. I kept wondering what I was going to tell my boss, was she going to be mad at me, I have to remember to get a doctor's note.... Except I'm not employed anymore at all.
When my cell phone rang, I just about jumped out of my skin. I was sure it was Them. But it was just my fiance wondering where I had gone.
The dizziness wouldn't go away, so they told me I had to have someone drive me home. I've never been so humiliated. The only one I know in town that can drive me somewhere is my fiance's father and we're not entirely comfortable with each other. On top of that, I looked terrible, the rash was all over my face and legs and arms and it was just so embarrassing.
It's been a pretty horrible day. I don't know if I experienced triggers (I think I did), had flashbacks (I think I did) or had a panic attack (I think I did, but I can never tell because my breathing is trained). And tomorrow I have to have my fiance's dad give me a ride back to my car so I can bring it home. And it may or may not start, because it's been doing that lately.
On the bright side, this morning before it got bad, I went to the store and, along with groceries, bought myself some daffodils. They were $1 and grown in the USA. They're SO pretty. I'll post pictures in the nature thread tomorrow. They're here with me in bed as I type this and I can smell them, so that's nice. I'm just terrified of tomorrow and having to go get my car, especially as I have a psychiatric appt at 1230.
