Last week I started getting itchy with small rashes, like when I get the hives. There is construction being done in the office where I work and I noticed that they are installing pipes along with the brand new air conditioning unit (it died in Oct). A few days later I noticed the insulation covering the pipes. Insulation is extremely toxic. I have a feeling that the insulation is what was giving me the hives, gradually. I am allergic to many things, and I used to work for an insulation co many years ago and those guys used to suffer a lot from that crap. Anyway, we were all inhailing the bits in the air in the office last week. They were working on these things while we were in the office with them - unbeknownst to us, of course. Originally I thought my sneezing and the rashes were from all of the dust on my desk from when I came back from Christmas/New Year vacation. The first thing I did when I got to work on Monday was clean my desk of with wipes.
I started taking my Allegra 180s (one in a 24 hour period), but even this pill was not working for me. It's the strongest thing I've ever taken, and always been the thing to work. Benadryl no longer works for me now. While having these hives I was sneezing, but it has been really cold in NYC. We aren't used these temperatures, or so much snow so early in the season. I just assumed it was the dust and cold...
When I woke up Monday morning my hands and right forearm were so swollen with hives that I couldn't even type my "Calling in sick" email to my boss, which I had to do because I couldn't find my phone. My son had straightened up the living room, and I thought he had misplaced it. It was later found under the sofa. I decided since the Allegra was now not working that I would give it a day's rest and not take it until Tuesday morning. By Monday afternoon I had full blown Flu. I had sinus, itchy/watery eyes, aches, fever, the works. It seems that the Allegra was pushing down all my Flu symptoms. In a strange way I was glad to get it out of my system. I wouldn't want to be carrying it around and give it to anyone. I was sick the rest of Monday, all of Tuesday and still Wednesday. But the worst part is that I could not do anything productive these three days.
On Monday I couldn't type, knit, paint or glue due to the swollen fingers while I didn't have the Flu yet. I have two projects sitting out on the table. I am decoupaging Ikea magazine holders and painting some small wooden boxes. There they sit, waiting for me to complete them. I watched 5 movies I had on the DVR, but that left me feeling even more unproductive. Then when I did get the Flu I just fell asleep and was miserable. Tuesday was a wash. I was in bed all day with fever, barely able to see the TV, much less able to do anything else. Now Wednesday I want to do so many things and I don't have the energy for anything at all. My body hurts and I want to get out of bed, but I can't rest in the living room for some strange reason. I always could in the past, but not now. If I would have pushed myself to go to work I can't imagine how I would have survived. I only feel a little flash of fever, but the swelling in my fingers is down - enough for me to type. There are no new rashes yet. I've been looking for them because of the fever. This is a good sign.
Boha spends most of the time with me on the bed, but likes to push. Bella seems to be ignoring me. She runs up to me when I get out of the bed, which isn't often.
The whole while I've been thinking of the good news I got from my dad on Sunday, and I also spoke to my bother and got news from him. They both live in Florida. I've been trying to figure out when I'm going down to visit, and here I go - calling in sick for three days in a row.
I haven't shown any of my latest creations because they are nothing to be proud of. I guess I just haven't been putting my all into what I've been creating. I hope to start posting my crafts, and crafting, more often now.
Kim
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