Allergy Testing

Chris and I got went and got venom tested yesterday.

Let me tell you - not a fun experience. I don't know how people go thru this and get 100 different things tested on them. I almost passed out after the first 5 "pricks". They were actually more like shots since they did them with needles.

So they start on the arms with the controls. A Histamine, a control, and then we were tested for Honey Bees, Yellow Jackets, Wasps, White Faced Hornets and Yellow Hornets. The controls were done using a plastic sticks and all the other were done using needles. I decided I didn't like the needles and proceeded to go white and then ended up laying down to keep from passing out.

Once I got over that we continued the testing this time on the arms, 5 more pricks at an increased concentration level with a 15 minute wait between groups of pricks. In total we got stuck better than 25 times over about 4 hours.

Chris - no reaction, not allergic. Get stung, drink another beer and continue on.

Me - did great until the final and highest concentration. And then I reacted - not bad but definitely considered allergic. So I'm allergic to Yellow Jackets, Wasps and White Faced Hornets. I have had a past reaction when I got stung in College (and we think it was a wasp) when my hand swelled up.

Because my reaction to the test was not severe and I've not had what is considered a severe reaction in the past, I'm not a candidate for allergy shots. I did get prescribed an epi pen and have a plan of what to do if I do get stung - 50mg of Benadryl, epi pen and to the hospital for observation.

And that is what I wanted. To know if either of us were allergic, how bad and what the plan of action needs to be if we got stung.

I did get a great pamphlet from the doctor about venom allergy shots and what the clinical studies are showing. I'll scan it and send it out if anyone wants to read it.