Many say they can remember the first time they ____ , fill in the blank. Events in our life that set the flow of the following days, weeks, months or years of our lives remain close and easily remembered. I can remember -now looking back- to the 'genesis' of the expression of my allergy to mold.
At the time I didn't think it was anything other than an 'itch', but it was really so much more. The headaches were thought to be the results of just staying up late and not getting enough sleep; drinking too much coffee or being in need of a good chiropractic adjustment. The fact that I did not get enough rest, drank too much coffee and set for so long at a computer terminal that I needed regular chiropractic adjustments, added to a 'string ready to break' condition. But unbeknown to me, there was a more permanent condition at work.
What I noticed first - now looking back - were three prominent things: 1) anal itch (thought to be hemorrhoids); 2) headaches that came with 'set your clock' regularity (5-6 each week, most often as I woke up - or what WOULD wake me up); 3) flu-like congestion, aches and pains, and a typical low-grade fever (99F - but never above 99.5F). These continued and persisted - no matter how much salve, Tylenol, Excedrin, fluid or medication I took. Then almost as soon as they arrived, they were gone. But would return though; worse, more frequent and more persistent.
Reviewing the past 5 years, in hind-sight, I can see this all began its unveiling in October of 2000 - when my wife and I were in Panama City, FL for an annual church convention. I didn't know what the problem was - but I thought I had a hemorrhoid, didn't get enough sleep and caught a 'bug'. Why it began then, I don't know. Prior to this I didn't notice a 'regularity' to the pattern that began in 2000 and continues.
This was the FIRST EVENT, I see this now, but had not a clue of what would become a 'life controlling' condition. We either learn to live with these conditions and move on - or they will control us even more than they already do. At this stage of my 'mold allergy' I am very 'controlled' in what I can do ... when and where I can do it. But I try to not let it totally permeate my life, conversation and thinking.
The Journals help me to 'get it out and get on' with my life.
MoldChron
At the time I didn't think it was anything other than an 'itch', but it was really so much more. The headaches were thought to be the results of just staying up late and not getting enough sleep; drinking too much coffee or being in need of a good chiropractic adjustment. The fact that I did not get enough rest, drank too much coffee and set for so long at a computer terminal that I needed regular chiropractic adjustments, added to a 'string ready to break' condition. But unbeknown to me, there was a more permanent condition at work.
What I noticed first - now looking back - were three prominent things: 1) anal itch (thought to be hemorrhoids); 2) headaches that came with 'set your clock' regularity (5-6 each week, most often as I woke up - or what WOULD wake me up); 3) flu-like congestion, aches and pains, and a typical low-grade fever (99F - but never above 99.5F). These continued and persisted - no matter how much salve, Tylenol, Excedrin, fluid or medication I took. Then almost as soon as they arrived, they were gone. But would return though; worse, more frequent and more persistent.
Reviewing the past 5 years, in hind-sight, I can see this all began its unveiling in October of 2000 - when my wife and I were in Panama City, FL for an annual church convention. I didn't know what the problem was - but I thought I had a hemorrhoid, didn't get enough sleep and caught a 'bug'. Why it began then, I don't know. Prior to this I didn't notice a 'regularity' to the pattern that began in 2000 and continues.
This was the FIRST EVENT, I see this now, but had not a clue of what would become a 'life controlling' condition. We either learn to live with these conditions and move on - or they will control us even more than they already do. At this stage of my 'mold allergy' I am very 'controlled' in what I can do ... when and where I can do it. But I try to not let it totally permeate my life, conversation and thinking.
The Journals help me to 'get it out and get on' with my life.
MoldChron
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