Hey guys!
Sorry I have been away for a few weeks. Things have been getting a bit crazy lately. Baby J finally, FINALLY, broke his top 4 teeth through. It seems like he was teething FOREVER! So, he has been a handful to say the least.
I have been busy with some doctors appointments and testing which made me sick for a few days, and then I caught a cold, and so did baby J. He still has the sniffles, poor guy.
For those of you who don't know, for the past 2 years, I have been suffering a rare allergy sensitivity to cat dander. This sensitivity is so strong that if around someone who owns a cat, or visits a home with cats frequently, I go into a large allergy/asthma attack where my throat starts to close, I can't breathe and I start to black out.
This sensitivity has caused a lot of problems as you could imagine because cat dander is so common. 90% of our family, both Chris' side and mine, has cats or visits a house that has a cat frequently. We haven't seen most of our family since this started happening, which has caused problems. Mainly because shortly after finding out about this sensitivity, I became pregnant. Now, Baby J has yet to meet some of his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents (well, they met a few times, but they haven't been able to hold him) so there has been a lot of strain on my husband and I's relationship and our relationship with our family because there hasn't been anything we can do.
I had met with numerous doctors prior to getting pregnant, and the only options for helping an allergy is the regular over the counter meds, and allergy shots (immunotherapy). The doctors I spoke with refused to give me shots due to the severity of my allergy. Immunotherapy is when they actually inject the allergens you are allergic to, into your system and try to trick your immune system into thinking these are not allergens that need to be fought off, and therefore your immune system will stop fighting them and causing the allergy attacks. But, since my sensitivity level is so high and severe, they claimed giving me the shots would be too much of a fatal risk.
We called around to numerous doctors and they refused to do them. A month later, I found out I was pregnant so even if I could find a doctor willing to do the shots, I couldn't get them while pregnant. My doctor actually stopped seeing me once he found out I was pregnant because he wanted my OB/GYN to manage my meds and track my oxygen levels. He told me to call him after I had my 6 week post partum check up, I did when I needed my meds refilled, only to find out that he dropped me as a patient completely. He refused to carry me as a patient as I am too high risk and there is nothing he can do to help me and even refused to refill my meds. But, as if that wasn't crappy enough...he "black listed" me with other doctors in town. I tried calling to get in with a new doctor to get my meds refilled and NO ONE would take me. Most knew my case from when I called prior to pregnancy about shots, and had heard from my dr (or EX-DR) that my case was too high risk to be treated and there was nothing anyone could do.
So here I am, without my asthma and allergy meds and can't get a dr to see me. But, after a referral from a friend, I called to a dr that I hadn't met or spoke with before, and he agreed to set up an appointment...for 6 months down the road! He was booked solid for 6 months, which had to be a good sign, right? He must be a good dr if he is booked that far out. At the beginning of this month, I finally got to meet with him. After telling him my story, he basically told Chris and I that the other dr's are full of sh*t and that he will try and help me. He apoligized for the other dr's and how they treated me and said he would take a chance on me.
Now, he changed some of my meds, and I will be starting immunotherapy at the end of the month. If I don't have an allergic reaction to the shots, it will be a 5 year program a 6 week build up and then maintenance shots after that, and it may help with the sensitivity. He said he didn't think I would ever be able to go to house with a cat, but, I will at least be able to visit with people who have cats, just not at their home. Which is a big relief, but I feel sorry for the part of the family who doesn't own cats, because it looks like holidays will be at their homes instead of the regular homes (that had cats). But, I don't think they will mind.
I am so grateful to have found a dr willing to take a chance on me and willing to try and help. I would be lying if I said I'm not scared, because afterall...90% of the drs I have met with have said the shots could be fatal. But, I have to give it a shot and hope that all goes well. We miss our family. We want to have another baby, but I want to wait until I know our family can be around for my pregnancy, have a baby shower (which I didn't get with Baby J) and the birth of this child as it would be our last. I want to have holidays with our family and see Baby J interact with all of his cousins, he has A LOT, our family is HUGE!
So here is to hope, trying to regain my faith, and family.
If you could take a minute out of your day and say a little prayer for me and my family, I would appreciate it.
Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend!
p.s I will have a few reviews coming up within this next month! If there is anything you would like a review on, let me know!
