Ask the internet: See an allergist?

[beth_leonard]

This evening has been tough. Around 5 pm after a short nap I was discussing evening plans with Jon and I started coughing. It felt as though I'd swallowed wrong and had cheerio dust stuck in my throat. I swallowed, tried to complete the conversation. I coughed more.

To make a long story short, every time I tried to talk I coughed and eventually I coughed so hard I threw up. Twice.

I had no feelings of stomach upset, it was just the coughing that did it, and any talking at all, even to say "hmmm" or whisper set off the coughing. It wasn't laryngitis symptoms where you can whisper but no noise comes out. My throat didn't feel particularly sore, but my voice box felt... "sandy" is the best word I can use to describe it. I drank one glass of milk, two glasses of water, and gargled but could not improve my situation even a little bit.

I considered that perhaps it was a continuation of the allergic reaction I seemed to be having to my Wonder Woman costume from Friday night's party. On Saturday I woke up with very itchy red splotches over the parts of my body that had been in contact with the costume. They got worse through the day to the point that by this evening My legs, arms, and tummy were covered in red quarter-sized splotches with about a millimeter between them.

I e-mailed Jon a plan and we went to the drugstore to buy some Claritin. I took a Claritin tab at 6pm (luckily it seems to be compatible with breastfeeding) and now at 8pm the splotches have reduced to pea-sized with about 1 cm between them. I can talk briefly in a whisper without feeling as though there's sand in my throat and breaking out into a severe cough.


My question to my friends who might read this before tomorrow morning: Should I make an appointment ASAP to see an allergist? If not, why not? What type of doctor should I see if any? I've had a lingering cough as a result of a cold for the last 3 weeks, but it was nothing major. I'd cough a few times a day and a little before going to bed. My nose has been clear.

Thanks,
--Beth
PS. Not talking at all is very annoying. I am very glad that Jon and I took those ASL classes together a few years ago though. It's made the evening functional, if strongly unpleasant.

Comments

[patrissimo.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I have had occasional random systemic allergic reactions, including one not long ago, all of which cleared up on taking antihistamines. Antihistamines are pretty powerful things, fortunately.

I would say that if it doesn't happen regularly, there is not much point in going to an allergist. I mean, what is an allergist going to do? I've been to lots of allergists lots of times, and all I've really learned is that I'm allergic to most things with leaves or fur, that antihistamines work OK for me, and that allergy shots don't do squat.

The cough...I dunno. If it seems to clear up with the antihistamine, I would ascribe it to that and not worry about it. If it doesn't, then maybe see an ENT? Or start with a GP?

[beth_leonard]

The big thing is that one's sensitivities to allergens can change with pregnancy and breastfeeding. I've never had allergies of any type before. I have done some heavy sneezing in open fields at certain times of year, but usually it cleared up if I drank water and washed out my face and nose. i.e. I inhaled something my body really didn't like and once I got rid of it I was ok in the field again.

Part of my question is that I have to evaluate with respect to my insurance. I hit the $5K deductible this year giving birth to Amber. If I'm going to need to see a doctor for anything in the future, there is a significant financial advantage to doing it before December 31st. I still have to pay 30% of negotiated rate up to another $1000 or so ($7500 annual out-of-pocket maximum, spent $6500 so far this year) but basically if I need any health care I should do it now.

If this could be the start of an allergy problem that could get better with shots etc. I want to take care of it now, not 3 months from now.
--Beth

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I hit the $5K deductible this year giving birth to Amber.

Lol, yeah, after I got my birth medical bills I went through this "I should have all the incredibly optional medical care I've been wondering about for years because it's basically FREE!" phase. But then I realized it would take effort.