There are those who put in the time and effort to keep their physical health at optimal level. I've always admired such people, many of whom share large amounts of DNA with me. Unfortunately, although I've fallen into that grouping for months or years at a time during my long life, those months and years are far back in my rearview mirror. Consequently, I am harvesting the crop that I've planted. Within the past few years, each year, I have spent more time in my physicians' offices within each year than previously I had spent in 5-10 years. The past eight days have added to this years' count.
On Sunday, September 3, I spent about three hours working in our yard - mostly pulling grasses and weeds at the edges of the planting area that is closest to our woods. I had much occasion to wrestle with, and be slapped in the face by, walnut tree limbs and leaves. Although I don't recall ever reacting to the juices from walnut trees, I am well aware that many people have responses to such exposure and I wouldn't be surprised that, along with other seasonal allergies that I've developed since turning 80 five and one-half years ago, I might have developed at least a sensitivity. When, on Hunky Husband's birthday, I started developing a rash on the left side of my face, I concluded that such was the case. (HH has always opined that most of my exercise has resulted from my jumping to conclusions. Guilty.)
By Wednesday morning, I had pustules, redness, and heat on that side of my face and left earlobe - a little worse than is shown in the above photo that was taken a couple of days later. By 8am, I was checking in at the front desk to my primary care physician's office - hoping that she could work me into her busy schedule. By 8:30am, I was leaving the building, having seen Dr Alvarado and her having prescribed an antibiotic and a steroid for me. She asked that I let her know on Friday how I was doing. At that time, I reported that it appeared to me that the prescriptions were doing the job. The infection was showing improvement. I did mention in my message that now I was showing bumps along my jawline, from ear-to-ear, down to my upper chest, that seemed like bug bites. They did not seem to be a problem but were a bit itchy on occasion.
By this past Monday, the infection was a thing of the past; however, my neck and chest had been itching like crazy. By 8am, today, I was checking in at the front desk to my primary care physician's office. I had zero wait, this time. When Dr Alvarado walked in, I told her that it seemed I should have a standing appointment with her. "Yes, on Wednesday morning. Be sure to bring coffee!" She looked at the red splotches and pronounced them to be due to histamine reaction. She had a tech come in to give me a shot in the rear and send me home. Today, the itchiness was mostly absent. I did have a bout of it this evening, but it is in abatement now (fingers crossed).
Since I need the exercise, I jump to the conclusion that the walnut trees (or, possibly, weeds and grasses that I have been wrestling) were the starting point for my troubles with my face, and bugs thereon might possibly have been the starting point for my troubles with my neck and chest. I read that bug bites can trigger histamine reactions.
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