Pollens love warmer air–CA would have more of that than WA. Always nice to be healthier and more active!
Olympic Peninsula is still a relatively pristine place.
Had an interesting visit with my internist today. He confirmed that all my recent tests were good and begged me to come to him BEFORE trying any prolonged treatment, like some of the ones that are being proposed by some of the doctors. He said he won’t even charge me, if that’s an issue (which it isn’t, but so sweet of him to offer to be my free advisor).
He says the main drawback of seeing so many different specialists I’d that it can get pretty confusing sorting out all the info and conflicting opinions. He’s right, I know it can and does sometimes get a bit confusing.
I wrote him a thank you note that I’ll be nailing him. He is a family friend after his decades of treating me and my folks and relatives. I will just take every day as it comes.
We did decide to donate all our feather pillows, throughout our home, as that came closes to “pigeon droppings” that showed up as a high level in my blood test–it’s the only thing in the house that is bird related. We bought some new memory foam pillows and are airing them out before we use them and using synthetic pillows in the meantime.
Oh yea, neither the internist nor I can figure out what we are moving away from and what I’d want to move to instead, so will ask my other docs about pros/cons of moving for health.
Hi mom, what a caring dr! I hope the pillows make a difference, wouldn’t it be wonderful. Sometimes people have issues with those memory foam pillows and mattresses. I would hate for you to replace one allergy with another.
Hope you haven’t cut the tags off.
http://www.chem-tox.com/guest/guestbook.html
We bought the MF pillows from Costco, just so we CAN return if they don’t work out. We are letting them “air out,” but not sure about them as I started wheezing when we opened the bag it came in.
HIMom, many stores sell down alternative pillows. Costco has them, too. They are filled with loose synthetic fibers, not foam, and do not need airing out. Some feel really down-like (memory foam pillows take a while to get used to, in my personal experience). Hope this will give you at least some relief.
Yes, will probably take these memory foam pillows back–will likely keep reacting to them. Not sure what we will get–there are some online advertised as “organic” and healthy. So much to ponder!
Ok, returned the MF pillows for the Costco Down Substitute ones.
Just received the ID report from the ID doc where he basically states he doesn’t really know what to do with me and recommends I have a consultation with a Stanford ID doc.
The Stanford ID doc I’ve been referred to is a specialist in RDD – Rapid Drug Desensitization and was the lead author in a Harvard paper on the subject when she was there. She doesn’t appear to be participating and preferred with my insurer, but I will call Monday to confirm and then ask my insurer if they can make an exception because one of my major issues is having drug reactions and she seems to be a leader in this area.
My Denver doc is setting up all the people he wants me to see as well.
Yippee–Stanford says the ID specialist IS participating and preferred, so that will be covered well by my insurer and we hope she can help with my multi-drug allergies/sensitivities.
Happiness is when the best expert in the country turns out to accept your insurance. 
Yes, fortunately all the best MDs in the US so far have accepted my insurance. I’m soon going to hit the out of pocket max for the year, so insurer will get to pay 100% of all copays, including Rx. I still have to pay travel, but that should be a help for this expensive year of medical evaluations.
The silly thing is the MD is listed as Anne on some official records and Annie with BCBS, which resulted in confusion. :-/
Received an email from BBB promoting anti- allergen bedding. Thought of you Himom
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/static/antiallergenbedding/?mcid=EM_Productcampaign_201604_Claritin_Offer
Yes, thanks! I have allergy control barriers on all bedding throughout our home. Am scheduled to see an ID/allergist who specializes in Rapid Drug Desensitization at Stanford in a few weeks. Will likely see a similar MD at National Jewish in Denver in June. 
I am very grateful we have excellent insurance to cover as much as it does. At least both SF and Denver are nice cities.
OK–just got back blood test results that say I do NOT have latent TB, which is in contrast to the results from Stanford in February that were POSITIVE for latent TB. It looks like one or more blood tests are in my future on this subject! Oh well, I am scheduled to see a pulmonologist on 5/2 and another on 5/12,as well as an ID/allergist on 5/10. I will have quite a bit to talk about.
Have you been tested for Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency?
Yes, have had 6 negative tests for A1-AD–or was it 7? I do know quite a few folks who have A1AD and also know many of the lead researchers in the US for Alpha-1. It would be easier if I had that in some ways, because at least that is a better understood condition and there are recognized treatments for it.
Hey @HImom - did they do an X-ray of your lungs to rule out TB? I figured they probably did that a long time ago…it’s what my ID does in the initial screening visit… Hugs to you!
Good news about the TB results - so the mystery continues. Perhaps some solutions after your upcoming may dr apts-
@2019hope, I’ve had multiple X-rays and chest CTs over the years. None show signs of active TB, but I’m guessing latent TB (which was what the blood test was detecting) does not show up in any imaging.
Yea, @SouthJerseyChessMom, I’m hoping I get some additional guidance from my appointments in CA and CO. My HI docs are stumped and I will be seeing some of the best docs in the US over the next few weeks. All we can do is keep working with the docs and trying to find whatever answers we can together.
I just got my schedule for CO. Will be seeing my pulmo, an ID, an allergist, occupational doc and a cardiologist. Hopefully among all of them we can figure out what’s going on.