Day 129: Some Answers with my Nasal Issues & The Return of Shadow

Wednesday, January 23
10:10 p.m.

This morning I went to the Asthma Allergy Centre in Tigard.  I have been convinced that I have bad allergies, not to mention a deviated septum.  Today, I finally got some answers.  I had a scratch test done and there was absolutely no indication of any allergic reaction to the Oregon-focused allergens, as well as common household allergens.  I was perplexed.  What the heck is wrong with me?  The doctor looked into my nose and the left side was congested, the right side was perfectly clear.  She confirmed the left side had a deviated septum and she said the only way to correct it is to have surgery.  She gave me the name and number of a doctor in Portland who specializes in this procedure.  Looks like all of those hits to the nose in lacrosse may have actually done some real damage.

She also suggested I have chronic nonallergic rhinitis.  So weird.  I really think I am my father’s daughter after all.  He has celiac disease, I have it.  He has chronic nonallergic rhinitis (CNR) and a deviated septum, so do I.   CNR is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the nasal membranes.  Patients have symptoms of a runny nose, stuffy nose and sneezing, but mostly the nasal congestion.  Yup, those are my symptoms exactly.  Cold air, weather changes, and irritants, such as aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke, perfumes, detergents, solvents, cleaning agents and dusts may aggravate the nasal symptoms, which are usually chronic. 

CNR usually develops in adulthood, frequently after age 35 or 40.  A diagnosis is made when there are no allergies or sinus problem demonstrated to explain the symptoms.  The cause of CNR is not understood.  And this doesn’t explain my itchy, watery eyes, the crazy sneezing attacks I get.  Is it possible that the skin scratch tests miss other allergens out there?  Is it possible there are new allergens out there, new microscopic organisms out there that have yet to be discovered?

I was given a sample steroid nasal spray to use when I get really clogged, as well as eye drops for when my eyes get itchy.

I wonder if my facial lotion is part of the problem?  Or my make-up?  Who knows.  It’s so weird.  Meantime, I will make an appointment with the doctor to check out my deviated septum.  Hopefully that will help to clear my nasal passages to restore freer breathing.

Meantime, my little cat friend survived the night, the other night.  Only, this evening, when I got home from work she was under the bushes by my apartment.  I heard her mews and she appeared, looking up at me as if I were her mom.  She followed me up the stairs to my door on the second floor.  She waited as I went inside.  I could hear her mewing for me.  I filled a dish with cat food and one with water.  She was very pleased to have something to eat.  Two hours later, she was at my front door, hoping I’d let her in from the cold.  I felt terrible.  I tried to contact the humane society, but they don’t take in non-collared/ID’d animals.  I was heartbroken.  I don’t know if this fuzzy little friend is a stray or if she has a neglectful owner in my apartment complex.  I saw her at one point at the door below my apartment.  I took a smaller towel and heated it in the microwave and blanketed it over the fuller, thicker towel in the box outside of my door.  I had hoped she’d snuggle up in the box.  At 10:00, I looked out my front door and she was still sitting there.  This killed me.  Because I have two cats I love, I can’t let her into my apartment.  She clearly has mites and could very well have a number of diseases.  I am not willing to compromise their health.  So, I brought out another dish of food and hot water (not boiling) and re-heated the smaller towel, hoping the warmth would entice this kitty.  I think I should call her Shadow.  She comes out of nowhere and follows me up to my front door.  She, for some reason, picked me out of all the neighbors.  I feel it is my responsibility to look out for her.  I hope she can warm up in the box I set up for her, I hope she can stay warm and survive these cold nights.

Makes me want to open a shelter here for animals that get neglected or just need a warm place to stay during the crazy cold winter.  It should be open 24 hours, in the event that kind people come across these animals and want to help them.  I should look into this…