Dear editor,
What if all of a sudden you couldn’t eat or drink any of your favorite foods, drinks? Use your favorite toothpaste? Take the meds the doctor has you on for your heart, your lungs, your infections?
You could no longer use your favorite makeup, soap, shampoo, shaving creme? You couldn’t lick stamps, envelopes, work with certain glues on your woodworking project or your child’s home craft? Wow! What a stopper that would be to your life, right?
Well, that’s exactly what AGS (Alpha-gal Syndrome — a lone star tick-born allergy) does to people.
It changes their life forever. Yes, there are antidotes that make life a little more tolerable — but there is NOT a cure.
Once an allergy has developed, it’s for life.
Yes, there are people and institutions out there that say otherwise. However, they’re sadly wrong.
Let me give you an example.
You go to an allergist. They test you, then give you shots for your allergies. Are you now free from that allergy?
Nope. You can just tolerate the allergy. Doesn’t matter if it’s cats, dogs, pollen or grass. You still have the allergy.
The difference is that now you can tolerate the allergy thanks to the treatment.
Here’s the deal with AGS allergies. They are tougher to get under control.
Why? Because there are so many variables for each individual person.
One person may have hives just from the fumes of a mammal.
Another’s symptom may be achy joints, upset stomach upset, headaches, chest congestion, chest pain, edema (swelling), shortness of breath. The list is endless.
The issue is whether to recognize it as an allergy versus a heart attack, congestive heart failure, GI issues and so on.
How does one tell the difference? You can’t always.
Seeking medical help is the best answer.
