*scratch*

[icepixie]

Dear Body,

Over the years, you've come up with more and more things to be allergic to. Don't most people work the opposite way, with allergies in childhood lessening as they grow? First it was ragweed and other pollens, then bananas and canteloupe, then cats, then essentially every scent ever that could be used in soap, and now perhaps the most unusual one, bandage adhesive. Bandaids? Seriously? Come on. It's bad enough that I have a cut on my heel; now I have a rectangle of hives all around it after wearing a bandaid for much of the day. How is this increasingly overwrought immune response useful for anything?

Itchily yours,
Me

*

I have far too many articles on Victorian lit to slog through tonight. Boooo.

Comments

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Crap, you too? I've had some minor problems with medical adhesive (plastic tape) before, but now have a lovely mess on my thumb due to a bandaid. Do fabric bandaids make a difference for you? They do for my sister; she can't wear the plastic ones, but fabric is okay. If not, Tegaderm is pretty hypo-allergenic. Good luck.

Eeep, good luck with the articles!

[icepixie]

This is the first time I've had any kind of problem with them. Of course, it's also the first time in years that I've worn a bandaid. I'm going to try fabric next time, though. My mom just told me that she remembers my dad having a reaction to plastic but not to fabric bandaids. (He remembers no such thing, but I guess it's worth a shot.)

Eeep, good luck with the articles!

Thanks!

[twinb76.livejournal.com]

yes, fabric bandaids are ok for me too :D

[icepixie]

I shall have to try them next time, whenever that is. (I seem to only need a bandaid maybe once every five or six years.)

[twinb76.livejournal.com]

then you are lucky... my dad needs them on a daily basis... yes, he is a bit accident prone. ;)

[twinb76.livejournal.com]

ah, I am also allergic to adhesives... something I get from my mom (who recently finally went to the allergist and found out the stabbing pain/numbness in her face for 15 years! was allergies and is allergic to everything...).

[alto2.livejournal.com]

You sure it's the adhesive and not latex?

[icepixie]

...It didn't even occur to me until you commented that they're made of latex. The internet tells me that bananas, canteloupe/melons, and latex all share similar allergenic properties, and if you're allergic to one you're probably allergic to all of them. Bananas and canteloupe make my mouth and throat itch horribly when I eat them.

Good thing I didn't major in a lab science or go into medicine!

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Having seen many bandages marked "latex-free" over the past few years, I figured there are a lot of people who are allergic to latex, so it seemed a reasonable guess. That also means I can say with some confidence that you shouldn't have too much trouble finding the latex-free varieties. :)

[icepixie]

Hooray! ;)

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Not at all unusual. I'm sensitive to it, Mom's downright allergic. She had a stereotactic (sp?) biopsy done about 10 years ago - she had a harder time recovering from the bandaid they put over the needle spot than from the actual hole in her chest. Still has a scar, in fact. Doesn't matter if it's latex, not latex, surgical tape, whatever. Blech.

Hopefully for you, it's the latex! Well, not hopefully, but I think that's easier to avoid. At least in bandaids. Or.. you know what I mean. *g*

[icepixie]

I seem to recall that the last time I wore a bandaid, perhaps six years ago, it was fabric. I think Mom tended to buy mostly the fabric kind when I was living at home, and they never bothered me. Hmmm. I'm not sure why medical procedures involving latex gloves don't bother me, though. Weird.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna have to side with the latex theory. A friend of mine is allergic to latex too, but fabric bandaids work fine for her. Try those?

And seriously, your body should really get the memo that allergies are supposed to subside with age. What's next, hydrophobia? Dear Becca's immune system: pull yourself together! I'm sorry your world involves fewer bananas and cats and bandaids than you would like. : (

[icepixie]

Concensus seems to be fabric bandaids, yes.

And seriously, your body should really get the memo that allergies are supposed to subside with age.

For realz.

What's next, hydrophobia?

I seriously thought I was allergic to hot water for a while until I discovered aloe shower gel and lotion. Gah.

Dear Becca's immune system: pull yourself together!

You don't need as many histamines as you think you do!

I'm sorry your world involves fewer bananas and cats and bandaids than you would like. : (

Mrrr. The one I'm really displeased about is the canteloupe. Sometimes I eat it anyway and deal with the itching, but I hear that that's basically asking for it to eventually turn into anaphylactic shock, and the itchy has been increasingly lately, so I guess I should stop. :( Or maybe cough up the money to actually see an allergist...perhaps there are shots...which they will put a non-latex bandaid over...

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

:-|

[icepixie]

*sigh*

[astropoet.livejournal.com]

oh me too, although the band aid one was one of my first.

[icepixie]

I was reading about the other foods that cross-react with latex, and man, that would SUCK to have to give up fresh apples. I hope mine doesn't progress to that level.

[babylil.livejournal.com]

Yup, I concur with the people who say to try non-latex ones. My friend is allergic to, well, everything and she has to buy non-latex plasters because she gets a rash from even the fabric ones because they have latex in the adhesive.

[icepixie]

Advice noted!