Then there was the time I spent the day in the ER

As I last blogged about how my eyes were itchy, red and sore last Monday. Later in the morning my condition deteriorated to the point where my face, hands and legs were swollen. When my tongue got tingly and numb that is when we headed to the ER. Please don't be confused as is the time I spent the morning in the ER, not the day. Since my breathing wasn't obstructed in anyway and my throat was fine the ER doctor told me to take anti-histamines and prescribed a histamine blocker (I'm not sure the difference between the two) then sent me on my way. I went and saw my allergist and it was suggested that I wash my eyes every couple hours to clean away whatever I am reacting to.

Throughout the week my condition improved. I woke up from a nap Friday afternoon and my eyes were puffy and red again. The situation grew worse each day. This morning I woke up around 4:30 AM and was pleased to see that my eyes were much less puffy and red than the night before. I went back to bed for couple hours and when I woke up my face was swollen again. I took an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory and put an ice pack on my eyes and laid down for awhile. As I was pondering whether I should go to school or not my throat started to swell up suddenly. I had problems swallowing but not breathing. Concerned that it would progress to problems breathing, I ask my mom to take me to the hospital.

Last Monday I only had 2 nurses tending to me when I came in, this time I had 3. I'm not sure if that is a reflection on my situation or the availability of staff at the time. I saw the doctor right away and they got me started on a hydrocortisone IV drip and gave me 20 mg of Prednisone. Since I had allergy testing coming up next week, the doctor last Monday shied away from giving me anything that could interfere with the testing. Today the doctor had no choice since my throat was swollen but this just means my allergy testing will have to be postponed. I had to stay at the hospital for several more hours after the IV was complete so they could monitor me.

Things that I am thankful for:

• when my very nice nurse unhooked me from the IV, gave me a robe so I could go to the bathroom. Fact: IVs really make you want to pee.


• when I was finally allowed to put my pants back on even though I was still waiting for the doctor to discharge me.


• my breathing was never hindered during the course of my reaction


• my mommy drove me to the hospital then stayed with me all day


• My right hand and arm are sore from the IV but fortunately I learned how to write with my left hand many years ago.


• my mommy bought me a delicious sandwich from Italian Star Deli

Things that don't help red, puffy, itchy eyes

How about crying for hours? That certainly doesn't help. Big surprise, lack of sleep seems to be a determent as well.

I woke at 3:30 AM with my eyes were so itchy and sore that I couldn't sleep anymore. I tried working on homework but the itchiness just got worse then the lack of sleep and frustration caught up to me and I haven't been able to stop crying since. On the plus side (?!?!) the constant crying seems to help the part of the skin nearest from eyes from being itchy.

People keep on tell me that it "isn't that bad". I know that I look at it more critically than others but it is bad. It is itchy and painful and it looks it. Last night I went to the casino show lounge to watch the CFL Western Final. I caught a friend of a friend staring at me more than once -- I felt like such a freak.

It is most likely contact dermatitis but since the skin around the eyes is so sensitive it really could be anything that comes in contact with my hair, face or hands. My papa jokes that I might be allergic to him.

Red, Puffy, Itchy Eyes

I don't know what is causing it but for more than 2 weeks the skin around my eyes has been swollen, red and itchy. I thought it might be a reaction to my makeup so I stopped wearing any and it only got worse. It started under my right eye, spread to under my left eye and now has appeared on both my eye lids. The itchiness is driving me crazy and I look terrible. It is to the point where I am embarrassed to go outside. Why does this garbage happen to me? I'm so frustrated with something always being wrong with me. I would like one day where I'm not plagued from some ailment. Is that too much to ask?

I wasn't expecting this but I'm a little emotional

I have admit that I got a little teary eyed when I read this headline:

Pat Burns, Stanley Cup winner, dies at 58, Friday, November 19, 2010, 6:29 PM, By NHL .com

You may be thinking "Who is Pat Burns and why would this upset Janice?" To make a long story short, he was the first Montreal Canadiens head coach that I remember. I was 10 years old when he started coaching them and he took them to the Stanley Cup finals. This coincided with a time that I was becoming much more aware of who the players were and understanding the game. I cried when they lost the finals.* He was a good man that always will have a special place in my heart.



* Interestingly, ever Habs fan that I've met that is around the same age as me has also admitted to crying as well. It is a tough time when your heroes fail.

Oh Yes, I Still Got It!: Eleven Years Later

Please forgive, I started this post 2 weeks ago and finally got around to finishing it.


You'd think I'd know better by now to catch the bus downtown on the block with the bus station and the police station.

After working late at the university, I missed my bus transfer downtown. My bag was heavy, a bit chilly and would be more than a half hour until the next bus came so I decided to sit in the bus shelter. A couple minutes before my bus was supposed to arrive, two very rough looking drunk natives came and joined me in the shelter. One with a broken and bruised lip came and sat beside me[will refer to him as Drunk Dude]. I apologized that my bag was in the way and I moved it so moved it to my lap.

Drunk Dude' Friend: Haha, maybe that's your hope purse.
Drunk dude: [Rolls eyes]
Drunk dude: What's your name?
Me: Janice
Drunk dude: My name is Darling, nice to meet you. [Shakes hand]
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: How old are you?
Me: 32
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Aww, you're just a youngin'. I'm 40 and never thought I'd live this long [then nonsensical rambling about rough life]
Drunk dude: [Puts hand on my arm] You are a very pretty lady
Me: Umm, thank you
Drunk dude: Can I have your number?
Me: No thank you
Drunk dude: Why?
Me: I don't know you and I don't give out my number to strangers.
Drunk dude: But how can I not be a stranger if you don't give me a chance to get to know you? Give me you number.
Me: No thank you, I'm too busy with school for dating.
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Hey, want buy a 40[oz] of Crown Royal for $20? [Proceeds to pull a large bottle out of his pants]
Me: no thank you, I'm just a poor student.
Drunk dude: C'mon
Drunk Drunk Dude' Friend: Leave her allow, she's poor like us.

Drunk dude's friend pulls another bottle out of his pants, he opens it and drinks from it. The two start fighting over the fact that Drunk dude's friend started drinking from a bottle they were suppose to sell. They were ready to start fighting in the bus shelter and they were blocking the entrance. They finally settle that they can drink one and sell one.


Drunk dude: I should push you under a bus because you won't give me your number
Me: You don't want to do that
Drunk dude: I'm just jokin'
Me: What bus are you waiting for? [At this point I was ready to catch the next bus that came along just to get away from them as long it wasn't the one they were getting on]
Drunk dude's friend starts telling a long rambling story about where they are headed but never reveals which bus they are waiting for. Fortunately my bus arrives and I can get away.

May-B and I had been texting plans to get together. Immediately when I got on the bus, I texted her to tell what happened. She didn't know how I could turn down "Pants Crown Royal" for $20.*

Read about the time May-B and I were hit on by drunk construction workers at a pool hall 11 years ago.

*For serious, how could he keep 2 40oz bottles of Crown Royal in his pants? How could someone walk like that? How are his pants not falling down?

"Whip My Hair" with Neil Young & Bruce Springsteen

A duet for the ages...