I heard them speak of allergy...

So I recently saw an allergist and got tested for a variety of things.  (About 56, if I remember correctly.)  I found out that my worst season for allergies is spring, followed by summer, followed by fall, followed by winter.  And I mean that only in the chronological sense!  I am also allergic to indoor allergens such as dust, dust mites, cat dander, mold.  Well this makes total sense, (not only because I am a Hoffman,) but it is clearly evidenced by the fact that I have tissues in every single room of my house, and if it's a room I spend a lot of time in (like my bedroom), there will be several boxes strategically placed anywhere that I might set for more than five minutes.  Fortunately, I did not test allergic to any foods!  (He only tested eight, I think.)

I thought it was a little amusing that when I was answering some initial questions with the assistant at my first followup, I said that I did not think that I was experiencing symptoms such as congestion or post nasal drip.  Upon examination by the doctor, he observed both!  I thought to myself, I probably do not even know what it's like to truly NOT have some level of congestion and allergy symptoms.  (I type, while scratching my throat...)

My visit to the allergist was precipitated by an acute allergic reaction, to what I know not, about a month ago.  After dinner on a Saturday night, I started itching on my forearms.  But didn't think too much of it, since I have experienced itchy episodes many times before.  By the wee hours of the morning, I awoke and could tell that my eyelids were swollen.  When I was able to take a look at myself, I could see that I had a rash all over my face, ears, neck, chest and forearms.  It was very itchy.  I was miserable.  After a few days of only slight improvement, I made an appointment to see an allergist.  He put me on Prednisone and antibiotics and antihistamines.  The antibiotics were because the rash was also infected by staph.  So after all that medicine, plus topical steroids, the reaction was finally under control.  Now it is up to me to maintain my skin through a laborious regime of regular full-body moisturization with lotions and ointments; bleach baths; and running a humidifier in my bedroom at night.  I am also going to start allergy shots for my seasonal year-round allergies.  This means spending a minimum of one hour at the allergist's office to get two shots, once or twice a week, according to my schedule (plus travel time, plus a few minutes of waiting time to be served).  At least I do not have to make an appointment for the shots.  I can just show up anytime that works for me.

The doctor thinks that at least part of my trouble is that since I am constantly exposed to allergens and my body is reacting to them, that my immune system is less able to keep the eczema in check and/or it is another manifestation of my constant state of allergy.