Friday 7 July 2017
This morning I felt like a child once
again. I had breakfast with Helene. Usually I eat by myself because I have to
get up really early for school but today I have class in the afternoon. I had
bread as I have eaten every morning since I came to Grenoble, but usually I put
jam on it. I saw Helene putting butter and then the creamed orange honey I
brought from Cox honey makers in Utah on top of the butter. It looked really
good, so I decided to have the same. I also drank tea Helene made, the same tea
she has been making me since I arrived. I ate the Cox honey several days ago,
and I know Helene has cooked with the butter while I’ve been here. The reason I
mention all this food is because as we were sitting at the table eating, my
arms, especially the right elbow began to burn and tingle. I realized it was
turning red and swelling, the right as well but not as intensely. It took a few
minutes before I realized I was having an allergic reaction. It felt strange as
the burning spread down my forearms to my wrists and hands, and then I could
feel it spreading to my knees.
I was a blotchy red mess in no time. I’m
very grateful though that it did not affect my throat and I had no swelling on
my face or neck. I think it was a mild reaction, but the sight of it was still
unnerving. Helene took me to the pharmacy right away, and they gave me an
antihistamine tablet I put under my tongue and it is working to reduce the
swelling and redness. I relied on Helene very much to explain my predicament to
the pharmacist, and as the pharmacist explained what to do, I wanted to cry for
not being able to understand every word. Now I understand why children are so
afraid of the doctor’s offices: it is because they cannot understand all that
is going on and being said, where it concerns their own bodies most intimately.
I am leaving for Lyon at 4 pm today, and I’m just praying I don’t have any more
reactions while I’m gone and that this one will be gone by tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment