Monthly Archives: May 2006

I am still feeling bad – worse each day actually. The rash is spreading and I feel tired, tingly, shaky and dizzy. Since it keeps getting worse, I started to wonder if I developed an allergy to something I am still consuming/in contact with.

I am back at work today (since staying home did no good) and while my printer was busy printing out 80 handouts I did some searching online for my symptoms. I stumbled upon a blog talking about splenda/sucralose allergies. I don’t put sweeteners on anything so I was only skimming all the testimonies – until I realized I had eaten fat-free Dannon yogurt the last two days of our vacation (fat free was the only type they had with the continental breakfast at the hotel). I googled the ingredients and found a review of the yogurt that complained about it having sucralose in it.

Hmm… But then why would I still be getting worse? My normal yogurt doesn’t have splenda in it. What have I eaten/drank every day since getting back? Gaterade Propel fitness water. Sucralose!

So, I am thinking sucralose is a strong contender as the cause of my allergy. I poured myself a cup of tap water from the jug in the fridge to drink with my lunch and I am going to avoid the Propel I brought – and all other sucralose for a while to see if my rash clears up.

I am not feeling well at all. If you want to see an icky picture, go here…

Basically, I’ve had an allergic rash since Friday that has been spreading over my entire body. It started on my shoulders/back and got my upper arms and lower legs this weekend. Today it got my arms and belly, and this evening it hit my face. The RN I saw this afternoon said it was an allergic reaction to something and prescribed Claritin and anti-itch cream. I kept telling her it doesn’t itch! I want something to make it go away!! And something to take away the dizzy, flu-like, tingling feeling that is getting worse. She said it could take up to two weeks to clear, but I should go back to the Dr.’s office if it is still here in a week. Ugh.

Oh, and of course I have terrible girlie cramps/nausea tonight. Because the allergic reaction wasn’t enough.

Last night I got a lot of my Roller Girl photos processed… I am taking the time to decide which look good in full color (with the bright red contrasting the black and white) and which look better in grayscale (so the simplicity of the black and white lets the lines of the photo speak for themselves).

I may get the set up tomorrow night, but I am planning to stay home and rest tomorrow, so it may be Wednesday that I get the set up. It will be worth the wait, I think! Kollin did some great work!!

Yesterday I had an appointment to go get outfitted in an Indian party outfit for the wedding reception I am attending on Saturday! I have always envied pretty saris and other Indian dress. And the pretty bangles!

So, my appointment was with a very sweet lady, Meenal, who helped me pick from her basement boutique full of hundreds of salwar, leenga choli, and saris. The adult size small salwar pant suits were all pretty big on me, so she pulled out some teen-sized lehenga skirts. This pretty aqua and magenta one was our favorite.

Meenhal went through all her tikas (head jewels) and found one that was almost perfect – just gold instead of silver. It was the best choice though. And, my favorite part – the bangles! Can I wear them every day?

The outfit was still a bit long in the skirt and wide in the blouse, but we were able to go straight to the apartment of Nuzhat, an Indian seamstress. She was very interesting – a strong Indian lady who lives with her daughter. I think she is used to having people obey her – she has the kind of tone in her voice that you just don’t question.

When I told her I needed my outfit altered before Friday, she sighed and said she was very busy this week. I stood there with a hopeful smile on my face, but looking a bit crestfallen. She looked me over for a long moment then said, “Take it off and give it to me, then go wait.”

I assumed she was just going to look it over more closely, so I asked her how long she needed as I handed the lehenga and choli over to her. When I went out to wait with Danny, he was a little annoyed that I didn’t know for sure what I was waiting for. I told him Nuzhat was a bit intimidated, but I couldn’t really explain how. I ended up asking her daughter if she was already altering it. She was – she put the custom outfit she was sewing aside to kindly do my alterations in just a half hour while we waited.

Both homes we were in smelled like delicious Indian food. We caved in to our cravings and stopped at our favorite little Indian restaurant for dinner. I brought in my new clothes to show the owner. Indian restaurants are the only place where I’m not a cheap date becauseI want one of everything! I have tasty leftovers waiting for me for lunch today. Yum!

Last night I finished redoing my last few braids. All done!! Now I can concentrate on packing and cleaning for the next two evenings. I can’t wait to get to California!!