Hi Annie,
I am very sorry to hear that you cannot have the
immuntherapy. If it is any consolation, I never had it
and I have been allergic to insect stings and bites
for over forty five years and although I have never
had a bonafide anaphylactic my brother has he is also
allergic to vespid venom among others. In the late
50's there were no dermatolgic tests for allergy,
allergists were not to be found and the only available
treatments were benadryl, teldrin, and epinefrin shots
at a doctors office or hospital. He carries epi pens
now but I never have, although everyone says I should
just in case. I hope you are able to cope by staying
calm when you see them near, being cautious when in a
strange place where they may be and being aggressive
about (having someone ) eliminate them from near your
home. I would not be afraid to have flowers since they
are usually pollinated by honey bees and bumble bees
which I have heard help keep the wasps hornets and
other vespids away. That claim I have heard from
beekeepers. Also most of the troublesome wasps are
social wasps which make nests of paper. They make that
paper from dead wood.
The bottom line is that you have to treat the greatest
risk to your health. In your case it is the threat of
a more severe form of cancer. I sincerely hope you can
be successful with that.
I read the information which you and David provided
links to and it represents very serious stuff. In fact
it provided me some questions to ask my doctor next
time I see her. Particularly about edema. I have a
physical exam scheduled in the summer and I expect to
finally follow up with an allergist for testing at the
least and possible therapy if it is practical.
We are all lucky that David set up this group. It has
been very helpful. I wonder if he archives the
previous discussions for the new people who keep
joining but it probably takes too much space to do
that. The chronology of his experience was very
interesting.
Well, I have to go.
Annie, good luck!
Doug
--- Annie Elias <ladyofmillhill@...> wrote:
> Not good I'm afraid - I can't have the
> desensitisation. Yesterday I saw my Consultant
> Dermatologist who is looking after me for a rare
> form of indolent skin cancer that I have. He has
> been in contact with the Immunologist about the
> effects immunotherapy could have on my skin disease
> and yesterday was my day to find out what it's all
> about. The bottom line is that because the type of
> cancer I have is a disease of the immune system I
> cannot risk 'playing' with my immune system by
> having immunotherpay, if I were to do this then I
> would leave myself open to developing a more serious
> cancer. I do of course have a say in this and at
> the end of the day the choice would be mine but my
> consultant has given me his opinion and it is a
> definite NO. Between a rock and a hard place is
> where I am, whichever way I look at it there are
> life threatening risks - what, I wonder, is the
> lesser of the two evils.....................
>
> So, it's back to the drawing board and prioritising
> protection for the fast approaching yellow peril
> season. I have filed all of the wonderful posts
> that have been sent since I joined with some really
> good advise and ideas but would always welcome
> more!!
>
> Take care all!!
>
> Annie :o)


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