My Newest Friend...Aspirin

I spent the 24th and 25th of February at my allergist's office being desensitized to aspirin. Arriving at 9 am, I was escorted to a corner room and told that I would be there until 4:30 pm. I was advised to bring food and a good book, or two. Then I was left alone except for the half hour checks on my blood pressure, pulse, O2 level and hourly checks on my lung function.

I brought plenty of work as I was still wrapping up the fall events for River Wranglers. I typed letters, wrapped Hershey's kisses, compiled folders, wrote minutes for the RW board meeting, compiled bills, and wrote letters.

Taking a break from work, I also did some embroidery on pillow cases I a m making for Kyna's 30th birthday and read magazines and books. Since the door was open to my examination room, I became part of the office in a way not usually experienced. The backroom conversations, the birthday party for office staff. In a way, I became part of the team.

The doctor started me on 1/4 baby aspirin, increasing the next dosage to 1/2 baby aspirin and then a whole baby aspirin, 81 mg. When I reached that level, I had a reaction! My nose began running. When the nurse went to get the doctor who was with a patient in an examination room, he came out dancing. His delight was contagious and his relief that I reacted nasally, rather than a chest reaction.

The next day I came back and spent the entire day taking aspirin, having my vitals checked and performing lung function tests. At the end of those two days I was desensitized. So what does that mean? Actually I have Samter's Triad, a concert performed by the trio, aspirin, nasal polyps and asthma. Now that I am desensitized my other symptoms should reduce. The very next day I awoke and realized that I could smell, something I rarely experienced. As delighted as I was to smell again, it didn't take me long to figure out that all smells are not enjoyable.

So now I take two aspirin daily, 650 mg, one at morning the other at night. I am feeling good and can breathe freely through my nose. Thank you to the good doctors that take the risks and challenges to help patients maintain health and quality of life.