When I came up with the idea of creating a blog about dealing with a nickel allergy I was unsure of how to begin. My roommate thought I should begin with how I came about having the allergy. Here is my story...
The end of my freshman year of college I started getting sick frequently, unexpectedly my body would reject food completely. I came back to my home town for the summer and start of Sophomore year to get tested and find the reason. I had a lot of blood drawn, a lot of hours waiting for results and in the end they decided to remove my gallbladder. I had the surgery done and was told within a year my body would be completely back to normal.
But, a year went by and I was still getting sick. I was told my body was still weak and continued on. In fact, I didn't question anything and finished my degree just assuming my stomach would always be picky and I would always get sick frequently. The truth is none of my doctors looked into anything and so I never would have unless something has happened.
I decided to have permanent birth control surgery and was told the most effective way was something called "Essure" where small nickel coils are inserted into the tubes and the body heals over them to block the opening. My doctor asked if I had any reason to think I might be allergic to nickel and I mentioned sometimes my jewelry bothered my skin. She decided I should get tested.
I went to The Allergy Clinic of Tulsa and they put a small bit of nickel on my back and covered it with a bandage. Two days later I returned and the spot had become red, bumpy and obviously affected. I returned two days after and was sure in the mail I would receive a letter stating my allergy. Instead, I received a notice saying I had no reaction.
I contacted the doctor and after what was apparently a very large and angry meeting of everyone in the building I was asked to come have the test done again. They put on the patch and I came back two days later. This time the doctors came and looked instead of a nurse and told me point blank, "We are supposed to rate reactions from 0-3. If there was a 4 then you would be a 4." I was told I didn't need to come back for another check up and given a piece of paper with a list of objects and foods that would upset my allergy.
I thought it was a simple fact. I figured I would have to get my tubes tied and watch out what jewelry I wore. I was wrong. The more I realized how much the allergy was affecting me the more I researched and the more I researched the more confused and frustrated I became. I called doctors and clinics around the city and found no one who would help me understand how to work my diet around the allergy. So, I took things into my own hands.
I created this blog to help other people facing the same annoying lack of information. The average person with a nickel allergy has a purely dermatological response. But, there are a few like me where everything in life starts to have an effect.. clothing, habits and foods all have to change. So, here is what I hope to create here: Recipes, Articles, Research into Questions, Warnings and Options pertaining to having a nickel allergy.
Let's see what happens...
