Revisit to the gates of hell

[Guest guest]

I'm about three months into Xolair treatment and I've been feeling

really great. By that I mean normal which is a real treat. Until

yesterday, that is. I went to a formal affair. Just to be safe, I

took my Albuterol along because I was already wheezing due a

perfumed visitor coming in my house before the affair.

Now I got in the car with this perfumed person and had to drive

fifteen miles. I was getting seriously gassed and my lips were

swelling and tingling and my thoat started to close off so I

apologized and rolled down the windows but that didn't help much.

My breathing became quite labored and at one point I had to focus on

staying conscious.

Anyway, I did get to the event and things improved for a little

while. But then I got perfume gassed again and could barely breath

at all and couldn't even talk. I hurried outside into fresh air and

started hitting the Albuterol. It took an OD of six puffs to

minimally restore my breating. Then I had an Albuterol hangover and

felt just plain miserable.

Finally, on the way home, I got gassed some more and my lips and

surrounding tissue swelled up like I'd been in a fight. At home I

collapsed but really couldn't sleep until today.

I fought summoning emergency treatment, as I always have during

those visits to the gates of hell. In those situations one doesn't

normally think logically anyway, except to get away from the

offending allegen as quickly as possible.

I will call my doctor tomorrow, which is Monday morning, and ask to

stop in and probably get a shot of prednisone and follow up coarse

of pills because I still feel really bad.

I'm very sad this is happening. This was my first encounter with a

perfume gassing since starting the Xolair, and it does look like

perfume may be outside the range of Xolair and I have to tell you I

am hyper-hyper sensitive to that disgusting stinky stuff.

Even if someone nearby eats perfumed candy and has it on their

breath I go ballistic. Oh, and tuna fish breath makes me want vomit.

Any other Xolair users have any experience with a perfume gassing

they'd be willing to share? Is there any hope?