"Angio Edema"

Ron Kirby · From: Nashville TN

For many years I had a health problem with "Angio Edema". Sometimes it attacks my face and body swells and I don't look like me. After spending thousands of dollars with the doc, they have never found the cause. I tried everything the doc's gave me, but the only thing that helps is Benadryl. Nondrowsy and regular Benadryl both have the same effect on me. It makes me very very sleepy and very thirsty, very thirsty! A very cold beverage helps a lot! Water makes it worse like sodas. I was in the St. Thomas hospital emergency room here a few years ago because my throat swelled and I could not breathe. When this happens I have to go quickly. This is why it’s difficult for me sometimes to remember who played on some of my recordings, On a few recordings I just sort of remember being there very sleepy. There is no disrespect for the musicians who played at all. I do apologize for being on this forum the other night when I should not have been.

Sincerely,
Ronnie

Tommy Alexander · From: Friendswood, Texas 77546

Ron,
Sorry you are having some problems; you don't have to make an excuse for illness.
I hope that some doctor will help you get through this and you can get back to playing and feel better.
Hang in there and keep sending us some good tunes to listen too!

Ron Kirby · From: Nashville TN

Tommy, Thanks for your concerns. I have fully recovered from last weeks true Angio Edema attack. It's now a wait for when the next one will occur. I apologize again for posting on the forum last week when I should not have, and will not do it again.

That's a super nice steel guitar you have! Maybe some day I will buy one too. Have a nice day!

Glenn Uhler · From: Trenton, New Jersey, USA

The problem you have sounds just like something I investigated a few months ago. A new employee was working in a chemical plant when he developed a rash all over his body and had trouble breathing. He went home sick and saw the doctor the next day. The doctor, an occupational health doctor, recognized the symptoms of an occupational chemical allergy and put him on high doses of antihistamines (like Benedryl, but stronger). After a couple of weeks, he was back to normal. Trouble is, he is now "sensitized" to that kind of chemical. Whenever he gets a whiff of the chemical, he can react just like you do. Turns out, he had worked at a body shop in the past where he got his first contact with the problem chemical.

Just like people who are allergic to shrimp or peanuts, I think your "angioedema" is a chemical allergy that no one has diagnosed yet. Try to think back to what you ate or drank, or what chemicals you worked with just before you had your illness. You might just figure out what the problem is!
_________________
1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H

Ron Kirby · From: Nashville TN

Glenn, I have had Angio Edema for many years. I have done all the things you suggested. The docs. came up with nothing other than a guess. It's a swell and starts out like a small ball under the skin, then its(Benedryl time) and I go home, and then it starts moving around. My eyes swell twice the size, then the same with my face. Lips about three times the normal size then sometimes starts toward my air passage. My hands can grow almost twice the normal size. Most of the time I can can slow it down with more Benedryl. If not, its off to the Emergency. This can happen anywhere at any time.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Hey Ron,

I hope you listen to what Glenn is saying to you. What you get is a "Severe Allergic Reaction" to something. I've been around just long enough to tell you, I've learned that some highly praised doctors, who are considered as being the best, are so far from that, they shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine.

A person is around literally 10's of 1000's of things in a days time. The lump or lumps you get, that grow larger and larger sound to me as being giant hives. The first sign of the bodies reaction to something. It could even be as simple as a perfume or deoderant, or, any number of other things. The reason that most times, we don't know what it is that causes it, and it's a slow step by step process of elimination in order to find out just what it is that triggers it.

Please don't just settle for a Dr. regardless of how good he/she might be considered. It's YOUR body and you know much more about it, than any of them do. A good doctor will tell you that when it comes to an allergen.

What you have to do is keep an open mind that it could be the most common and least expected thing in your life, that's causing your bodies reaction. But one thing I can tell you is, your body is not just taking it on it's own to cause what you experience.

So again, please listen and take it seriously, because it could be something so simple, you'd never expect it to be the cause in a million years.

Severe allergies are nothing to take lightly, and each time is usually a bit worse than before.

Ron from my own experience, I took Aspirin for years and years, (with no problems) when ever I'd get a bad headache. They always did their job and worked fast in taking away the pain.

Then (without knowing it at the time) my body had suddenly became allergic to them. I took a single Aspirin, and damn near died. Not even suspecting it was from something I'd been able to take all my life. A couple of months or so later, I again (not even considering what had previously taken place was caused by the Aspirin tablet) took an Aspirin and within only minutes I was fighting for my life.

So please listen to what Glenn had to say. It's up to you to try and find out (by process of elimination) what it is that's REALLY triggering your bad experiences.

Think back if you can and find out what's been in common that you've been doing or have been around, etc, (before the onset) in each case and you might come up with some hints as to what could have been the cause.

In the meantime, you should check out with your doctor, carrying an Apu-pen (spelling?) for giving yourself an injection along with the Benadryl, to hold it under control until you can get to an ER.

My Best
Don

Ron Kirby · From: Nashville TN

Thanks, Don! I have done all you have said. The pens dont work well for me. They speed up my heart to fast. The only thing that works is Benadryl......I hope I dont have another attack for a month or so. (Stress is a key factor) I enjoy your steel playing videos Don! Thanks again.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Ron,

Many times just bringing a persons awareness to what his/her problem could be coming from, is enough to help them. Having in mind to be on alert for (any) one tiny (unthought of) thing, that could trigger an onset.

"I truly hope that turns out to be the answer in your case."

I'm hoping you get through many, many more years of not having it take place again.

And yes! Stress can cause a whole lot of things to take place. So settle back and relax at your Emmons and lets have some more of that real nice steel playing. Smile

We'll put in a good Word or two. That always helps!

Don

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