My Allergy Journey, Part V: Doubleheader

 My commute to my second food challenge was, thankfully, much less eventful than my first one. The train zoomed through the tunnel and arrived in Penn Station on time. I arrived for my appointment 15 minutes early. Based on the success of my first food challenge, I arrived feeling more confident.

Before we go on, a quick note to my street photography fans. 

Oh, are you looking for street photos? Not interested in my allergy journey? Just scroll down to the end of the text!

According to the staff, this is a common occurrence: Early success builds confidence, which may reduce psychosomatic symptoms. I suspect some of my nausea from last time may have been more due to anxiety than a physiological reaction to the nut in the food challenge.

Outside of the clinic, New Yorkers were bracing for an end-of-season doubleheader between the Mets and the Braves. If the Mets win one of the two, they go on to the playoffs. If they win both, they go to the playoffs. If the Mets lose, season over, man.

Inside the clinic, we decided to do a food challenge with two nuts: Macadamia and Pecan. I was hoping for both the Mets and myself to sweep. The Mets split the doubleheader and got into the playoffs, which was amazing. I tolerated both nuts, thereby sweeping both of my food challenges.

So: While the Mets made it to the postseason in a most dramatic fashion, my food challenge was comfortingly uneventful. As with the previous food challenge, each one started with a gram of the nut in question, ground up in a teaspoonful of applesauce. As soon as I had my dose, I started a timer. The staff checked on me every few minutes. “How are you doing?” They would ask. “So far, so good” was my response. Each time.

I should really come up with a more original response.

Cups full ‘O nuts: By the time they handed me these, I felt pretty confident that I would not puke if I ate them.

Every 15 minutes, another, larger dose. The fourth dose was a cup of nuts, followed by a 90-minute wait to see if I’d react. I didn’t, and by 12:45 I was done. I was advised not to exert myself for the rest of the day. So, no power walk in NYC, don’t run for the train; wait for the next one. No treadmill when I get home.

So, I sauntered down the streets of Manhattan, camera at the ready, doing street photography. It really was a picture-perfect day.

Next time, I will find out if I’m still allergic to the dreaded Hazelnut.

Until then, here are some street photos.