My Allergy Journey: The Applesauce is Tasting Kinda Nutty

The gradual introduction of food that, until recently, would have put me in the emergency room is so close to the finish line that I can taste it. Literally. 

With only two more updose sessions to go, my new dose is exactly 2 grams of allergens. Today, my dose of ground nuts and sunflower seeds mixed in with a spoonful of applesauce, for the first time, tasted quite nutty. And you know what? It tasted pretty good!

Almost Derailed

For most of last week, this updose appointment teetered on the point of being cancelled. New Jersey Transit’s train engineers union went on strike on Friday; my appointment was scheduled for Wednesday. If the strike hadn’t been resolved by Tuesday, I would have had to cancel this session and add another one in early July. Fortunately, an agreement was reached Sunday night, and the train ran without incident this morning. 

Close one.

My Doctor Bragged About Me

Dr. Novick told me today that he was in touch with a client’s mom who was fretting about whether her daughter should start treatment before heading off to college or waiting until graduation. “She’ll be 21 years old,” she told hm. “Is that too old to do Oral Immunotherapy?”

His response? “Well, I have a 68-year-old man who started treatment last year.” I’m being held up as an example of you’re-never-too-old. And I’m good with that.

Street Photos: Another Rainy Day in New York City

When rain is forecast, I adjust my picture-taking strategy as well as my camera settings. I feel fortunate to live in an era when the old compromises required when shooting at very high ISOs (using film that’s super-sensitive to light, or camera sensor settings) no longer necessarily exist. When the clouds get thick, I pump up the ISO on my Leica M Typ 240 to 2500. When I process the images, I know I can reduce the noise using software while keeping everything looking natural. It really does open up new possibilities when shooting in low light.

Here are some highlights from today’s photos…

Previously: Slow Down But Not Too Much