Allergies - would you rather not know? Options

[Mata]

After Laura was recently diagnosed with an allergy to yeast, I'm beginning to wonder if I might have something similar: every time I drink beer (or pretty much any alcohol) I get very bunged up. I live in a perpetual state of barely-able-to-breathe-through-my-nose, but beer makes it much worse.

The weird thing is that I don't know if I really want to know. If I knew that a whole slew of things were bad for me then I'd probably avoid them, and I quite like my current range of food and drink. Other than sneezing and breathing (through my nose) problems, I think I'm fit and healthy most of the time...

I'm pondering trying to get a doctor to do some tests to help me find out for sure, but I also think that I might be happier in ignorance.

[BigMistake]

After Laura was recently diagnosed with an allergy to yeast, I'm beginning to wonder if I might have something similar: every time I drink beer (or pretty much any alcohol) I get very bunged up. I live in a perpetual state of barely-able-to-breathe-through-my-nose, but beer makes it much worse.

The weird thing is that I don't know if I really want to know. If I knew that a whole slew of things were bad for me then I'd probably avoid them, and I quite like my current range of food and drink. Other than sneezing and breathing (through my nose) problems, I think I'm fit and healthy most of the time...

I'm pondering trying to get a doctor to do some tests to help me find out for sure, but I also think that I might be happier in ignorance.

Well my answer is: would it hurt that much to know? If you get some tests done and it turns out you are, are you going to stop drinking beer, or do you accept the fact that beer = good but has the con of having to breathe through your mouth? Nothing would change, except for the fact that you might know why it happens.

[Mata]

I know what I'm like - if I know something is bad for me then I usually avoid it... Ignorance is bliss sometimes!

[BigMistake]

I know what I'm like - if I know something is bad for me then I usually avoid it... Ignorance is bliss sometimes!

I am completely the polar opposite of that. I know that if I eat a big shoarma pizza from the pizzeria one town over that I'll have the runs a few hours later, but hell if that isn't one good tasting pizza! =D

[Lurker in the Pa...]

I'd rather not know I have hayfever. Sadly my nose has other ideas.

[mooooooooooopo]

I'd rather not know I have hayfever. Sadly my nose has other ideas.

It would be nice if it was that subtle.

I seem to be developing an allergy to superglue, which is annoying since I use it a lot building model planes and occasionally other things. Steering clear of it and using slower drying, lighter, less brittle glues is probably a good thing in the end though (and better for one's respiratory bits too).

[froggle-rock]

What else does the potential allergy do apart from block your nose? Is there more long term, serious stuff that might happen? If so then I'd like to know. Otherwise I'd happily live in bliss and drink beer. Though I think I'd avoid the runs for a pizza :/

[Mata]

Ah, now that is a very good question. I tend to get bad headaches, but that's from the congestion. I think I should stop being a chicken and try and talk the Dutch doctors into testing me. This is easier said than done - they are notorious for not wanting to do anything if they can avoid it.

[BigMistake]

Ah, now that is a very good question. I tend to get bad headaches, but that's from the congestion. I think I should stop being a chicken and try and talk the Dutch doctors into testing me. This is easier said than done - they are notorious for not wanting to do anything if they can avoid it.

They're not notorious, just a bit less panicky. After all, they are the gatekeepers to healthcare!







Seriously though, you shouldn't have any problem getting tested for allergies, or you should get another GP. If I tell mine that I want to get tested, I'm standing in line for the test in less then an hour.

[LoLo]

Personally I think I wouldn't want to know if it's something that I enjoy. You can have your suspicions and figure out how to deal with them, or do it less and it is a lot easier than if you don't know. Could always take allergy medication beforehand if it won't affect you poorly with the mixing of the alcohol.

I personally can't eat eggs unless they are cooked completely because they cause me much pain if I do. If I am going to eat them a little gooey (which I don't really care for), I'll usually pop an allergy pill beforehand so the pain isn't too bad. I had forgotten about my egg issue yesterday and Fuzzy made carbonara, which resulted in the lovely esophageal swelling and stomach cramps for a bit, but a pill helped out to an extent.

Anyway, if I were allergic to something like wheat, I don't think I'd want to know because I like bread and beer way too much. I'm rambling. *goes and sits in the corner*

[Cath Sparrow]

Seeing as I take allergy pills all year round I'm likely allergic to more than I realise (have been taking them for a very long time). But a friend of mine found out alcohol was giving him breathing problem (astma style).

[monkey_called_na...]

I'm allergic to metal, and have reaction to large amounts of chlorine. I'm happy that I know so I stop hopping into pools and ending up sick, but now I have this really hyperactive fear of metallic things that happen to be sharp or pointy. I could do without that.