Men's Health --- Dad's Health

An apple a day...

All my life I've been under the impression that I'm allergic to nearly everything under the sun. But after a recent visit to the allergist I learned that I'm only allergic to nuts, which truly is my personal Kryptonite. Of course there's seasonal allergies which currently has my keyboard littered with balled up tissues, but otherwise I'm good.

Now I have to figure out how to resolve myself to the fact that I'm not allergic to chocolate and shellfish, foods I always reacted to as a child, but apparently outgrew. I'm still in a state of shock. How long have I not been allergic to these foods? Who knows? Maybe I just reacted to them because my parents told me I was allergic. Maybe when I ate these foods they had been contaminated with some proportion of nuts or coconut which sent me running like a wild man to the bathroom without fail. Honestly, the smell of chocolate makes me a little nauseous, but I must admit I've enjoyed sips from my wife's occasional white chocolate caramel latte from Starbucks (she told me I could drink it because white chocolate wasn't really chocolate).

Men and doctors don't particularly mix. Especially when on the surface nothing appears to be wrong. There are more doctor's out there than just the physician your wife forces you go to for your physical. Five years ago, I made a pledge to myself that I was going to find out everything about me before I hit middle age. I've had surgery to correct blocked sinuses, a deviated septum and sleep apnea; my opthamologist informed me that I have a scarred cornea (probably thanks to improper care of my old school hard contact lenses of my teenage years); I sometimes suffer from exercise induced asthma; I learned from a dermatologist that when severely stressed or weakened due to sickness, certain areas of my skin experience low grade eczema; I spent 2008 and half of 2009 wearing Invisalign to straighten my teeth to correct what was becoming a severe crossbite and underbite (until then I can't say I ever smiled for pictures); and thanks to years of living with a feline my lung capacity is just average, lower than it should be given my level of activity. And now this, which isn't bad news at all, it's just another surprise that has taken that much more guesswork out of my understanding of me. Other than an occasional prescription here and there I live with these things quite easily, rather than having to live a certain way because of them. Why? Because I took the time now, while I'm still young(ish) to find out and do something about it.

Men, dads (moms too), go to the doctor and get more than just a physical. Your life, your wife and your kids will be better off because of it.

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