"THE BIG ONE"

Two more tests and no more information. I was advised to continue avoiding shellfish at all costs, so I did. A few more years passed with no further incidents. While I vigilently maintained a heightened state of alertness when it came to staying away from the evil fish that could cause trouble, I did get cocky one time while visiting the north-eastern corner of New Brunswick.

My friend had ordered "clam strips" - to this day I'm not exactly sure what they are but they looked similar to french fries. I guess those who made these little delicacies would slice off little strips of clam meat (sorry - I truly have no clue what the stuff inside a clam looks like so I'm quite certain that I'm botching the description!) and would bread them. Throw them into a deep fryer and voila! Clam strips.

On day two of the trip I asked for a little one. No reaction. A few days later, I had a bigger one. On the last day of the trip, I stole the biggest one I could see. Still no reaction. Could I be cured!? Fat chance.

Fast forward another year or three and that's where the proverbial crap hit the fan. I was at a client's home. They're Italian, and just like in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding my negative response to the question as to whether I'd like something to eat or not was met with a plate of spaghetti with alfredo sauce. Off my guard, I had some and ate it quite happily since it was getting close to supper time anyway. For the first time in my life I also helped myself to some dry peppers - the ones you see in big shakers with big holes at some restaurants. I never had those before and had a curious sensation as I chowed down.

I didn't question the curious sensation at the back of my throat because my future wife and a good friend of mine had been trying to convince me that they didn't like "spicy" or "hot" foods because they didn't agree with them. Not understanding, I always dismissed them as wimps and enjoyed moderately spicy or hot foods by myself. More for me!! This time, my mind reasoned with me, I have met my match. These little dried peppers packed quite a punch.

Once my plate was cleaned, I was offered more. Given that I rather liked this new spaghetti with alfredo sauce, I agreed to a second helping, only no peppers this time. Once that was done, I was starting to feel "a little off" (hmmm... should have picked up on that considering my past experience) and excused myself. I wandered over to the bathroom and drank a good quantity of water and just stood there staring at the mirror.

We wrapped things up and I was soon jumping into my SUV. Before backing out of the driveway, I remember thinking how rotten I was now feeling. Being the bright lad I was that day, I didn't think much of it and put the truck into drive as I began my trip home, planning on getting some gasoline on the way. I made it up the road a few hundred feet and I had to bail out. I headed over to the snow bank and proceeded to throw up the supper I just ate. Still theoretically a growing boy, I figured that this episode was over and oddly thought to myself that I just made room for another supper. Bonus!

Feeling relieved and, I guess, eagerly anticipating another dinner, I headed west. Home was only 5km away. Slowly I became aware of a tingly scalp. I got annoyed but pushed my way up the road. My good nature was being sapped as I progessively started feeling worse. I got close to the gas station and despite the fact I had but a few precious litres of fuel left in the tank, I wrote off the idea of gassing up and proceeded straight home. A block further up the road the lights went on and I realized with horror I was experiencing an allergic reaction unlike any other I had experienced.

I pulled over to the side of the road and called my parents, ordering them to come to me with Benadryl on the double. I could not drive any further. Allergic reaction aside, what would become an interesting mental journey began at that moment.