Bisdak Babbles

“Anaphylaxis is the most serious — and, fortunately, the most uncommon and unmistakable — allergy symptom. Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a whole-body allergic reaction that causes difficulty breathing due to swelling in the airways and a rapid drop in blood pressure due to dilated blood vessels. Anaphylaxis usually develops quickly upon exposure to the allergen that triggers it, so the cause is often easily identifiable.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If symptoms develop, call 911 immediately and administer any rescue medication you may have been prescribed as your physician has instructed.” - About.com

There were a few times when I have to rely on small amounts of red wine to be able to sleep early. But I don’t really like the taste of it so I tried a different alcoholic drink: the chu-hi. It’s fruit-flavored and it has just about 5% alcohol level content. A few sips of red wine could easily make me feel dizzy and sleepy but a few seconds after drinking chuhi, I started to have breathing difficulties. The first time I tried it, I wasn’t able to sleep immediately because I experienced chest pains. I just ignored it and very fortunately slept through it. As I thought it over, I realized that I may be allergic to chuhi. So I gave it another shot last night. As expected, just a few minutes after I drank it, I started to have chest pains and breathing difficulties. Last night was a lot worse than the first time. I almost asked my roommate to take me to the hospital.

As a person who reacts to many food allergens, I always keep with me my anti-allergy medications. Fortunately, it soothed the anaphylactic shock and not long after taking my medication, I could breath again. I still had mild breathing difficulties until I flushed the liquid all out.

Chuhi might not be the only alcoholic drink I’m allergic to. I also experienced the same thing with beer and red wine, if taken in higher quantity. So, I can no longer depend on wine to put me to sleep, but I now have a very valid reason to say no to alcohol. I don’t really drink alcohol, if not for my insomnia attacks. But here in Japan, some may find you rude if you refuse to drink alcohol. Fortunately, I’m a gaijin* so I have an excuse to be different.

gaijin - colloquial term for foreigners

A wedding, whether you’re the bride or one of the bride’s maids, is one of the major reasons why many ladies seek the aid of a weight loss product.  We have to be “fit” enough to wear those gowns!  Nope, I am not getting married nor am I going to be one of the bride’s maids, but some of my friends are.  Inspired by their drive to get rid of those extra pounds, I sometimes join them in their quest, though I don’t really deprive myself of those delicious but fatty foods.   In fact, in our apartment, we have our own version of weight loss products. Here they are:  a step machine and a hula hoop!

Truth be told, we seldom use these things.

“She’s dark-skinned, pimpled-faced and always wearing an eyeglasses.” This was how other people usually described me. I may have overcome the pimples a little bit but the eyeglasses have always been a part of me since I was 12 years old. I started to notice that there’s something wrong with my eyes when I was 9 years old and I didn’t tell my parents about it. Besides, nobody in the school wore eyeglasses, so I had no idea that I was becoming near-sighted. When I started high school, I could no longer ask my teachers to make me sit in the first row. So, my dependence on eyeglasses began.

I couldn’t count how many pairs of eyeglasses I have had. I’ve also tried contact lenses and loved it but it cost more. But without them, I couldn’t see clearly everything that’s half a meter away from me! Maybe that’s why I don’t enjoy swimming. Plus, I couldn’t wear ordinary sunglasses! I can’t afford it now, but I’m really bent on undergoing a Lasik (laser in-situ keratomileusis) eye surgery in the future. I’ve read some information regarding Lasik and the photos look a bit frightening. But I’d rather be brave enough (of course, have enough finances) to get rid of near-sightedness, than be bonded with eyeglasses.

I came across a video in YouTube about Isabelle Caro, a woman suffering from anorexia. The video was very shocking that I had to read more about this problem. What cause this widely spreading disorder? It could be biological, psychological, family and social pressures.

How about diet pills? Do they also somewhat lead to anorexia? From my readings, I still haven’t found something that says so. But for people with anorexia, it’s difficult to notice and to admit that they’re already way beyond healthy dieting. So it’s very important to watch out for and heed the symptoms before it’s too late.

Now, back to diet pills. Are they really safe? Most (if not all) medications have side effects and we’re all aware of this. Diet pills should only be used in cases of extreme obesity. Before popping one of these pills, consulting a doctor is a must! But think it over. After all, it’s still best to take the safe but difficult road to being truly healthy. Here are some tips from U.S. FDA.

Both of my parents had acne problems when they were in their teens, and so do my siblings and I. In my case, it’s definitely not because I lack hygiene. Anyway, my acne problem was worst when I was in college. I hated looking at the mirror because my cheeks were all read with acne!

My mother took me to a dermatologist. But even with the prescribed acne treatment cream, prescribed facial soap, and some vitamins for the skin, the problem still persisted. So, for years, I stopped relying on acne creams. Even now that I am in my late 20’s, I still have some pimples left. Thank God, they seldom appear on my cheeks. They somehow “relocated” to my chin and neck. For months, I’ve been using Shiseido Pimplit and I’m glad I’ve found it. I couldn’t do anything with the scars, though.

Let’s face it. Almost everybody prefers to be skinny. Most of my friends are now following some exercise regimen. Some of them decided not to eat rice anymore. As for me, I still prefer to eat three times a day with snacks in between. However, with my job, I have to sit in front of my computer for more than 10 hours a day, so I am most likely to gain more belly fats.

Let’s just say I have some problems suppressing my appetite and that I am gaining weight fast. And all those exercise regimen proved to be worthless. Would I be bold enough to take one of those cheap Phentermine? Most likely, I would. But fortunately, occasional jogging would suffice at the moment.

I can’t reach my toes without bending my knees. A bit embarrassing, but true. When I had those physical education classes in high school and college, only then did I “practice” reaching my toes just to get a passing mark. After completing those courses, I only worked up some sweat when playing table tennis, and that was around 4 years ago.

When I arrived here in Japan 2 years ago, I was “fat” compared to most of the Japanese (even Japanese guys) so I cut down my rice intake. Together with the stressful 4-hour traveling time to and from work, I was successful at shedding about 8 kgs.

But since April, I’ve been waiting for a new job assignment and there’s not much else to do but eat and sleep! To at least burn some calories, I’ve recently started an exercise regimen: walking/jogging/or just using the step machine. I hope I won’t get tired or bored with it. Even for just a short time, I’ve started feeling the benefits: (1) no more dysmenorrhea in my last period (2) I don’t feel sleepy at all during the day. Or perhaps it’s because I’m not spending the whole day in front of a computer in a very silent office?