Green Man, Red Woman

Today I attended a talk in which I saw some of the educational materials about methadone treatment in China. They are off to a great start in a desperately needed program. The principle graphic was of a green liquid in a plastic cup but some of the literature had a super-hero figure who was all green. Without reading any of the language the message was quite clear that methadone treatement is a way to get your life back and be healthy. A message I agree with by the way. A little while later I presented my talk on buprenorphine treatment in primary care. I get a little nervous when a speak before a large audience so I was not surprised that I had a little stomache upset before hand and took a prevacid solu-tab that was in my cosmetics case. This helped my stomach but I still felt a little sick. I just treated it like stress. Drank some water, took some deep breaths. Part way through my talk I started to get a burning sensation on my skin. Then I started to itch like mad. I completed the talk and no one in the auditorium really noticed anything. A few perceptive souls in the front row noticed I was flushed but didn't think anything of it. I figured, well this is a new one. I hope this doesn't become a typical reaction for me. I sat for a few minutes while the next speaker began but I got NO better. I felt so compelled to scratch that I had to leave before I started an involuntary imitation of my dog with an itch. I went down to the bathroom in the lobby and took one look at myself and knew I was having an allergic reaction. What to do, what to do. I don't know the slovenian for help let alone for antihistamine. I went back to the conference as I'd seen one of the other doctors standing outside the auditorium but he was gone. I was about to go in and get him since I knew he was right near the door when a friend came out and said something complementary about my talk. I think I said "Thank you. I'm glad. I need help" Tomorrow you will hear about my trip to the local doctor's office.

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