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- What happened to me in my backyard 25 years ago.
I was just reading a Washington Post story about the low incidence of allergies among the Amish. It reminded me of a story I have never "published" but is worth knowing - if only for better understanding allergies.
It happen about 25 years ago. I had just bought a new home and the winter started out with a few winter storms that had left well over two feet of snow on my roof. A very wet snowfall was in the forecast, so I went up on the roof and cleared it of snow.
When I returned home from work the next day, my house was fine - but a metal shed in my backyard was flattened. So, I recovered a few easy-to-get-to items and left the rest as a Spring project. The replacement would be something very sturdy that would survive the kind of neglect that I visited on it predecessor. A survey of the pre-fab market showed roofs supported by 2x3 and metal no stronger than what had been demolished.
So my the new shed would be of concrete footings and pressure-treated wood of my own design. Overall, there were eight vertical 4x4 posts bolted to other 2x8 members. The roof would be Gambrel in form using a combination of 2x4's, 2x8', and 2x10's. If this thing ever floats away, it will float away as a single piece.
It shares the same 16' x 16' foot print of it predecessor - adjacent to a swamp. So for about 9 weeks that spring, I worked several hours a day, several days a week until the shed was finished.
During that time, my exposure to mosquitoes was intense - with dozens of bites each day. I was generating enough sweat that bug sprays were ineffective. Citronella flames and bug zappers helped, but not much. As a kid, I wondered how the Indians ever put up with these little monsters and now more than ever I wondered again - but not for the full 9 weeks required to complete the shed.
After 5 weeks, there was no more itching and there were no more welts. And it wasn't until then that I realized that all the worse things about a mosquito bites (excluding West Nile Virus and EEE) are actually immune reactions.
This "immunity" (or actually a reduction in immunity) to mosquitoes remained solid for 7 years. Since then, mosquitoes sometimes cause me a short minor itch - but to this day, no welts and nothing lasting longer than a couple of minutes.
I still notice some mosquitoes and sometimes feel the bite. But except when they form dense clouds, I am able to ignore them.
Some years later I received allergy shots to reduce my reaction to a dozen other allergens. I suggested that the clinic also offer shots against mosquito bites. The doctor provided a quick "no". That's understandable. I'm sure that he would prefer for his patients simply avoid those little disease carriers.
It happen about 25 years ago. I had just bought a new home and the winter started out with a few winter storms that had left well over two feet of snow on my roof. A very wet snowfall was in the forecast, so I went up on the roof and cleared it of snow.
When I returned home from work the next day, my house was fine - but a metal shed in my backyard was flattened. So, I recovered a few easy-to-get-to items and left the rest as a Spring project. The replacement would be something very sturdy that would survive the kind of neglect that I visited on it predecessor. A survey of the pre-fab market showed roofs supported by 2x3 and metal no stronger than what had been demolished.
So my the new shed would be of concrete footings and pressure-treated wood of my own design. Overall, there were eight vertical 4x4 posts bolted to other 2x8 members. The roof would be Gambrel in form using a combination of 2x4's, 2x8', and 2x10's. If this thing ever floats away, it will float away as a single piece.
It shares the same 16' x 16' foot print of it predecessor - adjacent to a swamp. So for about 9 weeks that spring, I worked several hours a day, several days a week until the shed was finished.
During that time, my exposure to mosquitoes was intense - with dozens of bites each day. I was generating enough sweat that bug sprays were ineffective. Citronella flames and bug zappers helped, but not much. As a kid, I wondered how the Indians ever put up with these little monsters and now more than ever I wondered again - but not for the full 9 weeks required to complete the shed.
After 5 weeks, there was no more itching and there were no more welts. And it wasn't until then that I realized that all the worse things about a mosquito bites (excluding West Nile Virus and EEE) are actually immune reactions.
This "immunity" (or actually a reduction in immunity) to mosquitoes remained solid for 7 years. Since then, mosquitoes sometimes cause me a short minor itch - but to this day, no welts and nothing lasting longer than a couple of minutes.
I still notice some mosquitoes and sometimes feel the bite. But except when they form dense clouds, I am able to ignore them.
Some years later I received allergy shots to reduce my reaction to a dozen other allergens. I suggested that the clinic also offer shots against mosquito bites. The doctor provided a quick "no". That's understandable. I'm sure that he would prefer for his patients simply avoid those little disease carriers.
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