Residents of Mursko Središće, Nedelišće, Čakovec, and Novakovec shared their experiences with allergies, from life-threatening ones to metaphorical intolerances toward human behavior.
Sneezing, itching, redness, and abdominal pain are just some of the symptoms that can make life miserable for people suffering from allergies and intolerances. While some carefully read food labels, others rely on pills as soon as pollen season begins. But there are also those who, as they themselves say, are "allergic" to people and their habits. The portal eMeđimurje has published, from the newspaper Međimurje, issue 3720, the confessions of several interviewees about what their bodies-and minds-simply cannot tolerate.
Julijana Kozar from Mursko Središće revealed that she is allergic to bee stings, which she discovered the hard way. "I'm allergic to bee stings, and I found out when a bee stung me on my thumb. I had a severe reaction-redness and difficulty breathing," she recounted. However, her list of allergens doesn't end there. "I'm also allergic to gold, chicken, wool, and rubber. I avoid all of these because I get a terrible rash. I went for testing and found out I have allergies," she added.
In addition to physical allergens, Kozar admits she also has social ones. "But besides these more serious things, I must admit I'm also allergic to some people. I even sold my house because I could no longer stand my neighbor who was constantly on the phone," she said without hesitation.
Biserka Šamarija from Nedelišće deals with an allergy to antibiotics that dates back to her childhood. "I have an allergy to antibiotics, and also to certain foods, such as peppers and tomatoes. It appeared in early childhood when I was given penicillin. I got large red patches on half my body, and over the years it became more pronounced, so I went for testing," she explained.
Because of this, she now has to be extremely careful with any therapy. "Now I cannot receive any therapy that includes antibiotics, nor dexamethasone, which is a corticosteroid drug. Of course, all of this is noted in my medical record," Šamarija emphasized.
Milica Stippel Baksa from Čakovec claims she has no typical allergies, but she does have a pronounced intolerance to inappropriate behavior. "Fortunately, I don't have any allergies, but you could say I'm allergic to people who are rude and have no empathy for other people, animals, and plants. What are the reactions to this allergy? I say what I think without fear," she stated.
She adds that over the years, she has become less tolerant of bad behavior and injustice. "But it wasn't always like that; over the years, I stopped being tolerant of bad behavior and injustice. I don't argue, but I have to say what I think if, for example, a man on the street insults a woman or an older child bullies a younger one," Stippel Baksa clarified.
Ljubica Petrović from Novakovec personally has no allergies, but her family certainly feels the effects of seasonal allergens. "Personally, I don't have allergies, but my son and granddaughter are allergic to pollen and ragweed. They have major problems because of it, especially in spring when the poplar trees bloom, and their pollen causes allergic rhinitis," she said.
The problems for her son appeared only in adulthood. "They take allergy medication to help themselves. First, sniffling and difficulty breathing appeared, after which they suspected an allergy, got tested, and found out what it was. In my son's case, the allergy wasn't present from childhood; it only appeared later, in adulthood," Petrović recounted.
Suzana Sedlar from Čakovec lives with a range of food allergies that significantly limit her choices. "I have an allergy to soy, which is technically a main ingredient in almost all foods, and it's even in drinks. Recently, I found out that soy is also in anesthesia, so because of my allergy, I couldn't receive it," Sedlar revealed.
In addition to soy, she also avoids nuts and legumes. "Otherwise, I have multiple allergies, including to nuts, especially walnuts, and unfortunately peanuts, which I love. Also to all legumes, even lentils. All of this can be managed with pills, but it's still a problem, although over the years I've adapted," Sedlar concluded.
Romana Vincek from Čakovec described her daily struggle with a chronic allergy that makes her life difficult, especially during flowering season. "I have a chronic allergy, especially when ragweed, pines, and cypresses bloom. But it's not just in spring; the biggest problem is the unmaintained fields around cities, and many neglected yards. There's ragweed there, which then spreads through the air via the wind," Vincek warned.
The symptoms are so severe that she avoids being outdoors. "It gets to the point where I run from one air-conditioned place to another just to avoid being outside. My eyes constantly water, I have trouble breathing, I have trouble swallowing, and when I lie down, I use Ventolin so I can sleep," she described her ailments.
Reprinted from the newspaper Međimurje, issue 3720
