John Lawrie - inhaled chrysanthemum allergy

A STRANGE TALE 

I have grown Chrysanthemums for nearly forty years. During this time I have also Shown and Judged them both at national level, earlies and lates. I was brought up on them as my late father was a showman in the fifties. I have had a small nursery selling plants by email and blooms as cut flowers. At times we have had 1000's of plants around us, as we were into breeding over the last few years. 

Due to health problems we took early retirement with the idea of going back into showing earlies and lates again. We had a rabbit problem last year so all our stock was kept in a small polytunnel. 

I showed some earlies grown outside and I judged a number of shows. Then as the Lates started to flower I found I was having problems with breathing and a very dry throat after I had been working with them. Still I did some showing and again did more Judging. During this time I also gave a number of talks and demonstrations with them and after the last talk I lost my voice. 

When the flowers had finished and we cut the plants back and moved all our early stools into the tunnel I was still finding things hard going . Then my throat started to swell like a double chin and was very dry and my voice changed tone. Still I didn't think much about it and Irene kept on at me to see the Doc, but I hoped it would right it self again.

Then when I was sorting out the plants for putting in the outside bed I came over very hot and sweaty with a very dry throat and a general feeling of unwell. That was when I knew we had a problem as I had been unwell for the last eight months. An appointment was made to see the Doc and I kept away from the Chrysants. 

I was sent for blood tests and x-rays to find out if it could be my Thyroid glands or maybe cancer. All tests were clear. With stopping away from the plants the swelling started to go down and my voice improved. It would seem that I have contracted an inhaled form of Chrysanthemum allergy. Why, know one knows. 

The only answer was to get rid of all our stock, which has been given to friends, neighbours and the local school. We have kept a few earlies to see what happens with them, trouble is I can't show them. I can't be in a confined space with them. So no more judging either. I have come to terms with what has happened and the reason for the tale is that anyone can get what has happened to me for no apparent reason. We had not known where to turn to find out what was going on, and hope this might help others in the future. 

John Lawrie

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