It's Food Allergy Awareness Week!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

www.foodallergy.org/food-allergy-awareness-week#.VzDLkxUrIki

May 8th through the 14th is Food Allergy Awareness week.  Visit foodallergy.org to:

• Get the most updated information about food allergies from the latest numbers (15 million Americans have food allergies including 1 in 13 children which means 2 in most classrooms AND climbing!!!),
• learn the symptoms of anaphylaxis (someone has an allergic reaction to food that requires a trip to the ER every 3 minutes!!!),
• learn how to treat anaphylaxis (epinephrine!!) -- it's easy to do and will save a life!!!
• read about cutting-edge research,
• take a pledge to treat folks with food allergies with respect -- we all need to eat to survive, but, for some, certain foods can kill rather than feed -- ironic, huh? -- and 
• wear some teal this week in support of someone you know with a food allergy.

Sadly, food allergies ARE real.

It just takes one bite (or even less) of an allergen to cause a deadly anaphylactic reaction.    

But, with deep gratitude to the folks at FARE, my sons have learned to keep themselves safe by reading every.single.ingredient. label, learning to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis, ALWAYS carrying their Epi Pens, by planning ahead, and by going without when in doubt.  They've learned to not be defined by their food allergies and to keep them in perspective.  They are learning to live and move in the wider world despite, or, perhaps, in spite of, their food allergies.  Please respect and support the efforts my sons, and millions of other folks, make to keep themselves nourished, but safe.  

Thank you.  

And, now back to your regularly scheduled programming already in progress.  

[MarleyKeezy78]

Thank you for this, DS has food allergies and it makes the world a scary place. Peanuts, tree nuts, lentils and eggs are our demons. Although he can eat stuff like bread and things with egg baked in just not plain egg, go figure 

[wvugurl26]

May 9, 2016 15:24:01 GMT -5 MarleyKeezy78 said:

Thank you for this, DS has food allergies and it makes the world a scary place. Peanuts, tree nuts, lentils and eggs are our demons. Although he can eat stuff like bread and things with egg baked in just not plain egg, go figure 

I developed an egg white allergy in my mid 20s. Plain eggs are no good. They haven't bothered me baked or cooked in something.

[MarleyKeezy78]

May 9, 2016 15:32:12 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

May 9, 2016 15:24:01 GMT -5 MarleyKeezy78 said:

Thank you for this, DS has food allergies and it makes the world a scary place. Peanuts, tree nuts, lentils and eggs are our demons. Although he can eat stuff like bread and things with egg baked in just not plain egg, go figure 

I developed an egg white allergy in my mid 20s. Plain eggs are no good. They haven't bothered me baked or cooked in something.

Good to know someone else is dealing with that, I found it so strange in the beginning.

[wvugurl26]

I assume it's diluted enough over the batch of cookies, the cake, etc. Very weird but I'm grateful.

[yogiii]

DD can't eat egg, even cooked into something. She vomits for 6-7 hours after ingestion, I'm very grateful it is not an anaphylactic reaction. We are hoping she grows out of it but we'll see.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

YDS -- 17 and 10 months -- can NOT have egg in ANY form and is anaphylactic.  (Same for tree nuts.)

When he had his first anaphylactic reaction to egg at 18 months, the allergist told me he'd outgrow it by 5.  Then it was 8.  Then it was 12.  Then he said he'd never sent a patient off to college with an anaphylactic allergy to egg.  

Guess who's going off to college in August with an anaphylactic allergy to egg?  

We still know so little about food allergies and they seem to be getting more complex as we race to catch up.  

[yogiii]

Well last summer after the appointment she did tell me she wanted to be an allergist , which is very surprising given she had the 8 prong test thing on her back.  I believe at this point she has changed her mind to dentistry as last weekend she had a toy drill in Elmo's mouth and told me that his teeth "looked good".

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 10, 2016 10:00:45 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Well last summer after the appointment she did tell me she wanted to be an allergist , which is very surprising given she had the 8 prong test thing on her back.  I believe at this point she has changed her mind to dentistry as last weekend she had a toy drill in Elmo's mouth and told me that his teeth "looked good".

So, medical school either way.  Start saving your twenty dollar bills.  

[yogiii]

My vanity plate will be "MOMOFDR"

[MJ2.0]

As the mother of a boy who this weekend TRIED TO DRINK RAIN RUNOFF WHILE I HAD MY BACK TURNED, I'm glad I don't have to worry about this.

[wyouser]

May 10, 2016 11:20:02 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

As the mother of a boy who this weekend TRIED TO DRINK RAIN RUNOFF WHILE I HAD MY BACK TURNED, I'm glad I don't have to worry about this.

It was written somewhere that a human child must eat a good bushel of dirt before they may grow up     Where would we be without those "mudpies" when we were little?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 10, 2016 11:20:02 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

As the mother of a boy who this weekend TRIED TO DRINK RAIN RUNOFF WHILE I HAD MY BACK TURNED, I'm glad I don't have to worry about this.

Love it!!!

He's going to end up with one strong immune system.  

Hey, I grew up drinking from the garden hose and a stream in our neighborhood and I'm still alive...

[sapphire12]

I might be developing a gestational intolerance to peanuts and/or cashews. Sheesh. I've tested negative, both the skin and blood tests. But, there is still a 10% chance I could have an allergy. I'm too old for this.

[Peace77]

I prevented an allergic reaction tonight when I read the label of the Chick Fil-A sauce and found it contained egg yolk.  Fortunately, my friend hadn't eaten any yet.  I stopped her just as she was about to eat a chicken nugget with sauce on it.

Not to scare you, but, I heard about a kid who died after eating in the college cafeteria.  He had a peanut allergy and the cafeteria served chili made with peanut butter.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I'm allergic to coconut, cactus (and aloe vera) and olives.  Unfortunately, the latest "thing" these days is putting coconut oil on and in everything.

And don't get me started on olive oil. It's everywhere!

Fortunately, I don't get full-blown anphylactic responses .... just wheezing, hives, itchiness, inflammation, red welts, etc.

[cronewitch]

I just read about a man ordering take out with almonds in it but the Indian restaurant substituted peanuts for some of the almonds to make it cheaper. They had a note on the container that it contained no nuts. Some people don't believe in allergies so will sneak in something to see if you are lying like if you say you can't eat okra you could be lying, but nothing to test or lie about. I think most of the people who can't eat gluten are wrong but some are right so I wouldn't serve them anything at all unless I knew for sure it was just meat or veggies or fruit, even oatmeal can have gluten even if oats don't since they process in the same plant. If I had allergies I wouldn't eat out at all unless it was plain food like salad without dressing.

[MJ2.0]

I don't see why restaurants would risk someone possibly dying from their food just to test if someone is lying about an allergy. If I say "no peanuts" it doesn't matter if I'm allergic or just don't want peanuts - I'm paying for the food so it should be what I asked for. And if they can't make that accommodation, they should say so.

[cronewitch]

May 13, 2016 9:09:49 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

I don't see why restaurants would risk someone possibly dying from their food just to test if someone is lying about an allergy. If I say "no peanuts" it doesn't matter if I'm allergic or just don't want peanuts - I'm paying for the food so it should be what I asked for. And if they can't make that accommodation, they should say so.

I meant friends or family not businesses, businesses are more likely to be careless with cross contamination. My ex couldn't drink alcohol he took antibuse which will make you sick if you drink. Friends kept trying to get him to drink even after he said no and he couldn't. Friends especially young or very old might not believe you are really allergic or think just a little won't hurt.
I worked with a man with 3 sons who would only eat food mom gave them, even at a company picnic they only ate from mom's picnic basket. I didn't ask why but imagine it was for allergies.