Laziness & Exhaustion

FEELING LAZY

My biggest problem with going out to eat is getting lazy and not wanting to make a big deal about my allergies. I often go with dishes I have had at that restaurant before, and ask the server to double check that nothing has changed. It gets exhausting having to ask each time I eat somewhere what is in everything. Don’t get lazy though! It is always important to ask. If people in the restaurant give me a hard time, I go to a different one. There have been a few times where I haven’t felt confident in the wait staff, and that is not a good feeling. Trying the food you order and feeling unsure about it is not worth it. If the server did not leave you with a confident feeling that they knew what they were talking about, don’t eat until you feel confident that it is okay. The best way to do this is ask for the manager, or go right up to the kitchen and ask to speak with the chef. I have done both many times. BE ASSERTIVE! Trust me. It is much better to get the "okay" from the people who are actually supervising and cooking the meals!

Whenever I try food for the first time, I sometimes think I am getting a reaction, like an itchy throat, or my mouth will get dry and I will cough a bit. Then my heart beat starts jumping up through my throat because I have made myself so concerned that I may be allergic to this food, that I think I am getting a reaction, even though I am not! That reaction is all in my head, but sometimes it is unavoidable! I find the best way to try to have these moments of panic pass, is to take some deep breaths, ask again if I feel apprehensive, and try a tiny bit on my hand, then lip. I would only ever try the food, if I knew it was okay. If there are ever any unclear ingredients, I will not eat.

EXHAUSTION

It really is exhausting! I think that is the best way to describe it. When I am traveling, that is when my allergies become the most tiresome. Every meal becomes a bit less enjoyable, just knowing it will be a process to eat. There is no great advice for the exhaustion, besides saying I understand, and having patience is important. It is a part of traveling, and a part of the unknown, but everything else about traveling makes this part worth it to me.

When I was young it was the most difficult to understand. People usually get grouchy when they are hungry and over-tired. Unfortunately, us lucky allergic reactors, get the joy of having extended periods of time where we may not find food we can eat. This is something that happens when I travel. It may be hours before I come across some food that I can eat. It is difficult, and I have definitely had my mini temper tantrums in my mind because I am so hungry! I deal though. I wait it out, pretend I am not bothered by the fact that it has been eight hours and I have not found one thing that seems safe enough to eat! What can I do? I try to prepare by bringing food with me, but honestly there is only so much I can carry, and I can try to be prepared, but it does not always work out. So I wait…until finally we arrive somewhere… and I see… fruit, or something package where I understand the ingredients!

It makes you very tough. You have to be your own biggest fan, and tell yourself how great you are being, because often as you get older, you are not with people who could ever possibly understand. If you are lucky you find friends and travel companions who are sympathetic, but you have to be your own advocate. Only people with allergies can really understand the difficulty and frustration of sitting on a plane for fourteen hours and not eating anything. It tries on your patience, and you want to scream from hunger pains and the growling lion inside your stomach, forcing the person next to you to look over at you and wonder why you are not eating because your stomach is so loud!

Don’t be afraid to dream big about the places you want to go and the adventures you want to have, because you can still do it. Knowledge and strength are both important aspects in believing that you can. You need the knowledge to know how to take care of yourself in case of an emergency, and you need the strength to believe in yourself and your abilities to handle a situation!

The Touch Test

The other night I went out to dinner with my Nana. We went to an Italian restaurant I had been to before, but not in at least a year. I gave the server my card and she came back and said I should be all set. They only used pure olive oil, and no nuts. She said the fish was cooked separately from the meat. I was all set!

When the food came to the table, I put a small taste on my fork. I then touched the sauce from my chicken up to my lip and let a little sit there for a minute. I can tell right away if I am having a reaction, so when I felt nothing, I tested a small bite. It tasted great, and no allergic reaction!

Ever since I was little, I have always done the touch test. Everyone has their own method, but this is mine. Basically it consists of touching the food lightly to my skin to see if I get a reaction. Of course, I only try this after asking about all the ingredients, and being told by the server or restaurant manager that the food I ordered is fine. My dad taught me this. If I don't get any tingling or a hive, it is on to step two: the taste test. When I taste test a food, I have a very small taste of the food. Then I wait a few minutes to make sure I don't get a reaction. I usually take these pre-cautious steps when I am trying something new, or something that I haven't had in a while. It is a safer way, instead of going right in and taking a big bite out of a dish.

The first time I am out with someone and they see me do this, I often get asked, "Is your food okay?" Then I have to explain what I am doing. I don't mind this explanation though. It makes sense, and could save me from ingesting a large amount of something I could have a reaction to!

My Allergies

Since I was a baby, I've had food allergies.  I also have asthma and environmental allergies.  My anaphylactic allergies include peanuts, tree nuts, fish and potatoes, and less severe allergies to banana, kiwi, legumes, some raw fruits and vegetables. What I find most important with having anaphylactic allergies is trusting yourself, and finding ways to keep yourself safe.  As a child, parents and family members are a fabulous help in keeping you safe!  They will teach you how to read ingredients, what is safe to eat, and what you should avoid.  As I've grown older, I have used these tools my parents gave me, to go to school, camp, travel, and live independently.  

No matter what, not everyone is going to understand, and although I do hope that more people will begin to understand the seriousness of food allergies, I know that there is still many people who don't.  This is why it is important to learn how to be responsible for your own allergies.  

The number one and MOST important thing to remember is to ALWAYS carry your epi-pen...ALWAYS! That is what will keep you safe, and that is by far what I have found to be the most important way of keeping myself safe!  I also wear a Medic Alert bracelet. These two items are the most important possessions I own, because they are what could save my life in the case of a reaction.

Over time, I have learned how to read my gut feelings, and know when to trust what I am eating, and when not to.  This feeling comes over time.  I have lived in other countries, traveled to many more, and never have once let my allergies control where or what I want to do. I have learned to empower myself!

An Allergic Reactor Just Like You!

Hello and welcome to my blog for children with food allergies! Growing up being one of those children, I can understand what it's like every day! When I was growing up, I didn't know anyone else with food allergies. I didn't get to hear about other children going through the same experiences.  I can only imagine how I would have felt knowing others with the same allergies! This blog is to share my stories and suggestions for children to read.  I hope these stories will help and inspire other children growing up as allergic reactors!   

My Allergy Attitude

It is a bit curious how someone who is so allergic can be such an adventure seeking, travel enthusiast, don’t you think? I am not sure where my passion came from exactly. I think it is due to growing up with my parents who believed in teaching me independence and responsibility.

It’s not until now that I am aware of how significant a role my allergies have played in my life, and as much as I would like to be in denial of this, I can’t. I do think about them a lot, but it is the way that I think about them, that is the key. I don’t let my allergies rule me. I don’t let them scare me. Instead I think of them as a normal part of my everyday. They are a routine. Something that does not take over my every thought or action, but that is just a part of the everyday. By viewing them in this way, I don’t focus on them. I’m sure there won’t ever be one day that my allergies don’t cross my mind. Every meal, every food involved situation I am in, they cross my mind. They don't make my decisions though, or rule my life!