Today I'm going to be talking about my most recent allergic reaction that I had. When I had this allergic reaction, I was with my dad on a 3 day backpacking trip. We had just set up camp in the woods, basically in the middle of nowhere. For dinner, my dad used our little fuel stove to cook us up some cous cous with fish mixed in.
We had eaten the type of cous cous before, but we hadn't ever bought the type of cous cous with the seasoning packet that came with it. There wasn't anything that I was allergic to on the ingredient label, so we assumed the rice was safe. We had already eaten the fish before on a previous backpacking trip, so we knew for a fact that the fish was safe.
My dad poured the seasoning packet into the cous cous and fish mix and we started eating. When I started eating, the food was steaming hot, so I waited for it to cool down a little, but it was still hot when I finally started eating. Once I got about a quarter through my meal, my tongue felt puffy and itchy, but I just thought the super hot food was making it feel like that, so I waited for my food to cool down to lukewarm. After I ate a couple more bites, I knew something was wrong. My tongue was getting puffier and puffier and the puffiness wasn't going away. I told my dad, who took away my dinner and told me to get out my Epi-pen two pack, which had two Epi-pens and four Benadryl medicine packets in it. I was about to take some Benadryl when I realized my tongue felt better. My dad had me wait on taking the Benadryl, and after about five minutes, the puffiness was completely gone. I felt perfectly fine again, but instead of finishing the cous cous and fish, my dad made me a peanut butter and apple bagel sandwich. We both knew that I could eat the apple, peanut butter, and bagel, so I ate that instead to fill me up.
It was very scary to be out in the woods, nowhere near the road, having an allergic reaction. Having an allergic reaction at home or somewhere near the emergency room is scary, but you know that you can get to the hospital within a couple of minutes. Out in the woods, it was definitely very, very scary because if we called for an ambulance, they wouldn't be able to get to us. There was no way an ambulance truck could could come and get me, and it probably would've even been hard with a helicopter because we were surrounded by trees. I'm very glad that my dad was there with me and that I wasn't alone while I had this reaction.
Now, my dad and I will never go backpacking with foods that we haven't had before, and we'll be extra cautious next time we go for a backpacking adventure.
Thanks for reading! Talk to you in my next post!
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Sunday, July 12, 2015
My Experiences-Q and A
Hi there! Today I'll be talking about the different types of questions that I've been asked about in school, at relative's houses, friend's houses, birthday parties, and summer camps.
In the past 8 years, I've been asked lots of questions about my food allergies. Lots of people at school would ask me easy to answer questions, like "What are you allergic to?" and "Do you have to touch the food to get an allergic reaction or do you have to ingest (eat) it?". You might think that the only people that ask me questions about my food allergies are my friends from school, but my relatives, teachers, classmates, neighbors, and family friends also ask me about my food allergies. Today I'm going to be answering an assorted list of questions that I've most been asked. Let's get going!
What are you allergic to?
Oh, that's an easy one! The foods I'm allergic to are all tree nuts except almonds, dairy, and sesame seeds. I also have seasonal allergies; I'm allergic to pollen from trees and grass.
Do you have to touch the food to get an allergic reaction or do you have to actually eat it?
I am touch sensitive, which means that if I touch a food that I'm allergic to, I have a risk of getting a reaction. So, I either have to eat the allergen or touch it.
What food allergy do you dislike the most?
I think the food allergy I don't like having the most is dairy, but the food allergy that I least want to have an allergic reaction to is tree nuts, especially pistachios. The reason for this is because I'll get an anaphylactic allergic reaction if I eat tree nuts, which means I'll get a life threatening allergic reaction instead of a less severe allergic reaction like I may have for dairy or sesame seeds.
How many allergic reactions have you had?
Well, I've had only one anaphylactic allergic reaction in my life, which was to one pistachio, when I was three or four years old, but I also had an allergic reaction to yogurt when I was about one year old. Another allergic reaction I had was when my dad accidentally switched my soy milk and my sister's cow milk at dinner, so I had a minor allergic reaction to that, when I was probably 8 or 9 (we no longer have plain cow milk in our house!) I also had a minor allergic reaction to some french fries at my sister's birthday party (I was around 10 years old). These were the most major allergic reactions that I've gotten.
If you could be allergic to just one food out of the three you're allergic to, which would it be?
Probably sesame seeds because they aren't in a whole lot of foods. The only things I might eat if I wasn't allergic to sesame seeds is hummus, some types of crackers, some types of trail mixes, some types of breads, and some types of seeds that use the same equipment as sesame seeds.
Which allergic reaction was the worst?
Definitely the anaphylactic allergic reaction that I had when I was three or four years old. One night, I had eaten one pistachio and I had gotten many symptoms that hint at an anaphylactic allergic reaction. I had to take my Epi-pen and I was sent to the hospital.
When did you first discover you had food allergies?
I think when I was one, when I had the allergic reaction to the yogurt. When we went to the allergist to figure out what was wrong, he said that I was allergic to dairy and eggs (I outgrew my egg allergy later).
Were you born with food allergies, or did they "pop up" throughout your life?
My food allergies have come up throughout my life, and maybe more will!
Do you like having food allergies?
Eh, it's okay. I like being unique but it's a pain because I always have to read labels and pay close attention to how I'm feeling and bring my own food everywhere.
When was your most recent allergic reaction?
Haha, I won't tell you this one! This question will be covered in my next post. Watch for it!
What's getting an Epi-pen/having an allergic reaction like?
I haven't had an allergic reaction that requires an Epi-pen in a long time, but I do remember that it's hard to stay calm, especially if you're having breathing problems. Staying calm is supposed to help, but it's almost impossible if you aren't with someone.
Sorry about how long this post is! Thanks for reading and watch for my next post: My Most Recent Allergic Reaction: Backpacking!
In the past 8 years, I've been asked lots of questions about my food allergies. Lots of people at school would ask me easy to answer questions, like "What are you allergic to?" and "Do you have to touch the food to get an allergic reaction or do you have to ingest (eat) it?". You might think that the only people that ask me questions about my food allergies are my friends from school, but my relatives, teachers, classmates, neighbors, and family friends also ask me about my food allergies. Today I'm going to be answering an assorted list of questions that I've most been asked. Let's get going!
What are you allergic to?
Oh, that's an easy one! The foods I'm allergic to are all tree nuts except almonds, dairy, and sesame seeds. I also have seasonal allergies; I'm allergic to pollen from trees and grass.
Do you have to touch the food to get an allergic reaction or do you have to actually eat it?
I am touch sensitive, which means that if I touch a food that I'm allergic to, I have a risk of getting a reaction. So, I either have to eat the allergen or touch it.
What food allergy do you dislike the most?
I think the food allergy I don't like having the most is dairy, but the food allergy that I least want to have an allergic reaction to is tree nuts, especially pistachios. The reason for this is because I'll get an anaphylactic allergic reaction if I eat tree nuts, which means I'll get a life threatening allergic reaction instead of a less severe allergic reaction like I may have for dairy or sesame seeds.
How many allergic reactions have you had?
Well, I've had only one anaphylactic allergic reaction in my life, which was to one pistachio, when I was three or four years old, but I also had an allergic reaction to yogurt when I was about one year old. Another allergic reaction I had was when my dad accidentally switched my soy milk and my sister's cow milk at dinner, so I had a minor allergic reaction to that, when I was probably 8 or 9 (we no longer have plain cow milk in our house!) I also had a minor allergic reaction to some french fries at my sister's birthday party (I was around 10 years old). These were the most major allergic reactions that I've gotten.
If you could be allergic to just one food out of the three you're allergic to, which would it be?
Probably sesame seeds because they aren't in a whole lot of foods. The only things I might eat if I wasn't allergic to sesame seeds is hummus, some types of crackers, some types of trail mixes, some types of breads, and some types of seeds that use the same equipment as sesame seeds.
Which allergic reaction was the worst?
Definitely the anaphylactic allergic reaction that I had when I was three or four years old. One night, I had eaten one pistachio and I had gotten many symptoms that hint at an anaphylactic allergic reaction. I had to take my Epi-pen and I was sent to the hospital.
When did you first discover you had food allergies?
I think when I was one, when I had the allergic reaction to the yogurt. When we went to the allergist to figure out what was wrong, he said that I was allergic to dairy and eggs (I outgrew my egg allergy later).
Were you born with food allergies, or did they "pop up" throughout your life?
My food allergies have come up throughout my life, and maybe more will!
Do you like having food allergies?
Eh, it's okay. I like being unique but it's a pain because I always have to read labels and pay close attention to how I'm feeling and bring my own food everywhere.
When was your most recent allergic reaction?
Haha, I won't tell you this one! This question will be covered in my next post. Watch for it!
What's getting an Epi-pen/having an allergic reaction like?
I haven't had an allergic reaction that requires an Epi-pen in a long time, but I do remember that it's hard to stay calm, especially if you're having breathing problems. Staying calm is supposed to help, but it's almost impossible if you aren't with someone.
Sorry about how long this post is! Thanks for reading and watch for my next post: My Most Recent Allergic Reaction: Backpacking!
Monday, June 29, 2015
What's Wrong with Me?
In older posts I've told you how to use epinephrine injectors, but how do you know when a minor rash becomes a threat? How do you know when to dust off your Epi-pen? The question, what symptoms mean an anaphylactic allergic reaction, is often overlooked. It's important to know how to use your Epi-pen, but also when to use your Epi-pen. Sometimes, a simple case of eczema can be treated with an ointment or pill that doesn't result in a trip to the emergency room. And a sore throat could be a sign of strep throat or the common cold instead of an allergic reaction. This post will teach you what symptoms mean GET YOUR EPI-PEN AND PHONE NOW and what symptoms mean DON'T FREAK OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE OKAY!! Alright, let's get going!
When dealing with anaphylaxis, it's important to be alert at what symptoms you're getting. If someone is having an anaphylactic allergic reaction, every second is crucial. Everyday Health says that these symptoms mean anaphylactic allergic reactions:
When dealing with anaphylaxis, it's important to be alert at what symptoms you're getting. If someone is having an anaphylactic allergic reaction, every second is crucial. Everyday Health says that these symptoms mean anaphylactic allergic reactions:
- Cough, difficulty or irregular breathing, wheezing, itchy throat or mouth, and difficulty swallowing
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
- Itchiness, red bumps on the skin (hives), and skin redness
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, chest discomfort or tightness, mental confusion, weakness, lower blood pressure, rapid pulse, loss of consciousness, and fainting.
Wow, that seems like a lot of symptoms! Let me break this down for you; any serious, uncontrollable breathing problems, stomach problems (like vomiting and diarrhea), serious, large, or worsening rashes, irregular pulse, and any sort of not being conscious is a problem. If you have one, multiple of the same type (like coughing and difficulty swallowing or skin redness and itchiness), or a mix of these symptoms, it's time to follow your emergency plan, which would mean call 911, administrate epinephrine, take any other medications that you have been prescribed to take, and attempt to stay calm. Staying calm can actually keep your symptoms from getting worse. If you start to panic, you have a higher chance of increasing amount/severity of symptoms. If you have symptoms that don't seem to be worsening and the symptoms don't seem too severe (as in you can go about your daily life with these symptoms without much trouble), then you should contact your doctor, physician, and/or allergist and take an over the counter medication such as benadryl or whatever else you are instructed to take.
I hope this information helps you in the future. Talk to you in my next post!
I hope this information helps you in the future. Talk to you in my next post!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Restaurants: How to Stay Safe
Hi there everyone! Today I'm going to talk about my experiences with restaurants and what to do if YOU go to a restaurant and have food allergies.
So I've only been to a restaurant and actually eaten their food twice. They were really meaningful to me. The first one was at a restaurant in Disney world. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old and I was very excited when I figured out that the chef talked with my mom and promised to make me a safe meal without any dairy, tree nut, or sesame seeds in it (I may not have been allergic to sesame seeds yet, but I don't remember. I also could have been allergic to eggs still back then, but it was a while ago, so I don't exactly remember.) The chef made me an amazing pasta dinner and a delicious ice cream dessert as well.
The second place I went was for my 10th birthday. My family went to the American Girl store, where I got my American Girl doll, Kit.We ate lunch there, and the cooks made me a spaghetti lunch. There's a picture of me at the cafe below.
My suggestions for you are if you're going to a restaurant and you have food allergies, don't expect the waiters and chefs to figure out you have food allergies! The best way to present yourself is to kindly ask to have a quick chat with the waiter or person serving you about your food allergies. Depending on what restaurant you're going to, it might be a good idea to bring a safe meal for yourself from home just in case the restaurant can't figure out how to serve you safely.
If you are going to try some of their food, be sure to tell the waiter or server about every food you're allergic to and also cross contamination risks. Presenting yourself kindly and working with the waiter or server nicely will be a good way to keep yourself safe and calm. If all else fails and you can't eat their food, you at least have a meal from home with you and you can still have a good time with the people you came with. Remember, experiences aren't all about the food. I've been to restaurants that can't serve me multiple times, and I still had fun with my family. One more thing before I wrap this post up: ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR EPI-PEN WITH YOU TO THE RESTAURANT! This is my biggest tip! It's so important to bring your Epi-pen with you!! Alright, see you later!
So I've only been to a restaurant and actually eaten their food twice. They were really meaningful to me. The first one was at a restaurant in Disney world. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old and I was very excited when I figured out that the chef talked with my mom and promised to make me a safe meal without any dairy, tree nut, or sesame seeds in it (I may not have been allergic to sesame seeds yet, but I don't remember. I also could have been allergic to eggs still back then, but it was a while ago, so I don't exactly remember.) The chef made me an amazing pasta dinner and a delicious ice cream dessert as well.
The second place I went was for my 10th birthday. My family went to the American Girl store, where I got my American Girl doll, Kit.We ate lunch there, and the cooks made me a spaghetti lunch. There's a picture of me at the cafe below.
My suggestions for you are if you're going to a restaurant and you have food allergies, don't expect the waiters and chefs to figure out you have food allergies! The best way to present yourself is to kindly ask to have a quick chat with the waiter or person serving you about your food allergies. Depending on what restaurant you're going to, it might be a good idea to bring a safe meal for yourself from home just in case the restaurant can't figure out how to serve you safely.
If you are going to try some of their food, be sure to tell the waiter or server about every food you're allergic to and also cross contamination risks. Presenting yourself kindly and working with the waiter or server nicely will be a good way to keep yourself safe and calm. If all else fails and you can't eat their food, you at least have a meal from home with you and you can still have a good time with the people you came with. Remember, experiences aren't all about the food. I've been to restaurants that can't serve me multiple times, and I still had fun with my family. One more thing before I wrap this post up: ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR EPI-PEN WITH YOU TO THE RESTAURANT! This is my biggest tip! It's so important to bring your Epi-pen with you!! Alright, see you later!
 |
| Here I am, at the American Girl cafe, eating lunch with my doll. |
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Holidays: How to Stay Safe
Hi there everyone! Today I'm going to talk about how I stay safe during the holiday season. But first, let me give you the answers to the food allergy questionnaire that I posted in my previous post. If you didn't take the survey and you would like to, please click the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e9q7e-WZFjiOZsmSLQp9uK9jinWNhVIvdKJut7Wx74c/viewform
To get to the answers for the questionnaire, click the link below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NtOMBjFDHAMZUQcpkljnHllYCZTRf7pvsgbzzmmzY3M/edit?usp=sharing
Alright, now onto today's post!
So in my house, we have a lot of traditions that involve food. Some of them are baking a variety of Christmas cookies, getting Chinese food, and eating fancy dinners together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is how we enjoy these traditions without any trips to the emergency room.
Christmas Cookies
My mom, my sister and I all usually bake cookies together for Christmas. Some of our favorites would normally include milk in a house without food allergy people in it, but we substitute milk for soy milk or almond milk, butter for soy margarine, and chocolate chips for dairy and nut free chocolate chips. Sometimes, if we're making a cookie recipe that has a tree nut in it, such as cashews or pistachios, we'll use almonds in place of the non-safe nut (Almonds are tree nuts, yet they are the only kind of tree nut that I can have. Yay!) Another option is to just take the nut out of the recipe altogether! If the nut is optional, or if they aren't a huge part of the recipe, then we'll take them out.
Chinese Food
Whenever we get takeout Chinese food, my mom will make me something safe to eat from home. It's just the safest way to go.
Christmas Dinners
Thanks to my amazing mom, I am able to eat lots of different foods during the holiday. Last year, we had lasagna on Christmas Eve, and my mom made me my own special cheese-free lasagna. It tasted so great, and it is now one of my favorite foods.
Thanks to my family, I can enjoy this wonderful holiday season without much worry!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e9q7e-WZFjiOZsmSLQp9uK9jinWNhVIvdKJut7Wx74c/viewform
To get to the answers for the questionnaire, click the link below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NtOMBjFDHAMZUQcpkljnHllYCZTRf7pvsgbzzmmzY3M/edit?usp=sharing
Alright, now onto today's post!
So in my house, we have a lot of traditions that involve food. Some of them are baking a variety of Christmas cookies, getting Chinese food, and eating fancy dinners together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here is how we enjoy these traditions without any trips to the emergency room.
Christmas Cookies
My mom, my sister and I all usually bake cookies together for Christmas. Some of our favorites would normally include milk in a house without food allergy people in it, but we substitute milk for soy milk or almond milk, butter for soy margarine, and chocolate chips for dairy and nut free chocolate chips. Sometimes, if we're making a cookie recipe that has a tree nut in it, such as cashews or pistachios, we'll use almonds in place of the non-safe nut (Almonds are tree nuts, yet they are the only kind of tree nut that I can have. Yay!) Another option is to just take the nut out of the recipe altogether! If the nut is optional, or if they aren't a huge part of the recipe, then we'll take them out.
Chinese Food
Whenever we get takeout Chinese food, my mom will make me something safe to eat from home. It's just the safest way to go.
Christmas Dinners
Thanks to my amazing mom, I am able to eat lots of different foods during the holiday. Last year, we had lasagna on Christmas Eve, and my mom made me my own special cheese-free lasagna. It tasted so great, and it is now one of my favorite foods.
Thanks to my family, I can enjoy this wonderful holiday season without much worry!
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Food Allergy Survey!
Hi there everyone! Today I decided to make up a little questionnaire to see how much you know about food allergies. I will include the answers to these questions in my next post. To get to the questionnaire, click the link below. Thanks and enjoy!
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Field Trips: How to Stay Safe
Hi there everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately, but today I'm going to talk about field trips and how I stay safe on field trips.
Okay, so since I'm in Middle School, I usually go on field trips without my mom. But this year I've only been on one field trip, so I'm not exactly sure what the deal is going to be, but on the previous field trip I went without my mom. But the good part was I didn't have to worry because two of my amazing friends were there with me the whole time to help me.
The Bus:
On field trips, we usually have to get to wherever we are going by bus. On the bus, I make sure there is an adult on board at all times that knows about my food allergies. I also make sure I have my Epi-pen and my phone in case I need to call my parents about a problem. I will make sure to choose a seat that looks clean, and if one of my friends are on the bus, then I have them sit with me. This way, if I have an allergic reaction, then I can tell them and they can get help. The buddy system never gets old. :)
Lunch:
At lunch during a field trip, it's pretty much the same as a regular lunch at school. Things have changed between elementary and middle school, so I don't eat with a tray anymore. I just eat at the same table every day, and the teachers that watch us know that I have food allergies and are aware of my sensitivity to certain foods. So, when I'm on a field trip, I will sit with my friends so they are there if I have an allergic reaction. I will make sure that there is an adult present at all times, and I will carry my Epi-pen and phone. I will also pack wipes in my lunch so I can wipe down the picnic bench or table before I eat there.
During the day, I will make sure I am with a teacher or chaperone that knows about my food allergies. I will carry my purse, and I will be aware during the day, just like any other day.
Okay, so since I'm in Middle School, I usually go on field trips without my mom. But this year I've only been on one field trip, so I'm not exactly sure what the deal is going to be, but on the previous field trip I went without my mom. But the good part was I didn't have to worry because two of my amazing friends were there with me the whole time to help me.
The Bus:
On field trips, we usually have to get to wherever we are going by bus. On the bus, I make sure there is an adult on board at all times that knows about my food allergies. I also make sure I have my Epi-pen and my phone in case I need to call my parents about a problem. I will make sure to choose a seat that looks clean, and if one of my friends are on the bus, then I have them sit with me. This way, if I have an allergic reaction, then I can tell them and they can get help. The buddy system never gets old. :)
Lunch:
At lunch during a field trip, it's pretty much the same as a regular lunch at school. Things have changed between elementary and middle school, so I don't eat with a tray anymore. I just eat at the same table every day, and the teachers that watch us know that I have food allergies and are aware of my sensitivity to certain foods. So, when I'm on a field trip, I will sit with my friends so they are there if I have an allergic reaction. I will make sure that there is an adult present at all times, and I will carry my Epi-pen and phone. I will also pack wipes in my lunch so I can wipe down the picnic bench or table before I eat there.
During the day, I will make sure I am with a teacher or chaperone that knows about my food allergies. I will carry my purse, and I will be aware during the day, just like any other day.
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