After years of suspicion, I’ve finally had an allergy test to confirm that I have a severe tree nut allergy, and a litany of less dangerous allergies to pollens, grasses, trees, pets , mites and bugs. I’ve been prescribed an Epi-pen in case of an emergency, so if you spend a lot of time eating desert with me, you’ll want to ask me to go over the basics with you so if I’m ever spazzing out you can stab me in the leg. How exciting would that be? 
I was bummed out about it yesterday – I’d actually convinced myself over the past few years that it probably wasn’t an allergy. The symptoms (itchyness, difficulty swallowing, ’sense of impending doom’) are all pretty much the same as the symptoms of an anxiety attack, which you could imagine having after everyone in the room drops their forks and vigorously point out that you may be about to die. Even though I probably knew better, it’s pretty compelling to want to be normal and not debilitated by something everyone else calls food.
I’m okay with it after sleeping on it. Life’s not really any different than it was last week, I just keep avoiding the stuff I’ve pretty effectively already cast out of my life (Toblerone, I’ll miss you dearly!), and now I have the information I need to make better decisions, and a spring-loaded pressurized tube full of epinepherine as a backup just in case.
Of course a day later I have a ton of new questions. So much research to do! So many questions for my allergic friends!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Sheila // Oct 23, 2009 at 9:16 am
Stephen has the same allergy….it’s not too hard to avoid tree nuts. The tricky things are some ethnic foods you’s never think of like Indian (some curries use grounds nuts), Mexican (Mole often has almonds in it) and soaps and lotions (they often have almond oil and shea ,which is a tree nut that you may or may not be sensitive to). And almond extract seems to find it’s way into alot of baked goods…and watch out for nuts in cereals, granola bars and energy bars if you buy/eat those.
If you have any questions about anything ask away….I might be able to help.
2 Sara J. // Oct 28, 2009 at 8:19 pm
If you have your epipen already, consider getting a twinject next round when you have to replace it. There are 2 doses in it (1 given very similar to the epipen, the second as an actual injection), and since there is sometimes a rebound effect after having your first dose, or if the first dose isn’t strong enough, you have backup! It’s the same cost as an epipen, and if the injection freaks you out, consider that if you’re lucky you’ll never have to use it–if you’re not… wouldn’t you rather take the needle? Also, for both companies (if you don’t already know) you can just find their website and order educational material, including practice injectors so you get used to the feeling and can do it behind your back in the dark
If you weren’t sure, I’m also perfectly happy to answer any questions whatsoever, allergy or asthma related (no matter how silly you think they are)… remember I’m something of a specialist in the area, and I love helping friends!
3 Matt // Feb 12, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Mmmm, just think. Our next big family meal, sugar-less, low sodium, sulphite, nut and garlic free. Dry saltines(without salt) and water for everyone!
Out here, my friends just say I’m allergic to flavour…
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