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November 7, 2005
Looking Up
Feeling a bit better today ... mood-wise, not health-wise.
For Jo, here's what's going on. I had what they call an anaphylactic reaction to eating a nut. "Anaphylactic" is a highly technical term meaning "you're doomed." Okay, what it really means is an immune system-mediated response to a substance, involving two or more body systems. My reaction was, obviously, not fatal ... as anaphylaxis goes, it wasn't even bad, really.
But here's the kicker. Once you've had one, you can assume you'll have another if you encounter that same allergen. And very often the reactions get progressively worse, which is why I get to carry the handy-dandy epinepherine injector. A "worse" reaction would be one where my airway "swells," causing me to stop "breathing." Or it could be one where my "blood pressure" drops precipitously leaving me in "shock." In which case, the epi injector would be used to save my life. Literally.
So, yes, I'm having a wee bit of difficulty in adjusting to the fact that if I eat the wrong food, I'll end up in the ER.
Then there's the guessing game. So I reacted to a nut. It was in a can of mixed nuts. So did I react to that nut? Or another? We think we know, but are we sure? Shall I test it out by eating various nuts? Umm ... no, no thanks - that ER thing and all.
Peanuts were in the can. We're guessing I'm not allergic to the peanuts. We're GUESSING.
Now let's play "How Allergic Am I?" Some people react to tiny traces of nuts ... say, if they eat a food that does not actually contain nuts, but was manufactured on equipment that also manufactured something that did contain nuts. Or something that touched a nut. Some people react to breathing the air around someone eating nuts.
Do I? I don't know. I'm new at this. It's going to be a game of finding the comfort zone. For now at least, I'm choosing to just avoid all nuts. That means reading every label and not accepting food made outside my home.
Often, people who develop these kinds of reactions as adults become allergic to more foods as time goes on. So ... what's next?
Really, though, I'm calmer about it today than yesterday. All I have to do is never ever eat a nut, or anything made with nuts (no more pecan pie!) ... but if I ever accidentally get slipped one I just jab this needle in my leg. (Cue the maniacal laughter.)
I assume the weight loss phase of this is over, as I've figured out which chocolate is safe. And, as e pointed out, there's always beer ... and wine for Susie ... tequila ... oh, heck, what is Bailey's made out of?
On a related note, I did the scratch testing today for environmental allergies. It's official, I'm allergic to Texas. I reacted to 27 of the things they tested me for. What's scary is that that's far better than I thought it was going to be. Now if they could just figure out exactly what it is that's causing me to feel like I can't breathe, life will be much better.
Dad - I wasn't allergic to nuts before. See what living with you people has done to me?
Posted by lynx at November 7, 2005 8:57 PM
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Comments
Beyond "That really sucks," I'm not sure what to say. :( Two of my boys are allergic to wheat, and the middle son also seems to be mildly allergic to MSG and the youngest seems to have developed an allergy to rice as well. None of this is life threatening, thankfully, but yeah, it sucks having to read every blasted label for new products. We're still not at a point where we're on automatic.
Glad you at least found a safe chocolate, and beer always helps the world look a bit rosier.
Posted by: KathyJo at November 7, 2005 10:51 PM
Yikes, I'm SO sorry! What an awful discovery as an adult. But at least you've had years of enjoying pecan pie. ;-)
I know it's scary as heck but you have the tools to help yourself now and you know what to stay away from. Read every label, most say "was processed with nut products" if they use the same machine. Think if this happened 20 years ago! I'm sure it was a lot harder to know back then.
I'm so sorry but you'll be OK!
HUGS
Posted by: Jess at November 7, 2005 11:02 PM
Oh (((honey))). I'm sorry that you're allergic to Texas. That royally sucks, seeing as you live there and all. Will the scratch test people be able to give you something to keep the Texas allergies at bay?
I can't even imagine having to carry some needle around that I would have to jab myself with in case I was standing around breathing while someone else was eating the nut that I was allergic to. That's just too awful. (((Steph))).
Posted by: Jo's Boys at November 8, 2005 8:21 AM
(((Lynxie))) You know how bad my allergies have been over the years....I am highly allergic to red ants and mosquitos. I have had an Anaphylactic reaction to a wasp sting before. I have carried an epi pen since I was 8 or so because of it--before the pens came out I had a red box kit that had a dose of epi and all kinds of fun stuff. I hopr you can get 2 epi pens so you can keep one in your purse and one in a location (car or house). I have never had to use mine--but I carry it everywhere with me. With my allergies to shrimp and mangos I just avoid them--read labels and ask when I go to eat at restaurants. Take a deep breath and relax--you will survive this. :-)
Posted by: Jewels at November 8, 2005 9:13 PM
Oh, Steph. You are going to get an education in nutritional biology like you never thought possible - nuts aren't all just nuts. Some are related to other foods - which is good, in that if the one you're allergic to turns out to be related to something else, that'll clear some nuts. Not so good, in that it could indicate other things to be leery of.
I am not much help, as it seems I live on coffee and beef, but I've been following your threads on the WTM boards and the ladies there who've had much more to deal with than we have (we've just got the clover-eyeball thing and the wheat sensitivity, of which the most immediately dangerous of the two is actually the clover and not a food). You'll make the adjustment and find some alternatives out there you didn't know exist. It won't be easy, and it's a-ok to be whiney about it. It's hard. But you're worth the effort. {{hugs}}
Dy
Posted by: Dy at November 9, 2005 9:05 AM