Allergic Thursdays
Several things going on in my allergy-world.
First off, don't miss the fact that Gov. Patrick signed the new Food Allergy Training bill into law last month.
Second, a coworker's son has just been diagnosed with milk and soy allergies. I've been trying to help her out with information/recipes/etc., but had one of those conversations with her this morning that just made me cringe. They're "trying not to let this affect their life more than it has to." Which means, instead of buying alternative products or figuring out how to make things with substitutes, they're just not giving him those foods. (e.g. a taco without the shell or cheese, because the shells are not dairy free.) I understand that they don't have the money to spend on significant alternative/organic foods. However, her concern was that she cannot afford shopping for 3 different meal plans (her husband is diabetic and needs everything sugar free, she likes her sugar, and now this.) Food allergies are, granted, a lifestyle change, but it is much easier to do so for the whole family than for just one member. She's banking on the fact that, because the tests came back inconclusive, that he will outgrow this allergy as mysteriously as he grew into it. While it's possible, it bothers me for his sake to hear her conceptualizing his allergies in those terms. I tried to explain to her that none of the allergy tests are as reliable as we'd like them to be and that the only sure test is the food challenge.
Recently, I've been dealing with some significant GI issues. I'd been considering, if they didn't calm down soon, making a Dr. appt. they were bugging me so much. And that says rather a lot given my messed up GI system. However, I think I may have found a or maybe even the culprit. It appears that my low level egg intolerance has decided to blossom into a full-blown egg allergy. Upon discovering that, it occurred to me that, back when I had my allergy testing done in 2004, I wasn't actually tested for any of the top 8 allergens, except for milk. In fact, I overheard one of the nurses there saying that she refused to test people for peanuts because of the risk that someone might have a severe reaction. They didn't test any of the allergens that are responsible for 90% of anaphylaxis episodes (peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish.)
The more I think about it, the less thrilled I am with that health center. Further, what I need now, health-wise, is someone to help me monitor and treat my candida issues. My PCP has said she doesn't know anything about that, and referred me to the allergist, who has now left. I suppose I could try and get his information for his new practice in Wellesley and try and get an appointment with him there. That would be a start at least.
First off, don't miss the fact that Gov. Patrick signed the new Food Allergy Training bill into law last month.
Second, a coworker's son has just been diagnosed with milk and soy allergies. I've been trying to help her out with information/recipes/etc., but had one of those conversations with her this morning that just made me cringe. They're "trying not to let this affect their life more than it has to." Which means, instead of buying alternative products or figuring out how to make things with substitutes, they're just not giving him those foods. (e.g. a taco without the shell or cheese, because the shells are not dairy free.) I understand that they don't have the money to spend on significant alternative/organic foods. However, her concern was that she cannot afford shopping for 3 different meal plans (her husband is diabetic and needs everything sugar free, she likes her sugar, and now this.) Food allergies are, granted, a lifestyle change, but it is much easier to do so for the whole family than for just one member. She's banking on the fact that, because the tests came back inconclusive, that he will outgrow this allergy as mysteriously as he grew into it. While it's possible, it bothers me for his sake to hear her conceptualizing his allergies in those terms. I tried to explain to her that none of the allergy tests are as reliable as we'd like them to be and that the only sure test is the food challenge.
Recently, I've been dealing with some significant GI issues. I'd been considering, if they didn't calm down soon, making a Dr. appt. they were bugging me so much. And that says rather a lot given my messed up GI system. However, I think I may have found a or maybe even the culprit. It appears that my low level egg intolerance has decided to blossom into a full-blown egg allergy. Upon discovering that, it occurred to me that, back when I had my allergy testing done in 2004, I wasn't actually tested for any of the top 8 allergens, except for milk. In fact, I overheard one of the nurses there saying that she refused to test people for peanuts because of the risk that someone might have a severe reaction. They didn't test any of the allergens that are responsible for 90% of anaphylaxis episodes (peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish.)
The more I think about it, the less thrilled I am with that health center. Further, what I need now, health-wise, is someone to help me monitor and treat my candida issues. My PCP has said she doesn't know anything about that, and referred me to the allergist, who has now left. I suppose I could try and get his information for his new practice in Wellesley and try and get an appointment with him there. That would be a start at least.