New here/Food allergies

Hi everyone. I'm new here and just looking for a place to share my struggles. I have lived with my allergies for more than 50 years with my first severe reaction at age 4.

I carry an epi-pen for nut allergies, but have thankfully never had to use it.
When I was in my 30's an allergy to bananas began to emerge. At first only when I ate a banana. Now, 20 years later, I just have to cross contaminate with bananas and end up with hives. I take Benadryl to ease the symptoms.
I also have an allergy to anything fermented. Vomiting when I smell alcohol and some vinegars. Rash when I ingest too many vinegar products. When in contact with alcoholics I begin to show symptoms of a more serious nature. I do not drink alcohol, but my husband has the occasional drink without a problem.

My final allergy is to an ingredient found in baby oil. Probably just the mineral oil. I avoid skin creams, read ingredients on shampoos, and don't get bandages after surgery.

That's it for me, but I also have experience with family members with multiple food allergies and sensitivities, seasonal allergies, and even one with a metal allergy.

Not the fragrance. Some baby oils are strictly mineral oil. My first reaction was as a baby, then again as a teen. (The things your mother should tell you and they don't.)

Colors are not a problem for me. Mine have the red coating. One of my other meds is coated with a blue coating.

It is useless keeping a list. I reacted when I was in hospital recently. They had a list, but cross contamination got me in the end. If I end up in hospital again, my family has instructions to bring me supplement foods. I just hope that it happens when my supply is high.

I wasn't looking for suggestions. I came here to introduce myself.

When I was in hospital, I ate the meals provided, but skipped anything that could be cross contaminated. I skipped the bread, but ate the disgusting oatmeal. I skipped the salad dressing and ate the salad plain. Thankfully they sent me fruit that I could eat.
It was only after the nutritionist talked to me about my allergies that I opted to trust that the trays were nut and banana free. That was my mistake. They understand the concept of an allergy, but not a "may contain" or "processed in the same plant" label.

I have to be on top of foods for my family. I have one granddaughter that has to be egg, dairy, gluten, soy, strawberry, tomato, and mango free. Those are just her worst offenders. Then another granddaughter is allergic to eggs, beef, and mango. My grandson is having a problem with formula, so in turn we expect a dairy allergy.

Add to that a daughter who has seizures triggered by dairy. It took us a lot of years but I figured out that it just might stem back to soybeans that are fed to the cows. She also reacts to estrogen in birth control pills.

I have the ability to cook to cover all these needs. It was exhausting when everyone still lived at home. Thanksgiving and Christmas are horrible. I have learned to not stuff the turkey and do one gluten free vegetable dish that is almost like stuffing. With enough time I can whip up some amazing desserts that can be shared by all.

At least I could before. Now I am sugar free with low sodium and low fat.

Hi Candlelover91,

First think to do is look at it all as an adventure. If you have itchy nose and eyes, you have environmental allergies, and asthma... I suspect that is an allergy as well. The trick is to dig to the bottom of them and eliminate the problem from your life.

May I make a toothbrush suggestion? See if you can find a Norwex dealer in your area. Buy the toothbrush system. I use it with toothpaste, but you can use it without. After the initial purchase, you just have to buy new heads. Stay away from their beauty products because they do contain nuts.

The next thing to look for is what is causing the environmental allergies. Cleaning products, wall paper glue, carpets. I have never been to St. Louis, but isn't that an area where people eat shellfish. It could be just in the air there. I know I have a miserable time during nut season here.

Now the diet part. Same foods, look for new recipes. I eat out, but it is so risky. One time I broke out in hives because the server had handled tree nuts before putting my coffee cup on the table. I don't go to that restaurant anymore. Another time I left because a server was leaning over the workspace eating. I like to go places where I can watch what the cooks and servers are doing. Vigilance makes it possible. Sometimes scare tactics work. I will put my epi-pen out on the table as I ask about the menu items. Some don't care, and then I have to be more vigilant, others pale and go check labels for me.

Hang in there.

Food allergies/sensitivities are a learning experience. We all have different reactions. There is no "one reaction fits all." It is all about learning your body signals and in the case of mom's, learning the body signals of your children with allergies.