Can you travel with life-threatening allergies?

If you travel to other countries, I would highly advise you to learn a few simple words to communicate that you have severe allergies. If you can't prounance the words, maybe have a flash card with the directions on them for wherever you go.
I don't have severe food allergies (I'm mildly allergic to Strawberries) but I do still have to watch what I eat due to my other health condition. Though it isn't life threatening, it does make me very uncomfortable if I accidently eat it. I think the safest course would be would be either not eat out or eat at a place that just doesn't serve shellfish. But I think you have a common fear of anyone that is highly sensitive to these things.

Great news! A majority of Asians and Europeans are well versed with the English language. Americans tour those countrys so often that the menus in hotels and $$$ star resturants are printed in English. Have fun!

Although restraunts are very nice and a fast and easy way to eat, for us anaphylactic type that can mean a severe reaction and potential death. Now to me, that is just not worth it. I have not stepped a foot into any restruant for over 2 years. If you know the restraunt very well, and if they are very educated in food allergies and anaphylaxis, and also have a seperate counter space, pans, utensils etc to prepare your meal, then it might be a bit safer, but always remember to bring your EpiPen and let not only the waiters know about your allergy but also the manager (most restraunts that are serious about your allergies will have the manager come talk to you). Also when you get your food, ask one final time if your meal is allergen free.

For traveling it might be a bit wiser to find a hotel with a suite that includes a fridge, stove, etc., and then just go to the local food store, find what you are safe with and just prepare it in the hotel room. Also make sure you know where all the hospitals and what the emergency numbers are in the country you are staying in.

On the plane ride, take some wet naps and wipe down your seat, arm rests, the little table thing, and anything else. You may also want to bring a blanket so there is a barrier between you and the seat.

Now time for my question! .. Have any of you ever been on a plane and have inhalation anaphylaxis?? I ask because my inhalation anaphylaxis to cooked chicken is keeping me a bit grounded.. I however will be taking a trip down to the airport sometime in the near future, to sit down with them and go over any possible ideas to make it safe or even possible to travel.

Heck, i've considered a hermetically sealed section (just my chair) ... hahaha... but somehow don't think that would go over well with them. The inhalation is a major problem ... just driving by a KFC is enough to cause a start of a reaction :S. The mask may be an option. Thanks :)

The protein bars and meal shakes are a great idea. And when going to the grocery store do make sure you ONLY get the foods you know you are safe with. The have many chef cards that you can get from various allergy sites that have the allergen printed in different languages. This may be a good ideas as well.

Tick, may I ask what your allergies are??

Tick,

Thats right! I remember that thread. Would that one be considered an anaphylactoid reaction? Or is it Ige mediated??
Oh do i ever know what you mean about the meat showing up in weird places. Most of the time it's a hidden ingredient.

Have you tried contacting any other allergy sites or support groups?? If not I will pass some on to you. :)

i went to italy (venice) 2 years ago and i have multiple severe food allergies too. i was afraid to go because i thought i would react. i found a lot of people didn't speak english there, which i was told by many people that EVERYONE speaks english there! i brought along my benadryl and epipen and ate at restaurants that i felt i could communiate with the waiters and i ate the most basic food (which was not fun for me cause the food there looked wonderful!) i found my only real problem ended up being the humidity. I also noticed that they do serve a lot of fish along the coastal cities and if you are planning on going to Spain, forget it! I couldn't find anything BUT fish there!!!!

Mooney,

I am so glad the only real problem you had was not allergy related!! Scary though to hear that not alot of people talk english there. What are your allergies?? I am guessing fish is one of them?? Thanks for the advice about spain.

and if I can make it thru Italy--you can!!!

yes, i'm usually either short of breath or in pain with a swollen stomach or both. i think if anyone else was in my body they'd freak out! I'm just used to it after 6 years.

do you carry an epipen? if you don't please take one. also, venice is more beautiful than any picture i had ever seen. be sure to take lots of $$$$$ though. nothing is cheap. $5 cans of soda! have u had anaphylaxis before? what are your allergy symptoms?

 

Post Edited (Mooney123) : 8/15/2006 6:32:51 PM (GMT-6)

That's terrible. I can't believe you are in so allergic. i have to warn you though--i was lucky enough to fly first class. (once in a lifetime for me--extra airline miles  ) and I've never flown overseas before that so i don't know what it's like in the other classes, although i think business class is similar. anyway, about every hour or so, it seemed, they were bringing out all kinds of fish, caviar, crab etc. i didn't eat any of it because of my allergies     but it is a long flight and where they serve the food is not very big so i imagine there would be cross-contaminating. i would not recommend eating anything from the plane!! also, you may want to bring your own instant-soups or canned food just in case you you are worried. the next time i fly to a foreign county, i will be bringing some of my own (familiar) food. BTW, they do have a lot of pastrami/rolls/cheese in italy that looks safe.  

i bought some of those white masks that look like surgeon's masks to filter out the bad air. they had a funny smell like a chemical in them so i talked to my allergist and he told me to get a bandana and spray it with water and put over my face if i start getting allergic. it has to be washed first. even though it might look like you're going to rob a bank, it might be worth it to wear on the plane, if you go.    

thank goodness for the epipens. i feel really sad for you cause i know what it's like to have a "restricted" life and I feel more and more closed in everyday. I always feel like i'm suffocating but i know it goes away. i also know, because i had mild anaphylaxis from cantaloupe once, how scary it is. My mother just learned she has a peanut allergy at 53 years old and she doesn't take it seriously, even though she gets the swollen lips, itchy chest, hives, etc. her face swelled up really huge a few months ago. she still doesn't remember what she ate that might have caused it, and doesn't seem too concerned. it is very very frustrating. A friend  of my sister's has been dealing with a shrimp allergy for years and can't go into a room or restaurant where shrimp is cooking or his throat will close. if you are using your epipen monthly, where are you going that triggers it? to the grocery store, restaurants, parties?