Well I haven't been posting much the last few days because things have been basically normal for me. That's besides dealing with a migraine yesterday that is.
I have been dealing with the allergies with good results over the last few days. I have been able to get salads with dressing that I can eat with no problem and without any issue once I identify it's due to food allergies.
Also I think just being vocal about the allergies and how I need things changed just a little to make them safe for me has helped a lot. I know that I am going to have good days and then some bad days but at least feeling better about the allergies does help.
Some days it's hard and I keep saying to myself why me but I guess I was given the allergies for a reason. I'm not sure what the reason is but I have them and will have to learn how to deal with them and educate others at the same time.
Maybe if I could just get over all the fears things would be a lot easier for me but little steps in overcoming the fears is at least progress. I don't know what children go through when they learn they can't eat something but I sure know the fear and anger I have gone through.
I hope that me writing my feelings will help others deal with their own fears.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
A good day
I am very happy to post that today was a good day and I was able to have an enjoyable dinner without any issues or attacks.
We normally go out for wings on Tuesdays and thanks to the staff at the bar it makes for an evening where I normally have no problems. Having people that understand my allergies and are able to deal with them without a problem is wonderful.
I can honestly say that after going through the problems over the last few days it was so nice to be able to go out and have a dinner without any problems.
I know that when I do have attacks or even get worried about a possible attack I get very afraid to eat and know that it's something that I have to deal with. It's hard to explain to others the feelings that I go through but fear is the best way to explain it. Being unsure of what food I can eat so that I don't have a reaction is very difficult. I know that people say you just have to deal with the allergies but normally these are people that don't understand them and don't know the feelings that we go through that we can't even explain.
I really hope that even by writing this out I am going to be able to over come this feeling when I have it and I will be writing when I have this feeling to maybe put words to the feeling.
Well off to see what tomorrow and the next few days have in store.
We normally go out for wings on Tuesdays and thanks to the staff at the bar it makes for an evening where I normally have no problems. Having people that understand my allergies and are able to deal with them without a problem is wonderful.
I can honestly say that after going through the problems over the last few days it was so nice to be able to go out and have a dinner without any problems.
I know that when I do have attacks or even get worried about a possible attack I get very afraid to eat and know that it's something that I have to deal with. It's hard to explain to others the feelings that I go through but fear is the best way to explain it. Being unsure of what food I can eat so that I don't have a reaction is very difficult. I know that people say you just have to deal with the allergies but normally these are people that don't understand them and don't know the feelings that we go through that we can't even explain.
I really hope that even by writing this out I am going to be able to over come this feeling when I have it and I will be writing when I have this feeling to maybe put words to the feeling.
Well off to see what tomorrow and the next few days have in store.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Another not so good experience
Gee today I thought I was going to be able to talk about a nice experience we had at a classy restaurant where we have had great experiences before but boy was I wrong today.
This restaurant normally is able to handle the modifications to a meal with little or not difficulty. Gee someone like me saying that with my allergies is saying a lot.
Today I decided I wanted something with bar-b-que sauce only to find out that it might have had some cross contamination with shellfish. Our server was excellent and I actually felt sorry for him because he had to come over and explain that I couldn't have my meal because of the bar-b-que sauce. Our server asked the manager to come and speak to us but I am very disappointed to say that considering he walked by our table (at least 7 times, yes I counted) he never did come and speak to us. I was able to have a different meal but was very disappointed that I couldn't have what I would have really liked.
This experience is a case of some managers/staff not being able to handle allergies very well and maybe not knowing how to talk to a customer about it. I am not sure if it was the kitchen and/or the manager that wasn't willing to assist in making my experience enjoyable. I did appreciate the effort that our server went to ensuring that I was at least able to enjoy what I had.
I think the next time we are planning on going to this restaurant I will make a phone call before hand to ensure that the manager who we know understands food allergies well is working.
I know people have said to me that I just shouldn't eat out at restaurants but it's difficult when you are a professional to avoid eating out.
This restaurant normally is able to handle the modifications to a meal with little or not difficulty. Gee someone like me saying that with my allergies is saying a lot.
Today I decided I wanted something with bar-b-que sauce only to find out that it might have had some cross contamination with shellfish. Our server was excellent and I actually felt sorry for him because he had to come over and explain that I couldn't have my meal because of the bar-b-que sauce. Our server asked the manager to come and speak to us but I am very disappointed to say that considering he walked by our table (at least 7 times, yes I counted) he never did come and speak to us. I was able to have a different meal but was very disappointed that I couldn't have what I would have really liked.
This experience is a case of some managers/staff not being able to handle allergies very well and maybe not knowing how to talk to a customer about it. I am not sure if it was the kitchen and/or the manager that wasn't willing to assist in making my experience enjoyable. I did appreciate the effort that our server went to ensuring that I was at least able to enjoy what I had.
I think the next time we are planning on going to this restaurant I will make a phone call before hand to ensure that the manager who we know understands food allergies well is working.
I know people have said to me that I just shouldn't eat out at restaurants but it's difficult when you are a professional to avoid eating out.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Results of Challenge
Saturday evening was really nice and we both had a good time at the birthday party. I avoided the food and with a lot of them knowing of my allergies it made it easy to enjoy myself.
I did run into a challenge when we went out for dinner before the party. We went to a restaurant and I had to ask what oil they fried their friend food in. Of course it was "vegetable oil" so it meant that I had to avoid any of the fried foods. That was fine so I decided what I was going to order and it avoided any food that could cause a reaction. I ordered and the waiter informed me that the hash browns were fried in vegetable oil as well (oh just joking). Of course I immediately let him know that having a life threatening oil wasn't something you joked about. It did make me a little more nervous and aware of what I was eating and I think the server learned that you don't joke about food with someone with severe food allergies.
Today was a good day for me as we went to one of our favourite and usual restaurants for dinner. The staff there understands my allergies and are very careful to ensure that I don't have any reactions. Having people in a restaurant that understand food allergies and how to assist a guest makes it some much nicer.
I know that no matter where I go I have to watch what I eat but at least today I was able to enjoy my dinner. Just by getting to know the staff at a restaurant means that at least they are aware of the allergies and are more than willing to assist in ensuring that we have an enjoyable time there.
One thing that it important is even when you get to know some of the resturant staff you have to remember that when they aren't serving you or when they are busy you have to remind them of the allergies for your own safety.
Another thing that is very important is just because one restaurant in a chain may be safe other restaurants in the same chain may not be safe.
I did run into a challenge when we went out for dinner before the party. We went to a restaurant and I had to ask what oil they fried their friend food in. Of course it was "vegetable oil" so it meant that I had to avoid any of the fried foods. That was fine so I decided what I was going to order and it avoided any food that could cause a reaction. I ordered and the waiter informed me that the hash browns were fried in vegetable oil as well (oh just joking). Of course I immediately let him know that having a life threatening oil wasn't something you joked about. It did make me a little more nervous and aware of what I was eating and I think the server learned that you don't joke about food with someone with severe food allergies.
Today was a good day for me as we went to one of our favourite and usual restaurants for dinner. The staff there understands my allergies and are very careful to ensure that I don't have any reactions. Having people in a restaurant that understand food allergies and how to assist a guest makes it some much nicer.
I know that no matter where I go I have to watch what I eat but at least today I was able to enjoy my dinner. Just by getting to know the staff at a restaurant means that at least they are aware of the allergies and are more than willing to assist in ensuring that we have an enjoyable time there.
One thing that it important is even when you get to know some of the resturant staff you have to remember that when they aren't serving you or when they are busy you have to remind them of the allergies for your own safety.
Another thing that is very important is just because one restaurant in a chain may be safe other restaurants in the same chain may not be safe.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Another Day and another challenge
Today is going to be another challenging day for me as we are going out tonight to a birthday party and it's in a pub and they use vegetable oil for cooking (may contain cottonseed). So my challenges today are being careful with what I eat while I'm there as well as just the smells that are going to be around me.
The one thing that I will do before going to the party is to make sure that I have some dinner that is safe for me so that I am not tempted to eat some of the food that I was able to eat before all of these allergies. I find that making sure that I eat before going means that I don't risk the reactions.
I know that I can't avoid everything but having people around me that understand my allergies and know what I can and can't have makes it a bit easier.
Trying to overcome some of these fears is the hardest part of all of this. Today I know it's going to be rough but I will still go and enjoy myself but know that the food has to be avoided.
Will post tomorrow to let you know how the event went and the challenges that I actually faced.
The one thing that I will do before going to the party is to make sure that I have some dinner that is safe for me so that I am not tempted to eat some of the food that I was able to eat before all of these allergies. I find that making sure that I eat before going means that I don't risk the reactions.
I know that I can't avoid everything but having people around me that understand my allergies and know what I can and can't have makes it a bit easier.
Trying to overcome some of these fears is the hardest part of all of this. Today I know it's going to be rough but I will still go and enjoy myself but know that the food has to be avoided.
Will post tomorrow to let you know how the event went and the challenges that I actually faced.
Friday, January 19, 2007
January 19, 2007
Have you ever asked yourself why me?
I can say that I have asked that a few times and sometimes it's very frustrated. The reason I am saying this is because I have asked this each time I have discovered another food I am severely allergic too. Yes I am anaphylactic to a number of foods and sometimes it is very upsetting.
It's hard dealing with these allergies as most of the foods I am allergic to are foods that I have been eating most of my life. The last food I just discovered as being allergic to is shellfish and I have never really liked it so I don't miss it. I do miss some of the other foods that I can no longer have. I am allergic to cottonseed, pineapple, raspberries and shellfish. I am also anaphylactic to codeine and all of these lift threatening allergies have developed since I have been an adult. Yes I am adult onset anaphylatic.
Somedays are really good and other days are rotten. I think what is frustrating is the number of people that don't understand allergies and figure that they know better than me how to handle them.
What I am going to try and do in this blog is explain some of the good days and even some of the bad days and the fears that I deal with while living with this. Some of the fears are not wanting to eat after having a severe attack but getting through it.
I hope this helps others deals with the emotional roller coaster that we all go through.
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