Lessons I have learned

While dealing with my various food allergies I have learned quite a few lessons and I hope that I can help others deal with their food allergies a little easier. Here are some of the lessons that I have learned.

1. Never to afraid to ask what is in something because ingredients do change and something what was safe may not be safe any longer or something what wasn't safe may be safe now.

2. Read ingredients on items you are going to purchase each time for the same reason you always ask about ingredients.

3. If you think something is wrong with the food that you received never be afraid to push it aside and don't feel that you must eat it. This is one lesson that has been very hard for me to learn.

4. Know that in most cases people you are eating out with will understand if you cannot eat something. Business lunches are very stressful but you have to take the same precautions when dealing with servers and kitchen staff. People that can't deal with reasonable precautions really don't care and these are the people you limit your business lunches with.

5. Let others know that you have severe food allergies and teach them how to use the auto injector (epi-pen or twinjet). You never know when someone may have to help you or someone else with a severe allergy reaction.

6. Understand that you are not different than anyone else, we are all unique. Dealing with severe food allergies is difficult but everyone has their own challenges that they deal with.

These are just some of the lessons that I have learned and I hope these will help others. I will continue to write up the lessons that I learn so that I can help others.