After my allergic reaction last Friday, I was thinking about how it had been so long since my last reaction-probably over 2 years ago! Even though its great that it was so long ago, I don't remember any of the details of that day. I don't know how I reacted to the allergen or even what the allergen was! So today I wrote down last Friday's date, and described my allergic reaction. I explained what I ate before hand, what I think I reacted to, and all of the symptoms- which is probably the most important part. I'm going to make this my Reaction Record, and every time I have a reaction (hopefully they are few and far between) I'm going to describe what happens. Maybe this will be of some use to my doctors, or even just to me! I'll be able to learn more from my past mistakes when I actually remember what they were! I suggest you do the same!
Best of Luck!
-Alli
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Bullying and Food Allergies
Right now, I am sitting in my family room and while half-paying attention to the news, I suddenly heard "Food Allergies" mentioned. My head snapped up and I heard them say that many kids with food allergies are bullied! I immediately looked it up and found this article that shares some information about it! Read the article and tell me what you think!
Bullying and Food Allergies
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Facebook Cover Photo Contest WINNER!
Merry Christmas!
-Alli
Saturday, December 22, 2012
You Are Not Alone!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Allergy Friendly (Not!)
Today was one of those days where I wanted so badly not to have allergies. We were having a class Holiday party today, the last block of the day before winter break. I made Donna's "Butter" Cookies and they were a great success! Everyone loved them! Another person brought in Lay's potato chips, which are also allergy friendly! I was quite happy with the food turn out! However, about 1 week ago, my friend told me she was planning on making latkas. She showed me a picture of the ingredient list and told me that they were going to be fried in veggie oil, and that was it. I was excited, I was going to get to try a latka, and it was allergy friendly without any recipe altering! So of course I told her yes, that I can eat them!
However, after eating just one, about 2 inches in diameter, I felt my stomach starting to hurt within the next 20 minutes. At first I just thought, no hoped, that maybe, just maybe, it only hurt because I had eaten too many cookies and chips. But we all know that there is quite a difference between a "belly ache" and an "allergy ache"...they are two completely different feelings. In the next five minutes, I could tell it was a reaction because my body was heating up and my stomach really hurt. My mom and dad arrived in the nurses office soon after that, and when my mom had to leave for a doctors appointment, she told my dad "Take care of my baby girl". She felt horrible that she couldn't stay when I was in so much pain, but don't worry mom, dad took care of me!
As I sat in the nurses office, school ended and everyone went home. But not me, I sat with the nurse and my dad for another hour and a half. Towards the end, I just wanted to throw up, just so I could get everything out of my system, and after starting to have an itchy neck, it finally happened. As soon as I was done, I felt 110% better and I, exhausted after a lot of Benadryl, went home.
I guess when I told my friend that her latkas were safe for me, I was saying it not because it was true, but because I wanted them so badly to be safe. I let my feelings cloud my judgment, and endangered myself in the process. Today was my first allergy reaction in over 2 years, and I can easily say that it was a learning lesson for me. This time around, I'm going to try to stay allergy free longer!
Wish me Luck!
-Alli
However, after eating just one, about 2 inches in diameter, I felt my stomach starting to hurt within the next 20 minutes. At first I just thought, no hoped, that maybe, just maybe, it only hurt because I had eaten too many cookies and chips. But we all know that there is quite a difference between a "belly ache" and an "allergy ache"...they are two completely different feelings. In the next five minutes, I could tell it was a reaction because my body was heating up and my stomach really hurt. My mom and dad arrived in the nurses office soon after that, and when my mom had to leave for a doctors appointment, she told my dad "Take care of my baby girl". She felt horrible that she couldn't stay when I was in so much pain, but don't worry mom, dad took care of me!
As I sat in the nurses office, school ended and everyone went home. But not me, I sat with the nurse and my dad for another hour and a half. Towards the end, I just wanted to throw up, just so I could get everything out of my system, and after starting to have an itchy neck, it finally happened. As soon as I was done, I felt 110% better and I, exhausted after a lot of Benadryl, went home.
I guess when I told my friend that her latkas were safe for me, I was saying it not because it was true, but because I wanted them so badly to be safe. I let my feelings cloud my judgment, and endangered myself in the process. Today was my first allergy reaction in over 2 years, and I can easily say that it was a learning lesson for me. This time around, I'm going to try to stay allergy free longer!
Wish me Luck!
-Alli
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Things "They" Don't Think Of
2 years ago, I was scheduled to get braces. But before that was even planned, my mom took me to a dermatologist- for, you guessed it- allergy testing! I was going to be living two years with strips of metal in my mouth, and I definitely didn't want to be allergic to it! For 2 whole weeks I had to wear a white bandage on my forearm while the testing was going on...I got many questions from people thinking that I had somehow hurt myself! Fortunately that was not the case. Though it turned out that I am allergic to magnesium- interesting, isn't it? That a person can be allergic to metal...Well anyway, magnesium was not an "ingredient" in the braces and I set my appointment. I have now been braces free for almost 4 months now and completely allergy safe!
However strange the idea of getting tested for allergies to braces may seem to outsiders of the "allergy world", it is a natural thought process for anyone with allergies! If anything is going to be in contact with you that you haven't been in contact with before, it is natural to get tested for it, including braces!It may not be something "they" (non-allergic people that is) would ever understand or even think of, but it's important to keep yourself safe! So even though it may seem unlikely that you'll be allergic to it, get tested anyways! As my dad always says "It's better to be safe than sorry!"
Best of Luck!
-Alli
However strange the idea of getting tested for allergies to braces may seem to outsiders of the "allergy world", it is a natural thought process for anyone with allergies! If anything is going to be in contact with you that you haven't been in contact with before, it is natural to get tested for it, including braces!It may not be something "they" (non-allergic people that is) would ever understand or even think of, but it's important to keep yourself safe! So even though it may seem unlikely that you'll be allergic to it, get tested anyways! As my dad always says "It's better to be safe than sorry!"
Best of Luck!
-Alli
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Facebook Page Cover Photo Contest!
THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME!
I posted about 2 months ago on my Facebook page that once my page reached 100 likes, I was going to have a contest! Well, thanks to my many followers, I have reached 101 likes and its CONTEST TIME!!!
Here is your task:
Design a cover photo for my Facebook Page that is allergy-related!!!
As for the design of the photo, it is up to you! It can be hand drawn by your child, computer generated, or even a photo of something! Whatever you think is best! Just make sure the photo is going to fit as a Facebook cover photo!
I will be accepting photos until December 24th and will initiate the new cover photo on December 25th! (A pretty good Christmas present for the winner!) That gives you 15 days! Spread the word around and Best of Luck!
-Alli
I posted about 2 months ago on my Facebook page that once my page reached 100 likes, I was going to have a contest! Well, thanks to my many followers, I have reached 101 likes and its CONTEST TIME!!!
Here is your task:
Design a cover photo for my Facebook Page that is allergy-related!!!
As for the design of the photo, it is up to you! It can be hand drawn by your child, computer generated, or even a photo of something! Whatever you think is best! Just make sure the photo is going to fit as a Facebook cover photo!
I will be accepting photos until December 24th and will initiate the new cover photo on December 25th! (A pretty good Christmas present for the winner!) That gives you 15 days! Spread the word around and Best of Luck!
https://www.facebook.com/AllergyAlli
-Alli
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The Benefits of Food Allergies- YOUR Opinions!
Lisa says: "Helps us eat healthier and reduces the amount of processed foods in our house! Baking and cooking really is a nice family activity!"
Amanda says: "We eat so much healthier! I've lost over 20 pounds since my daughters food allergy diagnosis. Love providing my family with wholesome WHOLE foods to eat. Better for everyone!"
Jenni says: "I hate for allergies for many reasons, but one reason I am grateful for them is that they have forced us to reconsider what we all as a family put into our bodies, and we now eat healthier for it. And since being more aware of our daughters food issues, we have began listening to our own bodies more"
Shannon says: I am truly grateful for the social 'filter' that food allergies offer. While it took me a while to see it as a gift, I love how real and honest our friendships are with others. Food allergies gave us the blessing of understanding who accepts our lives as a family against those that don't. I came to realize that some people don't 'get it' or want to 'get it' and that's okay. When you meet those that DO care and completely support you for YOU...wow! That's a real friend!! Such a blessing!
Anonymous says: "[My son] has always been positive about his allergies but the positive he has is money money money. I don't mean we bribe him lol. His pocket money, birthday money, grandparents give him money, etc. Anyway my eldest son spends his on sweets etc but because the youngest can't he has a savings that is the envy of all. He always has money to buy what he wants. And to quote 'It's cool having allergies'."
These are all great reasons!
For me, I think food allergies have made me much stronger and even more independent than I ever would have been if I didn't have allergies. Think about it. Everyday we have to deal with watching what we eat. We also have to deal with others wondering why we don't eat what they eat and then having to give the whole explanation. (You all know the one!) But everyday I am proud to have food allergies! They have made me who I am, and if I was given the choice to be born without them, I wouldn't take it! They have taught me more about myself than anyone or anything out there. Sure, someday I hope I grow out of them, but for now, I'm happy as I am!
-Alli
Amanda says: "We eat so much healthier! I've lost over 20 pounds since my daughters food allergy diagnosis. Love providing my family with wholesome WHOLE foods to eat. Better for everyone!"
Jenni says: "I hate for allergies for many reasons, but one reason I am grateful for them is that they have forced us to reconsider what we all as a family put into our bodies, and we now eat healthier for it. And since being more aware of our daughters food issues, we have began listening to our own bodies more"
Shannon says: I am truly grateful for the social 'filter' that food allergies offer. While it took me a while to see it as a gift, I love how real and honest our friendships are with others. Food allergies gave us the blessing of understanding who accepts our lives as a family against those that don't. I came to realize that some people don't 'get it' or want to 'get it' and that's okay. When you meet those that DO care and completely support you for YOU...wow! That's a real friend!! Such a blessing!
Anonymous says: "[My son] has always been positive about his allergies but the positive he has is money money money. I don't mean we bribe him lol. His pocket money, birthday money, grandparents give him money, etc. Anyway my eldest son spends his on sweets etc but because the youngest can't he has a savings that is the envy of all. He always has money to buy what he wants. And to quote 'It's cool having allergies'."
These are all great reasons!
For me, I think food allergies have made me much stronger and even more independent than I ever would have been if I didn't have allergies. Think about it. Everyday we have to deal with watching what we eat. We also have to deal with others wondering why we don't eat what they eat and then having to give the whole explanation. (You all know the one!) But everyday I am proud to have food allergies! They have made me who I am, and if I was given the choice to be born without them, I wouldn't take it! They have taught me more about myself than anyone or anything out there. Sure, someday I hope I grow out of them, but for now, I'm happy as I am!
-Alli
Friday, December 7, 2012
It's Been Approved!
I have been meaning to tell you all for a while now, but as of about 1 week ago, my Silver Award Project has been approved! This means that I can move onto my Gold Award. I plan on continuing Allergy Alli even though my project is over and am hoping that I can somehow incorporate it into my Gold Award as well!
Wish me luck!
-Alli
Wish me luck!
-Alli
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Benefits of Food Allergies
Have you ever realized that people always talk of food allergies in a negative point of view? Why is that?!?! If you know how to live with food allergies and you understand them, are they really that bad? I want to composite a list of all your opinions. Why are food allergies beneficial to you and your life? Get your child's opinion as well!
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