On a cold icy snowy afternoon in the winter of 2010 I used my EpiPen for the first time ever, whilst in the grip of a terrifying anaphylactic attack. Little did I know when I took this beautiful photograph that in a few hours I would be in A&E. I had been out for lunch with a friend and had what I felt to be a safe meal; smoked Salmon and scrambled eggs with brown … [Read more...]
Top 10 Tips for getting over an allergic reaction
This week I'm recovering from a particularly nasty allergy flare up. It was the usual scenario. When I cook at home everything is fine. When I eat out - even if I'm really careful, things can and do go badly wrong. With me I can eat the food fine, no swelling, no anaphylaxis, (unless it had contained nuts or dairy) but there are some little ingredients, which I have not yet … [Read more...]
How to use an EpiPen – a simple demonstration
Everyone should learn how to use an Epipen. It is so simple to use and could save yours and/or someone else's life. I've shown countless friends and family how to use one in the past using a trainer pen, but nothing can prepare you for actually doing it for real. However, if you know how to use one and regularly familiarise yourself with the procedure and order of what needs to … [Read more...]
Surviving Christmas with allergies
Christmas can be hard work for people living with allergies. All the food shopping, parties, gifts you might be allergic to and all the festive traditions that you might miss out on. You probably won't be able to eat the mince pies, chocolate money and chocolate treats on the tree, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, brandy butter, bread sauce... the list goes on. But you CAN … [Read more...]
Imagine being allergic to ALL FOODS except ice!
Imagine being allergic to ALL food! Imagine a world with no food, no variety and no taste. Or worse still, you are living in a world observing others enjoying food and yet you can only sit by and crunch on ice. I often partake in a little ice crunching in the summer if it’s in the bottom of my glass, but I’m sure I would soon get fed up with it if it was all I had to munch on … [Read more...]