Educating the masses

Well, not really, but if the conversation at my work lunch table yesterday is any indication, it would seem that most people have no clue about severe allergies.  A discussion about food led to one about intolerances, which led to a discussion of the difference between an intolerance and an allergy, which led to a brief biology lesson (Mast cells, histamine, and allergic reactions), which led to "how do you do it?"

It seems that most of the people I have contact with understand that there is a significant difference between an allergy that causes uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms and an allergy that leads to anaphylasis, but most have no idea what that difference is.  And there seems to be a lot of misinformation out there about what can and cannot cause an anaphylactic reaction.

I had to do an in-depth explanation, at Thanksgiving, as to why the after-eating-sulphites protocol for those of us who *can* eat sulphites exists.  We still eat them, within limits.  Food containing sulphites is only served with metal utensils on/in glass or ceramic dishes (less chance of the sulphites adhering to anything they shouldn't that way).  The person who's eaten the sulphites has the responsibility to ensure that their food (and utensils and hands and anything that may have touched the food) doesn't touch anything else.  Once they're done eating, their dishes go directly to the dishwasher (which I will immediately run) and they have to go wash their hands and brush their teeth (using the same do-not-touch protocol).  It seems a bit extreme, but it's the best I can come up with to still allow sulphites to be consumed in the house and protect William at the same time.  The point I made, when having to defend this process, was that an ounce of prevention (in this case, being very careful about cross-contamination) is worth a pound of cure (use of the Epipen and a trip to RUH's Emergency).

We have another family supper this evening, with a large number of fairly close family who aren't familiar with William's reaction to sulphites, so I think it's going to be a steep learning curve.  I'll be making buns this afternoon to take (so I know he can eat those) and will also make sure to bring some of "his" carrots, too ... I don't want him to feel left out (by not eating the same things as others), but I want to make sure that he's not going to eat anything, either, that'll make him sick.  Wish me luck!