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!

OMG ... I left the Epipen at home!

Yep, that was me yesterday morning. Almost to the city on the way to daycare/work when I realized I didn't have the damned thing. Talk about instantaneous panic!

Rationally, I knew it wasn't that big of a deal because he'd be at daycare, where we've left an Epipen so I don't have to cart it back and forth. And daycare was the only place he'd be going (and eating) that morning.

The irrational, emotional part of me, however, was none too happy. And that nasty little internal critic kept up a running dialogue, all morning. How could I have been so stupid? I was definitely a failure in the allergy mommy department. And it went on and on until I literally was sitting in the truck on the way back to pick the boys up from daycare and had to yell "Shut up!" at the top of my lungs. Then it quit, thankfully ;-)

I'm used to carrying Ventolin and an aerochamber around with me, but they're not affected by temperature and so I just leave them in my rather large purse. The Epipen, being temperature-sensitive, sometimes gets taken out. And yesterday morning it didn't get put back in. In my hurry to get out the door on time, I forgot to grab it.

Now it, the Benadryl, the Ventolin, and the aerochamber have their very own home (much like this one) and I'll need to find something to put them in, as the whole container won't fit in my current purse ... and I should maybe find something to put it in, as I'm not sure my husband will be thrilled about carrying around a plastic container when it's just him and the boys.

Regardless, you can bet I'll be more vigilent about making sure I've got *everything* before I go out the door!