Managing Relationships with Food Allergies
Are you a supporter, family and/or friend of a Food Allergy Sufferer?
Link to => "Do's and Don'ts/ Tips for Food Allergy Supporters"
You may think to yourself “What does what I eat have to, do with my relationships?”
But the truth is, relationships can play a critical role in your health and you’re Food Allergies. For instance, going out to eat with a friend may be a little different. For one thing you will have to explain to your friends about the allergy, as well as the to explain to him or her about the allergy, as well as tell him/her about the medications and epi-pen in case of emergency. It’s also a good idea to pick the venue in advance and get in touch with the food staff or the chef to advise them of your allergies, so as to ensure there isn’t any cross contamination. Depending on the severity of your allergies, the residue of food on a knife used to cut a piece of bread can be deadly.
Having a friendship is so important, especially having a special someone to share your feelings with. On a personal note, I had friends at each stage, helping me get from one stage to the next in my journey. Also keep in mind, not every person can be a friend in need, not everyone truly understands the concept of food allergies, or takes it as seriously as they should/ may need to. Some people try to convince you to eat things for their sake, saying that it’s all in your head. But always remember no matter how close your friend, or how important their friendship, it’s not worth it. Having friends come into your life are gift from God, a companion can act as a vehicle to lead you through this difficult time.
A significant other can also be important. But always be honest about your condition. It’s better to be honest and fair to him/her and yourself. From a physical perspective, it’s very important for you to know, if you are anaphylactic especially, then you need to ensure that your significant other is aware of your food allergies, the reactions that occur, and what foods to stay away from before they come close to you. For example, kissing someone whether it is a loving peck on the cheek or an intimate kiss, you need to know what the person has eaten. If you don’t know what they’ve eaten, you run the risk of a reaction. Not a good idea! It’s like if you’re allergic to peanuts and you’re kissing someone who just had snickers chocolate bar. The remnants of the peanuts will most likely still be in the mouth or on his/her hands and so on.
People often don’t even realize that they have eaten something that may contain an allergen, so just to be safe, always make sure you take matters into your hands and ask the questions you need in order to stay safe and healthy.
But like I mentioned, it’s not even just about an intimate kiss, this can happen when you’re kissing anyone, even a child. Like the time I kissed my nephew after he ate some children’s cereal, not realizing that there were apples in it. I immediately had a severe reaction which almost made me end up in the hospital. I still remember my mother kissing me for the first time in many years after my wheat allergy was gone. I remember the look on her face and the hesitation she had. It was like she wanted to but she didn’t want to hurt me.
So basically the rule of thumb is be careful when going close to people. I’m not trying to scare you away from people in general, just remember that you’re safety is in your own hands. Try putting together a list of foods to avoid and then share this with your close friends and family, this way they know what they should and should not eat when you’re around. Oh and if you do have an plan on being intimate, make sure the person has not eaten an allergen within the last 4 -5 hours, and that he or she has washed their hands and brushed their teeth.
Are you a supporter, family and/or friend of a Food Allergy Sufferer?
Link to => "Do's and Don'ts/ Tips for Food Allergy Supporters"
You may think to yourself “What does what I eat have to, do with my relationships?”
But the truth is, relationships can play a critical role in your health and you’re Food Allergies. For instance, going out to eat with a friend may be a little different. For one thing you will have to explain to your friends about the allergy, as well as the to explain to him or her about the allergy, as well as tell him/her about the medications and epi-pen in case of emergency. It’s also a good idea to pick the venue in advance and get in touch with the food staff or the chef to advise them of your allergies, so as to ensure there isn’t any cross contamination. Depending on the severity of your allergies, the residue of food on a knife used to cut a piece of bread can be deadly.
Having a friendship is so important, especially having a special someone to share your feelings with. On a personal note, I had friends at each stage, helping me get from one stage to the next in my journey. Also keep in mind, not every person can be a friend in need, not everyone truly understands the concept of food allergies, or takes it as seriously as they should/ may need to. Some people try to convince you to eat things for their sake, saying that it’s all in your head. But always remember no matter how close your friend, or how important their friendship, it’s not worth it. Having friends come into your life are gift from God, a companion can act as a vehicle to lead you through this difficult time.
A significant other can also be important. But always be honest about your condition. It’s better to be honest and fair to him/her and yourself. From a physical perspective, it’s very important for you to know, if you are anaphylactic especially, then you need to ensure that your significant other is aware of your food allergies, the reactions that occur, and what foods to stay away from before they come close to you. For example, kissing someone whether it is a loving peck on the cheek or an intimate kiss, you need to know what the person has eaten. If you don’t know what they’ve eaten, you run the risk of a reaction. Not a good idea! It’s like if you’re allergic to peanuts and you’re kissing someone who just had snickers chocolate bar. The remnants of the peanuts will most likely still be in the mouth or on his/her hands and so on.
People often don’t even realize that they have eaten something that may contain an allergen, so just to be safe, always make sure you take matters into your hands and ask the questions you need in order to stay safe and healthy.
But like I mentioned, it’s not even just about an intimate kiss, this can happen when you’re kissing anyone, even a child. Like the time I kissed my nephew after he ate some children’s cereal, not realizing that there were apples in it. I immediately had a severe reaction which almost made me end up in the hospital. I still remember my mother kissing me for the first time in many years after my wheat allergy was gone. I remember the look on her face and the hesitation she had. It was like she wanted to but she didn’t want to hurt me.
So basically the rule of thumb is be careful when going close to people. I’m not trying to scare you away from people in general, just remember that you’re safety is in your own hands. Try putting together a list of foods to avoid and then share this with your close friends and family, this way they know what they should and should not eat when you’re around. Oh and if you do have an plan on being intimate, make sure the person has not eaten an allergen within the last 4 -5 hours, and that he or she has washed their hands and brushed their teeth.
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