Yeah I know what you're thinking....
Why in the world would you start ANOTHER BLOG when you never write for this one?
Well, because I can.
And I wanted to.
And it's going to be an all allergy all the time blog.
It's called Glass City Allergy Mom and you can find it here.
But don't worry...I'll still be sharing my snark and wisdom here for the one or two people who still read my blog (hi there!).
Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allergies. Show all posts
6.17.2015
6.23.2014
The Post Where I Vent About Food Allergies and Insensitive Jerks
There are many things in life that annoy me.
Bad grammar. Overuse of exclamation points. Tailgating drivers. Slow drivers. Brown M&Ms.
And, people who refuse to understand the seriousness of food allergies.
It's been almost three years since Olivia was diagnosed with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame.
In those three years I have become a food allergy advocate for Olivia (and for all the other kids out there who were dealt this very unfair hand). I read all the labels. I do all the research. I warn the waitresses about Liv's allergies. I demand that they tell the kitchen about the allergies. I worry that something might get past the defenses and I'll have to EpiPen my 10 year old in the middle of a restaurant (or my kitchen).
I hope for a cure and know that one might never come.
And I shake my head in total disbelief every time I hear someone say "what's the big deal?" or "it can't be that serious" or "how can YOU still eat peanut butter if Olivia is allergic?"
Let me explain it all again....
The "big deal" is that Olivia has three very serious food allergies. Has she ever experience anaphylaxis? No. Does that mean she'll never go into anaphylaxis? No. She could eat something tomorrow that she's eaten before and JUST LIKE THAT I could be grabbing my EpiPens and calling 911 at the same time.
We do our best to avoid all the known allergens - peanuts, tree nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, coconut, and many many more), and sesame. We avoid restaurants that aren't safe. We avoid ice cream shops where there's a risk of cross contact or cross contamination. We have to tell Olivia "no" and then comfort her when she cries because she can't eat the same dessert everyone else is eating.
We think back to all the times pre-diagnosis when she would eat peanut butter and then wake up vomiting in the middle of the night. We think about how lucky we were that she never had anaphylaxis after eating peanut butter pre-diagnosis. I think about the time we took her to a hibachi restaurant for her 7th birthday and how sick she felt that night (presumably from the sesame seeds that we didn't know were dangerous). We think about how many times she could have had an allergic reaction at school with NO EpiPens in sight. We always think about the "what if" moments.
We don't allow Olivia to eat anything made with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame. Nor do we let her eat anything that is processed in a facility where those allergens are present. We ask questions at the bakery, we order "nut free" cakes knowing in the back of our mind that there is always a small risk that something got through the "nut free barrier."
There is never a guarantee that something that says it is "nut free" is truly nut free. Mistakes will be made. It's often a matter of putting our faith in the labels and trusting that they're accurate.
Do Olivia's allergies mean we don't keep peanut butter in our house? No. We have a jar of it in our pantry, within Olivia's reach. She doesn't touch it and we do our best to not eat it when she's home. We don't keep nuts of any kind in the house, but there are items in our pantry and freezer that she can't eat. And we make sure that she avoids those items. And (OHMYGOD) yes, sometimes I eat peanut butter. When Olivia is home. And I make it a point to not touch her or anything she is using in the kitchen.
And it's not just peanuts and tree nuts that are an issue. We also have to deal with sesame which is a sneaky bastard. I can only buy Panko bread crumbs because there is a sesame risk in most other bread crumbs. We don't order from certain pizza places in town because they use sesame seeds on their crust. Sesame doesn't have to be listed as an allergen according to the FDA because it's not one of the "big 8"...so there's a big guessing game involved with sesame.
I read the label of every food item I'm buying at the store that I know Olivia will be eating and do a small victory dance when I find something "safe" that I know she loves (like powdered sugar doughnuts).
It's all about the labels and avoidance. It's how the world of food allergies work. If you eat pecan pie on Thanksgiving, Olivia will not give you a kiss. If you eat a peanut butter sandwich you can't play with Olivia until you wash your hands. If we have almond chicken with our Chinese take out, keep it away from Olivia's food.
We all have jobs to do to keep our food allergy kids safe.
And this includes dining establishments. There are restaurants where I am 100 percent comfortable taking Olivia because we know they are safe and take food allergies seriously. There are also restaurants where we won't dine (Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A) because they are not safe for Olivia's allergies.
When I can visit a restaurant (or other dining location) and have a conversation with the wait staff and/or kitchen staff about Olivia's allergies and receive an intelligent answer in return, then I know we will come back to that establishment.
When I question a dining establishment about their food safety and possible cross contact issues and I'm told that food labels are essentially "fake" and only exist because the LAWYERS MADE THEM DO IT...well, let's just say I go into my Mama Bear mode and I will do whatever it takes to protect my daughter. Including bringing safe food into that establishment until they change their policies and procedures.
Also, I want to punch them in the face.
Hard.
I don't expect a 'peanut free zone' everywhere we go with Olivia. Hell, our own house isn't 100 percent peanut free. But what I do expect is respect and civility and understanding and compassion.
To anyone who thinks food allergies aren't a big deal and that my requests for food labeling and a reduction in cross contact in the kitchen is stupid, imagine you have a food allergy.
Put yourself in Olivia's shoes for just one day - and make it a day when you're at a friend's birthday party and everyone else is eating cake and ice cream and you can't eat it because the cake is from an "unsafe" bakery and the ice cream has a "processed in the same facility as" warning. Imagine how you would feel. Left out. Singled out. Different. Now multiply that by EVERY SINGLE DAY. Then maybe you'll understand what it's like to have a potentially life-threatening food allergy.
Don't tell me that my child should eat somewhere else. Don't tell me that food labels aren't real. Get educated and start working to protect kids with food allergies. Otherwise, you're just a big jerk.
3.18.2014
My Allergy Adventure [Alternate Title: The Day They Had to EpiPen Me. Twice.]
Yesterday was one of those days.
I had to be at the allergist's office at 9 a.m. for my "penicillin challenge" - which really does sound like some sort of Hunger Games type challenge when you think about it.
Here's the back story: Back in January when I had the plague (OK, it was strep throat but it felt like the Plague), my doctor prescribed an antibiotic for me that she thought would 'work' and not cause me any additional issues. [I have a low tolerance for antibiotics and we were running low on options]. I took the antibiotic (clindamycin) for the full 10 days and then I broke out into hives as soon as I stopped taking it.
My doctor decided I needed to see an allergist to determine why I was allergic to that medicine and what we could do about it.
The allergist said the only antibiotic they can test as an allergen is penicillin (which I hadn't taken in six years because the last time I took that I broke out into hives).
Which bring us to the "challenge" yesterday.
The test started out with a skin test - which was fine. I had no reaction. Then they started shooting penicillin into my arms every 10 minutes. The doses were something like: 1/100,000; 1/10,000; 1/1,00; 1/100, 1/10; and then full strength. After the injections I was going to have to take a couple of doses of amoxocillin by mouth.
The doses were going OK until we hit the 1/10 and full dose. Within a minute or two of the full strength dose I noticed a few things going wrong. My head was immediately stuffy, I was congested, my tongue was tingling, and my lungs were tight.
None of these things seemed OK to me, so I told the nurse who told the allergy doctor. He sent me off to do a breathing test. I passed that but was still feeling "off" so they decided to "observe" me for a bit. Sitting there knowing I was having a reaction to the penicillin was rather nerve racking...the worst part was knowing that my breathing was not OK.
After about 30 minutes the allergy doc came back, looked at my arms (which now had red welts at the injection sites) and said "I'm not comfortable continuing this test. You're having a full reaction and you're officially allergic to penicillin."
Oh, and we're going to have to EpiPen you.
Twice.
Well that's just dandy.
And sure enough, the nurse comes in and shoots me with epinephrine (via syringes) in both arms. If you have never experienced being EpiPen'd let me tell you it is very unpleasant. Almost immediately I was jittery and shaking and it felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. To say it was awful would be an understatement. I also had to take a Zyrtec just for good measure.
And then I sat there, shaking and jittery, for 45 minutes while they continued to "observe" me. Then the doctor comes in and says I surprised him by "failing" the challenge. (Oh goody). And then he gives me a list of all the antibiotics I must avoid, including penicillin (in all I can't take five different "families" of antibiotics in addition to Celebrex).
He also tells me I need to wear a medical alert bracelet at all times (I think I'll just wear it when I'm out and about). And then he gives me a prescription for steroids to help put a stop to the reaction.
The rest of the day was a train wreck. I felt like total crap (and oh yeah, driving after you've been double EpiPen'd is NOT recommended). After the epi wore off I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I couldn't concentrate, I just wanted to sleep.
Oh and I was also itchy all over because I was still having a reaction (once the epi wore off). I ended up taking two prednisone and sleeping for two hours.
Yay for allergy challenges.
Not.
As unpleasant as the challenge was, it's good to know that I really am allergic. And thankfully (??) there are still three types of antibiotics I can take
10.11.2013
Back to School with Children's Claritin
At this rate, I'll have it all figured out by about May 2014. If I'm lucky.
School is great right now - the oldest is rocking out straight A's at the midterm and the youngest is reading (devouring!) at least three chapter books a week. Full rides to an Ivy League university are not too far behind (ha!).
The only "down" side to this whole back-to-school time of year is allergies. And this fall it seems like the sneezing and wheezing and runny noses have been non-stop. I'm hoping for a hard frost soon so we can get rid of the ragweed.
And, as a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I recently had a chance to get some "back to school allergy tips" and since I'm also a mom of allergy kids I think they are great tips to share with all the other moms and dads out there who are trudging through the early school year just like me.
We all know that seasonal allergies are no fun, but Claritin has some tips for making allergy season bearable for everyone.
So without further ado, some tips from Children's Claritin:
1. Make a multi-vitamin part of your child's daily routine - since multi-vitamins are building blocks for a strong immune system.
My girls take two gummy vitamins each day and I think it really makes a difference with their overall health. (Heck, I even started taking "grown up gummies" and I think I'm feeling better too).
2. Keep curtains open during the day because mold doesn't like sunlight.
3. Pillow trap allergens, dust mites, and bacteria! Monitor the cleanliness of your child's pillows.
I think I need to consider new pillows for the kids after typing that sentence. New pillows for everyone!
4. Be sure to remove laundry from the washing machine promptly - allowing wet clothes to sit in the washer means mold can grow quickly.
Yeah. Guilty as charged. But I'm getting better. And when it does sit for too long, I just rewash it. Not sure if that helps or not.
5. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor activities accordingly. Dry, windy days can be particularly high in pollen.
It's been very warm this fall, so we've kept the A/C on a lot longer this fall...which keeps the pollen outside too. But if it's a bad pollen day, even if it's beautiful outside, the kids stay inside!
6. Shower or bathe at the end of the day - instead of the morning - to remove allergens and pollen from hair and body.
This is what the kids do - I want that pollen out of their hair!
7. Stay hydrated! Send kids to school with a bottle of water. Drinking lots of clear fluids throughout the day helps rid the body of toxins.
Thankfully the kids are allowed to take water bottles to school to drink in the classroom.
8. Peak pollen production typically occurs in the morning - plan outside activities accordingly.
9. Be sure to have Children's Claritin - the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand - on hand!
And there you have it...some tips to get you through the fall allergy season and beyond. Here's hoping there's a frost on the way soon to rid the air of the pollen so we can keep the sneezing and wheezing to a minimum.
Happy fall!
Disclaimer: As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experiences.
3.14.2013
The never-ending allergy "adventure"
It's been about 18 months since Olivia was first diagnosed with allergies - both "seasonal" and food. When we found out that she had the "seasonal" allergies
(really, they're year round...trees, pollen, grass, weeds, mold, dogs,
cats) we also found out that she was allergic to peanuts and sesame
seeds. And the allergist said to also avoid tree nuts as a peanut
allergy almost always guarantees an allergy to tree nuts.
So for the past 18 months she has endured two scratch tests, allergy shots every single week, and an almost daily litany of "no, you can't eat that" because of her food allergies.
I immediately became that mom - the one who reads every label in the grocery store, the one who frets about her child going to a friend's birthday party because there might be a cross-contamination risk with the food, the mom who worries all the time about what her child is - or isn't - eating.
Yesterday was Olivia's second scratch test - she had been receiving "maintenance" shots for a year and they determined she was ready to be re-tested on all the original allergens from 18 months ago. For the non-food allergens her numbers were mixed: dogs and cats went down, mold went up, corn pollen suddenly appeared, and ragweed went down. So, a mix of good and bad.
And then the food allergens. All showed as a ZERO. That's right. According to the skin test, Olivia no longer has any food allergies. I asked the physician assistant and the nurse how this was possible after ONLY 18 months and their best answer? "It happens."
That was it.
"It happens."
Well, being THAT mom...that answer wasn't good enough for me. While I understand that it CAN happen - kids can grow out of food allergies - the likelihood of growing out of a peanut allergy is only about 20 percent. And while I would LOVE for my child to be part of that 20 percent....I want to be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that she really has "grown out of" the allergies.
The PA and the nurse seemed totally content with just sending us off on our merry way without a second thought. Until I pushed back (a lot) and demanded a better answer than the one they were giving. ("Hey we have a new Pope! It's a food allergy miracle!" NOT.)
Finally the PA asked about the first skin test 18 months ago and how quickly the peanut and sesame allergy appeared. I told her it was almost an immediate reaction and her response was ... "Oh, that DOES make a difference."
Now we're getting somewhere.
Maybe I'm not CRAZY.
The PA decided that she really DID need more answers and a better confirmation than just the scratch test. So, she ordered a blood test for all nuts and sesame. The blood test is often much more "sensitive" than a scratch test, so if it shows any nut allergens the next step will be a food challenge - where they would have Olivia eat the allergen-inducing food in a controlled medical environment.
Now some of you might be thinking I should just be happy that Olivia was "cured" of her peanut allergy. You might be thinking "damn, don't you want her to be better?" And you might be thinking I'm overreacting to all of this and should just LET IT GO.
But it's not that simple.
YES. I do want her to be better. I want her to feel "normal" and not feel singled out when it comes to food. I wish I could erase the last 18 months and make her forget all the tears that have been shed over foods she couldn't eat. I wish we could go out to dinner and not have to tell the waitress "we have a peanut and sesame allergy." I wish we didn't have to carry EpiPens with us everywhere we go. I wish I didn't have to tell her "no" all the time when it comes to food.
And YES, I am hoping that her allergy really IS gone. I am hoping that somehow she "won the allergy lottery" (as someone said to me in a forum yesterday) and is better. I hope this blood test shows no allergy to nuts or sesame.
But I'm not willing to risk her health and safety and just rely on a scratch test. I'm not willing to just say "OK. She's cured! Now let's eat some peanut butter!" I'm not willing to just chalk it up to luck or a possible faulty test 18 months ago. It's just not worth the risk. And if you're not an allergy parent and don't worry about food all the time like I do, maybe you just don't get it.
And so...we're doing the blood test and heading back to the allergist in two weeks for the results. And yes, I am hoping for the best. I am hoping that maybe the test 18 months ago was just a fluke and she really is better - but I'm also a realist and know that yesterday's test could be wrong and we could still be dealing with food allergies. So, if you could...keep your fingers crossed for a good test result.
So for the past 18 months she has endured two scratch tests, allergy shots every single week, and an almost daily litany of "no, you can't eat that" because of her food allergies.
I immediately became that mom - the one who reads every label in the grocery store, the one who frets about her child going to a friend's birthday party because there might be a cross-contamination risk with the food, the mom who worries all the time about what her child is - or isn't - eating.
Yesterday was Olivia's second scratch test - she had been receiving "maintenance" shots for a year and they determined she was ready to be re-tested on all the original allergens from 18 months ago. For the non-food allergens her numbers were mixed: dogs and cats went down, mold went up, corn pollen suddenly appeared, and ragweed went down. So, a mix of good and bad.
And then the food allergens. All showed as a ZERO. That's right. According to the skin test, Olivia no longer has any food allergies. I asked the physician assistant and the nurse how this was possible after ONLY 18 months and their best answer? "It happens."
That was it.
"It happens."
Well, being THAT mom...that answer wasn't good enough for me. While I understand that it CAN happen - kids can grow out of food allergies - the likelihood of growing out of a peanut allergy is only about 20 percent. And while I would LOVE for my child to be part of that 20 percent....I want to be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that she really has "grown out of" the allergies.
The PA and the nurse seemed totally content with just sending us off on our merry way without a second thought. Until I pushed back (a lot) and demanded a better answer than the one they were giving. ("Hey we have a new Pope! It's a food allergy miracle!" NOT.)
Finally the PA asked about the first skin test 18 months ago and how quickly the peanut and sesame allergy appeared. I told her it was almost an immediate reaction and her response was ... "Oh, that DOES make a difference."
Now we're getting somewhere.
Maybe I'm not CRAZY.
The PA decided that she really DID need more answers and a better confirmation than just the scratch test. So, she ordered a blood test for all nuts and sesame. The blood test is often much more "sensitive" than a scratch test, so if it shows any nut allergens the next step will be a food challenge - where they would have Olivia eat the allergen-inducing food in a controlled medical environment.
Now some of you might be thinking I should just be happy that Olivia was "cured" of her peanut allergy. You might be thinking "damn, don't you want her to be better?" And you might be thinking I'm overreacting to all of this and should just LET IT GO.
But it's not that simple.
YES. I do want her to be better. I want her to feel "normal" and not feel singled out when it comes to food. I wish I could erase the last 18 months and make her forget all the tears that have been shed over foods she couldn't eat. I wish we could go out to dinner and not have to tell the waitress "we have a peanut and sesame allergy." I wish we didn't have to carry EpiPens with us everywhere we go. I wish I didn't have to tell her "no" all the time when it comes to food.
And YES, I am hoping that her allergy really IS gone. I am hoping that somehow she "won the allergy lottery" (as someone said to me in a forum yesterday) and is better. I hope this blood test shows no allergy to nuts or sesame.
But I'm not willing to risk her health and safety and just rely on a scratch test. I'm not willing to just say "OK. She's cured! Now let's eat some peanut butter!" I'm not willing to just chalk it up to luck or a possible faulty test 18 months ago. It's just not worth the risk. And if you're not an allergy parent and don't worry about food all the time like I do, maybe you just don't get it.
And so...we're doing the blood test and heading back to the allergist in two weeks for the results. And yes, I am hoping for the best. I am hoping that maybe the test 18 months ago was just a fluke and she really is better - but I'm also a realist and know that yesterday's test could be wrong and we could still be dealing with food allergies. So, if you could...keep your fingers crossed for a good test result.
11.25.2012
Adventures with Scooby - Day 5 & 6
Today is the last day Scooby the guinea pig will be a guest at our house. I have to take the little furry rodent back to Emma's classroom tomorrow morning. (That should prove to be an adventure).
All in all, this little "test visit" was successful. Guinea pigs don't do much other than eat and sleep. And poop, as was apparent from the required cage cleaning this morning. And here I thought cat litter boxes were gross.
Oh, and the sneezing and wheezing from me? Yep. Still happening. As I sit here typing I'm wheezing like a two-pack-a-day smoker ... thanks to the dust that attacked me while Kevin and I cleaned the cage. I think it's still from the alfalfa hay and not the bedding. But I'm going to have to do some more research.
Taking care of Scooby was much easier than anticipated. And Emma had a blast. I'm really proud of her "saving skills" - not many kindergartners could save their reward tickets for 50 days just to get the privilege of taking home a guinea pig. So far, Emma is the only kid in her class to do so.
And so, the furry little pig goes "home" tomorrow and I have a little more than two months to prepare myself for the guinea pig we'll be buying Emma for her birthday.
The things we do for our kids.
10 p.m. and an update: Emma is incredibly sad about Scooby going "home" tomorrow morning. She cried for a good 30 minutes tonight. So, I let her sit in bed and hold the little furball for a while. And I tried to explain that she's not really telling Scooby "goodbye" since she'll get to see her everyday at school. To which she replied "but not on weekends and not at night."
Yeah. I can't rationalize that one. She's right. I suppose it's a good thing that pretty soon she'll have her very own guinea pig. And she's decided on names: "Minnie" if it's a girl, and "Mickey" if it's a boy.
All in all, this little "test visit" was successful. Guinea pigs don't do much other than eat and sleep. And poop, as was apparent from the required cage cleaning this morning. And here I thought cat litter boxes were gross.
Oh, and the sneezing and wheezing from me? Yep. Still happening. As I sit here typing I'm wheezing like a two-pack-a-day smoker ... thanks to the dust that attacked me while Kevin and I cleaned the cage. I think it's still from the alfalfa hay and not the bedding. But I'm going to have to do some more research.
Taking care of Scooby was much easier than anticipated. And Emma had a blast. I'm really proud of her "saving skills" - not many kindergartners could save their reward tickets for 50 days just to get the privilege of taking home a guinea pig. So far, Emma is the only kid in her class to do so.
And so, the furry little pig goes "home" tomorrow and I have a little more than two months to prepare myself for the guinea pig we'll be buying Emma for her birthday.
The things we do for our kids.
10 p.m. and an update: Emma is incredibly sad about Scooby going "home" tomorrow morning. She cried for a good 30 minutes tonight. So, I let her sit in bed and hold the little furball for a while. And I tried to explain that she's not really telling Scooby "goodbye" since she'll get to see her everyday at school. To which she replied "but not on weekends and not at night."
Yeah. I can't rationalize that one. She's right. I suppose it's a good thing that pretty soon she'll have her very own guinea pig. And she's decided on names: "Minnie" if it's a girl, and "Mickey" if it's a boy.
11.21.2012
Adventures with Scooby - Day 2
I'm starting to think that all guinea pigs do is eat and sleep.
That's all Scooby has done.
Then again, what more could a guinea pig do?
They don't do tricks. (Do they?)
And we can't let her run around the house...the dogs and/or cat might eat her. And well, that would be really difficult to explain to the kindergarten teacher. Not to mention the 17 other kids who might want to take Scooby home this year.
So, the pig stays in her cage. In Emma's bedroom. Behind closed doors.
And she eats. Apples. Carrots. Alfalfa hay. And some weird dry food mix.
Oh and yes, I'm STILL allergic to that darn alfalfa hay.
I wheezed for hours last night.
This morning I held my breath thinking that might help.
It didn't. I wheezed for another hour or so.
I'm thinking if we are really going to allow Emma her very own guinea pig we'll need to find an alternative to alfalfa hay.
Stay tuned.
More Scooby adventures on the horizon.
That's all Scooby has done.
Then again, what more could a guinea pig do?
They don't do tricks. (Do they?)
And we can't let her run around the house...the dogs and/or cat might eat her. And well, that would be really difficult to explain to the kindergarten teacher. Not to mention the 17 other kids who might want to take Scooby home this year.
So, the pig stays in her cage. In Emma's bedroom. Behind closed doors.
And she eats. Apples. Carrots. Alfalfa hay. And some weird dry food mix.
Oh and yes, I'm STILL allergic to that darn alfalfa hay.
I wheezed for hours last night.
This morning I held my breath thinking that might help.
It didn't. I wheezed for another hour or so.
I'm thinking if we are really going to allow Emma her very own guinea pig we'll need to find an alternative to alfalfa hay.
Stay tuned.
More Scooby adventures on the horizon.
4.16.2012
Unsolicted parenting advice not wanted
Most parents would agree that unsolicited parenting advice is unwanted and rather annoying. It's happened to all of us at one point - while the baby screams at the grocery store the nosy grandma walks over to tell you (1) how to soothe a crying baby or (2) why you shouldn't have a baby at the store. Or the toddler is having a meltdown in the middle of Target and the grumpy old man walks past, stopping just long enough to tell you in his day kids weren't so spoiled.
It's annoying.
And infuriating.
And today, I received unsolicited parenting advice. From a teenage boy.
Yeah.
True story.
Each Monday afternoon we have to visit the allergist's office for Olivia's weekly allergy shots. We're normally in the waiting room for 30 minutes. That's it. And, the girls are always well-behaved, even if they get a little antsy after a while. I'll be the first to admit that those 30 minutes often feel like three hours. But I digress.
Just like any other Monday, the waiting room was a flurry of activity today. Lots of kids and adults getting shots, a few people talking, and this braces-wearing-Algebra-doing teenager. He's there every week. Looking smugly at everyone as he punches numbers in his calculator, working on his math homework.
As we waited the requisite 15 minutes after Olivia's shots, Emma walked around the waiting room a few times, sampling the chairs a la Goldilocks. But she was quiet. Once or twice I had to remind her that she WAS wearing a dress and she needed to "sit like a girl"...but no one was being loud or obnoxious. Olivia sat quietly, telling me about her day at school.
And the nosy teenage boy worked on his homework.
Just before our waiting time was up, he stood up, packed up his backpack, checked his TWO watches, and walked over to me. And said this: "Um, ma'am..can I make a suggestion? Perhaps if you would bring crayons and paper for your kids they wouldn't be so bored."
OK. First of all. I despise being called ma'am. It's one of those words that just makes my skin crawl. But I digress. Secondly, who in the HELL do you think you are, you snot-nosed little brat? How dare YOU tell me how to parent? What in the world do YOU, a 14 year old little boy, know about parenting?
I'll tell you what you know.
Not a damn thing.
Nothing.
My response to his "suggestion"? I said, "Thank. I don't need your help." I wanted to say more, but I feared the accidental release of an F-bomb (or three) on his poor, impressionable youth. And then, he would have called his mom and well...it would have ended badly on all accounts. So, I held my tongue and tweeted out my frustration instead.
But in all seriousness, what in the world is wrong with people? Why would anyone think it's OK to tell someone else how to parent? Yeah, I see people all the time that cause me to think "holy crap, some people should be required to get a license before having kids"...but I wouldn't go up to them and tell them how they should parent. Why? Because 99.99% of the time it's none of my business. (Granted, if I saw someone harming their kids, I'd step in. Or report them).
For all intents and purposes though, don't give other people parenting advice.
Unless they ask for it.
And to the teenage kid at the doctor's office?
Mind your own damn business.
It's annoying.
And infuriating.
And today, I received unsolicited parenting advice. From a teenage boy.
Yeah.
True story.
Each Monday afternoon we have to visit the allergist's office for Olivia's weekly allergy shots. We're normally in the waiting room for 30 minutes. That's it. And, the girls are always well-behaved, even if they get a little antsy after a while. I'll be the first to admit that those 30 minutes often feel like three hours. But I digress.
Just like any other Monday, the waiting room was a flurry of activity today. Lots of kids and adults getting shots, a few people talking, and this braces-wearing-Algebra-doing teenager. He's there every week. Looking smugly at everyone as he punches numbers in his calculator, working on his math homework.
As we waited the requisite 15 minutes after Olivia's shots, Emma walked around the waiting room a few times, sampling the chairs a la Goldilocks. But she was quiet. Once or twice I had to remind her that she WAS wearing a dress and she needed to "sit like a girl"...but no one was being loud or obnoxious. Olivia sat quietly, telling me about her day at school.
And the nosy teenage boy worked on his homework.
Just before our waiting time was up, he stood up, packed up his backpack, checked his TWO watches, and walked over to me. And said this: "Um, ma'am..can I make a suggestion? Perhaps if you would bring crayons and paper for your kids they wouldn't be so bored."
OK. First of all. I despise being called ma'am. It's one of those words that just makes my skin crawl. But I digress. Secondly, who in the HELL do you think you are, you snot-nosed little brat? How dare YOU tell me how to parent? What in the world do YOU, a 14 year old little boy, know about parenting?
I'll tell you what you know.
Not a damn thing.
Nothing.
My response to his "suggestion"? I said, "Thank. I don't need your help." I wanted to say more, but I feared the accidental release of an F-bomb (or three) on his poor, impressionable youth. And then, he would have called his mom and well...it would have ended badly on all accounts. So, I held my tongue and tweeted out my frustration instead.
But in all seriousness, what in the world is wrong with people? Why would anyone think it's OK to tell someone else how to parent? Yeah, I see people all the time that cause me to think "holy crap, some people should be required to get a license before having kids"...but I wouldn't go up to them and tell them how they should parent. Why? Because 99.99% of the time it's none of my business. (Granted, if I saw someone harming their kids, I'd step in. Or report them).
For all intents and purposes though, don't give other people parenting advice.
Unless they ask for it.
And to the teenage kid at the doctor's office?
Mind your own damn business.
3.20.2012
It's allergy season and I have exciting news!
As most of my readers know, Olivia was diagnosed last fall with serious seasonal allergies (and food allergies). Even before her diagnosis, we've been using Children's Claritin to help get her through the worst allergy symptoms.
I am so honored to be a member of the Children's Claritin Moms Crew. I can't wait to learn more about a product we already know and love - and hopefully learn more about how I can help Olivia deal with her allergies.
And....I can't wait to share the information with all of you!
Keep an eye on my blog - I'm sure I'll be sharing more great things with you over the next few months and beyond!
And be sure to check out Claritin's Facebook page too!
Disclosure: As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience."
2.03.2012
Classroom parties, peanut allergies, and homemade cookies
Having a child with an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts is not easy. Every trip to the store is full of label reading and "nope, she can't eat this either." Going out to eat involves informing the wait staff and restaurant manager that they need to insure there's no cross-contamination with products that are made with or contain peaunuts/tree nuts (and sesame...let's not forget sesame).
For the most part, people are very accommodating ... the last time we went to eat with my mother-in-law, our waitress went out of her way to be awesome and made sure everything was "risk free." But every now and then you run in to people who act like it's "no big deal" if there's a little bit of risk that Olivia might "accidentally" consume something made with (or near) peanut products.
Case in point: back in December I blogged about thebrainless irresponsible parents who chose to ignore the "peanut allergy" warnings for classroom "holiday party" and sent in foods made with peanut butter, peanuts, and various other tree nuts. I was furious after that party - how hard is it to just NOT cook something that contains peanuts? How difficult is it to take the health and safety of all the kids into consideration?
Sometimes I really want to just smack people upside the head and scream "YES! This is a serious peanut allergy. NO she cannot eat anything that is made with peanuts or tree nuts, nor can she eat anything that is PROCESSED in a plant that processes food made with peanuts or tree nuts." There is no gray area here - I have instituted a ban on these products. Hell, I try to not eat peanut butter if Liv is home, just because I don't want her to come in contact with it. (Yeah. I'm a bit overprotective. The French would hate me).
I'm trying to protect my daughter and meanwhile these other parents are serving peanut butter cookies to the classroom without pausing to think about how potentially dangerous that could be. This is not OK with me.
Fast forward to today. The classroom mom for Liv's second grade class called me and asked me to bring in the treat for the classroom Valentine's Day party. She said that she cannot imagine what it's like to have to deal with this kind of allergy, and she wants to make sure Olivia can eat the very same treats as the rest of the class. She didn't want to single her out or make her feel "left out" of the fun.
I thanked her for the concern and told her how much I truly appreciated it. And, I agreed to bake homemade sugar cookies - from scratch - that are peanut free and soy free (there's a soy allergy in the class too). Beyond thanking her over and over and over again, I really wanted to give her a gold star for caring this much. It means so much to me that another parent would be so concerned about my daughter's health and well-being.
It's all about using your brain, kids.
While it can be challenging, dealing with a food allergy doesn't have to be scary - it's about being smart and understanding how serious it really is. And when it comes to peanuts and tree nuts for Olivia ... "no" really does mean "never."
For the most part, people are very accommodating ... the last time we went to eat with my mother-in-law, our waitress went out of her way to be awesome and made sure everything was "risk free." But every now and then you run in to people who act like it's "no big deal" if there's a little bit of risk that Olivia might "accidentally" consume something made with (or near) peanut products.
Case in point: back in December I blogged about the
Sometimes I really want to just smack people upside the head and scream "YES! This is a serious peanut allergy. NO she cannot eat anything that is made with peanuts or tree nuts, nor can she eat anything that is PROCESSED in a plant that processes food made with peanuts or tree nuts." There is no gray area here - I have instituted a ban on these products. Hell, I try to not eat peanut butter if Liv is home, just because I don't want her to come in contact with it. (Yeah. I'm a bit overprotective. The French would hate me).
I'm trying to protect my daughter and meanwhile these other parents are serving peanut butter cookies to the classroom without pausing to think about how potentially dangerous that could be. This is not OK with me.
Fast forward to today. The classroom mom for Liv's second grade class called me and asked me to bring in the treat for the classroom Valentine's Day party. She said that she cannot imagine what it's like to have to deal with this kind of allergy, and she wants to make sure Olivia can eat the very same treats as the rest of the class. She didn't want to single her out or make her feel "left out" of the fun.
I thanked her for the concern and told her how much I truly appreciated it. And, I agreed to bake homemade sugar cookies - from scratch - that are peanut free and soy free (there's a soy allergy in the class too). Beyond thanking her over and over and over again, I really wanted to give her a gold star for caring this much. It means so much to me that another parent would be so concerned about my daughter's health and well-being.
It's all about using your brain, kids.
While it can be challenging, dealing with a food allergy doesn't have to be scary - it's about being smart and understanding how serious it really is. And when it comes to peanuts and tree nuts for Olivia ... "no" really does mean "never."
10.20.2011
Allergy Adventures - What I'm learning
So, it's been about a month since we first found out that Olivia had allergies. Serious allergies. When the pediatrician called and said "It's bad, really bad," my heart sank. A week later when we got the "official" word from the allergist about what exactly we were dealing it I sort of panicked. And ... well, let's just say I'm still processing it.
I am still unable to fully comprehend HOW this happened. Olivia has never experienced an adverse reaction to peanuts or sesame. And yet, she cannot eat anything made/processed with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame.
Yes, I've shed some tears over this.
Yes, I feel like I'm navigating this on my own (with Kevin, of course).
And yes, I have become THAT mom.
You know...the mom who now reads every label at the grocery store and then calls my husband to say "well, I found ONE MORE THING Olivia can't eat." I'm the mom who told the "classroom mom" yesterday that I'm coming to the Halloween party in two weeks so I can "monitor" what Olivia is eating. (This other mom was GREAT about it..she's even making Olivia a special snack for the party). I'm the mom who emailed Arby's and asked WHY they didn't list sesame as an allergen in their food products.
(I received a great response from their head food safety guy - it's a legal thing...apparently Arby's legal team only allows EIGHT allergens to be listed. Sesame is #9. Stupid, right?)
Yep, I'm a mom of a kid with food allergies.
A few weeks ago at the allergist's office, as we were waiting the 20 minutes after her shots, some punk teenager decides to EAT A PACKAGE OF PEANUTS....IN THE WAITING ROOM. Let's just say I was suddenly a mama grizzly, protecting my "cub." What did I do? Well, I reported him to the nurses. While Olivia CAN be around people eating nuts ... who in their right mind would EAT THEM in the waiting room of an allergy doctor where people with food allergies could be sitting? Apparently, stupid was on special that day.
It can just be so overwhelming.
There are so many things Liv can't/shouldn't have anymore: anything with sesame seeds (bun, bagels), Chinese food, regular M&Ms, most candy bars, granola bars, "break and bake" cookies, bagged chocolate chips, some cereals, doughnuts, anything from the grocery store bakery, some ice cream (including no more trips to Cold Stone - just in case of "cross contamination"). And, I make sure I check out the allergens that could appear at restaurants.
We have found a great source of "allergen free foods" - Enjoy Life foods ... and, Olivia loves their chocolate chip cookies (and their bagged chocolate chips). She seems rather unfazed by all of this ... I think because a lot of what she can't have she never really ate (peanut butter, candy with peanuts, sesame seeds, etc.). And, while Halloween will be a challenge...I'm going to make sure Olivia has her "own" nut-free candy and we will have fun!
And now, I must prepare myself for the grocery store.
More labels to read, ya know.
I am still unable to fully comprehend HOW this happened. Olivia has never experienced an adverse reaction to peanuts or sesame. And yet, she cannot eat anything made/processed with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame.
Yes, I've shed some tears over this.
Yes, I feel like I'm navigating this on my own (with Kevin, of course).
And yes, I have become THAT mom.
You know...the mom who now reads every label at the grocery store and then calls my husband to say "well, I found ONE MORE THING Olivia can't eat." I'm the mom who told the "classroom mom" yesterday that I'm coming to the Halloween party in two weeks so I can "monitor" what Olivia is eating. (This other mom was GREAT about it..she's even making Olivia a special snack for the party). I'm the mom who emailed Arby's and asked WHY they didn't list sesame as an allergen in their food products.
(I received a great response from their head food safety guy - it's a legal thing...apparently Arby's legal team only allows EIGHT allergens to be listed. Sesame is #9. Stupid, right?)
Yep, I'm a mom of a kid with food allergies.
A few weeks ago at the allergist's office, as we were waiting the 20 minutes after her shots, some punk teenager decides to EAT A PACKAGE OF PEANUTS....IN THE WAITING ROOM. Let's just say I was suddenly a mama grizzly, protecting my "cub." What did I do? Well, I reported him to the nurses. While Olivia CAN be around people eating nuts ... who in their right mind would EAT THEM in the waiting room of an allergy doctor where people with food allergies could be sitting? Apparently, stupid was on special that day.
It can just be so overwhelming.
There are so many things Liv can't/shouldn't have anymore: anything with sesame seeds (bun, bagels), Chinese food, regular M&Ms, most candy bars, granola bars, "break and bake" cookies, bagged chocolate chips, some cereals, doughnuts, anything from the grocery store bakery, some ice cream (including no more trips to Cold Stone - just in case of "cross contamination"). And, I make sure I check out the allergens that could appear at restaurants.
We have found a great source of "allergen free foods" - Enjoy Life foods ... and, Olivia loves their chocolate chip cookies (and their bagged chocolate chips). She seems rather unfazed by all of this ... I think because a lot of what she can't have she never really ate (peanut butter, candy with peanuts, sesame seeds, etc.). And, while Halloween will be a challenge...I'm going to make sure Olivia has her "own" nut-free candy and we will have fun!
And now, I must prepare myself for the grocery store.
More labels to read, ya know.
10.15.2011
I'm still here
Yes, OK....I'm still here.
I haven't forgotten about this blog...despite the fact that I haven't written in a week.
This week was just a little too crazy, that's all.
Remember this post from September 13?
The one where I talked about being sick and dizzy?
Yes well...I was dizzy for THREE WEEKS and on Monday I was diagnosed with bronchitis, which I probably had since sometime last week.
So...yeah.
I didn't feel much like blogging this week.
I was too preoccupied with coughing up a lung or two.
Anyway...
I have several things to blog about, including our continuing "adventure" (sarcasm duly noted) with Olivia's newly diagnosed allergies and the fact that I am now training for the Walt Disney World "Royal Family 5K" in February. (Yes, I am going to RUN in a 5K. Shocking, right?).
More on both of those topics in later posts.
For now, I have to get moving.
Olivia is cheering this morning.
And it's currently 50 degrees outside with a wind chill of 44 thanks to 22 mph wind gusts.
I will be sitting OUTSIDE in this weather, dreaming of moving to Florida.
The things I do for my kids.
I haven't forgotten about this blog...despite the fact that I haven't written in a week.
This week was just a little too crazy, that's all.
Remember this post from September 13?
The one where I talked about being sick and dizzy?
Yes well...I was dizzy for THREE WEEKS and on Monday I was diagnosed with bronchitis, which I probably had since sometime last week.
So...yeah.
I didn't feel much like blogging this week.
I was too preoccupied with coughing up a lung or two.
Anyway...
I have several things to blog about, including our continuing "adventure" (sarcasm duly noted) with Olivia's newly diagnosed allergies and the fact that I am now training for the Walt Disney World "Royal Family 5K" in February. (Yes, I am going to RUN in a 5K. Shocking, right?).
More on both of those topics in later posts.
For now, I have to get moving.
Olivia is cheering this morning.
And it's currently 50 degrees outside with a wind chill of 44 thanks to 22 mph wind gusts.
I will be sitting OUTSIDE in this weather, dreaming of moving to Florida.
The things I do for my kids.
9.26.2011
Allergies are in the house....
Today was Olivia's consult and allergy skin test with the new doctor. The skin test was a very long 15 minutes during which Olivia cried and I held her hands (not only to comfort her, but also to keep her from scratching her arms).
I watched as little bumps formed over certain spots on her arms - being the "nosy" mom that I am, I made sure to look at what allergens they were testing before the scratch test started. I noticed that ragweed, cats, dogs and PEANUTS were the fastest growing "spots."
This was not a good thing.
Once the doctor came in and looked at her arms, he explained what she's allergic to. The scale they used was 0 (negative) up to 5 (VERY STRONG positive).
This is the list:
- Cat dander: 4/5
- Dog epidermal: 3/5
- Alfalfa: 3/5
- Tree mix (5 trees): 4/5
- Tree mix (6 trees): 4/5
- Weeds: 2/5
- South grass mix: 4/5
- Ragweed: 4/5
And now the foods:
- Corn (food): 2/5
- Sesame Seed: 3/5
- Soybean: 3/5
- Peanut: 4/5
OK...so the trees, weeds, grass and ragweed I expected. I wasn't surprised by the dog and cat allergy either (even though she's lived with both animals her entire life and hasn't had any issues). The doctor said DO NOT get rid of your animals because the shots that Olivia will be getting over the next few years will build up her "immunity" to all of these things.
But the food allergies.....
Those I cannot wrap my brain around.
The doctor said not to worry about the corn allergy (OK, I won't) or the soybean allergy (really, the kid isn't going to start eating Edamame anytime soon). However, Olivia is supposed to avoid seasame seeds (the doctor actually said "no sesame chicken" ...lol) and peanuts.
I asked him how it was possible for her to have a peanut allergy and NEVER have any reaction of any kind and he didn't really have a clear answer. He simply said that it was possible and we can't know when it might affect her.
So, nothing with peanuts for Olivia. No peanut butter. No nuts of any kind (not even tree nuts like pecans and walnuts). And, we are to have an Epipen with us at all times from now on. And, we have to let the school know that Olivia is to have an Epipen available just in case.
And next week, she starts allergy shots. Twice a week for 10 weeks. Then once a week for several more months. Eventually she'll make it down to once a month. And the shots will continue for several years.
Stupid allergies.
I watched as little bumps formed over certain spots on her arms - being the "nosy" mom that I am, I made sure to look at what allergens they were testing before the scratch test started. I noticed that ragweed, cats, dogs and PEANUTS were the fastest growing "spots."
This was not a good thing.
Once the doctor came in and looked at her arms, he explained what she's allergic to. The scale they used was 0 (negative) up to 5 (VERY STRONG positive).
This is the list:
- Cat dander: 4/5
- Dog epidermal: 3/5
- Alfalfa: 3/5
- Tree mix (5 trees): 4/5
- Tree mix (6 trees): 4/5
- Weeds: 2/5
- South grass mix: 4/5
- Ragweed: 4/5
And now the foods:
- Corn (food): 2/5
- Sesame Seed: 3/5
- Soybean: 3/5
- Peanut: 4/5
OK...so the trees, weeds, grass and ragweed I expected. I wasn't surprised by the dog and cat allergy either (even though she's lived with both animals her entire life and hasn't had any issues). The doctor said DO NOT get rid of your animals because the shots that Olivia will be getting over the next few years will build up her "immunity" to all of these things.
But the food allergies.....
Those I cannot wrap my brain around.
The doctor said not to worry about the corn allergy (OK, I won't) or the soybean allergy (really, the kid isn't going to start eating Edamame anytime soon). However, Olivia is supposed to avoid seasame seeds (the doctor actually said "no sesame chicken" ...lol) and peanuts.
I asked him how it was possible for her to have a peanut allergy and NEVER have any reaction of any kind and he didn't really have a clear answer. He simply said that it was possible and we can't know when it might affect her.
So, nothing with peanuts for Olivia. No peanut butter. No nuts of any kind (not even tree nuts like pecans and walnuts). And, we are to have an Epipen with us at all times from now on. And, we have to let the school know that Olivia is to have an Epipen available just in case.
And next week, she starts allergy shots. Twice a week for 10 weeks. Then once a week for several more months. Eventually she'll make it down to once a month. And the shots will continue for several years.
Stupid allergies.
Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging
Yep, I haven't blogged much since last week. And really, last week's posts weren't anything spectacular if we want to be totally honest about my blogging.
You want to hear "excuses"...OK, here goes. I've been sick for two weeks. I have some inner ear thing going on (Labrynthitis), which I really thought would be gone by now. It isn't. I have been dizzy for TWO WEEKS. Trust me when I say this is very unpleasant. It's a lot like the feeling you get after a few glasses of wine...but without the fun drinking wine part.
The rest of my "ailments" are finally going away. The congestion, cough, runny nose...all on their merry way out of here. However, the dizziness makes me tired. So there's that.
And last week was really not a great week. I had to deal with stupid, evil people (again) and then on Tuesday we found out that based on an allergy test (via blood samples) Olivia is essentially allergic to EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET.
I am not ashamed to admit that I cried when I was done talking to the pediatrician. There's a lot of things I was hoping my kids would get from my genes - sassy attitude, good grammar, excellent spelling skills, a sense of humor. You know, the good things. Allergies were not on that list.
I've had horrible allergies since I was 4 years old. I still remember the day I walked out into the apartment complex where we lived and they were mowing the grass and suddenly I couldn't breathe. (OK, maybe that's MY memory of it...not sure what my parents remember). I endured a "scratch test" and they discovered I was allergic to everything. Dogs, cats, trees, dust, pollen. If it was alive, I was allergic. I had allergy shots and spent my childhood taking every brand of allergy meds available.
And, after 14 years of allergy shots the doctors said "you're cured!"
They lied.
My allergies never went away.
If my allergist wasn't dead I'd sue him for malpractice. :)
All that has happened in the last 34 years is I've "grown out" of some of my allergies - specifically cats, dogs and feather pillows. No cure in sight for the rest.
And now Olivia has allergies. And yes, I understand that allergies aren't THAT bad (in the grand scheme of "BAD" things), and there is medicine she can take. But still, don't tell me "it's not the end of the world" because well, that's just really not your call to make. When a doctor tells me that my 7 year old is allergic to milk, peanuts, pecans, wheat, walnuts, potatoes, strawberries, oak trees, maple trees, pecan trees, grasses, ragweed, cats AND dogs (just to name a few)...well, I think I have every right to FREAK OUT just a little bit.
Today we're taking Liv to an allergist for "consultation" and "testing." I can only imagine this means a scratch test. We haven't told her about that possibility. Right now she's finding it amusing to ask "am I allergic to THAT?" ... and well, I guess if we can keep a sense of humor about this, that's not all bad.
You want to hear "excuses"...OK, here goes. I've been sick for two weeks. I have some inner ear thing going on (Labrynthitis), which I really thought would be gone by now. It isn't. I have been dizzy for TWO WEEKS. Trust me when I say this is very unpleasant. It's a lot like the feeling you get after a few glasses of wine...but without the fun drinking wine part.
The rest of my "ailments" are finally going away. The congestion, cough, runny nose...all on their merry way out of here. However, the dizziness makes me tired. So there's that.
And last week was really not a great week. I had to deal with stupid, evil people (again) and then on Tuesday we found out that based on an allergy test (via blood samples) Olivia is essentially allergic to EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET.
I am not ashamed to admit that I cried when I was done talking to the pediatrician. There's a lot of things I was hoping my kids would get from my genes - sassy attitude, good grammar, excellent spelling skills, a sense of humor. You know, the good things. Allergies were not on that list.
I've had horrible allergies since I was 4 years old. I still remember the day I walked out into the apartment complex where we lived and they were mowing the grass and suddenly I couldn't breathe. (OK, maybe that's MY memory of it...not sure what my parents remember). I endured a "scratch test" and they discovered I was allergic to everything. Dogs, cats, trees, dust, pollen. If it was alive, I was allergic. I had allergy shots and spent my childhood taking every brand of allergy meds available.
And, after 14 years of allergy shots the doctors said "you're cured!"
They lied.
My allergies never went away.
If my allergist wasn't dead I'd sue him for malpractice. :)
All that has happened in the last 34 years is I've "grown out" of some of my allergies - specifically cats, dogs and feather pillows. No cure in sight for the rest.
And now Olivia has allergies. And yes, I understand that allergies aren't THAT bad (in the grand scheme of "BAD" things), and there is medicine she can take. But still, don't tell me "it's not the end of the world" because well, that's just really not your call to make. When a doctor tells me that my 7 year old is allergic to milk, peanuts, pecans, wheat, walnuts, potatoes, strawberries, oak trees, maple trees, pecan trees, grasses, ragweed, cats AND dogs (just to name a few)...well, I think I have every right to FREAK OUT just a little bit.
Today we're taking Liv to an allergist for "consultation" and "testing." I can only imagine this means a scratch test. We haven't told her about that possibility. Right now she's finding it amusing to ask "am I allergic to THAT?" ... and well, I guess if we can keep a sense of humor about this, that's not all bad.
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