Allergy Skin Testing & Food Challenge:

Today I am very emotional. I am baking two cakes. One with an egg in it. One with a cup of milk in it. It is so bizarre that this meaningless act to most people is so heavily fraught with emotion for me! Imagine being asked to bake a cake in your kitchen with a cup of poison?   That is what it feels like. I am scrubbing my hands and so cognizant of the measuring spoons and everything being "contaminated" by these ingredients.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

Today my daughter is having her annual allergy skin testing and our Paediatric Allergist has asked me to bring in these two cakes to perform skin testing with baked goods that contain two of her allergens -egg and milk.   So many emotions come up as I bake these cakes and prepare for her appointment:

FEAR:   It is frightening to bring these ingredients into the kitchen -coming in contact with my bakeware and utensils.   My daughter is fearful of the test but I assured her it was less risky than the usual testing where they use straight milk or egg.

EXCITEMENT & HOPE:   Every year I get my hopes up that maybe (PLEASE GOD) this year will be the year she outgrows at least ONE of her severe allergies.

Sooooo I just put a chocolate cake in the oven with a cup of milk in it -I may have licked the spoon ;)   and just pulled out the Carrot cake I made with an egg in it -MAN does an egg make a difference! That cake is so light and fluffy -sigh...I've missed eggs. But I do have to say I can REALLY taste the egg and I only used one instead of the three the recipe called for so I think it would taste really EGGY to me with the regular recipe....

The Carrot cake recipe comes from the cookbook: The Everyday Dairy-Free Cookbook by Miller Rogers and Emily White. (Carrot and Raisin Cake with Lemon and Orange Frosting).

The Lucky Bone

"Hey Mom, Don't you Remember about the Lucky Bone?"

First of all, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who took the time to send me a message today and to tell me you had Kate in your prayers, and fingers crossed and all of the positive vibes as we went to her testing appointment today. I just wanted to quickly update everyone on how it went this afternoon.

As you know I was very emotional all day as I baked the two cakes for her testing. I picked her up from school and in the car ride to the doc office, Kate asked me if she could eat the cakes after her appointment. I didn't want to be negative but I replied "probably not". I tried to explain to her that there was a good chance the test would come back positive again and that she still wouldn't be allowed to have eggs or milk. That's when she replied, "Hey Mom, Don't you remember about the lucky bone?!!". I had forgotten.

The Lucky Bone

Last Thanksgiving, we saved the wishbone from the turkey and explained to the kids how they could both pull on an end while making a wish and whoever got the larger "half" would have their wish come true. Kate had "won" and told us that her wish was for her allergies to go away. She has been waiting patiently all year for this day and for her "lucky bone" wish to come true. Man, that just killed me when she said that! I said to her, "oh yeah!! The lucky bone!" but then I continued..."you know honey, sometimes lucky bones don't work RIGHT away....sometimes they take a few years before your wish can come true" ...I also explained that it might work that her allergy would be better but not totally gone.... to which she responded, "No, mommy. The wish was for the allergy to be GONE."

We kept on driving and I am just thinking in my mind, PLEASE GOD, give us this gift of her having outgrown her allergies!!! And then she says -"Oh mom, I forgot to tell you -my teacher wrote a note in my agenda because I broke out in large hives today at school". Oh no. Just knowing that her allergies are enough to cause her to break out in hives from skin contact dashed my hopes of any good news today... :(

The Testing:

The doctor informed me that we would not actually test with both cakes today and that I had to pick one. We decided to go with the egg cake as her egg allergy has always been milder compared to her severe milk allergy. We figured that of the two, the egg is the most likely to have improved.

Kate was VERY apprehensive about the skin pricks -she cried and refused to submit her arm for for the test. We had to talk her into it but she did allow for the testing -but not without tears and upset.

We were so happy to see that the egg was not reacting!!!

Kate kept asking when she could eat the cake. Then the doctor brought her the cake and said she could eat a small crumb of it. Kate's eyes welled up with tears and she told us she was afraid to eat the cake. Of course she was! She has been in the hospital with life-threatening anaphylaxis, with her throat closing and her blood pressure dropping and vomiting and all of it... but the doctor comforted her and said that her skin test was showing no reaction and that she would be fine. That if it bothered her she would get an itchy throat and feel nauseous but she would be ok. What a terrifying thing to ask someone to try some food that they have been told was poison for their whole life.

Kate tried the cake and she was fine. Then she tried some more. Then she ate the whole piece. Wow. I can't begin to describe the joy -the look on her face, the magic of having eaten a piece of cake with one egg. We were overjoyed.

What happens Now:

The doctor has advised us to next try a cake with 2 eggs and then 3. If she is fine with that, then we can try cookies that are baked for 10-12 minutes (shorter cooking time then cake at 30 min). Then we would progress to pancakes that are cooked for 2 min approx. If she tolerates all of that, we are allowed to try a scrambled egg! Wow!

Kate and I were singing and dancing and so happy -we celebrated with our family all night. When she told her brother the news he hugged her so tight and it brought tears to my eyes. This means so much to our family. Yes she still has life-threatening allergies to milk and peanuts and tree nuts but this opens up the door to new foods and a wider repertoire of choices. We are celebrating this!!!

When Kate went to bed tonight, she was scared. She said, "Mommy, what if I am still allergic

to eggs?" I comforted her and said I would check on her all night and not to worry. If a reaction was going to happen it would have already. It breaks my heart that a little one should have such fears. I am afraid myself! This seems too good to be true. I will check on her all night and I will be scared to feed her eggs as we continue this food challenge but I have to have faith ... | | | in the lucky bone.

May 31st: Milk Testing

Kate will be going back next month for her next round of allergy testing for her dairy allergy. I wish I could be hopeful after today's great news but I am not -her milk allergy has always shown up the worst of all her allergies in skin testing... dear God is it possible for another miracle??

the test. We had to talk her into it but she did allow for the testing -but not without tears and upset.

We did the skin test using the cake baked with one egg at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, and also for egg white and a positive and negative control.

Inspiring Blogger Award pour moi?! Aw shucks!

Wow! What an honour!   I was touched today to receive this award from The Food Allergy Chronicles, a blog sharing "One Family's Journey on the Road to Surviving and Thriving with Food Allergies."

I love this for two reasons:

1. Who doesn't like to win an award?!! Woot! Woot!
2. This is a great and frankly ingenious way to encourage collaboration and sharing amongst the mom bloggers!

Now for some reason, they ask you to write 7 things about yourself when you accept this award. Talk about myself? Who me? Aw yeah! lol   For some reason most of my points below are confessions.... So here you go:

1. I eat "unsafe" foods.

It's true. It's my dirty little secret. When I go to parties, don't even bother trying to talk to me because I'm standing at the cheese tray jamming as many dairy filled delicacies and nuts into my face as I can! If for some reason I am away from my children eating out at a restaurant I take every opportunity I can to indulge in nuts. It's bizarre..how can a food that is completely harmless to me wreak such havoc on my little one? I remember a fellow allergy advocate and I were out for coffee and she was shocked when I ordered a muffin with nuts in it. She said that witnessing her child's reaction to nuts was enough to make her never want to eat one again. And I felt weird about it...was I a bad mom for eating these foods when away from my allergic child? I thought about it and decided that I am cool with it. In fact, talking to my doctor she told me that while there is a propensity to allergies if there is a family history, it is to allergies in general -not to specific allergens. That means that while allergies may be hereditary, the actual allergens are not -meaning you can have one kid with a milk allergy and then other will be allergic to soy....   So the way I see it is that different people have different allergies and banning one food from the world (i.e., nuts) doesn't help the people who are allergic to sesame. Now we can't ban all the allergenic foods or there would be nothing left to eat so we have to have avoidance in other ways. And that is through REASONABLE RISK REDUCTION measures to prevent cross-contamination and accidental exposure. For me personally this means that I do not enjoy allergens that are unsafe for my daughter in our shared space (our home) but that I do indulge when away from her. This gets tricky when you are in larger shared spaces like a school. It doesn't make sense to ban something from the whole school if nobody in that school is allergic to that allergen and then to have people consuming tons of dairy -pizza days, milk days etc when there are children with life-threatening dairy allergies in the room. This is something I have really struggled with and could write pages on... to sum it up, my basic suggestion would be to get food out of the classroom. In our schools children eat in their classrooms -2 snacks and lunch -Ideally if children didn't eat in their classrooms this would mean the classroom environment would not be a risk for students with food allergies. What do you think? Comment below and let me know!

2. Sometimes I disappear from the Allergy Community
Every once in a while I get upset by all of the information and check out for a bit. It causes anxiety and depression to read about the risks and the realities of a life-threatening allergy and sometimes I just need a break from it all.   This doesn't mean I let down my guard at home or anything like that -it just means I get off the internet and take a break from all the media and information for a bit. I do this when needed and then hop back in... it's my passion to advocate and educate but everyone needs a mental health day from time to time! When I am not advocating for allergies and anaphylaxis, I work at Prashamana: Good Health for Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit. Check it out!

3. I have used the word "burden" to describe having a child with allergies
I'm hesitant to share that with you. What an awful thing to say but it's the truth. I feel sometimes that it is a burden and just wish I didn't have to deal with this!!!   I feel a HUGE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY to keep my child alive and I fear that if I let my guard down or make a mistake, something could happen to her and I would never forgive myself. Isn't that a horrible weight to carry? And we all do. Being an allergy mom can be isolating and stressful and frankly really challenging. Flying with my daughter over the holidays, she had her head on my lap asleep and I felt very worried if she was breathing ok as the smell of cheese and eggs wafted through the cabin -she is highly anaphylactic to dairy, egg, peanuts and tree nuts and they are heating cheese omelettes and passing out almonds to the first class travelers. I felt hugely anxious and worried whether she was going to be ok. I thought to myself, no mom should have to feel like this! I should be relaxing and enjoying a movie and instead I'm a bundle of nerves worrying if my daughter is going to make it home safely! So yes, from time to time I play the self-pity card.

4. I am so proud of my kids.
My son is amazing -he is only 8 years old and so responsible and caring about his sister with her anaphylactic food allergies. Sometimes I look at him and think no kid should have to worry about protecting his younger sibling from danger but he does and I am amazed that someone his age could be so caring and responsible and nurturing (aren't they supposed to be egocentric at this stage?)...melts my heart.
My daughter is a fierce little thing and despite her small size she is mighty! She is 6 and plays hockey with the boys and totally holds her own! She is responsible about her allergies and is so gracious about eating out in public or watching others indulge in things that she can't have and it makes me so proud of her every day. I can't imagine a child that age having to think about being safe or avoiding foods or any of that. Kids shouldn't have to worry about that kind of stuff but she handles it all so well and is a vivacious, amazing kid!

5. When I was a kid I used to lie to neighbours and say I was allergic to milk and peanut butter because I didn't like them.
Isn't that crazy? So what is this? LIke Karma or something? Or perhaps maybe my body didn't like those things for a reason and maybe somehow I was telling the truth? I was allergic to eggs and had a lot of seasonal allergies as a kid so maybe in fact my body didn't like those things and that's why I made up lies so I wouldn't have to eat it!   Interesting......

6. I am so touched by all of the people I have met on this journey!
As I say on the first page of my website, there have been some silver linings to this journey and one in particular has been the amazing people that I have connected with over the years. When I first created the website and wrote out my big long story of how I became an allergy mom, my husband asked who on earth would read that?!   lol   Well it turns out a lot of people! And I am so grateful for those who take the time to share their stories with me and to connect in any way.... So keep 'em coming!   I love hearing from you!

7. My first experience with anaphylaxis occurred when I was in grade 5.
It was summer holidays and I was at home with my mom. She was gardening and got stung by a bee. She started to feel ill and went to lay down. Then she asked me to go to the store to get her some medicine as she just felt awful. I rode my bike to the corner variety store and when I got back my mom was gone! My neighbour had taken her to the hospital! It was a very frightening experience. After that, my mom had a syringe and vial of epinephrine in a kit in the fridge and we were very afraid of bees! Ironically, my name means honey bee.... I digress... :)

OK so enough about Me!!!! Now it's my turn to recognize other amazing bloggers out there! Here they are!!! Please check out these fabulous blogs!

1. The Daily Love

Nothing to do with allergies or anaphylaxis but easily one of my favourite blogs and so I had to put it here! Inspiring blog? Oh yeah!   It's all about inspiration and a daily dose of feeling the love....you won't be disappointed if you subscribe to this one! Mastin Kipp is amazing!

2. Holistic Wellness: Nourish Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Samantha Gladish is AMAZING!!!   I consult with her all the time and she is a wealth of knowledge. She is continually expanding her training and always sharing new information, recipes and tips. Check her out and subscribe to her blog...you won't regret it!

3. Pramilda.Com: Ignite Your Inner Bling. You got it... so Rock it!
Pramilda is currently updating her website so I have sent you the link to her facebook page instead but do check back soon because this woman is AWESOME!!! A fabulous speaker and coach.

4. http://theallergymommy.blogspot.ca/ Recipes, Products, & Help for Gluten, Egg, Soy, & Dairy allergy kids and moms! This sweet blog offers tips, advice, encouragement and recipes. Check it out! I found out about this blog when a friend of the author's contacted me to share her story and tell me how much she appreciated my site. This is what is all about! Sharing with each other! Awesome.

5. Cupookies The girl I was telling you above is the author of this blog. Kjersti is an allergy mom whipping up yummy recipes that are dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free. Check it out!

6. Delicious Alternatives: Finally....Food I can Eat! This lovely lady also contacted me through my website...see what I'm saying about meeting all these great people! Shirley Plant has even generously offered to donate a copy of her book to one of my lucky subscribers so stay tuned for that!!   Shirley is also a wealth of knowledge and has published various articles for food and allergy blogs, publications and presented at the Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic on food allergies, intolerances and rotation diets. Check her out!

7. Emily Levinson I love this lady! She calls herself a Rainbow maker, Magical Mentor, Life Stylist, and Game Changer and frankly I just enjoy her blog. Recently she has been doing blog posts on the different colours and I am loving them. Check her out to find out more about this neat lady.

8. Cybele Pascale: The Allergy-Friendly Cook
I came across Cybele Pascale's book The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook on a sale rack at a bookstore downtown and could not believe how awesome the recipes were! What a score! I wasn't surprised to hear that she recently became a contributor to Allergic Living magazine. She rocks!

9. Food Allergy Mama
Most of you probably already know about this one. Kelly Rudnicki is the author of The Food Allergy Mama's Easy, Fast Family Meals, The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book, and Vegan Baking Classics. Well done!

10. Anaphylaxis Canada Hot Topics
Not sure if this constitutes a blog or not but as a Canadian, this is an important place to keep your eye on to see what is happening with this national registered charity.

11. Allergy Free Table
Allergy Free Table seems to be constantly at work, tirelessly advocating and educating. Their online courses are great for caregivers, babysitters, grandparents. Check them out!

12. Kids with Food Allergies
This place is insane!   Soooo much information...a massive community....great contributors of professionals and experts...if you have somehow missed this one, you gotta check it out.

13. Why Risk It? Teen Allergy Blog My kids are still small but I'm hoping that they will have something like this for their teenage years.   Stories and experiences about living with allergies. By teens, for teens.   Teens are known for risk-taking and when severe allergies are involved...it's just not worth the risk!!

14. Food Allergies Rock! Kyle Dine's Blog
When I first met Kyle I had to ask him -why on earth do Food Allergies Rock?!! Kyle is an amazing guy and truly inspiring. He seems to be smiling all the time and has such great energy. He has such an impact on the kids.... check him out!

15. Allergy Alli
Saved one of the best for last here. Alli is great and I love sharing her blog with my daughter. This 14 year old shares her experiences with food allergies and I love to read her posts to my daughter. She talks candidly about her temptations and it is such a good model for my daughter to relate to. Way to go Alli! You rock!

Phew....This post has officially taken me hours to write but I'm so excited to share this award with these bloggers!

As always, I encourage you to comment below!   What do you think about my 7 points about me? Did you check out any of these blogs? What did you think?   DO TELL!!

Balancing our Fears

Music credits: Barenaked Ladies "Allergies"

Allergies and Anaphylaxis are scary, no doubt about it. Whether it is an acute fear at the time of an emergency or a more chronic fear of the risks, this has a profound affect on us. How does this fear change the way we interact with others, the way we behave, the way we carry ourselves? Where does this fear manifest itself in our physical bodies? How would we act differently if we didn't have this fear? These are the questions explored in this short video clip. With a discussion of our sympathetic nervous system which hardwires us to be fearful and the balancing effects of the parasympathetic nervous system, the Allergy Mom goes deeper....the issues truly do lie in our tissues. If you are suffering from fear or anxiety and would like to connect with the Allergy Mom to discuss this or for a referral to someone in your local area, please contact via: melissa@theallergymom.com. For other offerings related to yoga and therapy, visit www.prashamanayoga.com.

If you like where I am going with this, you may be interested to read these blog posts here:

Live your life from the Neck Up Much?
http://prashamanayoga.com/index.php/expand/item/80-live-your-life-from-the-neck-up-much?

The Issues are in the Tissues:
http://prashamanayoga.com/index.php/expand/item/78-the-issues-are-in-the-tissues

Yoga for Stress and Migraines:
http://prashamanayoga.com/index.php/expand/item/77-yoga-for-stress--migraines

Allerject - A brand new Epinephrine Autoinjector

Sanofi Canada launched Allerject this week and I was very excited to have the opportunity to meet with President and CEO, Jon Fairest for an interview!

Allerject contains the same trusted medicine that has been prescribed for years for administration to a patient in the event of a severe, life threatening allergic reaction (known as anaphylaxis). The difference with Allerject is with the device itself. Here is why I think Allerject is going to be very popular:

1. Its Size: It is so compact! Designed to be the size of a credit card and the width of a mobile phone, Allerject is compact and therefore much more discreet. I was amazed at how small it really was when I had the opportunity to get my hands on it at the interview. It is small yet also sturdy and I feel that in an emergency situation, with possibly shaky hands and nerves, it is just the right size -fits in the palm of the hand but not so small or flimsy that you would drop it.

Studies have shown that most of the deaths that occur due to life threatening allergies happen to people who knew they were allergic but failed to use their epinephrine autoinjector. The reasons stated for this were either failure to carry the epi-pen on their person or failure to use their epi-pen. I am hopeful that the design of this new alternative will encourage more people to carry their medicine on their person at all times. The device fits easily in a pocket or purse and is very discreet. I think this will be appreciated in particular by tweens and teens who may have been a little more self-conscious about carrying around their medicine to school etc.

2. It talks! Allerject is the first talking epinephrine autoinjector. It is very cool! Remove the cover and a calm voice guides you through what to do next. Rather than having to refer to the written instructions in fine print as your hands shake and you are probably very nervous, you have a calm, lovely voice assuring you that you are handling the device correctly and instructing you through the process. The device tells you how to remove the security cap, where to place the device on the body (still the outer front thigh as we are accustomed to), which end of the unit to place there and how to inject the medicine. There is no stabbing or swinging movement required. Simply press and hold the button at the top of the device as you are instructed to do and the unit counts down the administration of the adrenaline...5-4-3-2-1. "Injection Complete". I really like that the device does the counting and tells you when the injection has been successfully administered. I feel that in the panic of the moment, it would be comforting to have a voice telling you that you have in fact administered the medicine for the appropriate amount of time and that the full dosage has been given. The unit then reminds the user of the need to seek immediate medical attention. Very important. We all know that epinephrine is emergency supportive therapy and that follow up in hospital is required.

As a mom, what appeals to me about Allerject is that I feel it will do the talking for my daughter if I can't be there myself to help her. I find it frightening to imagine her having a reaction and having to trust that another person will know how to adminster her medicine correctly. The fact that Allerject will guide them through the process helps to comfort me and put my mind more at ease.

In my experiences training teachers on allergy safety in the classrooms, I am always amazed at the stories I hear of parents not knowing how to use the epi-pen. I feel that this new device will help to make everyone more confident and hopefully we won't hear any more stories of people failing to administer this much needed medicine because they didn't feel comfortable or confident to use it!

3. It was developed by one of us! The inventors of Allerject are twin brothers, Eric and Evan, both with food allergies. They get it. They designed Allerject to be the device they want to have on hand in the event of an emergency anaphylactic reaction.

More interesting facts about Allerject:

Allerject is available in two dosage strengths
Choice of language for voice commands in English or French
There is also an LED light to signal when the injection is complete
The needle will never be seen -it is retractable. You do not see it before, during or after the injection. Great for anyone with a phobia of needles! And less scary for children (or big children) of course.
Trainers are currently free! In fact it is encouraged! Follow this link: Free Allerject Trainer

The interview:

Having the opportunity to sit down and talk about allergies and anaphylaxis is always a great experience for me and I was so impressed with the discussion I was able to have with Mr. Fairest. He recognized the need for training teachers in schools, and other important members of the public to recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and how to administer the epinephrine. His passion for this new device was evident and I have to say I am very excited to fill my perscription when the devices become available at my pharmacy (should be available beginning of February). Here are a few other points that we discussed about Allerject:

The Battery: The injection and the device is battery-powered. The device has undergone rigorous testing and the battery should last well beyond the shelf-life of the epinephrine inside. This means that your epinephrine will expire well before the battery runs out. The studies showed that the battery typically lasts for 2 years with the device being opened every day for the duration of those 2 years. I'm sure the novelty of hearing the lovely lady's voice will be over much before that! Good to know however and even better...the device can still be operated manually if the battery does run out.

Too Discreet? One concern with the discreet size of Allerject was
how would people know to find it on a person if they were unable to speak for themselves or retrieve it from their pocket or purse? Did you know that medicalert allows you to list the drugs you require for treatment of your condition right on your bracelet. I believe that in a medical emergency where a person was unable to speak or communicate what was happening to them, the helpful bystander would look for a medicalert bracelet. An example of what could be written on the bracelet: Allergy Anaphylaxis to all dairy, eggs, nuts. Carries Allerject medicine. You can see from the image here that there is room to include that information. Medic alert will also be able to advise anyone who phones in on your behalf of your medication. For children, there will be carrying cases available for purchase. Most schools require that children wear their device on their person and a second injector to be kept in the office.

Cost & Expiration: Allerject will cost the same and have the same shelf-life as the epi-pen. It is not more expensive. Well thank goodness for that because in actuality we should all be carrying more than one epinephrine autoinjector on our persons. The reality is a second dose could be required.

The Future: As an advocate for people with life-threatening allergies, I am keen to speak with anyone that I feel can have an influence on improving safety, quality of life and raise empathy and awareness around anaphylaxis. It was a pleasure to discuss the potential for a new, standard First Aid Kit -Shouldn't every first aid kit have an epinephrine autoinjector inside? How about public places such as schools, community centres, arenas, airplanes, etc. I would love to see training, education, awareness and public access to this device in all public places. It has happened with the defibrillator and now that we have a talking device, I believe it can happen with epinephrine for allergies. As sad as I have been to see the dramatic rise in food allergies over the past 11 years (from 1% of the population to 7.5%!), and the increase of stories in the media about food allergies I hope there is a silver lining...I hope that there will be an increase in understanding of the severity of food allergies and the real danger and risk for people suffering from them. I hope that people will be educated to recognize the signs of a reaction and know how to handle an emergency situation by administering epinephrine. I also hope that with this education there will come empathy.

Ask your doctor about Allerject and be sure to sign up for one of the trainers! I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. Let me know if you plan to try it out!

Camping with a Food Allergic Child

Camping Safely with Food Allergies

Tomorrow we are venturing on our first family camping trip! Last year we went to Maine for our summer vacation, and if any of you remember it was quite an adventure with a food allergic child. Traveling with stays in hotels proved to be less than ideal for our family (setting off the smoke alarm and having the fire marshall arrive due to a smoky hot plate was quite embarassing!).....

This year we are embarking on a new adventure....Camping! I thought I would share with you some of the planning I do to try to ensure that it is a safe experience for my daughter who is anaphylactic to all dairy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.

Before you do anything else, make sure you have your Epi-Pens (more than one -remember that an epi-pen only lasts for 10-15 minutes and you may be required to administer additional dose(s) depending on the response rate for emergency medical care where you are traveling). I personally bring 4-5. Bring Benadryl as well. Make sure your medications have not expired and are good for use (have not been damaged by exposure to extreme temps etc.)
Having an epi-pen on hand is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you need in the case of an anaphylactic reaction.*****

First thing I do (after learning the hard way) is to scope out the destination and to make sure I know where the nearest hospital is. I inquire about the response time for ambulances in case of an emergency and the location of the nearest hospital. I also make sure that I know the correct address and location information for where we are staying so that if I did have to call 9-1-1 I would be able to accurately describe my location. Preparing to have a cell phone that is charged and ready to use if needed is a must. If camping in a remote area where cell phone signals may be compromised, you should have another plan for contacting 9-1-1 if required....where is the nearest landline phone?

Second of all I plan for cross-contamination of surfaces. I alway pack my daughter's own pillow when she travels (it may be crazy but I worry about someone having nut saliva on the hotel pillow!).... I pack wipes (if there is not an issue with lanolin, choose lanolin based wipes as they are effective at removing protein from surfaces). I bring my antibac Norwex enviro cloths these are great for cleaning surfaces using water alone. They even have a travel pack which comes with 4 mini enviro cloths. I also pack my own dish soap, hand soap and other toiletries (such as lotions, toothpaste, sunscreen and bug spray)....this is to ensure that all products are safe for my daughter.

Now for food...the most important part! Here is what I pack for food and food-related needs:

table cloth or placemats to form a barrier between possibly contaminated surfaces in restaurants (now this time we are camping so I am just bringing a table cloth for the picnic table)
cleaning cloths and dish towels and dish soap (I already mentioned this :)
plastic plates, bowls, cutlery and sharp knives -I got great ones with covers for travel from my mother and sister-in-law
napkins
allergy safe foods for all meals and snacks & lots of it! I have been chided for over packing but when you have a child with food allergies, you want to make sure that you have more than enough -it is not easy to just go and grab something as other parents could for their non-allergic child.
Note: **I refrain from being any new food products with us when we travel. I try to bring only foods my daughter has had before that have been proven safe for her. Sometimes packages neglect to mention the possibility of traces of allergens having contaminated the food or have undeclared food allergens in them. I would prefer not to experiment when on vacation!**

Ok so here is a sample menu of what I have packed for one day of camping:

Breakfast:

Cereal
Rice Milk Drink Boxes -don't need to be refrigerated and small portion size is great for this
fruit (fresh fruit or apple sauce -as luck would have it, my daughter refuses to eat most fresh fruits so we usually do apple sauce with cinnamon)

Morning Snack:

Ryvita Crisp Bread or allergy safe bread with Wow Butter or Sunbutter, honey, jam etc.
fruit (grapes, oranges)

Lunch:

Allergy Safe Summer Pasta Salad (click for recipe) with assorted veggies, and chicken or beans for protein

Afternoon Snack:

Nacho chips with salsa or
Rice Crackers with Hummus
Cosmic Cookies (these are AMAZING and very fulfilling)

Dinner:

Campfire cooked hot dogs
veggies and allergy safe dip

Dessert:

Smores! We are going to have our first ever smores tomorrow! Very exciting. Marshmallows are safe for our daughter and so are graham crackers but unfortunately we have a hard time getting chocolate bars and find chocolate chips that are dairy and nut free much easier to find. The problem is that chocolate chips will just fall out all over the place in a smore so to solve that problem I have melted the chocolate chips at home ahead of time and spread the chocolate over graham crackers on one side. Refrigerating the graham crackers with chocolate results in a hardened chocolate covered graham cracker...add a toasted marshmallow while camping and enjoy a smore!!

Beverages:

water -I purchased larger bottles of water and am bringing our reusable stainless steel water bottles...I figure this is somewhat less plastic than buying individual water bottles and hopefully helping to reduce our waste somewhat!
juice boxes (totally negating what I just said but at least they can be recycled???) -I should have purchased larger container of juice but cut me some slack...I have a lot to think about here! :)
chocolate rice milk juice boxes
treat: pc 100% fruit sparkling fruit juices
adult beverages of your choice -how else are you going to sleep crammed in a tent with your whole family? :) ha ha

Please remember that I am not a medical or dietary expert and am only sharing my experiences and advice as a fellow allergy mom. You should consult your medical professional, dietician, naturopath or nutritionist if you are unsure about any of the advice I have given in my blog. If you have any additional comments, tips, corrections etc...please let me know! My intention is to provide support (emotional and experiential) to other parents with food allergic children.

All the best and happy travels!

Melissa Scheichl
The Allergy Mom
xoxoxo

Allergies on the Red Carpet! Allergy-safe lunch and travel kits will be shared with Celebrities at the Academy Awards!

Local women heading to the Academy Awards

Local women heading to the Academy Awards. Crystal Paulitzki (right) and Nicole McMullen of NFYC (Nutrition for Your Condition) display a sampling of the lunch bags they will be taking to L.A. in February 2011, to be used as part of the goodie bags for Oscar recipients. Ted Brown

Two local women will be in Los Angeles schmoozing with the Hollywood stars and getting some valuable exposure for their company’s products in February.
Crystal Paulitzki and Nicole McMullen, owners of Nutrition for your Condition, will be taking part in the Secret Room Events Academy Awards Red Carpet Style Lounge Feb. 26 at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Oscar nominees and other celebrities, musicians, directors etc. will be invited to visit the lounge to get their gowns, jewelry, spa services and drop by an exclusive trade-type show featuring booths from approximately 20 different companies including Paulitzki’s and McMullen’s to check out their products.
The women launched their company in 2009 selling travel kits for families that have children with severe or life threatening allergies. They have expanded their product line, which now also includes their eco-friendly litter-less lunch kits, selling them online at www.nutritionforyourcondition.com, some retailers, school fundraisers and trade shows in the GTA.
Amy Boatwright, an owner of Secret Room Events, said Nutrition for Your Condition, was invited to exhibit at the Red Carpet Style Lounge after she found it on the Internet.
“I was searching Google for new and different products and found that their product line was different,” said Boatwright. “A lot of celebrities have children, so kids’ products are very popular.”
Many of them are also interested in the environment. Boatwright thought the Georgetown women’s products, including their litter-less lunch bag, were different and “liked their idea”.
So she sent the company an e-mail. Paulitzki said she didn’t know what to make of the e-mail and initially ignored it suspecting it might be junk mail, until they researched a little further and discovered the offer was a legitimate opportunity for them.
They’re both excited to be taking part.
“We feel it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to promote our business and showcase a product that’s needed in the marketplace right now.”
And meeting some celebrities is a plus.
“It’s right up our alley,” joked Paulitzki. “We’re very excited about meeting the stars,” she added.
Boatwright said the Georgetown company will be announced in press releases promoting the event, and the women will have the opportunity to show their products to the celebrities and give them to those they want to.
Boatwright said the ideal outcome would be for Paulitzki and McMullen to see their product featured in a publication like OK magazine for example in the hand of the child of a celebrity.
She welcomes inquiries from other Canadian companies interested in having their products included in this Style Lounge or other events. Contact secretroomevents@yahoo.com.

Allergy Moms and Dads! We need your help to IMPROVE CANADA's FOOD LABELING REGULATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR!

In response to the appeal from Anaphylaxis Canada, I am asking allergy moms, dads and advocates to please contact Minister Aglukkaq immediately regarding the need to pass the proposed food labeling regulations. I tried to contact his office today by phone but was referred to email by reception. The email address is: minister-ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca
If this is not done by the end of the month, we will have to start all over again!

This appeal from Anaphylaxis Canada:

Dear Registrant,

As you know Anaphylaxis Canada, together with other members of the allergy community, have been actively lobbying the federal government and the Ministry of Health to act on the proposed food labelling regulations. These regulations were first put forth in July 2008 and have still not been passed.

Thank you to all of you who have written to the Prime Minister's office and the Health Minister as part of our campaign. However, we still need your help. To date, we have not received reassurance from Health Minister Aglukkaq that these regulations will be passed as promised and this is not acceptable.

We encourage you to act today and ask Health Minister Aglukkaq when these regulations will be passed. "As soon as possible" is not an acceptable answer.

Here's what you can do:

· Call the Health Minister's office directly at 1-613-957-0200 AND
· Join the letter writing campaign on the Allergic Living website: http://www.allergicliving.com/petitions/food-labelling/

Accurate and clear food labelling is such a critical part of keeping allergic individuals safe. Help Health Minister Aglukkaq understand she needs to do her part and take action today!

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Anaphylaxis Canada

My letter to MPs to gain support for Motion 546

Today, December 7th, my letter to MPs was shared in the House of Commons by Debbie Bruce to gain support for Motion 546. It was an honour to know that my daughter's story would be shared in hopes of shedding some light on the realities of anaphylaxis for our children. I thought I would share my letter here:

Dear Mr Szabo,
I am writing to you to bring to your awareness a motion (#546) that will be presented at the House of Commons this Fall.
*Motion 546 reads:

That in the opinion of the House, anaphylaxis is a serious concern for an increasing number of Canadians and the government should take the appropriate measures necessary to ensure these Canadians are able to maintain a high quality of life.

I am requesting your support for this Motion. At 9 months of age, my daughter was diagnosed with anaphylactic allergies to milk (including all dairy products, milk, cheese, etc), eggs, tree nuts and peanuts. As an infant she was exposed to these allergens through nursing because I was ingesting these foods. Her skin was raw with eczema and she would break out into hives after nursing. The doctors did not identify the allergies immediately but after a severe reaction that landed us in the emergency room, she was diagnosed by skin testing.

Our daughter is now 4 years old and the impact of these allergies on our daily life is immense. The anxiety that it causes our family and the accommodations that we make on a daily basis are challenging. Our daughter had a near death reaction shortly before her 3rd birthday after ingesting one bite of a food that had tree nuts in it. I was driving in the car when she began to react with sneezing and then passing out. I pulled over and called 9-1-1. She began vomiting. When the ambulance finally arrived, the attendants were not knowledgeable about food allergies and anaphylaxis. They advised me to take my daughter home and to give her some benadryl if I was concerned. I questioned them regarding her fainting and if that should be a cause for concern. They told me that fainting is not a symptom of an anaphylactic reaction. I mentioned that I had read that a dramatic drop in blood pressure can result from the anaphylactic response and so they agreed to take her into the ambulance for assessment. Once we were in the back of the truck, she began to pass out again and they decided that in fact, she should be transported to hospital. They insisted that I drive my own car and would not allow me to travel with her in the back. So I followed behind, and upon arriving at the hospital, the ambulance driver rolled down his window and told me to park the car in the parking garage and meet them inside. By the time I parked 4 stories up and made my way to the Emergency ward (assuming all must be fine as the Ambulance driver was so calm), my daughter was in acute resuscitation. I had nurses yelling at me for not administering the epi-pen and I was shocked because the ambulance attendants had told me to take her home. You would not have believed the sight before you to look at how my daughter had deteriorated over the course of that ambulance ride. When I saw her in the E.R. she looked like she had been in a boxing ring with Mike Tyson. Her face was bright red and swollen, with eyes completely swollen shut like she had been beaten. Her armpits and groin were covered in hives that she had scratched raw while in the ambulance. Her voice was hoarse and her breathing laboured. It was the most frightening experience to see my child in that state....and all from one bite of a food that she is allergic to.

I think it is so important to raise awareness to the real medical issue that anaphylaxis represents for Canadians. We need to teach the public, educators and the medical community how to recognize, diagnose and respond to these reactions. We need to spread awareness that anaphylaxis does not just mean uncomfortable gastrointestinal upset or itchy hives, it can mean a life-threatening drop in blood pressure that can result in heart attack or a swelling of the airway that can cause the child to stop breathing.

I have had incidents flying with Air Canada, where my daughter reacted to cross-contamination from touching the movie screen and the chair handles. You can imagine how terrifying it is to know that an epi-pen may only work for 5-20 minutes and you are up in the air with your child wondering if the plane would be able to land in time if there was an anaphylactic emergency.

I recently paid $350 for lab tests that are not covered (RAST blood testing) only to find out that the results are inconclusive and not predictive of future reactions!

I have been amazed at the lack of education that doctors, nurses and ambulance attendees have had.

The facts are clear that allergies and anaphylaxis are increasing at an alarming rate in our country.

I hope that you will share in my passion for raising awareness of Anaphylaxis at the federal level.

Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,

Melissa Pearson

What next? I am anxiously awaiting news to see how the motion was supported and will post as soon as I know more. In the meantime, please see my post on contacting the Canadian Health Minister to help get important food labeling regulations passed before the end of the year. We need your help to accomplish this!

Allergy Safe Advent Calendar!

I am beyond excited about this one! For the past few years, we have done the non-chocolate variety ...we have an advent calendar with little decorations which is really quite cute. Low and behold, EVERY YEAR, without fail, someone would buy our kids the chocolate kind! How do you tell one child he can't have it because it isn't fair for his sister with food allergies? We would offer her other treats in lieu of the hidden chocolates behind the doors but who were we kidding? We all know the excitement and fun of an advent calendar isn't the actual chocolate as much as the thrill of getting to open it every day and then eating the chocolate! In fact, I've never found the chocolate to be that good in one of those things (not that I wouldn't eat it anyways!).

Blah, blah, blah...(hence the name of my blog!).....the point is...this year my milk, egg, peanut, tree-nut allergic daughter gets to have an advent calendar!!!! yay!!! Only an allergy mom can relate to this kind of excitement!

The last time I was this excited was when she got that Easter bunny from Blue Bear Aware on Easter morning....that is still a great memory!

I have just ordered 2 calendars from Guardian Angel Foods and I can't wait for them to arrive! The shipping charges are reasonable (they come from Quebec) and will ship within Canada. Not sure about the U.S... Check out their site and see all the great stuff they have cooking there:

GUARDIAN ANGEL FOODS

(Love the slogan: "May Contain Traces of ....happiness").

I bought one for my son as well so that they both have the same (sibling rivalry and all) and for safety reasons so that I don't have to worry about them getting mixed up!

Well that's my first gift of the season! :)

Melissa
The Allergy Mom

P.S. Check this out! Blue Bear Aware has a special promotion on right now: Buy anything from Blue Bear Aware for $45 or more and you can purchase one of these Allergy Safe Advent Calendars for only $1.99!

Here's a copy of their ad from their blog:

Chocolate Advent Calendars have arrived!

Behind every door on your Advent Calendar is a peanut free, nut free, egg free and dairy free chocolate! A wonderful way to count down the Holiday Season, especially if your son or daughter has never been able to have such a calendar in the past!

When you place an order of $45.00+, purchase an advent calendar for $1.99 at Blue Bear Aware. This offer is valid until November 8th, 2010. Place the code XAC10 in the coupon box at the check-out.

RAST Testing for Allergies....What's the Point?

This is my rant about the RAST test....

What's the Point?!

When my children were diagnosed with allergies (both environmental and food allergies), these diagnoses were made with the skin test. I had heard other parents talking about their child's RAST numbers from blood testing and asked my doctor why she was not recommending these tests for my children. Her explanation was that the skin test in itself was a reliable, accurate test for allergies and the positive skin test was enough of an indication to diagnose the allergy. She explained that the RAST test would not really provide any more valuable information. Apparently, the numbers are meaningless in that they cannot predict the severity of future reactions.

Over the last year, we have been through a lot with my daughter's food allergies. A life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to almonds really shook us as a family and we were humbled by the threat that these types of allergies pose. We met with our peadiatric allergist for retesting (apparently the negative skin test to tree nuts was inaccurate)...the retest confirmed her allergy. We tried several BIE treatments through our naturopath to "clear" her allergies. I will write another post about that experience soon!.... Even skin contact causes our daughter to react and she has had hives on several occasions from touching something that was contaminated. So...at our last peadiatric allergist appointment we decided it was time to do the RAST test.

We were unclear as to the severity of her allergies with the skin tests...the doctor explained that for some children with very sensitive skin and eczema, they can have false positive skin tests because their skin simply over-reacts. Even the negative control scratch would have some reaction. Hopeful that perhaps one of her food allergies could be negative after the BIE and another year passing, I said "Let's do it". My doctor prescribed EMLA cream to numb the area prior to the blood testing. Unfortunately, the pharmacist convinced me not to use the cream because she said the bandaid type sticker that you put on with the application of the cream is actually more painful when removed than the needle would be itself. This was bad advice according to my friends who have used the cream for their children and found that they didn't even flinch when given their needle. My poor daughter found the blood test excruciating. 7 viles of blood were taken, a bill of $315 (can you believe that this is not covered by OHIP for a life-threatening condition?), and a three week wait for the results.....

Finally, the doctor called with the results....and guess what?! They were USELESS! The test provided me with a bunch of numbers that basically mean nothing and although some foods that we believed she was allergic to came up negative, new ones that we didn't think were a problem were positive. How disappointing. My doctor explained that her numbers were considered moderate and that meant that there is a chance she can outgrow the allergies perhaps in her teens....

Frustrated with the seemingly wasted effort and pain of getting this test performed, I googled for information regarding the results of these tests and their significance. I found a site called Lab Tests Online: A Public Resource on Clinical Lab testing from the laboratory professionals who do the testing. Here are some snippets of the article on RAST testing: (for the full article CLICK HERE)

Allergy Blood Testing

Also known as: RAST test; Radioallergosorbent test; Allergy screen
Formal name: Allergen-specific IgE antibody test
How is it used?
The allergen-specific IgE antibody test is a blood test used to screen for an allergy to a specific substance or substances if a person presents with acute or chronic allergy-like symptoms. This is especially true if symptoms are recurrent and appear to be tied to triggers, such as exposures to particular foods or environments, and if other family members are known to have allergies. A variety of different types of allergy tests may be performed by exposing a person to different substances under careful medical supervision (see Common Questions). The usefulness of these tests, however, can be affected by skin conditions, such as significant dermatitis or eczema, and by medications, such as histamines and some anti-depressants. With some tests there is also the potential for severe reactions, including a severe reaction that may be life-threatening. In these cases, the allergen-specific IgE antibody test may be ordered as an alternative, as it is performed on a blood sample and does not have an effect on the person being tested.

A test may also be ordered occasionally to help evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy or to determine whether a child has outgrown an allergy.

The allergen-specific IgE antibody test may also be done to monitor immunotherapy (desensitization) or to see if a child has outgrown an allergy. It can only be used in a general way, however, as the level of IgE present does not correlate to the severity of an allergic reaction, and someone who has outgrown an allergy may have a positive IgE for many years afterward. So what's the point?

What does the test result mean?
Negative results indicate that a person probably does not have a "true allergy," an IgE-mediated response to that specific allergen, but the results of allergen-specific IgE antibody tests must always be interpreted and used with caution and the advice of the doctor. Even if an IgE test is negative, there is still a small chance that a person does have an allergy. Elevated results usually indicate an allergy, but even if the specific IgE test is positive, a person may or may not ever have an actual physical allergic reaction when exposed to that substance. The amount of specific IgE present does not necessarily predict the potential severity of a reaction. A person's clinical history and additional medically supervised allergy tests may be necessary to confirm an allergy diagnosis.

If you can explain to me the point of this testing, please leave a comment to share! I would love more information!

Don't be scared of Hallowe'en!

Hallowe'en can be especially scary for parents of children with food allergies. This year, you need not be afraid...check out these amazing treats for Hallowe'en. They are DAIRY, EGG, GLUTEN and NUT free!!!!

Now that's not so scary is it?

Click here to find these treats online

The Environment & Our Children

A Focus on the Environment and our Children

We all went the best for our children -the best schools, the best doctors, the best foods...
As our Planet becomes more toxic, we must consider the environment where our children live and the quality of the air they breathe and the water they drink.

All things are interdependent....what we do has consequences. If we make positive choices, we are able to affect the future. Also, by teaching our children about caring for the environment...we are influencing their actions as they grow into decision-making, independent adults.

There are more than a billion households on earth. Homes surpass industry in how they contribute to water pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3x more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air. In the last 50 years, over 80 000 new chemicals have been produced and the majority of them have not been tested for their long-term impact. A consumer product safety commission study in the U.S. found that 150 chemicals found in the average home are linked to allergies, birth defects, cancers, psychological abnormalities, etc.

Toxins that enter our environment are ravaging our lives -and even more so the lives of our children.
Because children are smaller and still developing, they are far more vulnerable to toxic exposure than adults.

Knowing that Norwex offers a healthier alternative for cleaning and knowing that children mimic every action... has led to the development of the new Norwex kids line!

Kids love to help out and now you can provide them with their own cleaning tools that are safe and non-toxic. With Norwex, it is actually safe and educational to let your child touch the cleaning supplies!

When you share your passion for chemical-free cleaning with your children, you are teaching them about making educated decisions as a future consumer, how to protect the environment and how to make decisions that affect health and well-being.

Our mission to save the planet can start with children by offering kid-focused products. This early focus will teach them to grow up cleaning without chemicals. Cleaning with microfiber and water is how you clean.

Happy Cleaning!

The Allergy Mom

Is My Apple Washed?

Fruits and vegetables are sprayed with toxic chemicals to protect them from pests and fungal attacks. They are coated with a wax/oil to prevent the produce from decaying and to preserve the quality and appearance of the produce during transportation. This waxy layer is also a host for microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Also of note for persons with food allergies...the wax that is used on fruit may contain SOY or MILK ingredients.

The Norwex Veggie cloth is back! It has a rough side for scrubbing and smooth side for polishing. It cleans the dirt off potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and debris from fruits and vegetables. This cloth has been scientifically proven to remove the coating and nasties from your fruit and veggies!

Norwex also offers a Fruit and Veggie Wash called Fresh Wash. This specifically formulated fruit and veggie wash is a safe, effective alternative for cleaning fruit and vegetables. This product will also protect fruit from damage during storage or transport and extends produce shelf life by 2 to 3 times. To use: Mix one capful in 500 ml of water, soak your fruits or veggies for 5-10 minutes, rinse well and enjoy!

Want these products? Check out my Norwex website: http://melissascheichl.norwex.biz

Check out the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's information on their

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Chemical Residue Sampling Program.

Now go and enjoy the wonderful Fall season and pick some apples!

Sincerely,

The Allergy Mom

Fall Cleaning

Did you know there is such a thing as
"Fall Cleaning?"

.... it seems that with the change of seasons we are inspired to refresh our spaces and clean house! I personally am feeling the itch to get out my Autumn decorations and put away the Summer clothes, shoes and toys.

Have you ever heard of Norwex? I am a huge fan of their chemical-free, non-toxic, natural cleaning products. If you are a fan or have been wanting to try Green cleaning without chemicals, this is a great time to try it out! Check out my norwex website at: http://melissascheichl.norwex.biz

Traditional chemical cleaning products are expensive, TOXIC and less effective than Norwex

I was very excited and proud to see the interest in Norwex at my friend Carrie's "Women's Expo" that she hosted last week. As always, Carrie threw a great event with fun, prizes and of course yummy nibblies and bevies! Thanks Carrie! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a salesperson and my approach as a Norwex consultant has always been as a teacher to share my love and passion for chemical-free and allergy-free living. Carrie's event was great because the guests were so interested in Norwex and had heard of it before.

The word is out....Norwex rocks!!!

The hot items were the mop (if you have hardwood floors you will LOVE the mop!), the Fall Dishpack (which I am recommending as a teacher gift for Christmas this year because it is such a great deal! and great bang for the buck), and the Fall Cleaning Pack (my favourite!).

Interested in FREE NORWEX?

Host a party! A Norwex party is simple to organize and it is a lot of fun! My friend Carrie earned all of these items FREE for having me at her Women's Expo:

1 Makeup Removal Package
1 Car Wash Mitt
1 Spirisponge
1 Washing Net
1 Grey Kitchen Scrub Cloth
1 Superior Cloth (Green/Blue) 40cm x 40cm
1 Travel Pack, antibac enviro cloths(set of 4)
1 Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent

She also earned a credit of over $50 to buy anything she wants from Norwex! Don't have time to host a party? Have a Virtual Party! You can bring a catalogue and order forms to work, when you visit family or friends, or advertise on your Facebook page and email, etc., and any orders you receive will allow you to earn FREE NORWEX products and Norwex credit!

Please contact me if you are interested in finding out how you can host a real or virtual party!