Dear Beautiful nécessité,
How are you? I miss you. I have been nonstop. I am grateful my body allows me to keep going while I aim to keep myself mentally and physically healthy. Sometimes, our health can be challenged no matter how hard we try. Have you ever experienced such? Sometimes, things can leave us where we are not sure how to navigate and move forward. I recently encountered an unfortunate experience that made me more aware (even more than I already am). Yes, there is always room for growth and more awareness. I was eating a salad one day and decided to put a scoop of hummus on it. I thank God for this delicious, nutrient-dense salad and the vitamin D I am receiving from the sun while enjoying this homemade salad.
I am chewing and digesting the first bite, yum yum… and then, hmmmm, my mouth starts to itch immediately. I am thinking to myself, oh, is this in my head? Am I freaking out for no reason? Then another bite, and my mouth is still itching, but now itching a bit more. I am now with allergy antennas on. Ok, there must be a nut pureed in this hummus because I knew my kale and shredded carrots were not causing this itch! I know my carrots and kale do not contain nuts. But this freshly made, clean-looking store-bought hummus (that did not list nuts as an ingredient anywhere on the package) must have cross-contamination of a nut.
When you have food allergies, you know! This is an itch. My body is warning me; an allergen has entered your temple. Be aware. Here we go, a nut of some sort! I am praying. Please do not let this get worse; please do not let me need to use my EpiPen (the side effects from the epinephrine are not fun and can be a bit dangerous, too, but it is necessary for a severe reaction).
My right eye starts to run, then itch, my voice is changing, I then cannot talk, and things are showing up over time differently than I have ever experienced. I am like, “Oh, Jesus, please do not let me die from a careless act from someone’s negligence of not paying attention to how they made this hummus”! This is not my error; I always aim to be very careful, but this is at someone else’s expense. God, please be with me. Each allergy reaction can be different for me, and this one was different. Capital… D—I—F—F—E—R—E—N—T!!! I have never experienced this reaction in all my years of life being allergic to nuts and other things.
I jumped up, spit out my food, rinsed my mouth, and went to brush my teeth and scrap my tongue. How about I am at home while on this frightening allergic journey, my ‘supposed’ to be ‘safe place’? I brought the outside inside (Be careful who and what comes into your home; it can come with much danger and cause harm on purpose or by error; the danger is danger). At this point, I was not able to talk; my throat was weird, and I was wheezing; the reddest of red hives appeared on my neck, the side of my body, and inside my arms, and things were getting worse, not better. My lips and face are all swelling up, and I look obviously irritated.
I went to the emergency facility for services. Immediately, the doctor said, “Open your mouth.” She then said fast and matter-of-fact, “YOU need your EpiPen right away; I cannot see in the back of your throat.” (That means my tongue was so swollen that my uvula could not be seen.) I started with tears because not only did I not want to die, but I was also nervous and so anxious about putting the epinephrine in my system and it going to my heart. I am so sensitive. Strong but fragile. Delicate. This medicine of epinephrine can cause people to react differently. For me, the side effects are serious, and my heart can pound in a way I cannot stop; I can have the jitters and more.
I am so so sensitive to medicine. The doctor then says I think you are going to need another shot of epinephrine. Your throat is closing, and that one shot is not going to be enough. So, I required TWO DOSES for the first time in my life. (previously, I only required ONE dose; I never needed two).
I am hooked up to a heart monitor, my body is swollen everywhere, and I am monitored closely. When anaphylaxis (severe life-threatening allergy) is present, we with allergies go through so much pain, discomfort, and uncertainties to only pray to find healing balance, pray to stay alive, and to get back to homeostasis soon. There is, I repeat, there is NO one kind of reaction, NO one way for anyone to look or feel, NO one way to respond. NO doctor, NO medical expert can guarantee how you will react and respond or what your body will do. (I have dealt longer with my food allergies than most doctors have been, knowing and understanding nut allergies).
No one has that knowledge or control over what you will or will not experience. We are all uniquely different. Our constitutions are different. The body responds in its own individual way…. It does what it wants and how it wants. I have been allergic and with life -threatening food allergies all my life. I was the only one growing up with them in my orbit then, with the exception of my mom, who also has life-threatening food allergies (nuts and more).
Doctors are learning as they go today. They are not even 100% with all the answers. It came out of nowhere. Nut allergies are more prevalent than ever before. It has been who I am all my life, so I have had many years to learn, educate, and be super careful with a hands-on approach.
One of the challenges today is that they are so dangerous because they are showing up almost everywhere. Not smart or wise! Especially in compromising places/situations. Nuts can take someone’s life away. It is always by error. Human error. A lot of schools removed bringing in nut items, some restaurants do not serve them for this reason (which is so commendable), and some planes do not serve them (which is so smart & safe when you are thousands of feet off the ground from proper medical allergy care).
I have been vegan and eating plant-based foods since the 1990s. There were not all of these alternative nut cheeses, oils, milk, and products like today. It is getting somewhat nutty out there! Factories need to make food that contains nuts in nut factories and food that does not contain nuts in no-nut factories. Due to the lack of awareness and carelessness, this is a serious concern for many. There is room for much error. If you know anyone with a nut allergy or any food allergy, please, while you may not be able to relate and understand their lifestyle and circumstances, have empathy and show compassion towards this disability. When serving food to guests or anyone anywhere, ALWAYS (not guess or not know) be well informed about what ingredients are used in what you are serving. During the holidays or any time of the year… it does not matter; educate yourself. It can help save a life!
Mindful Take-A-Ways
We cannot live in a bubble because we can die if we digest the wrong ingredients. We are human, too, with our own set of health-related life-threatening challenges. Some may be born with food allergies (like me), and some may develop them along the way. We are human. Care about us, too!
We all have a part to play here. Some things the public can do are provide and take safety measures, be well informed and aware, care for other humans regardless, and be properly trained. Know what you are serving. Make the environment healthy and comfortable. Avoid cross-contamination of other foods and the environment. Restaurants- list all ingredients on your menu with each food selection. Do not cross-contaminate.
Never be afraid to be vocal to help save a life. Speak up for yourself. You are your advocate, your child’s advocate, etc.… Never leave home without your lifesaving medicine; always carry enough (more than 1) with you, especially when traveling. For the first time in my life, I required two doses. One dose would not have been enough. I always travel with extra. Triple up on supplies. Ask what ingredients are in anything digestible. Shyness will not help. Be heard. Always read packages for ingredients. If you do not know the ingredient, consider avoiding it. Call 911 and seek medical help immediately; being properly monitored is vital; do not wait!
You are a nécessité
Much love & gratitude,
Love to you with safe & healthy eating and serving.
Erica
Erica Reid, Founder of nécessité
