Thanks for the info and support.
The doctor I see right now is one of the key researchers into this allergy @ the University of Virginia. I was thinking of also seeing a regular, clinical allergist and perhaps the issue of visiting the ER is impetus to do so. In my line of work, I don't often have access to one though and have endured/survived a couple of severe reactions completely on my own.
I have not had that many reactions since diagnosis, just one in 11 months. Before that, between May 2009 and February 2011 I had probably 6-7 severe and 3-4 minor ones. All of the severe ones were endured without the administration of any medications or first aid. By minor I mean that I became very stuffed up, my face got red and my head felt like it was going to pop off but that was it. It seems that if I take my Zyrtec and Singular that's as bad as the reactions tend to be.
A lot of this has been figuring out, as the previous poster intimated, where the beef products may be hidden. It was easy enough avoiding grilled meat but after I had a reaction from pancakes I realized that there were other prepared dishes that may have come in contact with beef juices. Now I avoid most grilled foods unless I feel assured the kitchen will be diligent, which means I also end up avoiding chicken and fish a lot of the time as well. The other difficult thing is, that, I can also react to dairy under the right conditions. Those conditions are related to the amount of dairy ingested as well as the status of my immune system. Last February, I had a glass of skim milk on the tale end of the flu and ended up calling 911 two hours later. On Christmas Eve I ingested a lot of soft cheese(s) and was ill that night as well. It's the fat molecule in the animal product(s) that is the problem, not the animal product itself. Some people with this allergy can eat lean mean such as venison or buffalo, and are fine. Some people with this allergy can't tolerate dairy at all, and, we're all aware of the fact that some people are just plain allergic to dairy for other reasons. I was encouraged to have some dairy daily; I have cream with my coffee and some hard cheese on sandwiches or with crackers several days a week.
In my travels, I have to deal with a lot of food variables. More and more often I am opting for a side salad and vegetables on this side rather than risking anything prepared on or near the grill.
I'll add that, during my two visits to the ER for this, neither ER physician considered allergic reactions. The first time I went I was told I had a panic attack, and the last time I was told I had gastrointestinal distress, even though I was laying there shaking like crazy due to post-reaction shock.