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Just to give an example, a few months ago dd's tongue was itching so badly that she was crying and pleading with me to "make it stop". I call the allergist's office (part of one of the best hospitals in the nation), and was told by the nurse that dd passed the challenge and that they do not consider her allergic. My dh has made fun of me several times for watching her to make sure facial hives don't progress. I have been labeled anxiety mom by the doctor for wanting to keep carrying the epi for a while.
The "experts" don't have the "answers" . . . neither should we.
:heart:
I am also getting the sense that many of us are in the market for a new allergist . . . or at least additional opinions as to diagnosis and prognosis and potential therapies or treatments.
My family is.
I'd try one of the pediatric specialists, honestly.
Was in the city today for lunch date with DH, stopped at Whole Foods and found beautifully decorated Fancy Pants Bakery Cookies (very pricey). DS has never had a cookie like that before, kind of sad the first one is at 8.
Good reminder, Ajas.
I am soooo tempted to forward your post to DS, but I know it would not be well received.
Great to have those choices! And with a niche market, those bakeries are not getting rich, even with high prices. I bet they just get by, making a living. It is often a flash in the pan sort of career that varies with trends.
:disappointed:
Got the call back.
It's may contain tree nuts.
Woot! Tabi I thought you were NKA.
Why did it make me laugh? because it was brought to you by Honey Nut Cheerios. :dunno:
Why did it make me laugh? because it was brought to you by Honey Nut Cheerios. :dunno:
I'd've laughed, too.
I laughed upon reading the ingredients of the purportedly Sensitive Skin hypoallergenic formulation of Neutrogena's sunblock . . . and not because it had a half dozen ingredients that give me eczema or hives. No, I laughed because two of the top three inactive ingredients were arachidyl alcohol and arachidyl glucoside.
Hmmm . . . is that necessarily an allergy? I know kids who do that with all kinds of bugs.
Drove behind a police car today and the three letters of its number plate were NKA. All I could think of was 'no known allergies'. :)
Yesterday I saw someone carrying a handbag monogrammed with the initials NKA, and I thought to myself, "why would anyone monogram a bag to say 'no known allergies?'". :dunce:
My 14yo DD is (cautiously, to be sure-- she started out with literally a CRUMB, and is now eating something about the size of a very small donut-hole) eating store-bought Chocolate-covered Old-fashioned donuts (well, small pieces, as noted) which are (apparently) pn/tn free... and they even contain egg yolk as a minor ingredient.... WOW-WOW-WOW...
(These-- and NO, absolutely NO endorsement intended as I have most definitely not called on these, but she has also eaten their hot-dog/picnic buns previously, and the cookies are made in a different facility)
and this makes me actually want to weep with amazement/nostalgia/joy for her. :coolbeans: :heart:
That Q&A from Sicherer about anaphylaxis from contact is a joke. Never, ever does he address contact-to-ingestion in the same response. Have I ever posted the sign from Sicherer's waiting room? Huge all caps that no food is allowed for the safety of patients. Apparently food has magical residue properties in his waiting room but not in a classroom. Another fine example of lab controls that don't exist in real life.
How much would I piss him off if I requested he start to include addressing external validity in his answer as Dr. Wood does. Enough to get our test results first then get pedantic later. Who in their right minds is worried about getting peanut butter on the small of their back for 30 seconds? Obvious answer: no one. So let's drop the polite fiction we're hysterical about peanut butter on our pinky toe in a lab when the true concern is the residue of a sticky, durable protein that is a known potent allergen very likely to induce anaphlaxis in extremely low dosage, yet unlikely to be outgrown, left by HANDS transmitted by hand or surface to other HANDS. Hands that kids use to eat with, pull at wiggly teeth, rub their faces.
[url]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/10/newser-alzheimers-peanut-butter/2961393/[/url]
That's just... weird in the context of FA.
{brain melting}
Picked up a package of Brach's candy corn hoping that this was the year they'd decided that they could go top 8 free and be in a dedicated facility. (Hey, optimism.)
Realized after a few seconds I'd picked up a package of "candy corn and peanuts". Yep. Big ol' bag of shelled peanuts mixed in with candy corn.
Goodbye, optimism.
OH skip Brachs. Starburst candy corn RULES in our house!!!!! :hiding: I eat too many - they are so yummy!
OH skip Brachs. Starburst candy corn RULES in our house!!!!! :hiding: I eat too many - they are so yummy!
Um, Starburst "candy corn" is fruit flavored, not mellowcreme. Doesn't count. :disappointed:
OH skip Brachs. Starburst candy corn RULES in our house!!!!! :hiding: I eat too many - they are so yummy!
Um, Starburst "candy corn" is fruit flavored, not mellowcreme. Doesn't count. :disappointed:
I thought so at first, but one taste and well....winner!!!!
I was bamboozled! Swindled! SHENANIGANS!
Starburst "candy corn" has the texture of candy corn (not unlike paste), but the flavors range from cough syrup to furniture polish. :fishslap:
Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.
-Garrison Keillor
How would you say quality of life is at current dose?
Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.
-Garrison Keillor
Personally? I'd hold for now. Get through the school year then try an updose once school is out of session. Clinically you have the green light therefore the decision is one of does it fit your life right now, and how much more would your family stand to gain to increasing over status quo? The data on OIT as a 'cure' is not holding up. Doesn't mean tolerance amount won't go up over time but one could argue you've got a good balance at the moment. You have the rare gift of choosing your moment to updose on your own terms.
I'm new here but I feel like I can finally vent to people who understand. If I see another inspirational article in Living Without about someone with a serious life threatening food allergy who "chooses not to live in fear" and travels to remote regions armed with an allergy card and phrasebook and is fine, I am going to puke.
I've heard the leaky gut thing before as well. I also heard from a counselor that I went to when I was having non-allergy related anxiety issues that my food allergies were caused by a disconnect between my left brain and my right brain, and if I reconnected them, I could be allergy free.
Didn't go back to that counselor.
Every day is a rolling Smorgasbord
I want to know do they have helicopters for extractions as well as planes.
All of my other funny food reactions since the almond reactions seem to have turned out to be cross-contamination and not the actual food. But the lanolin/wool issue is sticking as a real thing, meaning half of the clothes I love for chilly weather are no longer in play :(.
All of my other funny food reactions since the almond reactions seem to have turned out to be cross-contamination and not the actual food. But the lanolin/wool issue is sticking as a real thing, meaning half of the clothes I love for chilly weather are no longer in play :(.
I feel your pain. So much. :( I love wool. I just can't have it against my skin for any length of time. I knit. This is a tragic combination. :'(
THERE WILL BE NUTS in the Baskin Robbins, so be careful!
- This trip is food focused and may not be a good choice for students with allergies. We will be touring active kitchens and may be working with food as well.
In order to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the school program, Section 504 requires that schools provide accommodations. So, if a student with a disability needed an accommodation or related aids and services to participate in the field trip, those services must be provided.
For example, in Quaker Valley (PA) Sch. Dist., 39 IDELR 235 (OCR 1986), a girl with a neurodegenerative disorder that affected her motor, sensory, perceptual, and language functioning was denied the opportunity to go on field trips and participate in a swimming program. Due to “safety concerns”, the school principal had unilaterally made the decision to exclude her from six field trips with her third grade class, including a trip to a television station. She was the only student excluded from the field trips. In school the girl was provided with accommodations, such as an escort to assist her when walking and holding her hand. But no consideration was given to providing similar accommodations on the field trips or in the swimming program. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) determined that the “safety” considerations were not justified and that the girl should have been provided with accommodations to ensure her participation in the field trips and the swimming program. Additionally, OCR determined the school district violated Section 504 because it did not notify the girl’s parents of the upcoming field trips, while the other children’s’ parents were notified.
On the other hand, OCR has found that there are times when schools, after individual consideration, may exclude a student from a field trip if the student’s participation presents an unacceptable risk to the student’s health or safety. But the school must be able to justify that determination. In North Hunterdon (MD) Pub. Sch. Sys., 25 IDELR 165 (OCR 1996), OCR determined that the school district was justified in excluding a student from a field trip when the student had several seizures on the same day as the field trip.
I love DS's teacher. Went to the classroom the other day and she has 2 signs (one on the window and one on the door frame) that says no food allowed in her classroom!! I asked her if it was new...she said no, but I hadn't noticed it before. Now, I have to say, it's not quite true because she still gives out candy to the kids and will allow birthday treats if they have been pre-arranged, but cannot contain any nuts.
She did this all on her own.
jschwab, you definitely get where this edges into grey territory with them-- all field trips are ALL covered as "voluntary" activities, but to be "official" activities, they also HAVE to be sanctioned (and that is the term they use) and also have to be "educational" somehow...
which means that yeah-- TECHNICALLY, everything is supposed to be accessible to ALL.
Which clearly isn't the case, nor should it be, in all probability, given that a virtual school is going to be drawing disproportionally from populations which are homebound for medical reasons or those seeking a non-B&M schooling setting for reasons related to disabling conditions.
So should ALL field trips be open to ALL students and also be accessible to EVERY family in the state?
Probably not, kwim?
Where I have a big, big, BIG problem with this is that it treats FA's very differently than any other disability-- and I'm almost wondering if it isn't retaliatory. I refused to do marketing for them this year.
I don't think for one instant that this isn't about my DD. Not for an instant. Because the entire policy w.r.t. food on field trips in this state is about her. Seriously-- that carefully crafted disclaimer/notice about short/long field trips and food/no food is IN MY CHILD'S 504 plan.
So to do an end-run around her privacy like this? Oh yeah-- I'm PISSED. BIG-TIME.
The ONLY other mention of disability in any way/shape/form (in about two dozen statewide field trips that I've looked at this morning) in my state was w.r.t. a park field trip which stated:
"XXXXXXX park is wheelchair accessible."
Seems reasonable.
Also seems reasonable to me that people MANAGING their own diabetes, RA, FA's, or anything else are probably the best judges of what is or is not a good idea. You know, without the school pointing out that they aren't welcome. I'm also really angry because it's so darned presumptuous to assume that just because DD couldn't possibly safely attend either trip-- that NO kids with nut/other FA could. Sheesh.
Substitute racial info into those statements I posted and see how THAT one looks.
Jackpot:
Section 504 and Students with Disabilities.Quote
In the instance of food allergy, it's VERY unlikely that a determination re: safety/advisability CAN be made without inputs from the child's parents regarding risk and current status.
Gotcha.
So I've had a banner freakin' day here yet I have to say there was some traction in clarification. I have two updates on nitty gritty details re:air ambulance memberships and MedicAlert's GPS. For whosoever wants to know how does it work--exactly.
(P.S. I ripped eTrak a new one)
Air ambulances like REACH, Lifeflight, Air Med, etc. have memberships available for purchase. The membership covers a family for one year. Anything above what insurance pays them they eat in cost if you are a member. What it does not do is allow you to call upon them directly. The membership also functions on a geographic territorial network with limited reciprocity with other air ambulance services. There are a mix of helicopters and planes but each craft and crew is stationed at different locations. They respond ONLY to EMS dispatch or fire/rescue, which means you call in to 911 and would need to impress very clearly to the dispatcher that you have a pediatric patient experiencing anaphylaxis, you've administered epinephrine, the clock is ticking on that effectiveness therefore you can't wait 30-45 minutes for a truck to show up in the boonies. You've got a REACH or Lifeflight membership, you've talked to them you know they can get there in 10 minutes and that they are equipped to handle pediatric patients. This is the advice one of the crew and the sales team gave me, the sales gal I talked to has a child with peanut anaphylaxis so she definitely "got" the situation having been there first hand.
Here's your problem with location if you're out in the middle of nowhere--your location. I got the MedicAlert GPS Essentials tracking device "powered by eTrak" which means they are responsible for the one-button 'panic' device itself and the tracking system/software. Where MedicAlert comes in is that they are tied in to specific devices keyed to notify them if the 'panic' mode is enabled with a 2-second push. A text message notifies pre-set parties that the panic signal has been activated. Then MedicAlert tries to call those registered parties. If the parties cannot be reached EMS is called on the location of the GPS for a wellcheck.
So here's where the GPS is an epic fail: any tree, or valley, or nearly any obstruction inhibits the signal from communicating with the satellite. Say you want to go to a forest. GPS loses you and starts to track you by slinging off of cell towers (in eTrak's case it's Verizon). Your location becomes wherever that Verizon cell tower is. And once too far for the range of a Verizon cell tower your little eTrak has not been programmed smartly enough to know to not keep jamming out a perpetual fast-paced battery draining signal in order to fulfill its mission to update. Say, can't I just find the wifi in a local federal forest thingie out in the woods to sit and update my GPS because it can use wifi to update? ONLY IF that wifi location is preprogrammed in to be recognized as a location in the receiving database (per DH former IT computer engineer).
What does this mean? A trip to the woods with a GPS panic button and an air ambulance sounds like an awesome tactical extraction on paper. What it yields is a GPS that last locates on a Verizon tower miles away from destination while poor little GPS freaks out trying to update and drains itself dry. The first set of trees or valleys obscures the signal forcing the unit to rely on cellular or wifi. Trying to force an update via wifi at destination will only work if destination is already a known area programmed into territory. Your air ambulance membership still puts you at the mercy of emergency dispatch, you'd have to convince them to radio over to Lifeflight. This is all assuming you're in the area of your membership coverage.
Both the air ambulance and GPS cell ID territory network would have to be consulted via map in order to understand your coverage. Expert knowledge of how the GPS will function, or more importantly not function, and possibly how emergency dispatch works would basic requirements to understand the limitations.
There was one new thing the air med people turned me on to and that is fire med memberships available through the city. I'm going to follow up with the REACH/Lifeflight crew in person some time. They're going to let me check out the craft and pester them in person, pretty cool of them. I'll look into the fire med and bug local law enforcement and/or FD for that membership. It's supposed to be easy for us to access so I'd be surprised if it's more than looking it up on the internet, but still I'm a stickler for details. Not on tonight's agenda though.
In outlying areas of the PNW, also be aware that EMS may be "volunteer" rather than fulltime professionals. Now, that isn't necessarily a BAD thing. For example, we have a nuclear engineering prof who is a County deputy sheriff here- auxiliary. He's a great guy, and just as well-trained as the paid officers, with nearly identical duties/powers.
Right, this IS a GPS device that when GPS fails due to an obstruction such as a tree it then resorts to cell ID. Per eTrak the GPS device and service provider this is a GPS satellite issue in signal obstruction of any GPS device. Garmin, etc., any brand same problem: signal obstruction between device and satellite.
The plan for a lost party in the woods or injured would work for a lost or injured party--not an anaphylaxing one. It does nothing to address the issues of immediacy and precise location as I related to said devices and services. Hope that clears it up.
Yes, we are agreeing. Both then and now. The message I hope I'm conveying is that I mapped out what really happens with the devices and services as opposed to the marketing promises. Reality and brochure don't map up. Caveat emptor.
WRT to going in the woods use some serious tick prevention. DEET freaks my world but those **** Lone Star ticks and alpha-gal. They were historically in the SE but they've made their way WAY far north. You may know about them already (the alpha-gal) but that seems to be on the rise.
Good hunting to you. If I had more time I'd go myself. I'll hit you up with some chat about it sometime in OT.
Deer = Lyme. Lone Star = alpha-gal. Ain't it grand?
Okay, why is it that nobody else seems to understand that an "awards" banquet feels like...
well, not like a reward of some sort, anyway.
More like punishment.
:hiding:
So let's recap. To attend an "awards" banquet with food allergies one must:
a) explain to the organizers that you'll need some accommodations wrt food.
b) once they've agreed to that, you'll need to either:
i) speak with caterers extensively and hope for the best (unwise with low threshold or MFA)
ii) FURTHER explain why you need to know exactly WHAT is being served so that you can...
c) determine how to surreptitiously handle the fact that you won't be eating anything that you didn't bring yourself anyway.
d) Must be non-messy, something easily pulled out of a bag and sufficiently identical as to not make others uncomfortable... and must be substantial enough that nobody nearby will feel compelled to ask "Is that all you're eating?? Let me find you something that you can eat!"
:disappointed:
I hate events like this.
Exactly-- when you're the one being awarded stuff, then you kind of have to attend. :-/
Jschwab, sorry you weren't able to eat the food. You've recently developed your allergies? Or got new ones? Hopefully you are able to pinpoint the guilty ingredient.
It could be that you're reacting to the fish sauce since your system is on high alert right now, too.
It could be that you're reacting to the fish sauce since your system is on high alert right now, too.
I had that thought, too. I know some people with shellfish allergies can deal with fish sauce and some can't. I *thought* I'd had some since my reaction, but I am not sure. We need to throw out the bottle. It was washed on the outside when my family did the big cleanup. So far, nothing more, knock on wood.
Did you throw out everything that a cross contaminated measuring spoon could have been dipped into? Spice, herbs, baking soda. etc
J, I'm betting that in the wake of a massive reaction (to the new allergen) your system just has your shellfish threshold WAY reduced from what you're accustomed to. :heart:
??? Well, I really have no idea. I haven't had anything Thai Kitchen in my house since DD reacted to stuff of theirs that they claimed COULDN'T be peanut-contaminated-- that was almost a decade ago. On the other hand, that may point to a larger manufacturing issue there, as they handle a LOT of super-potent allergens in dust/powdered form that makes cross contamination a bigger problem even in other product lines. For reference, the product in question was a coconut milk that was in a separate building from their dry/powder mixing and packaging which is where the peanut powder/dust was.
I don't react to Better-than-Bouillion, though, and that's cleaned/shared lines, I think. I do sometimes react to Worcestershire, it just depends on how much and how full my allergy cup is otherwise.
My threshold fluctuates a bit, so I wouldn't say that my experiences are terribly reliable. :-/
I doubt they'll truly know since they are so removed from the actual facility of manufacture. Thai Kitchen is a brand, not a manufacturer so it's more similar to Newman's Own. For fish sauce I'd probably go with Squid brand which is a Thai domestic brand because they are more likely to have a dedicated bottling facility in the way Heinz ketchup is such a huge producer. Those little bottles rebranded there's no way they aren't shared with something. Just IMO.
Oh, pish. You're talking to someone from an immigrant household. There's no such thing as an expiration date.
Oh, pish. You're talking to someone from an immigrant household. There's no such thing as an expiration date.
:rofl: Asian DH and I totally cracked up.
Oh, pish. You're talking to someone from an immigrant household. There's no such thing as an expiration date.
:rofl: Asian DH and I totally cracked up.
No doubt he has similarly unearthed artifacts at his parents or grandparents place. Otherwise we wouldn't have stories to fuel mymomisafob.com. Like hotel snack foods from the late 1980s, or decade old unused codeine stored in the fridge (WTH?) from a surgery no one remembers and a pharmacist who probably retired since filling it. :thumbsup:
Sending out well wishes for safe and low stress holiday feasts and family gatherings. Foody holidays are just not what they used to be.
---------
MIL has decided that her new corn cassarol would be better with Jelopaneos. I know you don't do Jelopaneos but .....
Not a big worry for me there are plenty of other food I can eat and almost everything will be DS safe but really it is CAN'T not DON'T or won't. ~)
Does anyone else get really, really uncomfortable when characters on TV shows have allergic reactions or asthma attacks?
I hate asthma attacks on TV shows. Probably because I've had some pretty spectacular ones, but they really freak me out.
Getting your braces off just isn't that exciting when 95% of the stuff that was verboten... is...
er--
still out-of-bounds anyway.
I guess we can MAKE toffee, biscotti, and taffy/caramels.
Make it better. Make it happen. Make it last.
jschwab, several years into my younger DS's allergy/asthma nightmare, my aunt casually mentioned to me over lunch that my paternal grandfather had severe asthma and "could only eat mama's cooking" because he got terribly sick whenever he ate anything else, and there was a long list if things he couldn't eat. When I asked her to define what really sick meant, she didn't know. Only that he never ate out of the house. ~)
Who knows WTH that mean in 1930's NYC?
I am a little annoyed with the Publix pharmacy because their system allows for allergens but not incorrectly IMO. They have DS1's rye allergy marked as grass :disappointed: Granted our major concerns with meds tend to be wheat and barley (malt sweeteners) and egg. But I am still puzzled to how a grass allergy would factor into medication. Now granted, I have yet to run into a medication that included rye but it's still annoying.
Yes, I have gone up the corporate line with this and been told it is more than sufficient. :rant:
10 s/day 365 d/yr
3,650 s / 60s per minute = 60.833333 min
Only 1 hour per year.
She'll be happy to know it would take 8,760 years before that 10 seconds per day comes to one earth year. I didn't adjust for leap years or Daylight Savings or travel to different time zones. Or extraterrestrial adventuring, travel at speed of light, etc.
Truth stranger than fiction my severely peanut allergic child must be retrained to say he loves Charlie Brown and Snoopy rather than an exhuberant, "I love Peanuts!" He's not confused even when reading labels but I don't need him confusing classmates or teachers.
I love this title:
Standardization of Oral Food Challenges: How Golden is the Gold Standard?
https://aaaai.confex.com/aaaai/2014/webprogram/Session3370.html
Monday, March 3, 2014: 4:45 PM-6:00 PM
Ballroom 6DE (Convention Center)
1.25 CME/ 1.50 CE
Moderator:
Scott H. Sicherer , MD FAAAAI
Clearly you are Jedi master, no mere knight.
Cross my fingers mine is going. Put our two docs back together in person after records transfer.
I wonder if Sicherer came up with the title.
I also wonder if DH can attend since it's close to us.
hey! thought some of you might be interested in this:
[url]http://www.statista.com/statistics/224527/us-allergy-sufferers/[/url]
the rate of people with allergies seems to rise, why is that?
When DS's phone died last weekend, my mind immediately went to "that place". Not the logistics of getting it fixed/replaced, not the inconvenience, blah, blah, blah. Just right to: "OhmyGod, what if he has a reaction and doesn't have a phone to call for help?"
Yeah, that place. ~)
That must be you neck of the woods. Smart phones for 14 year olds is the norm where we are. No one thinks anything about it.
Living with allergens in house means buy a dishwasher with "NUKE" option.
Daily 3-hour picnics inside the public park sandbox. I capitulate! That's more than I can deal with. Nice to know the same 5-7 families are going to bogart the sandbox for themselves.
Did you recently have a reaction?Last year, but still struggling with it some days. When I get stressed or overwhelmed, even when the stress is not allergy-related, the post-trauma nightmares resurface. (My GP knows about this and I am getting help. It just sucks sometimes.)
Did you recently have a reaction?Last year, but still struggling with it some days. When I get stressed or overwhelmed, even when the stress is not allergy-related, the post-trauma nightmares resurface. (My GP knows about this and I am getting help. It just sucks sometimes.)
Gray-- pollen season is nearly upon us all. We're in full swing here-- VERY high levels of tree pollen for the past 2.5 weeks.
DD is having trouble with most raw fruit again.
:-[
Please note: This event will be held in the Museum’s galleries where food is not permitted. Please plan on having dinner prior to your arrival or enjoy a quick bite at one of the Museum’s neighboring restaurants or food carts.
don't take nothing from nobody
It's our party, we can say what we want
Discovering that you (and more critically, your child) have something in common with Miley Cyrus makes you feel...
conflicted.Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Yeah, I also wonder SL, she has some history of cancelling appearances. One was in Boston this winter. Weather was balmed, but every other act on the same tour made it here, no problems. They were all in NYC the night before.
You know that you have food allergies when you see this in an e-mail:QuotePlease note: This event will be held in the Museum’s galleries where food is not permitted. Please plan on having dinner prior to your arrival or enjoy a quick bite at one of the Museum’s neighboring restaurants or food carts.
and it makes you feel happy-happy-happy, and you can almost feel the stress melting away as you think...
there's no place like an art museum... there's no place like an art museum.. Ahhhhhhh :heart:
Miley was suffering from a sinus infection during her tour in N.C. a week ago. She was prescribed the antibiotic Cephalexin which she has now suffered an extreme allergic reaction to," the statement said. "This type of extreme reaction can last from five to 27 days in these types
[url]http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/17/showbiz/miley-cyrus-hospitalized/index.html?hpt=hp_t2[/url]QuoteMiley was suffering from a sinus infection during her tour in N.C. a week ago. She was prescribed the antibiotic Cephalexin which she has now suffered an extreme allergic reaction to," the statement said. "This type of extreme reaction can last from five to 27 days in these types
What type of extreme reaction is that? Has anyone EVER heard if it?
Honestly I think it's a function of his literal thinking.
This+that = this
I would have spent several minutes trying to decide. He has difficultly expressing how he feels, add in that we didn't see any ingestion, I likely would have waited too long.
Honestly I think it's a function of his literal thinking.
This+that = this
I would have spent several minutes trying to decide. He has difficultly expressing how he feels, add in that we didn't see any ingestion, I likely would have waited too long.
Which is why my first thought is to applaud him - he may not have been able to verbalize it immediately but he knew he needed the epi pen. That is AWESOME!
I had a bad reaction to contrast dye. I felt funny during the procedure. Spacey. But two houris or so afterward I got horrible hives that lasted for days. It probably wasn't the shellfish. From what I've read it was likely the overall huge histamine load.
later studies were done that showed no connection between a patient’s shrimp “allergy” and the incidence of contrast reactions
She tells me not to worry because they have the Benadryl ready. I couldn't resist ... I mentioned my understanding that Benadryl doesn't stop ana, epi recommended. She said they used to give epi in those cases, but stopped due to worries of heart issues. Then she reassured me that they do have a crash cart, but they don't like to talk about that ... Lol, is it wrong that I find this funny in a warped way.
Hmmm ... warm, fuzzy feelings indeed ...
Is it wrong that I think I'll take my chances rather than risk annoying a doc with a printout of the NIH recommendations? :misspeak:
A medical facility. That doesn't want to use epi IF WARRANTED because of worries of a possible heart issue. But, they have and will use a crash cart.
How many things are wrong with this picture?
Any possibility of getting it done elsewhere?
Not sure what you are getting the test done for (not asking if you haven't chosen to share) but I hope everything turns out fine. :)
The assigned camp cooks for our weekend camp refused to cook for special diets and allergies. They were going to feed allergens to children with declared allergies. (Thank God I realised it before anyone ate anything.)
Dd's mouth is itching a bit after eating walnuts & a little coconut ... neither of these foods has ever been a problem ... will tell allergist at next appt, but I am really hoping it's nothing.
It's so nice when you feel your allergist really knows her stuff, when everything said makes sense, when you feel that you are in good hands. I feel like we are on the same page as far as how to handle things. Definitely worth the drive.
:yes:
It's so nice when you feel your allergist really knows her stuff, when everything said makes sense, when you feel that you are in good hands. I feel like we are on the same page as far as how to handle things. Definitely worth the drive.
:yes:
Oh, this makes my day, Links!! :heart: I want that for EVERY person at FAS.
Treatment for PTSD (due to anaphylaxis) starts on Thursday. Not sure whether to be be hopeful or terrified. It's going to be a long journey.
Treatment for PTSD (due to anaphylaxis) starts on Thursday. Not sure whether to be be hopeful or terrified. It's going to be a long journey.
Was there a recent reaction?October of last year. The after-effects still haven't gone away and some things like flashbacks and anxieties have become worse. Seeking professional help was long overdue.
Do you feel overwhelmed with the ADHD & behaviours,
maybe because you don't know as much about them?
Do you worry that putting time into that might take the time away from the other?
Is there a part of you that sometimes kind of feels regarding older dd's problems she should just " get over it". There is no way to type that without it sounding horribly rude. But let me just say, with my son there were times when I felt that way. In fact there still are some days. But it doesn't mean I don't "get" that he can't just get over it.
It's really hard for me to tell what is within her control & what is not. When is she purposely just behaving badly, and when is it not something she can help. This is not black & white ... it's a continuum.
^ What SL said applies to my older son as well.
For me I think that reading about the allergies and asthma made me feel more in control because there was more that I could control; with the LD there seemed to be less of a cause and effect between anything I did and tangible results. I hope I communicated that clearly.
And yes, my DS is an adult and sometimes I still wish he would just "get over it", even though I understand he can't. But wowza, it can be exasperating at times.
QuoteIt's really hard for me to tell what is within her control & what is not. When is she purposely just behaving badly, and when is it not something she can help. This is not black & white ... it's a continuum.
Absolutely. And there is at least a third option. Sometimes a kid is just having a bad day. A normal everybody gets them bad day.
OMG.
DD15 just passed an open egg challenge.
{slack jaw}
For anyone that has followed along with her history, this is-- truly-- a miracle. I have no idea if it will "stick" or not, but she went through a five hour food challenge without so much as a stray hive. She at over a full scrambled EGG. Like-- REAL EGG-EGG. :misspeak:
After driving in her car for a couple of hours, her peak flow numbers had recovered to near 85% when she came home. Whatever it is, the house is making it worse.
Playing detective for stomach ache issue with help of doc ...
interesting little tidbit ... stomach ache & sore throat can be strep.
Playing detective for stomach ache issue with help of doc ...
interesting little tidbit ... stomach ache & sore throat can be strep.
LOL ;D about Dr. Dinosaur.
Popping hives and sniffling when an additional egg exposure was attempted (when we could finally get her asthma into the green zone at least with meds, I mean), though-- that indicates to me that egg is at least part of this larger picture.
Yes, SO glad that he's okay, Ginger!!
Today, he can't seem to get himself out of bed. He's exhausted. The epinephrine really did a number on him.
I wouldn't assume that is an epi hangover-- DD's been that way after every anaphylactic reaction, including a few that we didn't actually know were allergic (we might have assumed illness, or minimized symptoms, that kind of thing)-- so no epi.
Sometimes the aftereffects of anaphylaxis are as telling as anything else. :disappointed:
:grouphug: To you both, Ginger.
This is definitely minor, but...
I HATE it when companies label their alternative food products as 'Allergen Free'. People can be allergic to pretty much anything. People can be severely allergic to pretty much anything. 'Allergy friendly' is fine with me. I understand that I don't exactly have the most common allergens.
Your apple flour is NOT allergen free. The eight epi-pens in my house say otherwise, thanks.
Hi Janelle,
Thank you so much for reaching out!
So sorry if we came across as misleading by stating allergen free. We were using the term as it is defined by the FDA, but you are completely right that it is not completely accurate or transparent. We will be referring to our products as “Big-8 allergy friendly” going forward.
Thank you again and all the best!
That is absolutely ok with me, links. Thanks for asking!
I did send an email to the company - will see if I get a response.
I appreciate that Enjoy Life labels their products as 'allergy friendly', since a good portion of them are not at all allergen free to me.
I can just SO identify with that logic, spacecanada... I'm really not laughing at you-- but the situation itself is a bit surreal, isn't it?That's why I had to laugh (after the fact) and post it here, because only this community would understand the irony. Maybe tonight I'll have cake as an appetiser, followed by tomato salad, and baby carrots or applesauce for dessert. LOL ~)
The teal pumpkin still sits on the porch.
It makes me smile every time I spy it.
I hope the Teal pumpkin Project becomes a permanent fixture in Halloween "celebrations" . . .
An update - I let dd go on all the "scary" roller coasters she wanted, and she did great ... she went on things older dd & dh wouldn't go on ... she wanted to go on several more than once :). We pretreated (for asthma) ... even with a small virus, she was fine. :thumbsup:
I think it won't be long before she is ready for loops.
Because DD is babysitting more.....and a family with a young toddler might want to ask her.....
If you are caring for a child you don't feed....I'm reasoning that you have to be very careful of spit up.....what about changing diapers?
Ugh. This has been a horrible, very bad, no good kinda week around here. YOWZA.
:grouphug:
SL, could you use a medication syringe? I use one to get the nasty pred mostly past my tongue when taking it.
I'm glad it's not worse. Hope he deals with it okay emotionally. Hospitals can be a scary place.
Ugh. This has been a horrible, very bad, no good kinda week around here. YOWZA.
:grouphug:
I'm glad it's not worse. Hope he deals with it okay emotionally. Hospitals can be a scary place.
Or be like Em and want to go back because she likes the taste of steroids and the bed with a controller ~)
TT - I am so sorry (((hugs)))
November 18, 2014
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is asking the Food and Drug Administration to require that sesame be disclosed on food labels in the same manner as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy are disclosed.
And you didn't post them?! What?The photos are on my DSLR with no way to upload them yet... Be patient. I will try to post my yummy (and one not so yummy) Disney food reviews when we get home. Plus a photo of my husband eating a whole tub of Tofutti frozen dessert at Animal Kingdom. (It wasn't safe for me and he didn't want it to melt.)
;D
Yup! And the back up plan should not be "I've epinephrine with me so maybe I'll take this chance . . . " (Hi HO! Silver bullet & I should be ok?!)
Wow. That is bad. I'm sorry.I should have posted that in Vent and Delete... oops.
Wow. That is bad. I'm sorry.I should have posted that in Vent and Delete... oops.
As a parent of a child with a nut allergy, Pistiner empathized with parents who have to educate their peers even as they're trying to protect their children. It can be difficult to pass on that responsibility to others, he added.
"I'm trying to teach my mom how to use an EpiPen and read labels, and she's not taking me seriously, and I'm a pediatric allergist," he said. "Imagine if I'm a school teacher, imagine if I'm a stay-at-home mom. Now who's going to take me seriously? It's a really hard position to be in."
Starlight are you thinking it will be easier to try it for the first time as an ingredient and not just out ifnthe jar?
PC, I really like that verbiage. Can you save a version with the personal info redacted? I'd love to be able to use it as a template.
First thing I thought of is "cumin"?
They mean contaminated cumin currently in the food supply that was subject to the expansive recall list.
PC, I really like that verbiage. Can you save a version with the personal info redacted? I'd love to be able to use it as a template.
lmbo at last part. Not funny but funny, KWIM? That's totally what it would take which defeats the purpose of going in the first place.
Why oh why did I give a factual answer to the question, "What is DS eating these days?" :insane: :insane:. The only correct answer is a vague one like, "Oh lots of things" and change subject immediately.
When I'm asked about myself, the general answer is: "Oh, lots of cardboard, and occasionally some styrofoam."
Links, not to treat you like my personal search engine but if you run across the UK peanut OIT that was supposed to be breakthrough let me know. I'm trying to find the study.
Further work is required to confirm sustained unresponsiveness after a longer period of secondary peanut elimination and to clarify the relative contributions of probiotics versus OIT.
CM, that's exactly my reaction when these headlines come out and people feel entitled to ask whether I've considered curing myself or not.
ajas, I could have written that post.
:-/
:grouphug:
Ditto! Not to mention the cases of planters roasted peanut packets in my desk at work. Only peanuts and celery settled my stomach when I was preggo!
Your Padawan learner? It's been a long day and the thrills are coming cheap. Star Wars references are happening.
oh my .... hope she is okay now.
YouKnowWho, you may have accidentally saved my life.
Because of your post about KK, I looked into the Canadian location. They now have bagels. I can't get any information from the web-site, but bagels tend to have sesame seeds. Which would make everything in there poison to me.
oh NO. :grouphug: What happened?Dunno, really. Ate lunch and my throat and tongue felt funny. I ignored it because we didn't have anything new. Ate a bit more of the same thing for snack and nausea, throat swelling and tongue tingling got worse. Epi. Boo. ER doc wasn't convinced it was allergies because of no rash or face swelling. He asked about what the allergist told me when I saw him ages ago (the quack who said adults don't develop food allergies and I won't need EpiPens). Paramedics were more convinced. Sigh. Off to the GP and get a referral to a new allergist I guess. ???
What are your allergies?Tree nuts and peanuts, with intolerance to dairy and an unknown intolerance we are trying to figure out - possibly potatoes or tomatoes (thus the mashed potatoes today... So maybe it is a new allergy?). Anyway, leg hurts today, headache but otherwise fine.
Tree nuts and peanuts, with intolerance to dairy and an unknown intolerance we are trying to figure out - possibly potatoes.
I would suspect the outside of the skittles bag or raisin box more than anything else.That is what the paramedics thought. They had me wash my hands and face too, in case I still had residue on them. Thumbs up to our paramedics yesterday.
:(. Sorry you had a reaction, Space. How are you doing emotionally today? I know you have worked hard to overcome anxiety after your last reaction. Hugs.I am at home alone for the first time after the reaction and scared, frustrated, and a bit depressed. My husband is texting me to check on me every hour or so and reminding me to do fun things to stay positive. He made me a safe lunch to make sure I would eat today. I am taking it day by day and know I can call my psychologist any time if things don't improve. I think I need to let myself be upset for a few days - that is normal. Thanks for checking in and for everyone's support. :heart:
Time to binge watch something!So far the line up includes Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale 2, Soul Surfer, A Smile As Big As The Moon, Despicable Me, and Wall-E. All happy feel good family movies.
A fit of giggles came on when I pondered a group of us going to the next FARE conference.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
This is more of a living with environmental allergies...
Pollen is creeping up and I have been tracking. Mainly been trying to figure out what DH is allergic to because he is always miserable at the start of the season. Our local board lists trees out individual (weeds and grasses as well). But I have been stumped by the Unident tree. What in the heck is a Unident tree. Okay, let's Google it...
And then there is the moment when you slap your forehead, wish you had a V-8 when you realize the Unident tree you are searching for is actually short for unidentified species.
Dork.
People who are allergic to daises, ragweed, chrysanthemums and marigolds may be at risk of developing a severe allergic reaction to chicory root extract. Handling or consuming chicory root extract may result in hives, intense itching, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, wheezing, dizziness, pale skin or loss of consciousness. If you exhibit any of these side effects, seek emergency medical care. In the absence of prompt medical intervention, an allergic reaction to chicory root extract may be life-threatening.
Mac -- possible soluton is to go get a big bottle of TX Pete Hot Sauce and mix a strong solution (with water) in dedicated spray bottle. Spray that area where the squirrels have been leaving the pnut shells . . . will have to reapply after rain and after mowing . . . may help get them to move on to somewhere else.
Next time you are at a Walmart or other CVS / Walgreens, get a box of disposable vinyl (not latex) gloves and tuck in your pantry. You'll be so glad you have these for all kinds of surprises.
For the first time ever, all of my kids got a chance to enjoy food at a party (including cupcakes) that I did not prepare. We made friends with a little girl who shares all of the same allergies.
With regards to allergens, our labels on our products specify those that are present. Our company and all our suppliers do our best in avoiding cross contamination however, declaring and getting our facilities certified as “nut-free”, “peanut-free”, or “sesame free”, entails much more and we opt instead, to go with our current practice of declaring allergens available in the product`s ingredients.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
KFA tweeted this ...
Too funny!
[url]http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/kjc2ca/along-came-pollen[/url]
Well, it's funnier than the usual message.
Anyone know how to obtain financial records for a non-profit short of a FOIA request? Doing some research re: #foodallergy non-profits.
Financial records is pretty broad request. The best starting point would be their 990 or any other open source disclosure. I'm not sure FOIA is the tool for say their internal controls if they don't publish them, or how much redaction would erode the purpose in seeking whatever it is one would seek. Ask me a year from now and I'd have more in depth answers.
Not so ha-ha funny to see a FOIA production about 80% redacted. Try IRS home page after exhausting open source options.
Tell you what. Send me a PM on which one then let me see what I dig up if you want... when I have the time.
I'm not sure what to think about this being named after me.
I learned today the daycare at the gym has stock epi (jr and sr) on hand. I usually just hand the med bag over to the girl at the counter (they are aware of the kids allergies).
Turns out they are epi trained, CPR trained and basic medical emergency trained.
Why do I feel better about the gym daycare than the school? (Nurse excluded on training but no stock meds).
Same goes for the pharmaceutical companies.
This may seem obvious ... don't make your child laugh when she is trying to hold her asthma med puff for 10 sec.
:dunce:
This may seem obvious ... don't make your child laugh when she is trying to hold her asthma med puff for 10 sec.
:dunce:
Well, I guess there is a benefit to my doc's recommendation that I take all of my meds via neb...laughter is allowed. :)
@DavidGilbert43 Am now comfort eating. pic.twitter.com/aqqkqlxkQF
:grouphug:
Me, on the other hand-- I led my kid here. :hiding:
We also list all the ingredients that the product may contain or may have been in contact with by using the words “may contain”.
We use the following symbol to identify all products that do not contain peanuts. Please look for this symbol on the front of the package to enjoy our products safely.
<peanut free symbol shown>
DH bought a candy that we've never had before. They look good. I looked the company up and went straight to the FAQ page.
Under do your candies contain allergens is says this.QuoteWe also list all the ingredients that the product may contain or may have been in contact with by using the words “may contain”.
Under are your candies peanut free it saysQuoteWe use the following symbol to identify all products that do not contain peanuts. Please look for this symbol on the front of the package to enjoy our products safely.
<peanut free symbol shown>
This bag has no "may contain" and has no "peanut free" and does not list peanut as an added ingredient.
So....what does that mean?
I've sent them an e-mail, but....is it just me?
I'm unsure if these are state laws but our doctors are forbidden from using social media with us or even email for patient care. There is an established portal with the medical facilities that we can use to send and receive information.
And is simply part of living in the 21st Century IMHO.
Latest Allerject and FloVent refills = $0!!
Reason: I've had so many prescriptions this year that I maxed our co-pay amount.
I don't see his/her location mentioned anywhere. But I agree that any awareness in that region is a good thing, but misinformation anywhere isn't. Didn't Mac or hk have some good info on allergy R&D in that region?
I think it was shrimp in my Cobb salad--yesterday. Delayed. GI, very rapid heart rate. Itchy skin.
Okay, when I list all of the ways that food allergies cause little moments of cognitive dissonance, and thoughts of "Wow, that's an entirely new WAY in which LTFA completely SUCK..."
Seafood appears neuroprotective in APOE4 carriers
Great-- so those who are at the highest risk of Alzheimer's (and probably other CNS neurodegenerative disorders) can do something about it ! Yay! Eat more seafood!
Oh. Wait.
nevermind
:tongue:
must be the cupcake queens from years ago
Navigating these situations with confidence and without fear is HARD. Anticipating plan B for every food situation is HARD. I am one who will avoid the situation with food and opt for social isolation as a result. I have been let down or put in danger too many times. It's my reality.
The bragging part is....I refrained for pushing her down those stairs.
:smooch: Links.
:console:
Yes, it does suck. And we haven't found that it actually ends (said by a person whose son is about to graduate).
Just wanted to share some good news.
We are going to a baseball game. It's an evening game, and with traffic, we will be leaving before dinner time. I can't imagine there is anything safe for me...other than licorice. So I sent an e-mail and within minutes (literally less than 5 minutes) I received a response that I can bring my own food and drink in containers not more than 600ml. and no alcohol.
Yay! I don't have to chose between eating or breathing.
Another weird thing, on the good(er) side.
Wow SilverLining.... yes I guess those are good things. I'm glad you didn't have to read any derogatory comments. And maybe now your DH will read the labels in the store so he doesn't have to make a return trip.
Another weird thing, on the good(er) side.
Or, good-ly? ;)
My poor husband is like that sometimes too. Other times he just rolls his eyes and tells me to go away. He seems to have pretty good instints though and when he gets worried I know it means we will be going to the hospital or clinic.
The hives went away after an hour or so. It was rally weird.
I had an interesting experience this weekend at my husband's work party. The firm owners were all very concerned that I wasn't eating anything. They honestly want to have an event where I can enjoy the food. It was so hard to explain it to them how difficult that would be. They understand no blatant allergens but fail to grasp the cross contact and calling companies for traces factors. Has anyone ever had success with this type of thing? (It was a catered finger food type event with actual chefs cooking stuff right there in the kitchen.)
Baby steps, right? The fact that they were all concerned and spent time talking with me to try to make future events safe was touching.
Milk and egg are so hard. She may be peanut and tree nut too but having those allergies myself I find them much easier to handle. People know much more about nut allergies.
I can't wait to tell DD about the cake!
It sounds like your new allergist is up to date with current standards.
The history of your egg allergy coming and going and coming back is slightly concerning though - and you may wish to discuss the chance of your egg allergy returning once again if it has, yet again, disappeared. Some people who have egg allergy are able to tolerate baked egg, though you must set up a challenge and dosing/requirements with your allergist to determine if that would be safe for you. (i.e. the baked item must be baked at 180*C/350*F for 30 minutes or more)
As for chef cards, I use the old ones from FARE. It looks like they have updated them a bit since:
[url]http://safefare.org/chefcard[/url]
They come in a variety of languages. I print them on bright coloured paper, laminate them (5 mil laminate - the thick stuff), and let the kitchen keep them, as I don't want them back once they've been around food.
I was going to suggest those allergy cards as well. We used them when we traveled to Poland, and had them translated into Polish.
NYguy, are you in the NYC area? Curious who your old allergist was. Feel free to PM me if you feel comfortable (or not, I won't be offended!). I would also love to hear about allergy-friendly restaurants.
I hope you can get some more eating flexibility. Allergies while traveling are stressful!
How odd!
I just went to their website to see if they specified how think of clothing you could inject through, (I didn't find an answer, just that you can inject through clothing.
But...I did find this,
[url]http://epipen.ca/en/about-epipen/how-to-use[/url]
They are back to "swing and jab"? Was "hold and press" not working?
How odd!
I just went to their website to see if they specified how think of clothing you could inject through, (I didn't find an answer, just that you can inject through clothing.
But...I did find this,
[url]http://epipen.ca/en/about-epipen/how-to-use[/url]
They are back to "swing and jab"? Was "hold and press" not working?
hummmmmmm.....could this have something to do with the recall? "a defective part that may result in the devices’ failure to activate"
Denim is about 1mm thick. My wetsuit is a 5:4, meaning 5mm on the torso and 4mm on the joints and lower limbs. Granted, I have an athletic body (leaner than average) even though I carry more fat on my thighs.
I think the jab helps the needle go deeper, especially when needle length may be a concern. I think I read somewhere that injecting into fat still works, just less efficient and slower to work than into muscle directly. Don't hold me to that fact though.
Went to the allergist today. All scratch kin tests were completely negative on the food front and they tested a ton of things between food and environmental. I haven't taken an antihistamine or a product containing an antihistamine (sleep aids, decongestants, painkillers that bundle it as a sleep aid, etc.) in over a month. We'll have to see what the blood test results show and go from there... [etc. etc.]
As part of our adherence to BRC accreditation (and CFIA), we have a robust allergen control program in place. Among other things it includes separating raw materials, scheduling products - like with like - I.E. mustards run with other mustards when possible and both ATP sanitation testing combined with allergen swabs. We don't use any "may contain" statements on our products.
I decided this was a good example to forward to the CFIA to show what allergic shoppers are forced to deal with.And how did you do this? I submitted a very misleading label to them this week and they just cited that it met current labelling laws and there is nothing they can do. I replied that the whole point was to demonstrate how their current rules are confusing customers.
I decided this was a good example to forward to the CFIA to show what allergic shoppers are forced to deal with.And how did you do this? I submitted a very misleading label to them this week and they just cited that it met current labelling laws and there is nothing they can do. I replied that the whole point was to demonstrate how their current rules are confusing customers.
And don't get me started on the unregulated peanut-free logo... Especially when accompanied with the words 'nut free' - what does it even mean then? Sorry, caught in a labelling vent today after three irritating/misleading/confusing labels in as many days.
She sent an email last night. Glad she is taking initiative.
When you give the newest hypoallergenic tape at the physiotherapy office a try... And end up with a huge red welt the shape of the tape, itchiness, and hives STILL - two days later. (With constant Benadryl cream.)
This one is going to need hydrocortisone and more Benadryl. Maybe I will ingest some Benadryl liquid tomorrow afternoon.
Sorry, not hypoallergenic enough. (That crosses off every single tape option.)
But I didn't react to the massage lotion (we read the ingredients: contains sesame!) used for a cupping treatment on my messed up calf muscle - so that's a win.
It feels good since I feel like I'm the only advocate at the school. Happy to know we've made a difference for the kids who come after us.
That's wonderful Mary. I'm so glad both of you were able to have a good time. And yes, I spent some nights parked outside the catering halls as well, or at least within 5 minutes of them. ;D
... but the fact manufacturers don't have to disclose that manufacturing change on labels is disturbing. (Same thing happened with the brand of popcorn we used to buy for years and years too.)
I'm normally anxious to try new things or call new companies, for it usually means a frustrating or sad/depressing experience when they cannot provide adequate allergen information or they say their product isn't safe, so I rarely attempt to try anything new. Calling and emailing companies is exhausting, but sometimes it's worth reaching out to see if something new is safe -- because when it really is safe, it's exciting.
And yet, I'll still only try the new food at home, with my husband present, and low activity planned for the following two to four hours -- at least the first few times I try it, until I am confident it's ok.
The place my sister and I went for a pedicure yesterday asks if you have any nut allergies before they use their finishing spray (some sort of almond oil spray).
Was this just one of the dining facilities or for all of them???It was on every newsletter delivered to our room, with the summary of daily activities. I saw it on at least one menu, too. I didn't pay much attention to menus after that, to be honest. After seeing this repeatedly, and the comedian mocking life-threatening food allergies on the first night, I was pretty much in survival mode for the remainder of the cruise.
That's exciting!! Congratulations to your DS! I just squeaked in the office with excitement.