Just Call Me Sacajawea...
When you’re diagnosed with a food allergy/intolerance, you
usually walk out of the office with photocopied list of Dos and DON’Ts for your
new diet, an appointment with a nutritionist, and approximately 317,489
unanswered questions floating around in your brain. You get home, walk into your kitchen and take a glance at
the back of your favorite comfort food: potatoes (check!), salt (check),
cottonseed oil…problem. It’s not on the DO list or the DON’T list! Now what??
Ah yes, if only it were as simple as a DO list and a DON’T list.
As far as food goes, here is my advice:
1)
Head to
the library. I know, I know…it’s a place many people don’t frequent as
often anymore. Trust me, even if you haven’t been there in ages, it’s still as
fantastic as it was when you were a kid. Find as many books as you can related
to your particular allergy. Do yourself a favor and don’t read them cover to
cover…it will only exhaust and overwhelm you. Skim through for important
information, jot down a few notes, but don’t expect to get all your answers in
one day. Take it from me, this is a marathon…not a sprint. (I could give you
some great recommendations but it all depends on your specific allergy so if
you’re looking for specific title ideas, just send me an email…or become
friends with Cupofcoffee WithKatie on facebook and you can see some of my
favorites on the profile there!)
2)
Download
your books. If you are one of those tech-savvy people who have made the
switch to a Kindle or Nook, follow Step 1 using whatever 21st
century gadget you’ve acquired. I envy you…one of these days I’ll finally have
my own Kindle. A girl can dream :-)
3)
Surf the
Web: As a teacher, I could recite the speech about using common sense when
discerning which websites are reputable…but I think by now you know that one by
heart too. Be safe, be smart, and make Miss Burke proud.
4) Practice a lost art: I know actually
speaking on the phone is becoming a lost art for many people but you’re in
luck! You know how they say “Use it or lose it” when it comes to talents? Well,
you are about to start using the art of conversation quite a bit. Start calling
those manufacturers of your favorite products. It gives you a definitive answer
once and for all…and there’s nothing better than peace of mind. Just don’t
forget to ask their policy on changing ingredients and recipes. That’s right,
something that’s safe one day can suddenly become unsafe the next. It’s a
dangerous game. And a cruel one if you ask me.
5) Find a friend (preferably one who understands
your allergy). I know you have
lots of friends…and trust me, they will prove to be an invaluable source of
support, strength, and humor in the weeks to come…but what you could really use
right now is someone who shares your allergy…or at least knows enough about it
that he or she can be a resource. There’s nothing like having a guide to walk
beside you and warn you about the potential pitfalls you never saw coming….and
that none of those books thought to warn you about either. I was beyond blessed
in this department. Through a crazy series of events which I believe can only
be explained as God’s providential hand at work in my life, a new teacher moved
into the classroom next to mine mid-year just three months prior to the day my
journey into the food allergy world began. She was a light for me in an
otherwise very dark time. Her positive energy was an inspiration…and there’s
nothing better than knowing you can just run next door (literally) to ask yet
another “What about this…is it safe?” question. God bless her, that’s all I can
say. She had the patience of a saint with me that spring. (HC, thank you for
being my allergy angel. I can only pray that everyone could be so lucky :-))
Now since not all of you will be fortunate
enough to have your own allergy angel, I’m here to share some of my own pitfalls and then walk alongside you
until you feel confident enough to venture out on your own. Or until I drive
you crazy. There’s a good chance the latter might come first…consider yourself
warned. I won’t be offended :-)
a. Step away from the envelopes. That’s
right, the adhesive on envelopes is not gluten-free. At least most of them.
Fortunately self-adhesive has become all the rage. But do yourself a
favor…don’t seal any envelopes. Invest in one of those sponges…or beg a friend
for assistance.
b. Pucker up…not so fast.: Yep,
unfortunately many of those delicious chapstick flavors are often derived from
allergenic substances. Do your homework and read the label. Burt’s Bees is free
from many allergens, as is plain original Chapstick (yes the bland one…but it’s
worth it to stay healthy), Arbonne has some great ones, and most health food
stores/specialty stores (WholeFoods, Trader Joe’s, etc.) have their own line
now. Just make sure to read the label or call the company yourself. Red Apple (http://www.redapplelipstick.com/)
has a great gluten-free makeup line. I highly recommend them for my fellow
gluten-free friends.
c. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.: Now
if you have a contact allergy, this one is a given. But for many of us, the
foods only cause problems if ingested, thus having contact with our digestive
tract. So why worry about things you don’t plan to eat? Well, 2 reasons. 1) How
many times has your shampoo inadvertently ended up in your mouth? You know,
you’re mid-shower, belting out the latest One Direction ballad (I know it’s
painful to admit…they are kind of catchy) and next thing you know your face
looks like the little cartoon man on the WarHeads package. Shampoo on your
tongue…gross. Well, now it’s not only gross but dangerous. Allergen on your
tongue means soon enough it will make it’s way to your stomach. 2) (Honestly
the more pressing concern): You enjoy a leisurely shower: lather, rinse, repeat
your way through the shampoo, conditioner, etc. You get out of the shower and
head downstairs, grab a handful of cashews for a quick snack, and you’re on
your way. Well, those same hands that just lathered up that allergen-containing
shampoo are now cradling your precious cashews. Enjoy that snack because you’ll
be feeling it pretty soon. Granted, you can solve this problem by scrubbing
your hands with non-allergy-containing soap after your shower…but seriously,
who is going to think to wash hands when you just took a shower?? Take it from
me: buy products without your allergen. It's worth it.
d. SUNSCREEN!: Same as letter C. I just
had a traumatic poolside experience last summer (snacking after applying
sunscreen = a very sick Katie) which has scarred me enough that it warrants a
separate category.
e. As if you needed another reason to fear the
dentist: Not all toothpaste is safe but that’s a pretty easy fix. (Colgate
and Crest are safe for many allergies…but Tom’s of Maine makes a corn-free
one!) The hard part is the actual dental visit. Make sure to tell your dentist
about your specific allergy. You’d be surprised what ends up in those fillings
and sealants…and then can end up in your gut :-(
f. Because kids like to taste everything: toys.
Play-doh contains gluten. So do many kinds of glue/adhesive so all those
glittery, self-adhesive “bedazzle everything you own” kits are a nightmare for
kids with allergies. Or parents for that matter. You can make your own safe
play-doh (http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/gluten-free-play-dough-recipe/)
Granted that one has corn, so adjust for your specific needs. Again,
pinterest…it’s a lifesaver. And as for the bedazzling, just skip it. Nothing
needs to be bedazzled. You’re dazzling enough :-)
I know there are countless other pitfalls
I’m forgetting at the moment. I promise they’ll find their way later. For now,
I’m sure this is more than enough to convince you that you should just become a
bubble-person and never leave the house again. It’s not true. I promise it
won’t be that bad. I hit some pitfalls and I’m still here and smiling. Remember, I’m your guide and we’ll get
through it together. Just call me Sacajawea...
(Note: I believe in credit where credit is due: I can’t claim credit for the Sacajawea analogy. Although it was
originally applied to a different speech, another co-worker was the brains behind that literary/historical stroke of genius. We’ll call him the Savvy Speechwriter. An Allergy Angel and
a Savvy Speechwriter…don’t you wish your kids went to this school??)
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