Near Death Experience

[sweet angel]

I should probably clarify my earlier post. I'm ASSUMING I've developed an allergy to shrimp. I love shrimp. It seemed every time I had them over the summer, I'd end up with bad stomach cramps. The last time I ate them, I came home covered in hives. I'm not going to try again for fear of anaphalaxis. I just won't eat them. I don't eat crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, etc.

It's odd though. I went 37 years not having any reactions, then BOOM! hey lady, you can't eat shrimp anymore.

 

[SweetSpot]

Sweet Angel: I am allergic to shellfish. The first time I had lobster (the day before my HS graduation) I developed really bad stomach cramps. I never associated the 2 and the second time I had shellfish I got much more severe stomach cramps, 3rd time added hives and throat tightening, 4th time I needed Benedryl. I won't take that chance again. I don't eat fish in restaurants because you cross contamination can happen. Some restaurants boil shells to make sauces. I've told every doctor that I have the allergy and I never was given an epi pen until I went to the doctor this year because I developed a bee sting allergy. I always carried Benedryl with me but I wouldn't take that chance if I were you. I should have had an epi pen long ago but never thought to ask for one. I always carried Benedryl with me but I wouldn't take that chance if I were you. When I was younger a sister of a friend of mine died on her honeymoon while leaving a restaurant. A waiter walked past her with a sizzling platter of shrimp. This allergy seems to get worse each time.

On our first DCL cruise I had to tell our servers every single day that I had this allergy and even after telling them they kept asking me if I want the shellfish appetizers and couldn't understand why I didn't want the lobster. They are servers and as wonderful as some are (this one was horrible) you have to be really careful. This year at the chinese lunch buffet I went to the stir fry station. I asked what was in the sauces and they told me no shellfish even though one was oyster sauce. They also stir fry one meal after another so if the person before you has shrimp in their stir fry there could be a problem. If you have an allergy to food you have to be the one to question everything and never take a chance, even on DCL.

 

[crisi]

My brother in law can't do buffets. Occationally some guest will dip the spoon from the shimp salad into the potato salad, which even servings later, can send him into shock. He can't do a teppanyaki grill - the shrimp cross contaminates.

And you have to ask - shellfish stock is common for soups.

As implied above, some people don't think of oysters as shellfish....or assume the "shell" not the "fish" is the problem - and if its been removed from the shell you'll be fine (you won't be).

And it isn't uncommon to have allergies to several foods. After years of knowing about shellfish, and episode left my BIL wondering where the shellfish was -- it wasn't - it was pineapple.

I'd suspect that you are better off carrying an epipen you never use than suddenly having a severe reaction you aren't prepared for.

 

[tvguy]

If you have an allergy and eat out I would carry that Epi-Pen.

Some woman here wanted her son's school to ban peanut butter sandwiches and cookies from the lunchroom because of her son's SEVERE peanut allergy. I'm talking about a ban on kids bringing these in their brown bag lunches, not being sold in the lunch room. Not sure that is a reasonable request. If he is that allergic, and can get a reaction from just smelling peanuts, maybe he shouldn't be in the lunch room at all.

 

[goofysgirl]

Ok no flames but I am biting my lip. I have the deathly seafood allergy going hand in hand with that my 10 year old is allergic to peanut/tree nuts... Believe me it is hell making sure that they have no hidden nuts in everything she eats. They hide them in everything. These kids have enough to deal with just being allergic and being treated differently. Do we need to ban them from the school cafe? I don't think so, but I think the kids themselves need to be careful. Tara has told me stories of eating lunch with these kids and they're talking with there mouths full spewing PB&J all over the place. Uck she just gets up and moves.
We have been on the Magic 6 times with #7 coming in Sept. No problems with either allergy-just remember to tell everyone that will listen to you and keep telling them until you get off the ship!
The counselors will carry the epi-pen and you should sign a waiver for them to administer just in case you are not available.
Happy safe cruising........just watch out for the swimming shellfish and the hidden nuts!

 

[pediatric-rnp]

Anyone with a food allergy needs to be extra, extra vigilent.....foods which would seem to be safe may not be. My mom was allergic to shellfish, but never thought to ask how the stuffing was prepared when she ordered the turkey diiner in a restaurant once - turns out they used some shellfish in making it and she had a reaction. Also, several years ago, locally, a Brown Univ student went to dinner with friends - she ordered the chili and had an anaphylactic reaction and was dead before she arrived at the hospital - unbeknownst to her, the chili was thickened with peanut butter, and she was highly allergic (but I guess did not carry an epi-pen). Due to her experience, RI now has laws which mandate menus make a notation on them as to what allergen may be in the food item. As stated previously - anyone who is allergic should be carrying an epipen with them at all times, and the person(s) traveling with them should be aware of this and know how to use the epipen also, in the event the person is not able to.

 

[Thunderrd]

Six years ago a preschool near me started a no peanut butter/nuts policy and continues with it today.

The elementary school I'm familiar with has tables labeled "no peanut butter" or "peanut free" or something and a letter is sent home to all parents of a class if there is a child w/the allergy in that class.

I agree w/goofysgirl that the kids need to be careful. Schools can educate the staff and students and with minor changes can make things workable to all.

 

[3xthecharm]

The counselors will carry the epi-pen and you should sign a waiver for them to administer just in case you are not available.

Can we do this? Sign a waiver I mean. My son has a deadly allergy with a short reaction time. He is too young to self administer.

krhardy, I believe you may have oral allergy syndrome. My son has the same exact allergies as you do plus a few more fruits. He can die from apples. Do you have seasonal allergies as well? Are you allergic to tree pollen or ragweed? The protien in fruits/nuts imitate the pollen of birch trees and ragweed.

My DS can eat a limited amount of all of his allergens to a degree as long as they are well cooked. Cooking the food kills the protien. You may not be able to eat peanut butter because it is such a high concentration of cooked peanuts.

I would consult an allergist about oral allergy syndrome. There are many websites with info as well. Just do a search for "oral allergy syndrome".