Allergies are confusing. What are they? How do you manage them? How do you explain them to people? How do you figure out what is safe to eat? etc.

 Growing up I was vaguely aware that I had allergies. It was confusing when I started having reactions to foods and environmental allergens. I was fortunate enough to not have an anaphylaxis reaction to anything, which was how I defined a food allergy. I resorted to avoiding these foods but not being “an inconvenience” by refusing to eat them. When I was searching for my LDS diagnosis, I had allergy testing that confirmed my suspicions, I was allergic to tree nuts, casein and whey (dairy), and all but one environmental allergen for which they tested. The process of adjusting my diet and lifestyle for these allergies was confusing to both me and the people around me. So let’s talk about that… because I know I am not the only one in this predicament. 

The YouTuber Dr. Mike Varshavski posted two videos that I am centering this post around. He is a family physician from NYC who makes educational content on youtube. His videos on allergies are very helpful so watch them for more context.

Take aways:

Dairy allergies are not lactose intolerance– I love that they distinguish allergies, sensitivities and intolerance. When I tell people that I have a dairy allergy they often think I am talking about lactose intolerance. This can be dangerous (even if there isn’t an anaphylaxis reaction) in a restaurant or dinners at other people’s homes. Since eating is such a social experience, its hard to completely avoid eating out. My three tips are: ALWAYS eat before hand, only order/eat if you feel comfortable with the situation (you can tell when people are not understanding what you mean by allergy), and bring allergy medications (Benadryl and/or an epipen) because mistakes happen and being prepared is the best way to keep them under control.

The worst case scenario is rare – This is a good point. You can adjust your household to be free of your allergens but the rest of the world is not adjusting for your allergies. In my case I had ice cream and pizza before I knew I was allergic to dairy. I had reactions after eating, but I was lucky enough to have never landed in the ER needing epinephrine. I can imagine that that would be a traumatizing situation and lead people to withdraw form their normal activities from fear. I think it is important to have conversations with doctors about all the click bate headlines so that we can make informed decisions and not fearful ones. (easier said than done!)

Benadryl does what? – One allergy myth that they address is about Benadryl. They reference a study that claims 50mg of Benadryl can leave a person more impaired than alcohol. (typically 2 pills of otc Benadryl) This is just another reminder that it is important to have a game plan in case of an accidental reaction.

No dogs are actually “hypoallergenic dogs” 😦 – The good news is that you can work with an allergist to manage symptoms so that you can still be around dogs.

Immune system boosts are not always good – Immune responses like allergies and autoimmune disorders are CAUSED by over active immune systems. It is so important to consult a doctor on all the supplements and diets that you choose simply because an out of control immune system can be dangerous. We also have to recognize that everybody is different, the supplements or diets that your friends try might not work for you. They also point out that people trying to sell you something and give you medical advice have a conflict of interest. Again, you have to be your own advocate. If you feel uneasy about a recommendation do your research and ask for a second opinion. You are in control of the way you manage your health and have the right to accurate information that will help you make the best decision for you.

There are so many more take aways, I encourage you to watch the videos. These are just a few take aways that stood out to me.