Things People Have Said to Me Regarding My Allergies
“You can eat salads and the insides of sandwiches.”
For the most part, salads are safe, except when someone places a breadstick on it, croutons, or dressing containing gluten and/or dairy. And no, removing the offending item will not make it safe for me to eat, there will still be crumbs present and will still make me sick. In regards to eating the insides of sandwiches, if it touched the bread, chances are there will be crumbs and therefore make it unsafe for me to eat. Something to also consider regarding salads and sandwiches, cheese could be a part of what’s in a salad or a sandwich, especially if they’re made ahead of time.
“How do you know you’re allergic? Did you go see a doctor?”
It was my decision to see a Naturopathic Wellness Practitioner, she was the one who informed me of my sensitivities to wheat and dairy. If it were a medical problem that required a doctor’s attention, she would have advised me to go to a doctor. To be honest, I was unaware that I was even allergic to wheat/gluten and dairy for years. There were years of feeling exhausted and lethargic, plus some other things that were going on. Did I know it was due to a gluten and dairy intolerance? Probably not. Did I know that the itchy red rash on my stomach since last October was related to the fact that I was intolerant to gluten? I thought it was a reaction to a pistachio binge and tried to refrain from eating nuts for a while. Months went by and the rash was still there and I really didn’t want to go to a dermatologist, even though there was the possibility that I would have to eventually. Sometime around Easter 2017, my fiancé finally convinced me to go see his Wellness Practitioner and I finally made an appointment (though it would be another month before I was able to finally see her since she gets booked up pretty quickly). Before I went to see the Wellness Practitioner back in May, I was pretty much eating whatever. It was just one of those things where I knew people that had gluten and dairy allergies, but I never really thought that it would ever happen to me. I’ve only known about this since before Memorial Day 2017 and it’s been a huge adjustment. I bet a dollar to a gluten free donut that there are others who are unaware that they have food allergies as well.
“Are you vegan?”
Since I am now unable to have dairy, the next presumption is that I’ve decided to go vegan. I have thought about it, but at this time, I decided probably not. I still eat fish, turkey, and lean proteins. I still consume eggs and put honey in my tea. I gave up eating red meat in college, much to the chagrin and annoyance of my father who commented at the time that I only wanted to be a vegetarian because Paul McCartney was vegetarian. Interestingly enough, when I mention I’m allergic to dairy, people seem to forget I’m allergic to wheat/gluten (and vice versa). I don’t think I can ever transition to being totally vegan. I do like experimenting with the non-dairy cheese in different dishes I make, it’s interesting how melted Daiya tastes like Laughing Cow cheese wedges. I love non-dairy yogurt. I just can’t seem, at least for the time being, to commit to a totally plant based lifestyle. However, I do refer to my vegan friends and my cousin Aaron (who is somewhere between vegetarian and vegan) for suggestions regarding dairy free products. Just can’t make that commitment to being a full on vegan.
“Do you miss it?”
I get asked this a lot. I really don’t miss consuming wheat/gluten products and I don’t really miss dairy. I just realized that this was the first time since I’ve been with my fiancé that we haven’t even been to C&C Dairy Land at all. When I was first informed of the allergies, my first thought was that I couldn’t have my Peanut Butter sundae with vanilla custard anymore. Now I really don’t care if I never eat ice cream ever again. As for bread and pizza, there’s gluten free bread available and some places have gluten free pizza crust with vegan cheese (which is, pardon the pun if you will, a slice of heaven). I’ve also discovered gluten free Blueberry muffins, which have also been discovered by my mother, so I share those with her which is probably a good thing. I can tell you what I don’t miss. I don’t miss my stomach hurting every time I ate ice cream. I don’t miss the rashes. I think I’m good.
“I’m a man of science, I would get a blood test to be sure”
To be clear, I absolutely adore the guy who said this in a conversation we had recently, I love him like a brother. I understand his concern and I concurred that a blood test is probably a good idea and I was thinking of getting one of those kits I saw on a Facebook ad if I had two hundred dollars to spare, which I don’t. I understand that the way I found out probably wasn’t his idea of something “scientific” (my Wellness Practitioner does biometrics, which is pretty cool and the scans do show a lot of Data) and a blood test would be more concrete. He is concerned about me and my well being, however, my friend Diana pointed out that blood tests aren’t always conclusive and that I probably have been off it long enough for not much to show.
