This weekend, from Friday 5th – Sunday 8th July, talkhealth will be at the Allergy and Free From Show at the Olympia, London. We’ll be exhibiting at stand A611 and would love anyone attending to drop by and say hello!
We’ve got a lot going on at the show, including news about our latest Patient Support Programme, myIBS. Written by medical experts and part sponsored by Enterosgel, myIBS has been created to help provide those living with IBS self-management advice, information around the condition and expert guidance. The programme runs for 12 weeks and includes coverage of topics such as:
What can I do to help myself
Specialist treatments for IBS-D and IBS-C
Questions to ask your doctor
Psychological impacts
What causes IBS
And much more
In addition to this, talkhealth’s Director, Deborah Wyatt, will be taking part in the event with a talk on “IBS – symptoms overview, latest treatments, research and self-help programmes” alongside Bowel Specialist Nurse, Michelle Henderson, from 2:00 – 2:45 PM on the Friday. Make sure you don’t miss out!
Finally, if you pop over to our stand at A611 you could be in with the chance of winning one of 5 hampers we’re giving away at the event. Simply head to our stand and have a chat with on of our advisors and we can enter you into the competition! The hamper is full of goodies, and includes:
A massive thank you to all our clients who contributed to our hamper of goodies! Make sure you pop by the stall to be in with the chance of winning. We look forward to seeing you there!
And it has always baffled me why there is a huge disconnect between asthma funding and allergy funding. The two are so intricately linked that it just seems crazy not to share resources, not least to prevent so many people suffering needlessly and being prescribed endless and increasing doses of steroids for what could be an allergy in the first place.
What causes asthma? It’s never a simple answer but I wonder how many of these asthma deaths could have been avoided had those patients been tested for allergies; thus understanding better what those triggers might be.
About four years ago I finally had a soya allergy diagnosed after worsening asthma. I didn’t think for a moment that I could be allergic to one of the very plant milks suggested in replacement of the cow’s milk that I was already allergic to, but cutting out soya led to a dramatic reduction in my asthma symptoms.
It’s not rocket science.
Many of my allergies cause asthma as a direct symptom including; hayfever, dust allergy, latex, soya, milk and nuts.
Asthma gets lots of funding and I am regularly seen by an asthma nurse to keep my asthma under control but this is not the case for allergy treatment. I am very lucky to see a dermatologist who also treats me for my allergies but not everyone is so lucky, and getting to even have allergy testing can be impossible in certain areas of the country.
Why are we so behind our neighbours in Europe?
Will this report to lead to changes? Or will we still be talking about this in ten years time?
I suspect the latter… I find myself blogging over and over again about the same things year in year out because nothing does seem to change much. Apologies for the pessimistic comment there but it’s true.
And this is why I blog, because by doing this I can maybe help a few people not to feel so alone in the struggle for answers and normal life. Strive not to be normal people!
Development of EoE Linked with Eczema, Asthma and Food Allergy Allergic Living Children with eczema, food allergy and asthma have a greater risk of developing eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) than those without the conditions, according to a study presented at the AAAAI/WAO joint congress in early March. Dr. Jonathan Spergel and …
HealthWatch: Mom's Diet Could Affect Child's Risk Of Allergy, Eczema CBS Boston / WBZ BOSTON (CBS) – In one of the largest reports of its kind, researchers in London find that a mom's diet can affect her baby's risk of allergies. Researchers from Imperial College London analyzed more than 400 studies involving 1.5 million people and …
Halloween is a fun time for families. Dressing up, having parties and trick-or-treating. Children particularly love trick or treating. But if your child suffers from allergies it can become less fun. A great project has been started by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). It is called The Teal Pumpkin Project. It is encouraging households to give non-food items out to trick-or-treaters. The participating households put a teal painted pumpkin their house, as well as putting up a poster, to tell trick-or-treaters that they are only giving out non-food treats. I think this project is a great idea. It helps to raise awareness of food allergies, and allows children suffering from them to participate in a fun family tradition. It would be great if communities could get involved and raise awareness of this project. You can find out more below Eczema Blog
Allergy tests are used to discover what substances cause a reaction. They are very useful when you have eczema. Find out what irritates your skin, take action to avoid it, and help manage your eczema Eczema Blog
A news article on bt.com has revealed the top 5 places that are the most allergy prone destinations in the world. I have to admit I was surprised by at least 3 of them! 1. Knoxville, Tennessee 2. London, UK 3. Singapore 4. Louisville, Kentucky 5. Australia Most of these places cause problems for allergy sufferers because of pollen. But also mentioned in the report is smog, dust mites and food. Eczema Blog
Halloween is a fun time for families. Dressing up, having parties and trick-or-treating. Children particularly love trick or treating. But if your child suffers from allergies it can become less fun. A great project has been started by FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). It is called The Teal Pumpkin Project. It is encouraging households to give non-food items out to trick-or-treaters. The participating households put a teal painted pumpkin their house, as well as putting up a poster, to tell trick-or-treaters that they are only giving out non-food treats. I think this project is a great idea. It helps to raise awareness of food allergies, and allows children suffering from them to participate in a fun family tradition. It would be great if communities could get involved and raise awareness of this project. You can find out more below Eczema Blog
Three lawyers from the United States have founded the Allergy Law Project, the Las Vegas Review Journal has reported. The three ladies all have children with food allergies and are working to provide the right information about the law and food allergies. The article is an interesting read about how one of these ladies, Homa Woodrum, found that her first child had developed food allergies. From there she started a blog which provided recipes for families dealing with food allergies. The blog ran a story which caught the attention of an attorney from Maryland, Mary Vargas. Woodrum met Laurel Francoeur, a lawyer from Massachusetts, who came up with the idea of the Allergy Law Project. Together the three ladies provide free information online about the allergy law in the United States. You can read more about their story below Eczema Blog
Recently I experience he best of times and worst of times. It was a Saturday and I broke my ParkRun PB. I also broke a few of my rules for staying alive and faced some pretty starling side effects.
I wasn’t going to share this blog because I prefer to share positive things and messages. And also because quite frankly I’m embarrassed.
But I found it really helpful just to write it down, get my thoughts straight and work out how to avoid it happening again. Then I decided I will share this story because if I can learn from this then you can all perhaps find something of use here and we can all move on. Whether this is of use to you, your family, child or friend, it’s onwards and upwards in 2018.
I am also looking forward to many more Saturday’s in the Cafe in the Park… where this took place and since writing all this down I did actually return, just for a coffee mind you, but it was fine. Absolutely fine. I will go back and talk to the owner and find out if it is safe when it’s quieter but for the time being it’s coffee all the way for me.
Beautiful place for an anxiety attack
So let’s begin. This recent experience resulted in a pretty significant anxiety meltdown which continued for an hours walk around the lakes after breakfast and well into the afternoon.
I was quite upset about it for a while and have had another panic attack since, totally unrelated to food and most perplexing, but I am not giving in to this. I am not this pathetic crying mess. I am brave and strong and I can do this.
Before you panic, there was no allergic reaction. I am quite safe… it was just this new fear I am experiencing. Sheer panic and I can’t control it, despite all rational thoughts that I can walk out, not eat anything, stay safe…
It all happened because even though breakfast in ‘Cafe in the Park’ was in my calendar I hadn’t had time to speak to them about what I could safely eat. That is totally my fault, and due to the severity of my allergy I would NEVER EVER turn up during any establishment’s busiest time and demand a safe meal with no prior knowledge about whether this would be possible. I would always phone or email and ensure that I have spoken to staff, preferably the owner or chef, before booking anything anywhere. And if I’m unsure, stick to a very safe option ie. ham, egg and chips or steak and salad or bacon and eggs. Simple stuff. This strategy has served me well.
So on this occasion, being unorganised and just a bit nervous about ordering breakfast in a cafe I brought with me a Tesco Gluten Free and Dairy Free Egg Roll. I figured if everyone else (there were about 8 of us altogether) was eating breakfast and I joined them for a coffee (with no milk) that would be OK. I almost just had a coffee and kept my safe food hidden away.
Before I go on I will just explain, that the last time I ordered breakfast and explained all my allergies was in Palm Springs in September. Unfortunately they omitted to tell me that the gluten free muffin also contained dairy, despite me asking on numerous occasions. The result was the most terrifying experience of my life. Unconscious and rushed to A&E and forever grateful to the friends and experts who looked after me.
So perhaps it’s not a surprise that my trust was lacking and my nerves were raw.
I just wasn’t feeling particularly brave that morning but no one knew how scared I was because I hadn’t told any of my new running friends. I was just really pleased to be invited to breakfast.
Call it bad luck? But when I thought it was quiet enough I tried to sneak out my safe roll to eat. Unfortunately the owner of the cafe happened to be sitting right next to me and politely explained that I couldn’t eat my own food.
Of all the luck! I was very embarrassed and put the roll away. I completely understand how annoying it just be if customers bring in their own picnic rather than order food.
But I did try to explain to her why I’d done it.
I wasn’t trying to get away without paying. I would pay double for the privilege to walk into a place and just choose from a menu. Just like that. I wasn’t being sneaky. I was just badly organised, very frightened and trying to do my best to stay safe. I had not planned ahead and was suddenly crippled with the most terrible fear.
I thought it would OK as everyone else was tucking into the most amazing looking breakfasts.
The owner assured me that they could cater for allergies and had lots that I could choose from. But she went on, and on and for quite some time gave me a little bit of a hard time. I kept saying ‘sorry, I’m not going to eat this,I’m Sorry.’ I gave up trying to explain but she was full of praise for her amazing menu.
I ended up getting very upset and feeling so pressured that whilst I wanted to run away and get out of there, I felt so humiliated with the owner still pressing that they could really feed anyone with any allergy… have our gluten free sour dough she said… again and again, while I sat their crying.
Instead of staying calm, thanking her and promising to do my research for next time, I went up to order breakfast in a busy cafe, shaking with fear and with tears pouring down my face.
Why did I do that? Why didn’t I just compose myself and maybe just ask for another coffee? Stick to the rules. Stay safe.
Because breakfast and a muffin with undeclared milk was how it all happened before. Never eat bread when you’re out unless you’re read the ingredients. My new rule! Never trust ANYONE. And the memory, even though I have very poor recall of the whole event, just came flooding back.
So when the server went to check the gluten free sour dough, assuring me that she ‘thought it would be OK’… I totally lost it. Because ‘thinking’ something is OK is not good enough. I refused the probably safe gluten free sour dough because my life is not worth taking that risk.
I didn’t enjoy my plate of poached eggs and bacon but I can assure you they were very well cooked. The reason I didn’t enjoy them was because the fear, humiliation and complete embarrassment that I couldn’t control my emotions and the awful knowledge that all my new running friends were watching this silent melt down… kind of ruined it for me.
After we’d finished I could feel myself getting upset again when one of the lovely ladies asked me if I was OK… so I let all my friends leave so that I could get take-out coffee and walk it off around the beautiful lakes.
I am so angry with my emotions because I couldn’t even order a black coffee to take-away without crying. The owner came over to speak to me again and I think then, for the first time perhaps realised just how terrified I was. But I was too far gone by then to hear that they have a full allergen menu so would be able to tell me the exact ingredients in the sour dough. It’s a shame staff hadn’t just offered to show me the allergen menu or that she hadn’t checked for me but hey ho. We live and learn.
Maybe next time I will be able to try breakfast there again and enjoy it. But only after I have checked, read and reread the ingredients in that home made gluten free sour dough.
Cafe in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome have very clearly marked menus and it is definitely a great place to eat out if you have allergies. They have gluten free bread available if you ask and the menu is marked up with the key main allergens.
If I can ever bear to show my face in there again
Thank you to my ParkRun buddies. Thank you for not making a big thing about it while I lost the plot. Thank you Matt for helping me get the PB and for not even noticing the meltdown and assuring me that most of the others didn’t either. Thank you for never referring to it ever again…
Yours, struggling, embarrassed but not giving in…
I’m still here, annoying my Mum, blogging and running. Let’s run this fear out of my system.
So why, why when asked how was breakfast at Cafe in the Park by Mum do I lie and say, ‘It was fine’. Why? Because I was ashamed to admit the truth even to my own mother. Because we are a family who just get on with it. We don’t complain.
Please talk about this to people close to you if you are feeling similar fear. It is not easier to cope with in silence. It is in fact much easier to deal with when you share your feelings.
And you know, I don’t care what anyone thinks. This is not anything to be ashamed about. It has never happened to me before but I have friends who have anxiety and I haven’t truly appreciated how debilitating and terrifying it is.
Being prepared, never putting yourself in that kind of high pressure situation and staying calm sound like easy measures to take but sometimes life jumps up and bites you.
Hope to see you guys soon Cafe in the Park. This is not a bad review in any way. It’s a lovely, lovely cafe but if you plan to eat there with allergies, please phone speak to them prior to going and ask to see the allergen menu. Because this place can be busy, heaving in fact which isn’t great if you need to relay a complicated but important allergy message.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of reaction? What did you do? Please tell me I’m not going crazy… LOL
and assuring me that most of the others didn’t either. Thank you for never referring to it ever again…