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Tag Archives: allergy

GLUTEN FREE PRESCRIPTIONS – Action Against Allergy

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AAA support for coeliacs

Action Against Allergy is giving its support to the campaign being co-ordinated by Coeliac UK to persuade the NHS to seek an alternative to their proposed withdrawal of prescriptions for the gluten free foods needed by people with coeliac disease.

AAA trustee Michelle Berriedale-Johnson writes:
“We believe that removing access to prescription gluten free food may seriously put at risk the future health of the most vulnerable of the coeliac population.

“In the context of the NHS’ current financial crisis, this may also be a false economy. In the longer term, treating vulnerable coeliacs who have been unable to access gluten free foods may cost a great deal more than providing them with prescription foods now.”

Read the rest of the article on the AAA website here

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Not winning but still a winner at The Allergy Blog Awards

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Allergy Blog Awards

The Amazing Allergy Blog awards at the Malmaiisoon Manchester Piccadilly

I’m still buzzing from the Allergy Blog Awards on Saturday 25th February at the Malmaisson Manchester Piccadilly hotel. In my opinion everyone at the awards was a winner. Bloggers give their own free time to share their knowledge, experience, lessons learnt, recipes, hints and tips etc. and these blog awards were a brilliant way to reward and priase those who are going above and beyond.

I was proud to be there, to have reached the finals, and I was even more proud of the amazing bloggers who won. So big up to you all! We love you. Check out the Allergy Blog Awards Website for a fun down on the Allergy Blog Awards 2017 Winners.

Big congratulations to one of my favourite bloggers, who won Best Allergy Blog award for her son Callum who allergic to over 25 foods. Well done Intolerant Ghourmand.

This is me with the amazing winner of Best Allergy Blog - The Intolerance Ghourmand

This is me with the amazing winner of Best Allergy Blog – The Intolerant Ghourmand

Please support the Allergy Blog Awards

Please can I ask you all, bloggers, professionals, people with allergies and those who help raise awareness to support these awards. They were organised by Lynsay Edwards who blogs as Living with CMPA (Cow’s Milk Peanut Allergic).We want her to organise them again so we are now starting a charm offensive. So much work went into organising these awards and we all loved them so much. Let’s help Lyndsay make this happen again.

And thank you to everyone who supports miny and other allergy blogs. We do this for you and we love hearing your comments, news and thoughts on our blogs. Don’t be strangers. Come and say Hi!

talkhealth Blog

Apr 20, The 5 Most Allergy Prone Destinations In The World

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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

Introducing Action Against Allergy – our latest charity forum partnership

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talkhealth are excited to announce that we are now hosting the forums for the charity ‘Action Against Allergy’. Log on to the AAA forums to join the general discussion, view charity news and individual to talkhealth we are especially delighted to announce a forum designed for those living with allergies aged 60 +, the AAAllergy 60 + forum

The Action Against Allergy forums are all now open and we look forward to welcoming you to the conversation.

Action Against Allergy were founded in 1978 and have since offered help, support and advice to those who’s lives are affected by allergies.

Unique to Action Against Allergy is their ‘Find a Doctor’ service which will supply you with the names and contact details of any clinics, appropriate NHS and private specialists dealing with allergy-related illness in your area or, if there are none locally, those which are nearest to you – visit here for more information.

together we can #talkhealth

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I’m her worst allergy! No I’M her worst allergy…

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This is a silly blog inspired by a cartoon I saw recently of a glass of red wine arguing with a lovely mug of black coffee about who she loved the most.

She loves me more! said the angry glass of red wine.
She loves ME more! spat back the jealous mug of steaming black coffee.

It made me think about what my worst allergies would say if they could talk.

Peanut allergy meets Dairy allergy

Sorry Dairy, I think Peanut wins this fight. Definitely my worst allergy!

Sorry Dairy, I think Peanut wins this fight. Definitely my worst allergy!

I do apologise to any readers looking for inspiration or to learn something today. All you’ve learned is that I enjoy drawing very bad cartoons sometimes.

I get very weird ideas for blogs and I also need to buy a new rubber.

You also now know which of my allergies is the worst.

The peanut here had to be mean because that’s the allergy I fear the most. If I even smell a peanut my body goes into a kind of alert state. Every part of me is wary when I catch a waft of that most revolting of nuts.

Hope it made you smile anyway. Which is your worst allergy? and what would yours say?

talkhealth Blog

2016 eczema and allergy highlights

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It’s been a long year and in many ways a very challenging one but it’s easy to forget the highlights and focus on the negatives. I’m not sad to see the back of this year but I have a lot to be thankful for…

smile and be thankful

Be thankful for the good things

Eczema and Allergy highlights for 2016

Lots of great things happened this year and it’s a time of reflection as well as looking forward, always learning and continually developing.

The New Year gives us focus but this is something I do regularly with my Passion Planner – This is a bit more than a diary and prompts you to review, plan and assess your weekly and monthly goals. More on that in a future blog post…

  1. Protopic was my saviour – as a woman, having facial eczema was really tough. I would often have to wear cover up to hide red, swollen rashes on my face and people would say, “You look great!” while all the time I am fighting to ignore the incessant burning itch on my face. Finally getting Protopic for eczema and flare-ups on my face has been life changing. It’s over a year since I first tried Protopic but I’m still so grateful for being allowed this life changing treatment. Read How Protopic changed my life to find out more
  2. Finalists in UK Allergy Blog Awards! – Woop Woop! I am really proud to be a finalist in these awards. Read ‘Most Innovative and Environmentental blog award finalist’ here to find out more.
  3. What Allergy was voted in the Top 10 Health Blogs – Continuing to be a place of support, advice and comfort we were proud to reach the Top 10 Health Blogs once again – for the third year running!
  4. Countryfile Diaries Hayfever special – I was reminded of this when my eight year old niece asked me the other day, ‘how many times have you been on TV aunty Ruth?’ and after a quick count that would be a terrifying THREE times! And all because of this little blog, my baby, WhatAllergy.com. In May this year Countryfile Diaries filmed a special about hayfever in my garden!
  5. My very own stalker – Surely the price of fame! And whilst I am only famous in the eczema and allergy sphere, a really funny experience in February this year is a story of how small the world is, and if you want to meet someone you can! I now have a good friend in Samina Iqbal but in February she was still my stalker, desperately trying to track me down 😉 Read, ‘having a real allergy stalker’.

There have been highs and lows and quite a few allergy rants this year. To check out all my blogs, product reviews and opinion pieces read What Allergy Year in Review here.

I have lots of plans for 2017 so you should start to see more blogs again. I’ve been a bit quiet lately but I’m back now. I want to explore the gut and skin microbiome and also look at mindfulness. How much can our mind affect our skin and allergies and general health? For instance, can I choose not to scratch?

The NHS have also offered me some new drug treatments for my eczema, which scare me and also the possiblity of light treatment which intrigues me. If I can get the time to do this from my employers I will be blogging my progress. Watch this space! Both would involve regular visits to Oxford so will be difficult to organise but nothing is impossible of you want it to happen.

I am going to try harder to avoid processed freefrom food because it doesn’t agree with my skin. I’m going to focus on getting fitter, doing more exercise and drinking less alcohol – it isn’t ever good for eczema skin.

But most of all, this year I’m thankful for all the support from all of you, my readers. Thank you! Your comments make this all worthwhile.

What are you thankful for in 2016? Please share your highs, lows and thoughts for this year and the next.

talkhealth Blog

Most Innovative and Environmental Allergy Blog Finalist!

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Well wouldn’t you know it, despite having a major blog blip and neglecting my blog for over two months my little baby has managed to make it to the finalists of the Allergy Blog Awards 2017.

I’m so proud 🙂
allergyblogawards2017
What Allergy has made it to the final stage of not just one category, but two!

  • Most Innovative AND
  • Environmental blog

So here they are, in alphabetical order, my competition in the Most Innovative Blog category:

  1. Gluten Free Alchemist
  2. Allergy Lifestyle
  3. Allergy Medical UK
  4. The Gluten Free Centre
  5. What Allergy?

AND the Most Environmental Blog category:

  1. Allergy UK
  2. Le Coin De Mel
  3. What Allergy
  4. Mummy Memories
  5. My Eczema Tales

I know some of these guys, they’re all amazing bloggers so now I’m off detective stylee to check out what my competition have been up to while I’ve been doing other things, like scratching…

To find out more about the awards you can visit their website: The Allergy Blog Awards 2017

So I get a free ticket to the awards ceremony next year… I am so excited I can’t wait!

Cross your fingers. This is now in the hands of the amazing judges… who will win? Tough competition so it’s hard to call but I’m just so thrilled to get through to the finals.

talkhealth Blog

Nov 22, Allergy Free Christmas Pudding Recipe

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If you’re looking for a delicious christmas pudding that doesn’t contain any wheat or dairy, look no further. The link will take you to the December 2014 edition of the Eczema Bulletin. Just scroll down to Tip of the Month to find the recipe and a couple of photos I took of my attempt :) You’ll notice that there is potato in the list of ingredients…don’t let that put you off. Enjoy :)
Eczema Blog

The Christmas gifts that keep on giving (gifts for an eczema or allergy child)

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Present ideas for an eczema or allergy child

It’s that time of year again when all my relatives are asking what the girls want for Christmas.  I would love to pretend that all they want is family and world peace and that we don’t really get into the orgy of consumerism that is Christmas in this country, but the reality is somewhat different.

Perfumes and lipbalm

Miss T from Everything for eczema with an eczema flare up caused by a nylon sleep mask. A sore, red rash under her eyes.

Miss T – the youngest of the EfE clan, has just turned 9 and is beginning to be more interested in perfume and pretties.  She’s an outdoorsy, sciency kid, and loves nothing more than making her own concoctions with petals and a pestle and mortar, and would adore a stash of natural oils and waxes to make her own perfume and lip balm.

She would also love a replacement sleep mask, after I had to take away the one she was using, due to a recent eczema flare up across her eyes.  I’m still not sure if it was simply the nylon or the soap powder it had been washed in (she had bought it from a charity shop).

Natural fibres

But if she has a sleep mask, it must be silk or bamboo and its likely she would be allergic to natural oils in a lip balm set too (I am).  Even grinding up grass and leaves can set her allergies off in the summer although I’m not so mean as to stop all potion making generally.

Christmas can be a bit of a minefield for us, as well-meaning family love to give gorgeous, much wanted pressies to the girls, which they simply cannot have.

Previously confiscated Christmas gifts include

  • A box of quality street – Russian roulette in our house where we have a severe nut allergy
  • Face paints – Nightmare
  • Nickel jewellery
  • Dress up polyester
  • Bubble bath and ‘beauty’ products
  • Bath crayons and playdoh
  • Polyester nighties and pyjamas – often with branded pictures that they would love

Eczema & allergy flare-up risks

I am the Grinch. Snatching these goodies away.  I’ve tried letting family and friends know that some things just aren’t OK – but it’s not easy to do this without causing offense.  I’m sticking to my guns this year though.  Two nights in polyester nightie can mean a month of sleepless nights in our house and don’t get me started on face paints…

Your tips on a happy eczema & allergy Christmas

How do you manage Christmas?  Are you prescriptive about gifts, detailing exactly the thing the children want?  Do you take your own food to family gatherings?  Please share your hints and tips for making it work for you.  We would love to hear from you.

 

 

Everything For Eczema