Breaking the Mold

Are we becoming allergic to the 21^st century?
CBC Newsworld aired Allergy Planet on The Passionate Eye (Mar. 16/09).
The doc, produced and directed by Naomi Austin, takes you from the most remote inhabited island, where 50% of its 400 residents are affected by asthma, to the impact of industrialization and pollution in L.A.

Narrated by Steven Mackintosh, Allergy Planet's examination of current research demonstrates one clear conclusion of immunologists: allergies are still a mystery.

The CBC doesn't have the episode available online, but I found the BBC airing on YouTube - sorry, it's in 6 segments.
Part 1 is here to get you going.
Here's the page with all segments of the 1-hour documentary.

Tags: [Naomi Austin] [Allergy Planet]
[Steven Mackintosh] [The Passionate Eye]

I Cheated - It Could Have Killed Me

Owen and I have an open relationship.
Neither of us has necessarily asked for exclusivity. I am far more loyal to Owen than he is to me. It would be selfish to keep him for myself; other people need him. Sharing him is something I accepted from the day we met.

Owen is my pharmacist. On Saturday, I had to fill a prescription for a less-common drug. Owen could have ordered the formulation I needed; he could have it all ready to go on Monday night, but administering the drug sooner was preferred by me and the doc who ordered it. Owen called several places nearby, but none stocked the medication.

After more phone calls, Owen found a pharmacy, on the other side of town, that could fill the prescription. I dropped the 'scrip off and returned a few hours later to pick up the order. As a new patient, I had to undergo the full registration process. The registration files allow the store's computer system identify possible interaction issues or allergies.

The new pharmacist reviewed the administration instructions, side effects, interaction safety guidelines and then handed me a stack of papers to take home. As we were processing the transaction at the register, he made a comment about having added flavoring to the suspension. "It'll be like a tropical vacation," he said.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I asked.
"I added tropical flavoring to the suspension to make it more palatable," he replied.
"I have food allergies," I explained. "May I please see the ingredient listing?"

There it was, far down on the list, but there nonetheless: Coconut Cream. I am allergic to coconut. He was devastated. He'd gone from hero to villain in a flash.

First, he checked to see if it was real/organic coconut or an extract. If it was an extract, it was less-likely to be a problem because of the alcohol and fermentation process. If it was simulated, it posed no risk at all. If it was real, I would have an anaphylactic reaction.

He couldn't determine the potency of the coconut, so it was safest to make a new solution.

This wouldn't have happened if I'd stuck with Owen. Owen doesn't take chances with my orders. He knows. Owen fixed the dispensing problem I had with a regulated prescription. He once came to me in the dairy section to discuss a potential interaction problem with a new 'scrip. He takes care of me.

I vow not to step-out on him again.

Tags: [The Pharmacy]  [Owen Chaim]
[Drug Safety]  [Drug Allergy]  [Anaphylaxis]

Rash Reaction

"A boy who suffers from a severe nut allergy has been excluded from school because he is considered to be a health and safety hazard."

Read the whole story...

The story, out of Goole, about 170 km east of Liverpool, grabbed attention with its "Allergic Boy Banned From School" headline. According to the Times article, George carries an Epipen and has been taught to use it in case of an allergic reaction. At his previous schools, anaphylaxis wasn't a controversy.

When you read the report, it is clear that the boy is being tutored at home just until a support system is in place at Howden School to protect students who face severe allergies. What has the school been waiting for?

In Ontario, Sabrina's Law was enacted in 2006. The bill ensures that school officials and staff receive training to recognize and give first-response aid in the case of a life-threatening allergic reaction. British Columbia has Bill M210 to protect students in that province.

Before the legislation, students with severe allergies were in the school. Parents trained the staff on identifying a reaction and administering epinephrine to their child. The legislation confirms that all school buildings will have designees who are prepared to give assistance to a student or volunteer or visitor, if it is required, anywhere in the province.

Facts About Food Allergies 1. Anaphylaxis affects 10% of the population. 2. Allergic reactions may occur up to 3-5 hours after exposure. Symptoms may persist for up to 72 hours. 3. Most fatal reactions occur as a result of accidental exposure. 4. The cause or trigger of the anaphylactic reaction isn't always obvious. Source: www.epipen.com	It's really a shame that the banner "Allergy Boy" has emboldened some readers to leave some insensitive comments that only underscore their ignorance of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a serious medical condition. It has nothing to do with how protective one's parents are. People with severe food allergies are not trying to control you, but we have a responsibility to keep ourselves safe.

Tags: [George Hall-Lambert]   [Howden School]   [Anaphylaxis]
[Epipen]   [Twinject Injector]
[Anaphylaxis Canada]   [Sabrina's Law]

Socratic Irony?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency released this warning yesterday:

Undeclared Walnuts in Bella Cucina Cookies
The recall notice begins:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with
allergies to walnuts not to consume Bella Cucina
Death by Chocolate cookies. The affected product may contain walnuts which are not declared on the
label... (Read the entire notice)

So, Death by Chocolate cookies are being recalled because eating them may result in death?

Tags: [Anaphylaxis] [Nut Allergy] [Bella Cucina]
[Socrates] [Hemlock Poison] [Death by Chocolate]
[C.F.I.A.]

Pass the Benadryl™

This weekend I must have reached my Lifetime Allowable Maximum Intake of a particular drug. My eyebrows are still causing me discomfort, even though it's been more than 24 hours since I administered the drug. Serious reactions do that: extensive total body hyper-sensitivity for an extended period of time.

I ran the IV early Saturday afternoon. Near the end of the infusion, I got an 'early allergy flash'. That's what I call it when my body temp jumps to (seems like) 400 degrees. If you've experienced or seen someone experience an E.A.F. you know, it's hot. Then the numbness. I noticed the swelling. I pressed STOP on the pump.

I'm supposed to avoid all histamine blockers until the end of next month. I quickly ran through my options: None. I had to get the Benadryl™ on board.

Disconnected and capped, I was unsure what to do with the med still in the line...the med that hadn't yet dripped out the Hickman into the vein. I'd seen nurses draw back on the line before. It could be done, but did I have the required level of expertise for that? What are the risks? There are some, I remember that much. What's the volume capacity of the line? I know this, I told myself. But was the capacity of the line important for this or did it have to do with something else? My rationale: if I knew the volume capacity of the line, then I could figure out the amount of saline I'd need to completely flush the line, right?

If only I had paid closer attention in TPN school. If only I could remember the protocol followed in May when I had a reaction at the hospital. Draw it back or push it through? Draw it back or push it through?

There wasn't a panic, don't misunderstand. We were thoughtfully weighing our options. We decided to push it through. We figured the worst possible result would require a shot of epinephrine and a trip to the hospital.

It turned out fine. When the Benadryl™ wore off, the symptoms came back, so I took more Benadryl™. It wore off, symptoms came back, have some more. Sunday afternoon, and I was still experiencing a reaction! Milder, but very uncomfortable.

I hope this is just an isolated case involving this order only. I'll wait to see what work-around Stella and Suzanne come up with, I guess. In the meantime, pass the Benadryl™, please.

[Allergic Reaction] [Drug Allergy]

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