How to Make Food Challenges Easier for Food Allergic Patients

 Another food challenge is on the calendar for later this month. This one is for eggs. After going through multiple challenges for wheat, milk, baked milk and baked egg, we've learned a few things and I plan to make some changes that will hopefully help relieve some of the anxiety and uncertainty heading into this one.

This time:

• I will bring a variety of foods. Since this is an egg challenge, I will bring french toast, scrambled eggs and a hard boiled egg. This gives us several options and a back-up plan in case something goes wrong (food gets contaminated at the allergist's office- oh yes, it's happened!)
• I will bring our toaster from home. French toast heated in the microwave multiple times is a soggy, mushy mess. The idea is to make the food appealing after we've referred to it as "dangerous" for over a decade.
• I will bring plates, utensils and condiments from home. French toast just tastes better with a silver fork and a little honey or syrup.
• I will bring a laptop and a Redbox movie we've been waiting to see. No more watching a movie from home for the seventeenth time- this truly needs to be a distraction! 

I also think the clinical setting could be better adapted for people going through food challenges, so I have a few suggestions for the allergists out there who conduct challenges in their offices. 

I wish allergists would:

• designate a space for food challenges. Must we sit in a regular exam room, on a bed staring at tongue depressors and a disposal case for medical waste? This is not a space conducive to relaxed eating.
• create a homey atmosphere in the challenge room. How about a table, comfortable chairs, a microwave and toaster oven we can use? A big screen TV and some board games would be a nice touch. We're trying to forget that we're sitting in a doctor's office waiting to see if there is going to an anaphylactic reaction. An inviting, calming environment would be helpful.

Do you have other ideas for families or allergists heading into a food challenge? I'd love to hear what works for you!

Wheat Allergies

I find that many people are confused about wheat allergies. A true wheat allergy means being allergic to at least one of the proteins found in wheat:

* Albumin
* Globulin
* Gliadin
* Glutenin (gluten)

Allergic reactions are most commonly caused by one of the first two listed. Wheat allergies usually develop when the person is a baby or toddler and are commonly outgrown by age five. That said, adults can have wheat allergy.

The symptoms of a wheat allergy are the common symptoms associated with other food allergies. These symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, hives, eczema, itchy skin, throat irritation and anaphylaxis. I remember speaking to a mother whose 7 year old would have an anaphylactic reaction when she boiled pasta! Those wheat proteins became airborne and triggered a reaction when her child took a breath. Some people do experience a reaction when inhaling wheat or wheat flour. Others need to actually eat it.

Barley, oats and rye also contain some of the proteins found in wheat. Depending upon which proteins are causing the wheat allergy, these other grains may need to be avoided as well.

People often confuse wheat allergy with celiac disease. Celiac disease is a serious digestive disorder. People with celiac must avoid all gluten as it causes damage to the intestines. Those with a wheat allergy must avoid all foods containing wheat (which may include all purpose flour, beer, gravy, malted milk, MSG, and worcestershire sauce). Wheat allergic people should always carry an EpiPen® as well.

iPhone App for Gluten Free

I don't own an iPhone, but I can't help being amazed by all the useful apps users can get. There are applications for working out, traveling, making dinner and managing your money. We're talking thousands of apps.

Now, for those who need to avoid gluten, ZEER has announced the glutenScan app. For a monthly fee, subscribers can get help with grocery shopping, while grocery shopping. Simply by typing in a name or UPC number, users get information about whether a product contains gluten. It even recommends gluten-free alternatives.

Now, if they would only come up with an app that does my work-out, handles the grocery shopping and makes my meals...

I can dream.