Food Allergy Treatment = Self Care

Sheet masks, Pilates, binging your favorite comfort show, these are just a few examples of what the world of TikTok likes to call self care. Self care is the practice of doing the things that make you healthy, relaxed, and happy because no one can pour from an empty cup.

I want you to come with me on this concept that food allergy treatment is a form of self care. Wait, what? Going to the doctor’s office? Exposing my body to allergens in the form of OIT or SLIT? How is that self care?

Yeah, I know, sounds crazy, but let me explain. When you have an allergy, think of your immune system as having an anxiety disorder. It sees too much peanut, milk, wheat, etc., and calls red alert. This can get in the way of your personal life, your social life, even your financial life. Plus, it creates a massive amount of anxiety for you yourself!

Allergy treatments like SLIT and OIT is like sending your immune system to therapy. Hey, it’s even in the name! Gradually, your system learns to react only to things like germs and viruses, and not to foods. By getting your allergies treated, you are improving your health, giving yourself the ability to set aside so much of that anxiety, and even opening up the amount of foods you can try. (As a self proclaimed foodie, I always count snacks as self care.)

So pour a glass of wine, draw a bubble bath, and schedule your next food allergy treatment appointment.

Neffy: the New Kid on the Block

Ok, this isn’t an ad, but I have to tell y’all about the literal coolest thing! There is a new epinephrine device on the market and guess what? It’s needle free! It’s called Neffy, and it’s a nasal spray. Because y’all know by now I love giving you bullet points in these posts, here are a few about Neffy:

• Each Neffy device contains 2 milligrams of epinephrine. 1 spray is the equivalent to 1 injection of an autoinjector. That means you'll still need to carry 2, but the Neffy nasal spray devices are significantly smaller than most autoinjectors. 

• Neffy is approved for use on people 66lb and above. A pediatric version is currently in the works.

• Neffy has a 30 month shelf life, much longer than current autoinjectors.

• It can tolerate temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and can be frozen (it must be thawed before use).

• The product absorbs through the nose, so it doesn’t need to be inhaled., but those with a history of nasal surgery might not be able to use Neffy.

Ordering tips for PSL season

Whether the weather has gotten the memo or not, fall flavors are in the coffee shops. Thusly, I decided that now would be a good time to pass on advice I’ve received for how to order at Starbucks with a food allergy.

• Notify your barista of any allergies.

• Ask for clean, sanitized shaker or blender to be used. Most are simply rinsed between uses, which won’t cut it for those of us with food allergies.

• Opt for iced rather than hot drinks because iced drinks are usually built in the cup, not a pitcher. You can also specifically ask for drinks to be built in a cup, not a shaker or pitcher.

• If ordering a hot drink, ask for a clean and sanitized pitcher and foaming wand.

• Always double check allergens on bakery items. The top nine allergens are required by law to be bolded on nutrition labels, but sometimes they can be sneaky, so it’s always best to read that label a couple times to be sure.

• Finally, always trust your gut and carry your EpiPens or AuviQs! If you don’t feel comfortable with your drink, you don’t have to drink it. Your safety is the most important thing.

Be Prepared

In light of the recent hurricanes in my area, I thought I’d put together a list of shelf stable dosing foods for those of us on OIT. Immunotherapy works by consistent exposure, so you’ll need a shelf stable option in case you lose power for an extended period. I’ve also provided links to everything because I’m cool like that (no affiliates).

• Liquid egg whites have to be stored in the fridge, but Judee’s Dried Egg White Powder doesn’t! Works great mixed into applesauce.

• Unfortunately there isn’t a cows milk option in this category yet, so if that’s a dosing food for you, talk to your allergist about an emergency dosing plan.

• Peanuts thankfully have a plethora of shelf stable options. Any roasted peanuts or Peter Pan peanut butter are great choices.

• Tree nuts can go rancid if stored at room temperature for months on end, so here are some tree nut butters you can use:

  • Almond butter

  • Cashew butter

  • Hazelnut butter

  • Pecan butter

  • Walnut butter

• Vital wheat gluten, the stuff used for wheat OIT, is pretty shelf stable.

• Coconut flour is a great coconut option

• Tahini or sesame seeds are both great for dosing sesame

Store your foods in a cool, dry place and try to replace them once a year. Hope this helped!

Ballin’ on a Budget, Food Allergy Style

As someone who had to both feed herself and go through OIT on a college student’s budget, I can tell you that it can get pretty expensive pretty fast. Inflation keeps, well, inflating. Allergy friendly products are often more expensive to produce, leading to higher retail costs. And that’s not even including the stock of OIT food items you might need to keep around.

So how do we do it, you ask? Great question. Here are some things I did to keep my health and finances out of the red.

1. Don’t be afraid of store brand items! If you need to save money for a specific brand of peanut free cookie or wheat free bread that’s on the pricier side, do it! Just adjust in other areas. Things like store brand milk, applesauce, and other essentials could free up space in your budget for the non negotiables.

2. Shop sales and use coupons. Wait for sales and stock up on allergy friendly products. Sign up for your grocery store’s reward programs, the often come with discounts and coupons. Maybe an unsexy option, but an effective one!

3. Make the freezer your friend. This is a must for anyone doing OIT for perishable food items. Peanut butter might be able to last half a century (just check your grandparents’ pantry), but cows milk and egg white go bad very quickly and specialty nut flours can go rancid after a few weeks. Portion out doses of cows milk or egg white in ice cube trays and freeze. Keep nuts or nut flours in the fridge or freezer to keep of rancidity.

Beat the Heat!

Sweater weather is gone and sweat weather is here! During the summer, I love taking “hot girl walks” with my sisters and playing in the waves. My little brother plays soccer games in the sweltering Texas heat, and my dad (hi, Dr. Browne!) loves to go for long runs. But as someone with food allergies who is on OIT, I have to be a bit careful.

For one thing, raising your core body temperature increases the risk of anaphylaxis after ingesting an allergen. This means that if you're on OIT or SLIT, it's best to stay inside in the air conditioning or at the very least in the shade after dosing. Alternatively, you could switch your dose time to the cooler evenings!

For another, epinephrine, your first line of defense against anaphylaxis, needs to be stored at 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit. It also needs to be with you at all times. What does this mean for you as the Texas temp continues to climb? Try keeping your injectors (yes, both of them!) in an insulated carrying case. Also, NEVER leave your injectors in the car! Car temps can spike to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on even moderately warm days.

So remember this motto: "keep cool and carry two!"

Happy Food Allergy Awareness Month!

If you’ve found this page, you probably have food allergies and are either practicing avoidance or undergoing OIT or SLIT. So you know exactly what it’s like to be around people who are CLUELESS about food allergies. To help fix that, here are some ways to raise awareness about food allergies.

1. Use social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are great for sharing your story. Talking about what it’s like to live with food allergies can help others understand why accommodations are so important.

2. Wear red sneakers. Red Sneakers For Oakley is a non profit dedicated to raising food allergy awareness in memory of a young boy who loved red sneakers and sadly passed away from anaphylaxis. Your bright red kicks can be a great conversation starter.

3. Try a new allergy friendly recipe and invite your friends over to try it.

4. Find a food allergy awareness event in your area and take part!

Have fun!

Do I Still Need My EpiPen?

Let’s say you’ve graduated from OIT (yay, you!!!) When this happened to me, there was a huge question on my mind: do I still need to carry epinephrine? I’m all immune and everything, can I just get rid of my auto-injectors?

Well, not so fast. Yes, when you graduate from OIT, your body no longer reacts to the allergen, this immunity is only as good as you continuing to dose correctly and consistently. If you were ever to stop, your immunity would lower and you would put yourself at risk for actually needing to use your injectors during anaphylaxis.

If that’s confusing, let me sum up: Yes, you do need to carry epinephrine (EpiPen, AuviQ, etc.) after graduation, but if you stick to your maintenance routine, you most likely won’t have to use it.

And as always, if you have questions about your specific situation, don’t hesitate to call your allergist!

You’re So Lucky!

It’s so easy to get down on ourselves and wish our lives were easier or better or more like that influencer who has everything together. But you have so many blessings! In honor of St. Patrick’s Day coming up, let me tell you that you have the luck of the Irish! Whether or not your ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle, if you have food allergies and have received treatment for them, you are incredibly fortunate.

You are lucky to live in an era of modern medicine, you are lucky! If you found a doctor who practices OIT, you are lucky. If you persevered through treatment and don’t have to worry about dangerous reactions and strict avoidance, you are so lucky!

Now go out there and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day!

Dating and OIT

While I’m no dating expert, I did go on a few dates while doing OIT in collage, so I guess I can speak from casual lived experience.

Now, there’s always SOMETHING about ourselves we hold back from dates or significant others for fear of giving them the dreaded ick. But if you have a food allergy and haven’t graduated from OIT yet, your safety > the ick. I said what I said.

So is there a way to make your safety a priority without making allergies and OIT your entire personality? Glad you asked.

My first tip is to make sure they’re at least aware of the allergy. If you can, bring it up in casual conversation, maybe something like, “I love Chipotle so much, they were awesome making sure my food was dairy and nut free.”

You can also drop hints about your favorite non food activities like hiking or going to the beach.

In my experience, if they’re a good person, they’ll probably love a chance to care for you. They might work extra hard to find a safe restaurant or bake you a safe desert from scratch.

In summary, be transparent early on, provide hints or even offer to help with date planning, and trust that you are enough and that if someone doesn’t respect your allergy, you don’t need them in your life.

Hope this helps!

My OIT Resolutions

Here’s how I’m stepping into 2024 as an adult on OIT maintenance

1. Staying more consistent with my dose timing. It’s often recommended to dose every 21-27 hours, and it’s easy to get lazy and dose outside of that time window.

2. Making my dose more fun. While getting into a dose routine is super helpful for consistency, it’s nice to shake it up every so often.

3. Tell more people about OIT. Yes, I know it’s literally my job to tell the world about this groundbreaking treatment, but I plan to work hard to increase my impact this year.

It Takes a Village…

Have you ever heard the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child”? It means if you’re trying to do something big, don’t’ go it alone. OIT is just such a “something big”. I feel like as adults, we’re constantly sold the idea that we’re only successful if we do something on our own. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Getting help doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means your smart!

If you’re going through OIT and want a village of your own, here are a few “villagers” I suggest having around you:

1. An allergist you trust. If you’re already doing OIT, you most likely have one. (If you don’t click with your doctor, find a new one!). OIT can be a scary and emotional process, so getting your treatment and medical advice from a source you trust is a big deal.

2. A cheerleader. Someone who’ll hype you up when you get scared and make things fun when you get bored. It’s easy to be your own cheerleader at the beginning of any process, but it gets exhausting after a while. Let someone else be your hype girl or guy. I promise you won’t regret it.

3. An organizational genius. Especially if you’re a teen going through this process, it helps to have someone to help keep your dose numbers and appointments straight. This villager can be a person like a parent or significant other, or it can be an app or fun planner.

4. A confidant. There are so many positives to OIT like safety, peace of mind, food freedom, I could go on. But there are also hard parts as well. When the going gets tough, the tough get someone to vent to. Journal, talk to a parent, mentor, or bff. Don’t bottle things up!

5. A Yoda. Finding someone who’s gone through the process already is invaluable. It can help you with logistics and tips plus help calm your anxiety. Even though it’s a book for young kids, I loved getting to see what the process was like. And if you don’t have anyone you know, use me! I’d love to be your OIT big sister.

IT’s Giving… Thanks!

I can’t tell you how many different experts proclaim the benefits of an attitude of gratitude. If you regularly give thanks, you purportedly live longer, look better, and get free Eras Tour tickets. (Ok, I made that last part up, but a girl can hope!)

So if you’re ever feeling down, but you’ve done OIT, just remember you have a great source of awesome things to be thankful for! Here’s a few of mine to get you started:

• An allergist who listens to me

• Safety from dangerous reactions

• Peace of mind

• Freedom when eating out

• Worry free potlucks

• Baking is easier

• I don’t have to scour labels at the grocery store

• “may contain” doesn’t scare me anymore

And I could go on!

So this Thanksgiving… give thanks!

The Post Grad Scaries

With Halloween on the horizon, I thought I’d talk about something truly spooky: eating your (former) allergen.

Once you graduate from OIT, you’re allowed (in most cases) to eat full servings of your allergen. And yeah, your maintenance dose can feel safe, more like a medication than a food.

But wandering into foreign territory and having a pb&j for lunch or some cheese for a snack, that can feel different.

When I graduated from OIT, just randomly choosing to eat the foods was something I hesitated to do. Even though I trusted the science and trusted my allergist (heck, it’s my DAD!), I still had thoughts like “what if it didn’t work?” and “what if OIT doesn't desensitize against chocolate cream pie?”

So if you feel the same, please accept my virtual hug and assurance that you’ll be ok. Try keeping friends and family who are aware of the situation around while you try “outside of dose” foods, remember to buffer before and rest after, and even let your allergist know about your anxieties. I promise the fear will fade overtime and soon you’ll be heading out to eat with friends without a second thought.

Maintenance in College

So you’ve just moved into your college dorm and you’re supposed to keep taking your maintenance dose somehow. New environments, crazy schedules, and weird roommates can make that tough, so here are some tips to help you out.

1. Have a designated spot for your maintenance foods. Depending on the allergen, this could be a cute box, a special bookshelf, or a mini fridge.

2. Attach dosing to a non changeable piece of your routine like before a lecture or other calm class. This way you have a landmark and won’t forget because you’re studying like crazy for an exam.

3. Spend some time “meal prepping” aka measuring your doses. If you’ve overslept and have to rush to class, the last thing you want to be doing is playing mad scientist, trying to get the right amount of nut butter or egg white measured out.

4. It may feel cringe, but explain OIT to your roommates. You’ll be spreading OIT awareness, setting up an accountability system, and making sure they stay out of your peanut butter, all at the same time!

5. Keep your support system strong. Your parents, your allergist, your best friend, whoever has supported you through this OIT journey this far can keep helping you. Just because you’re starting out on your own doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. If you need help, just ask!

A New Food Allergy Treatment at BYAA

I developed food allergies when I was 19 and it changed everything. Let’s just say I was not a fan. As soon as I could, I started OIT for my cow’s milk and egg white allergies.

I know this is not everyone’s story. So many kids have to grow up not being able to ever taste certain foods and pretty much hate the very idea of the food they have to avoid. That makes OIT really hard unless you start it when you are pretty young. 

And, hey, if you don’t love the food you’re allergic to, why bother? I’d always been a scrambled eggs for breakfast, ice cream any time kinda girlie, so I was willing to do whatever it took to get those things back. 

That’s why I’m so excited about a new food allergy treatment that my dad can now offer at his clinic: SLIT!. SLIT (sublingual immunotherapy) uses under the tongue drops to desensitize people to the food they are allergic to without having to taste it or eat it at all. It takes only a few weeks and can protect you from accidental ingestion reactions. 

It wasn’t what I was after, but so many people I talk to who grew up with a food allergy don’t want to eat the thing - they just don’t want a dangerous reaction. SLIT is a really exciting option if those are your goals. 

My dad can help you find the treatment plan that will match your needs. I think that’s so cool!  Custom made, all natural, food allergy treatments, isn’t that what you’re looking for?

Rest Time Ideas

Ok, so we all know about the two hour rest period you gotta take after your OIT dose. Increasing your heart rate and body temperature means increasing your risk of reactions and that’s definitely something to avoid.

But, 2 hours???? OIT was supposed to make my life less complicated, not more complicated!

Hey, don’t worry, I got you. Here are my favorite ways to spend
OIT rest time.

#1. Homework

I know, I know, kind of a boring one to start off on. But hear me out. Sticking something like homework or checking email in that rest time turns a two hour interruption into a two hour block of productivity.

#2. Puzzles

Open a jigsaw puzzle, invite a friend, throw on an audiobook, and bam. Two hours gone like that. It’s absorbing but restful and gives your hands something to do. If puzzles aren’t your jam, try crafting or building that really cool LEGO set you’ve had your eye on.

#3. Reading

If you’re a bookworm like me, you know that in a busy life, the time to read either doesn’t exist or is stolen from things like laundry and going to bed on time. Well, now you have a bona fide excuse to curl up with a blanket and a good book and NOT run around.

#4. Game night

Playing some board or card games with family can be a wonderful way to bond and create memories while resting after a dose. But be warned. Depending on your family’s level of competitiveness, this may not be the most effective method for avoiding raising your heart rate. Just saying.

#5. Movies

The doctor told you to chill, just add the Netflix and you’re good to go with America’s favorite pastime. If you want to make this time productive, watch classic old movies you haven’t seen before or a documentary you’ve always wanted to watch.

5 Tips for Traveling with OIT

School’s out, the weather is warm, and vacation season is in full swing.

Buuuut, the last thing you want is for all the hard work you put into allergy treatment to go to waste, so let’s talk about traveling with OIT. I’ve traveled to and from college and gone on vacations and church retreats both while updosing and on maintenance, so here are my best pro tips for ya.

#1. You ask for a note for TSA from your doctor so you can fly with OIT solution. The solution needs to be kept cold, so it’s best to have it in a carry on in a cooler with ice packs. A doctor’s note will let you bring the solution without it getting confiscated by TSA (which would kinda suck).

#2. You can skip a day of dosing for travel. This is super helpful if you’d rather not dose while flying or driving. It’s also helpful if you’re crossing time zones and all the math to make sure your doses are equally spaced makes your brain hurt. Just skip the dose the day you are traveling and resume dosing the next day. I personally don’t skip when I’m doing a one day road trip, but that’s something to discuss one on one with your allergist.

#3. Make sure you’ll have refrigeration where you’re staying. This is super important if you’re in the solution phase or the food phase with something perishable like cows milk or egg white, so call ahead and ask. Most hotels and cruise ships will have mini fridges (again, always double check!), but there have been times I’ve been at a retreat/camp style places where I’ve had to store my dose in the cafeteria fridge!

#4. Scout out local grocery stores at your destination. If you’re saving suitcase room and not traveling with your dose, you’ll want a supply as soon as possible. You may also need refills if anything spills, spoils, etc. Sometimes OIT dose foods are brand specific because of the amount of protein per serving, so if you’re traveling internationally, you might want to look for American food stores.

#5. Set dose alarms on your phone. You may feel like you’ve got your dosing routine on lock, but nothing throws off a habit like new environments and surroundings. I’m an 8 hours of sleep, 96 ounces of water every day kind of gal, but the minute I go on vacation, so does my memory of when to drink water and go to bed.

Hope this helps!

What Does an OIT Graduation Look Like?

So you’ve gone through months of OIT to desensitize your body to a food you’re allergic to, and today’s the big day. All you need to graduate is one more appointment and you’re home free.

So what about this appointment is so special?

At Bless You, we treat it like a final exam for your body. To see if your immune system knows not to react, we’ll have you do an oral challenge. You’ll eat what we consider to be a serving of the food and wait in the clinic to see if you react.

No reactions in a certain amount of time means you graduate!

That’s when we like to barge in and celebrate with you. You’ll get a fun certificate and your dream food (IYKYK) and a whole lotta love and joy from us!

5 Tips for OIT anxiety

Ok, OIT is kind of a crazy concept. You’ve been told your whole life that this food could hurt you or put your life in danger, and now you’re eating it on purpose??? That would cause any sane person anxiety, so here are my top tips on how to beat OIT anxiety and take advantage of this life changing treatment.

#1. Go to a doctor you trust

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a good relationship with your OIT provider. If your allergist habitually dismisses your fears and doesn’t listen to you, you’re not going to have a pleasant OIT experience. However, if your allergist is respectful, transparent, and attentive, you’ll be able to trust them to make the right call for when to halt or continue treatment and keep you safe.

#2. Gather info on what the OIT process looks like

The unknown is probably the scariest thing out there, so beat it to the punch. Read books on OIT like Food Allergy Conquerer (Shameless plug, hehehe) and have your allergist explain which symptoms may be normal and which would cause alarm. When you’re in that exam room pondering your life choices, a few concrete facts can be a comforting rock to cling to.

#3. Bring something to distract you

Waiting to see whether you react or not after your dose can be kinda nerve wracking. Go on, scroll on TikTok, watch your favorite Netflix show, bring a great book! Give your brain something to do other than stress.

#4. Try box breathing

There’s a ton of evidence out there that box breathing can lower stress and help you think clearly. Simply breath in while counting to 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold again for 4, and repeat.

#5. Don’t force yourself into a timeline

While deadlines are helpful to get projects like homework and cleaning the house done, all they do is cause anxiety for you. Feeling like you have to graduate in specific amount of time is going to cause you to freak out every time your body tells you to slow down treatment. Trust that it’ll work out, no matter how long it takes.