When people say that they have allergies, most people just think about sneezing and coughing when the seasons change. Or maybe they think about being unable to take certain medications. Others, like me, have to suffer every day to avoid their allergy, not just seasonally or only when they have to go to the doctor. I am someone with a great deal of food allergies, and the biggest one is to peanuts. This allergy has become more common and people are more aware of it, at least from what I have noticed. People are really being more cautious about what they serve in their restaurants or what they allow in public places. Schools are the biggest source of guaranteeing children's safety with nut-free classrooms and specific tables in the cafeteria.
I was first diagnosed with my peanut allergy at the age of 2. My sister, mom, and I were making peanut butter balls around Christmastime, and I was helping roll the dough into the balls. After a little while, my mom noticed that both of my arms were entirely covered in huge hives. So practically the next day I was at the doctors', and they told us that I was allergic to peanuts and peanut butter. We did not know the full severity of it. Later, when I went to an actual allergist and got tested for all sorts of things, we found out that I was so allergic to not only peanuts but all kinds of nuts that if I even consumed one, I would only have about 20-30 minutes to get to a hospital to receive treatment before death. Also they told us that I was allergic to many different kinds of fruits and veggies.
Growing up in early grade school was not that big of a deal until after I was tested and we found out how bad my allergy actually was. After that, I was constantly watched at lunch. I was not allowed to sit with my friends, because I had to sit at a certain peanut-free table, where people still ate peanut products by the way. Later, in middle school, the nurses and the administration were more lenient. I could sit wherever I wanted to at lunch, but it was at my own risk.
Many of my friends would eat peanut things around me because they forgot about my allergy, and I would never ever say anything about it. I never said anything because, to be honest, I was kind of embarrassed that people had to change around me. Every single time anyone forgot about my allergy and realized, they would freak out like I was going to burst into flames if I even looked at it. I hated that people felt like they could not sit with me at lunch or I was going to die. To clarify: I have to consume or touch the product in order to have a reaction.
The most absurd thing that has happened because of all of my food allergies is that I qualify as a disability student now that I am at college. I have yet to completely understand why that is, but it is a fact. I do not consider it a disability at all. To me, I just avoid the foods that could potentially kill me, and everything is peachy keen. I am living with this allergy and I am dealing with its influence on my life. And I am doing just fine.
