As Someone with Severe Anxiety and Even More Severe Food Allergies
With just over a week until we jet off to Spain, I cannot help but lay awake at night and think about our upcoming seven hours of flight time over the Atlantic. My ruminating thoughts jump to what-ifs and worst case scenario thinking…
Until I reflect on all of the food allergy community members who have safely gone before me. Traveling internationally never felt like an option for my family, but watching The Hivey League bravely explore every corner of our planet has given me the confidence to do the same.
Airlines are already challenging enough to navigate with their inconsistent policies and lack of accountability, but adding a language barrier, in-flight meal services, and no room for an emergency landing adds a whole new layer.
So here’s what I’m doing to make sure I’m prepared.
+ Bag: The Béis Mini Weekender is the perfect sized personal item – Big enough to carry all of my stuff, but compact enough to fit under the seat.
+ Toiletry Bags: I could not resist snagging the matching Béis In-Flight Cosmetic Set to organize my toiletries. The clear plastic design makes it TSA approved!
+ Wipes: For wiping down my seat and tray table, I stocked up on standard Clorox wipes in addition to the WellToo Peanut Allergen Wipes. These are, without a doubt, the greatest invention ever.
+ Extra Cleaning Supplies: Each time I fly, I pack a set of nitrile gloves and a standard garbage bag in a quart-sized Ziploc. I throw on the gloves while I wipe down my seat, and put the dirties in the Ziploc afterwards. Before putting my personal item under the seat in front of me, I place it inside the garbage bag. Any weird looks I get from passengers is 100% worth the peace of mind knowing my belongings are safe from whatever lingers on the floor.
+ Auto Injectors: A minimum of two – Always! But I will slip a third pen from a different lot in my fiancé’s bag, just incase.
+ Masks: One perk of COVID-19 was the normalization of mask wearing. Not only will an N95 protect you from germs, but it offers a sense of safety from surrounding allergens, too.
+ Pill Case: My seven day organizer from Port and Polish stays in my carryon, just incase our checked luggage gets misplaced.
+ Air Tags: Speaking of lost luggage, we slip Apple AirTags into our carryons and checked bags for stemless tracking. If you purchase from Apple, you can also get free engraving!
+ Allergy Translation Card: The food allergy cards from Equal Eats can be translated into 50 languages! Who knew the Catalonian word for peanuts is cacauets?
+ Eye Mask: I’m banking on getting a few hours of Zzzs on our red eye, and the Slip Sleep Mask is my best chance.
+ Noise Cancelling Headphones: The Apple AirPods Max are perfect for pre-downloaded audiobooks, podcasts, and movies while I’m awake, and for drowning out the other passengers while I’m asleep.
+ Pillow and Blanket: Airline linens are not known for their high thread counts or high grade disinfectants. The Bleusalt Scarf is not only the softest staple piece for your capsule wardrobe, but it also doubles as a thin blanket at 10,000 feet. Because I don’t find the standard C-shaped neck pillows to be very comfortable, I’ll be trying out the Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Pillow from Amazon this time around.
+ Safe Snacks: I am not planning to eat the in-flight meal provided by United – That’s just too far out of my comfort zone at this point. Instead, I’ll be tiding myself over with 88 Acres Seed Bars and That’s It Fruit Bars until we land.
+ Hydration: Dehydration is a cofactor for anaphylaxis, so keep up with your water! I’m packing a screw top bottle so the mouthpiece stays clean and covered.
+ Skin Care: The high altitudes are notorious for drying our skin out, too! My toiletry bag will have all my gentle, hydrating favorites including CeraVe Lotion, Aquaphor Lip Repair, and Blink Lubricating Eye Drops.
+ Compression Socks: Maybe not the most stylish, but this best selling set from Amazon will get the job done.
Next Stop: Barcelona!
To all of you who have conquered this feat before me – What am I forgetting?
All Things Allergies 