allthingsallergies

But Would Your Dissertation Defend You?

What an incredible honor to share that I have successfully defended my doctoral dissertation, and received an award for my poster dissemination at our Graduate Research Forum! My research, titled, Lived Experiences of Food Allergic Young Adults in Differentiating Anxiety from Anaphylaxis in the Aftermath of a Severe Allergic Reaction, has been such a laborContinue reading “But Would Your Dissertation Defend You?”

Tying the Knot

Our Allergy-Conscious Wedding On April 26th 2025, my husband and I tied the knot in a celebration 4,376 days in the making! Back in our home state of Michigan, our day was surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones. Noticeably absent from the guest list? Any and all nuts. Even though I grew out ofContinue reading “Tying the Knot”

All Things Amoxicillin

To add insult to injury, my seasonal congestion turned into a sinus infection this fall – And after ten days of symptoms, I was prescribed a round of antibiotics from my local urgent care. Since breaking out in hives while taking Amoxicillin as a kid, I grew up under the impression that I was allergicContinue reading “All Things Amoxicillin”

Food Allergy and the Military

Why Severe Allergies May Disqualify You From Joining The United States Armed Forces Did you know that having a life-threatening food allergy can disqualify you from joining the US Armed Forces? To join the US Military, recruits must undergo a medical screening/examination to determine their eligibility and fitness for duty. According to the US DepartmentContinue reading “Food Allergy and the Military”

Antihistamine Withdrawal: How Prolonged Zyrtec Use Could Lead to Increased Itching

To have my updated allergy testing done, my allergist had me stop taking antihistamine medications prior to the appointment to ensure we were gathering the most accurate scratch test results. That week, I vividly recall struggling to fall asleep, kept awake by intense itching all over my body. I scratched so furiously that I leftContinue reading “Antihistamine Withdrawal: How Prolonged Zyrtec Use Could Lead to Increased Itching”

Global Food Allergy Prevention Summit 2024

Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research (CFAAR) hosted their second annual Global Food Allergy Prevention Summit this past week in Chicago, Illinois – And I had the pleasure of attending this world class right in my own backyard. The three day conference offered multiple tracks – including the Summit for Advancing EquityContinue reading “Global Food Allergy Prevention Summit 2024”

Allergy & Asthma Day on Capitol Hill

“I’m just a bill, and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill.” I did a Schoolhouse Rock crash course before coming to Washington DC, and now I can’t get that song out of my head! On May 8th, 2024, the Allergy and Asthma Network (AAN) hosted their 27th annual Allergy and Asthma Day on Capitol HillContinue reading “Allergy & Asthma Day on Capitol Hill”

What I’m Packing for My First Overseas Flight

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… UntilContinue reading “What I’m Packing for My First Overseas Flight”

Beyond Food: The Anxiety or Anaphylaxis Phenomenon Further Validated by Vaccine Research

It is safe to say that the Anxiety, or Anaphylaxis? debate lives rent free in my head. Not only does it stay on the lips of All Things Allergies, but the psychological and physiological similarities between the fight-or-flight response and food-induced anaphylactic shock is also the subject of my doctoral dissertation proposal. Inspired by myContinue reading “Beyond Food: The Anxiety or Anaphylaxis Phenomenon Further Validated by Vaccine Research”

The ABCs of IgEs

Defining Immunoglobulin E, Debunking Antibody Myths, and Delving Into My Updated Bloodwork “Another primary reason for misdiagnosis is a lack of understanding of what the results of serum IgE testing truly mean. In the absence of clinical IgE-mediated symptoms with ingestion of the food, a positive serum IgE test to that food merely means aContinue reading “The ABCs of IgEs”