allthingsallergies

My COVID-19 Vaccination Experience

As a training mental health clinician in Illinois, I recently qualified for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite a history of severe anaphylactic reactions, I safely received my vaccination on Saturday January 23rd through Loyola Medicine. Pre Vaccination Upon hearing the news that the revolutionary COVID-19 vaccine capable of producing 95% immunity withContinue reading “My COVID-19 Vaccination Experience”

Allergy Friendly Restaurant Guide: Columbus

Home of The Ohio State Buckeyes, and my home for almost four years. The capital of Ohio, and the fourteenth largest city in the United States. Likely not your first vacation destination, but I’m looking to change that. I’ve had a whole bachelor’s degree worth of time to hunt down the city’s safest and mostContinue reading “Allergy Friendly Restaurant Guide: Columbus”

Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Guide: Chicago

The new city that I am so lucky to call home. Complete with Big Ten Football, miles of Lake Michigan beaches that remind me of home, and the best cuisine that a foodie could ask for. The Windy City keeps blowing me away! Picollo Sogno Picollo Sogno, Italian for “little dream” lives up to itsContinue reading “Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Guide: Chicago”

Believe it or not: The Strangest Places I’ve Encountered an Allergen

How many times have you heard “Oh, you’re allergic to peanuts? Just don’t eat them.” You would think that avoiding a food allergen would be as simple as just not eating it… But we all know.. It’s NEVER that easy! The amount of times I have come across one of my allergens in a bizarreContinue reading “Believe it or not: The Strangest Places I’ve Encountered an Allergen”

Dating with Food Allergies

Who remembers the mid 2000s Nickelodeon sitcom Unfabulous starring Emma Roberts? And she bakes peanut butter cookies before going on a first date and gives the boy a severe allergic reaction after they kiss? Well I do – And I have been scarred forever! All Things Allergies was founded to serve the young adult populationContinue reading “Dating with Food Allergies”

My ID Medical ID Shop

I have been an Ohio State fan for all my life, but just because I’m a Buckeye doesn’t mean that I like nuts. I attended an undergraduate institution whose mascot was a literal walking tree nut… I lived in a state for four years whose traditional dessert was a chocolate covered peanut butter ball… IContinue reading “My ID Medical ID Shop”

We all scream for (safe) ice cream!

I suffered my most recent allergic reaction almost five summers ago when I was an incoming senior in high school. I frequented a local ice cream shop in my hometown, and feeling invincible like any other teen, I walked out with my usual order without informing the employees about my severe allergy. I ate myContinue reading “We all scream for (safe) ice cream!”

FACES Conference 2019

Recapping the second annual Food Allergy Conference for Education and Sciences in partnership with Lurie’s Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Headed by Dr. Ruchi Gupta of the Science and Outcomes for Allergy and Asthma Research Program (SOOAR), the Food Allergy Conference for Education and Science (FACES) is a celebration of foodContinue reading “FACES Conference 2019”

Alyssa’s Declassified College Survival Guide

(Anyone else remember that early 2000’s Nickelodeon show?!?) Heading off to college is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for all new freshman, but it can be especially scary for food allergy sufferers and their families. As a recent graduate of The Ohio State University (where the literal mascot of the university is a personified treeContinue reading “Alyssa’s Declassified College Survival Guide”

Always double check: How these simple reminders could have prevented my close calls

It’s better to be safe than sorry – and these two allergy-friendly movements are serving as simple reminders that empower people to speak up in order to avoid deadly consequences. In August of 2019, the state of Illinois Senator, Dave Koehler, signed House Bill 3018 into law, making it safer for food allergy sufferers toContinue reading “Always double check: How these simple reminders could have prevented my close calls”