The itch that wouldn’t die.

So last Friday or Saturday, my back started itching.  It wasn’t a bug-bite itch.  It didn’t seem like a dry skin itch.  The closest thing I could equate it to is that feeling when you get a haircut and those stray clippered hairs that they couldn’t blow away with the hair-dryer or brush away with that tickling brush jab at you until you can get home & get a proper shower.  I just assumed it was dry skin, & asked my lovely wife to hook me up with some of the plethora of lotions in the house (ask me about her Bath & Bodyworks addiction some time).  She graciously applied some non-smelly Aveeno & confirmed that there wasn’t a rash or anything.

At least, that’s what we thought.

Through the week it didn’t seem to subside.  I used some Benadryl one night to go to sleep, and we switched to Eucerin and then to some weird stinky pink (and ridiculously expensive) Aveeno Oatmeal lotion.  I Googled “itch without rash” to some benign and some alarming results.  It’s never good to search for afflictions online because common symptoms of everything lead to you dying of some unheard of horrible disease.

The itch had spread to my chest eventually, by again we couldn’t see any kind of rash or hives.  My skin was obviously hydrated to the touch thanks to the lotion(s), so dry skin couldn’t be the answer.  I was starting to think it might even be nerves.  It wasn’t constant, it’s just intermittent & weird.

We figured it couldn’t be too horrible as the wife didn’t “catch” anything, so it probably wasn’t some gross fungus or bugs or anything you’d see in a sci-fi movie.

I finally broke down & went to Med Express on Saturday.  (I hate missing work for doctor’s appointments, and Med Express was so easy to get in & out.)  The nurse-practitioner there did see a rash under her light… called it “micro-” something “dermatitis”, & the printout they gave me says “contact dermatitis“.  She gave me a steroid to take for 5 days, & said to keep using the Eucerin.  As weird as it sounds I was relieved that it was an actual rash & not all in my head or anything.  She also recommended Claritin instead of Benadryl as it apparently has less knock-you-out type side effects.

I’m still a little itchy occasionally, but I can hopefully see an end in sight.  Hope the Prednisone works!

She said I might be allergic to something, and may have to start some detective work.  If it was laundry detergent or fabric softener, it would most likely be on my thighs too… and it’s not yet.  Plus, we’re on the end of the detergent bottle & fabric softener sheet box… I would have thought it would have affected me by now.  I did try some new generic soap, but it stunk (literally & latherally) … so I stopped using it.  I don’t think that was it.  I don’t have any new shirts that I wore that I can remember.  It’s quite maddening.  I wonder if it was something I ate or a medicine… but I’ve been on my stomach stuff for a while now, & there’s nothing new.

Has this happened to any of my other food allergy friends or their family?  I have little to no experience with allergic rashes… other than a minor itch caused by wool… but I generally stay away from wool clothing or blankets… and my (minor) allergies to wool, cats, & dogs for some reason tend to give me sniffles not a rash.  And with shellfish, I guess there’s a rash, but the whole throat-closing thing kind of eclipses that.

Any advice on how to find the culprit?  (Especially if it should return, provided it actually does clear-up.)  Any advice on home remedies or alternate things too sooth an itch that might work better than the Eucerin & Claritin?

Many thanks in advance!

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Qdoba, I ❤ YOU.

This is why Qdoba is awesome. I’m just sayin’.

Instead of annoying the fish and shellfish-allergic masses* by adding deathfish to your menu where it wasn’t previously… they have decided to focus on selling something that they already have on the menu that also will not send you to eternal damnation.

I get the not eating meat thing, and giving things up… and it’s cool that you observe that and don’t cave in the face of rumors that the whole thing was set up by a corrupt pope taking money from fishermen in exchange for boosting their sales.

Let’s make Lent about reflection through sacrifice… not about where you can get a good deal on anaphylaxis-enducing sea bugs.

This was in my inbox today…

From: Qdoba Mexican Grill
To: me@my.email.address
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Subject: Ash Wednesday and Friday Lenten Special-$1 Off Vegetarian Entrees

Qdoba Pittsburgh | Ash Wednesday and Friday Lenten Special - $1 Off Vegetarian Entrees

*me, and about 2 other people that I have found on the internet with a fish and/or shellfish allergy.

@QdobaMexGrill, I♥YOU. Just got an email offering vegetarian Lent specials. Glad you're not adding fish/shellfish to the menu. #FoodAllergy—
Eric Carroll (@AiXeLsyD13) February 22, 2012

@AiXeLsyD13 Yay!!—
Qdoba Mexican Grill (@QdobaMexGrill) February 22, 2012

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Subway, Quiznos, Taco Bell, W.G. Grinder’s, & Sheetz take note…

@FirehouseSubs Hi guys. Please don't ever add shellfish or seafood subs to your menu. Please? I have a Shellfish #FoodAllergy. LENT SUCKS.—
W(aL)D (@W_a_L_D) February 13, 2012

@W_a_L_D No plans in the works for that!—
Firehouse Subs (@FirehouseSubs) February 13, 2012

@FirehouseSubs Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!—
W(aL)D (@W_a_L_D) February 13, 2012

Firehouse Subs, you’re awesome.  I’m just sayin’.

Other food places with no shellfish currently on the menu, pay attention here too.  You don’t need shellfish.

Places that have added it over the years, preventing me from going back…

• W.G. Grinders
• Quiznos (temporarily)
• Taco Bell (temporarily)
• Burger King (temporarily)
• Subway
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Dairy Queen (temporarily in some locations)
• Texas Roadhouse
• Famous Dave’s
• Sheetz (temporarily, perhaps permanently)
• Bob Evans (temporarily)
• Primanti Bros. (temporarily)
• Eat ‘n Park
• King’s

Other places that don’t need to add it to the menu…

• Qdoba
• Pita Pit
• Get·Go
• Wendy’s
• McDonald’s
• Arby’s
• Chipotle
• Sonic
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries
• Uncle Sam’s
• Carhop’s
• Chick-fil-A
• Boston Market
• Gooski’s (The only damn place I can eat wings!)
• SLICE on Broadway
• Brentwood Express Rowdy BBQ
• Pittsburgh BBQ Co.
• Clem’s Cafe
• Big Fella’s

Got that?  Good.

Also, what ever happened to Roly Poly & Schlotzsky’s?  They were excellent shellfish-free places to dine.  Come back!  Also, we need McCalister’s Deli and Lion’s Choice to remain shellfish free and move to the ‘Burgh.  Maybe even Jack in the Box too.

To the rest of you, let’s stop these damn seafood lent specials.  Let the business go to Red Lobster, Joe’s Crab Shack, Long John Silver’s‘, VFD fish fry events, and Monterey Bay.  If you don’t normally do shellfish, stay away from it.  Please?  I ask of behalf of the seafood allergic and those who choose to eat kosher.

Firehouse Subs - my new food heroes.

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Subway still sucks, so does IHOP, take your allergy-sniffing dog there with you…

Some good food allergy articles popping up lately, if you’re paying attention:

• Allergies in the classroom: What’s OK to send in for snack time?  -  Some good tips.  Not sure if I’m 100% on-board with banning stuff in schools & classrooms.  I’d just promote safety a little more.
• Subway expanding gluten-free test – Subway is still clueless.  They’re pushing the gluten free fad as far as they can with as little effort as possible, all while making a big deal about it & ignoring that other allergens exist.  (Read the comments.)
• IHOP flops – IHOP owed by the same company that owns Crapplebees, also could not give a crap about your food allergies.  Try the new effortless lemon-zest dairy-free salad today! (Read the comments.)
• $20,000 allergy-sniffing dog is a real lifesaver – Such a great idea!  Too bad it’s a $20K price tag.  I’d love to have a deathfish-detecting pooch.  I’d also train him to poop right outside of Subway restaurants.
• Managing your food allergies in dining halls and dorm rooms – It’s back to school time.  Solid advice from a real expert.  I’m all about the buddy system.  Friends that look out for your best interest as far as not dying are friends for life.

So yeah, stuff’s happening.  I’m really just posting this to say… we’re out there.

Still taking donations for the Food Allergy Walk

90% towards my goal of $500!

That’s right, Bethany & I are still taking donations for the Food Allergy Walk in  Pittsburgh.  It’s happening this Sunday, Sept. 18th at 11:00 am.  You can make a secure online tax-deductible donation for either of us, to help us meet our prospective goals, or you can hook us up with a check made out to FAAN.

• Donate to Bethany for FAAN!
• Donate to me for FAAN!

Support me!

Just click the blue “Support Me” button under each of our photos on our respective profiles to donate!

You can read my older posts about the walk for more info:

• Food Allergy Walk Pittsburgh – Sept. 18th, 2011!
• Sponsor me for FAAN’s Pittsburgh Food Allergy Walk 2011?
• OK, sponsor me or Bethany for the 2011 Food Allergy Walk in Pittsburgh!
• Celebrity Endorsement?

If you’re following the “Celebrity Endorsement” thing, Andrew Stockey did eventually contact me & agree to help get the word out on WTAE.com.  I still haven’t’ seen anything there yet.

Interestingly, Qdoba & Chick-fil-A also said they’d donate something, yet they haven’t online yet anyway.  I’m going to have to remind them.

You can also read all of my Food Allergy related posts if interested in learning more about food allergies form an outspoken crazy blogger.

More from the Food Allergy Walk Facebook Page…

The Walk in Pittsburgh will feature lots activities, such as: face painting, balloon artist, trackless train, mad science and inflatables. We will have a musical performance by Kyle Dine and be joined by Pittsburgh Panthers mascot ROC.

We look forward to once again welcoming Sally Wiggin and Stephen Cropper. Following the Walk, will be Q&A session with allergists from AGH and UPMC who have volunteered their time. Rep. Matt Smith will join us to share information about the new EpiPen laws in PA.

You can get one of these limited edition T-shirts for donating $50 or more, thanks to Erin “Ernie” Payne:

Special Edition King Krab Orange Ernie and the Berts T-Shirt

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OK, sponsor me or Bethany for the 2011 Food Allergy Walk in Pittsburgh!

Sorry if I seem like that guy next to a dumpster outside of a funeral home trying to sell you dead flowers so I can raise “bus fair” lately.

That said, this is a cause that’s obviously near & dear to me… so I’d really like to make a big impact.  I’m already a great deal of the way closer to reaching my “goal” of $300, but I’d prefer to exceed that goal for my first Food Allergy Walk if at all possible.  I just left the default goal of $300 as I was setting up the page at FoodAllergyWalk.org, and thought it would be a good start.  I had no idea that donations would come in so quickly!  I think I can do a lot more than $300, with the help of my friends & family.

As of this posting:

• The national goal is $3,000,000.00, and the amount raised so far is $822,567.86 with 4 of 43 walks completed overall.
• The goal for the Pittsburgh walk is $50,000.00 and they’re currently at $29,150.45.

Keep ‘em coming, and pass along the link if so inclined!  That’s:

• http://www.foodallergywalk.org/goto/aixelsyd13

Donate to Eric for the 2011 FAAN Walk!

If you’d like to donate to my lovely wife instead of me, you can do that too:

• http://www.foodallergywalk.org/goto/bcarroll13

Donate to Bethany for the 2011 FAAN Walk!

She has to deal with this food allergy crap as much as I do, and she has to put up with my insane ramblings about food allergies & food service in real life, then hear “Yeah, didn’t you read my blog post about that?” from me repeatedly.  She reads labels, asks questions, makes phone calls and even taste-tests for me.  Perhaps she deserves your donations more than I do!

You can follow the links to either of our names do donate right through a secure connection through the Food Allergy Walk website.  I have found out that since my last post about this, the minimum donation online is $10.  I’ll take any amount in person.  $5 or $1 is still a donation.  I’ll have an envelope for cash & checks (made payable to FAAN).

I’ll hit you with some FAAN Facts…

• As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies, including approximately 6 million children.
• The CDC reported that food allergies result in over 300,000 ambulatory-care visits a year among children.
• Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.
• There is no cure for food allergies. Strict avoidance of food allergens and early recognition and management of allergic reactions to food are important measures to prevent serious health consequences.
• Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction.
• Most people who’ve had an allergic reaction to something they ate thought that it was safe.

I’m all about raising awareness of the seriousness of food allergies.  It’s hard to impress the severity upon some people, especially those in the food service industry.  Money raised will go to research and education.  In fact, here’s how your donations will be used:

How FAAN Uses Your Contributions
FAAN uses contributions to fund its education, advocacy, research, and awareness efforts. Eighty-one cents of every dollar is spent on innovative research and programs that help give families struggling with food allergies a fighting chance. Since 2004, FAAN has funded more than $4.6 million in research. Education remains the single most important component of staying safe while living with food allergies. Since 2006, FAAN has funded nearly $175,000 in Community Outreach Grants to local support groups throughout the country.

Again, I thank you for your tolerance.  I’d like to develop one to shellfish, but I don’t see it happening without your help!

Oh yeah, Ernie of Ernie and the Berts is willing to give a free special-run king krab orange T-shirt to anyone who donates over $50 & wants one.  Click here for how to claim yours!

Sponsor me for FAAN’s Pittsburgh Food Allergy Walk 2011?

Did you read my last blog about the food allergy walk?  OK, so you can officially donate to me now, via this link:

• http://www.foodallergywalk.org/goto/aixelsyd13

FAAN

I decided for the 1st time to just sign up as an individual, maybe do a team next year.  I believe we’ll be signing my wife Bethany up for the walk too, she’ll be walking with me if you’d like to donate to her too or instead of me.  (…Perhaps more well deserved for putting up with my crazy ass.)  I’ll post her URL as soon as we have one.

I would appreciate any donations to FAAN, be it a $1 or $100.  Please don’t feel obligated or pressured to donate.  I realize that there are many many other charities/causes out there worth of donations.  I want you to think about donating your time and or money to those that you hold dear.

FOOD ☠ ALLERGIES

For me personally, as far as food allergies go… just raising awareness of the seriousness and validity of serious food allergies is as important as research for a cure.  People need to realize that it’s a growing concern, and it will need to be addressed more and more in schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and homes everywhere.

I’m looking forward to the event & meeting other like-minded food-allergy Yinzers.  Thanks for reading, considering, & possibly donating!

As an added bonus, Erin (a.k.a. Ernie of Ernie and the Berts) has pledged to provide some special-edition Ernie and the Berts T-shirts to the first 10 people who donate $50 or more, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.  They’ll be the new design, but a different limited orange deathfish color run.

Just email Erin at ernie@ernieandtheberts.com to tell him you donated & are interested in a T-shirt.

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Get your new Ernie and the Berts T-Shirts! (via Ernie and the Berts)

So, you need one of these. Luckily for you, there are several ways to get one.

We had some cool rubber ducky shirts, but those are all gone.  Now, we have some new T-shirts for sale: The concept was by our very own Ernie, the design was executed by Zach Schweitzer (of Undercover Saints fame) and it was printed by the best in the ‘Burgh: Commonwealth Press! …Read More

via Ernie and the Berts

In addition to the article linked above, Erin “Ernie” Payne has generously offered to give a free T-shirt to the first 10 takers who donate $50 or more to me (or Team Deathfish if one is formed) in my food allergy walk.

Don’t forget to enter the coloring contest!

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Food Allergy Walk Pittsburgh – Sept. 18th, 2011!

I read about this a while ago, and kind of put it in the back of my mind, and now it’s snuck up on me again. Being a food allergy advocate (or annoyance depending on your point of view) of sorts, I really ought to go to this.

I was excited to see this article today via the Food Allergy Daily:  FAAN Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure Coming Back to Pittsburgh

This especially caught my attention:

The Walk is a non-competitive 2-mile course and participation is free. Families can enjoy samples from allergen-free food vendors, music and children’s activities. Joining us this year will be Sally Wiggin (WTAE-TV), and singer and songwriter Kyle Dine (http://kyledine.com), to educate and entertain with his songs about food allergies.

FoodAllergyWalk.org

Kyle Dine rules! Kyle is also a soldier in the #FoodAllergyDudeArmy (a covert special ops branch of the #FoodAllergyMomArmy) on Twitter.  Of course, Sally Wiggin is also a local legend.  The walk is taking place at Hartwood Acres.

At any rate… I know there are many many walks for many many reasons, but I see this as an opportunity to do something other than whine about food allergies on the internet and send restaurants annoying (and hopefully entertaining) emails about deathfish.

The article above also drops these fascinating facts:

Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting and the CDC reports that food allergies result in over 300,000 ambulatory care visits each year among children. Eight foods account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Food allergy afflicts one in 25 Americans overall, and one in 17 under age 3.

The official FAAN page for Pittsburgh is here:  FoodAllergyWalk.org | 2011 Walk in Pittsburgh, PA

I’ll sign up to walk as an individual, or I can put together a team if anyone’s interested.  The individual suggested goal is $300.  The suggested team goal is $1,500.00.

So, here’s where I ask for help.  Does anyone want to donate, or walk with me?

Think “Team Deathfish” sounds like a good name?

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16 Tips for Dining Out With Food Allergies (via Calorie Lab)

Image via Wikipedia

I haven’t blogged much about food allergies lately, so I’ll let this be a substitute post… with tips compiled from the experts.  This is a great list, & I agree with everything stated, though I have my own personal way of going about things.

Calorie Lab | 16 Tips for Dining Out With Food Allergies: Insight From Food Allergy Experts, Advocates and Professionals

So, do you have a separate fryer for fish & shellfish?

What do I do different?  I don’t like phone calls.  Sometimes, the wife calls for me.  Sometimes, I peep the menu online.  Sometimes, I break down & call ahead.

Shellfish on a menu jumps out at me like this.

My favorite anecdote on this subject…  I called an Amish restaurant in Ohio and asked if they had shellfish, and was told that they had lobster, shrimp, and oysters… but nothing was served in a shell.

I’ll let you think about that for a minute.

Anyway, I can’t stress enough… ask the right questions, to the right people.  Don’t trust people telling you “oh, they don’t have any [whatever you're allergic to] on the menu”.  Happens to me all the time.  90% of the time, they’re wrong.  Check yourself!  Ask if there’s any daily specials that don’t show up on a regular or online menu.  To relax, it helps to surround yourself with supportive friends & family.  It helps to go back to places that you know are safe.  Don’t eat w/o your Epi Pen close by.  (I have been guilty of this.  It’s dumb – like riding a motorcycle without a helmet.)

Allergy Eats, AllerDine, & Eating With Food Allergies are great resources.  There are many other resources out there too.  Use ‘em!

What do you think about the tips?  What do you do before dining out with food allergies?  What advice would you pass on to the food allergic?

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• Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl And other tips from a food-allergic adult on how to host a safe party for kids (theinsider.retailmenot.com)
• Back To School Series Part 3: School and Food Allergy Basics (thefoodallergymom.wordpress.com)
• New Food Allergy Study: Becoming Worse (momstowork.com)
• The Food Allergy Mom Currently Featured at AllergyFreeMouse.com (thefoodallergymom.wordpress.com)