The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

#20 - Interview with Sharon Wong: Food allergies, cultural identity and holidays!

How do you navigate life with food allergies when food plays such a significant role in so many cultures?

 

Dr. G and Kortney talk with Sharon Wong from Nut Free Wok. Sharon is in an allergy mom of two who blogs about recipes, cooking techniques, Asian ingredients, and food allergy related awareness and advocacy issues. She has made it her passion to share her Chinese heritage with her kids despite their food allergies.

 

This episode explores how culture and food are intertwined and how this can impact someone with food allergies. Sharon shares how she was able to communicate her needs with her family so her children could still participate and how you can share time and traditions by doing other activities that do not involve food.

 

Sharon and Kortney also share how they navigate their food allergies at family events by embracing inclusion for all.

 

What we cover in this episode

•  Why Sharon started her blog 

•  Strategies on how to try foods from different cultures when you have food allergies 

•  How food plays a role in culture and how this fits in when you have food allergies

•  Communicating your food allergies needs to the family around the holiday season, especially if this impacts family traditions

•  Creating inclusion around food at family gatherings

•  Managing potlucks when there may be food allergens present 

•  Sharon's two steps on how you can start thinking about sharing food culture with your food allergy kids

•  Finding safe alternatives to make food similar to the original - you aren't missing out because it is about intention

•  Bonus how to make a stir fry  

 Additional resources: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-20

 

#19 - The questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis: Part 2 - Lifestyle changes

You get home after receiving a food allergy diagnosis, look into your fridge, where do you even start?

 

In the second part of answering questions on what new food allergy suffers should know, we tackle the lifestyle side of a food allergy diagnosis.

Dr G and Kortney are joined by Stefanie Lowe to discuss grocery shopping, navigating labels, how to approach friends and family about your needs, how to find your comfort level and introducing new foods to your child.

 

Stephanie is a food allergy advocate, and community thought leader, she is a mother to three children, the oldest of which has multiple food allergies, FPIES, asthma, Celiac disease as well as all three managing environmental allergies. If you have ever seen a build light up teal for food allergy awareness, this is because of Stephanie. She is the founder of Turn It Teal, a global project committed to raising food allergy awareness by lighting buildings, monuments and bridges, predominately during Food Allergy Awareness Week. 

 

The questions we answer in this episode

• What are the first things you should do after receiving your food allergy diagnosis? What should you prioritize?
• What do you do at home, with friends, family?
• Should you remove all allergens from the house?
• How do you figure out what the best plan of action is for you?
• How do you seek support from your family when they don't understand the diagnosis and that it is something that comes with a lifestyle change? 
• How do you find a food allergy community?
• What resources are available to me?
• Will this impact us financially because of special foods?
• How do you go about navigating labelling and reading packages?
• When is the best time to introduce new foods?

Big Takeaways

• Every family does things differently.
• Always have epinephrine auto-injectors and an action plan.
• Learning day by day - your allergy journey is made from building blocks of each with a more defined level of comfort.
• Life with food allergies requires you to be aware and hypervigilant, it's best not to make it what you are all about.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-19

#18 - The questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis: Part 1 - the medical questions

You have been given a new food allergy diagnosis now what?

We asked what the most prominent questions people had after receiving their food allergy diagnosis and we answered them for you! In part ONE of 'the questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis,' Dr G and Kortney answer the medical and science-based questions. In part TWO, they will be tackling the lifestyle side of a food allergy diagnosis. 

The Questions Answered:

• How do I know how severe the allergic reaction will be?
• What symptoms to look for an allergic reaction, and how long do they take to show up?
• What is anaphylaxis versus a 'normal' allergic reaction?
• How to and when to use epinephrine?
• What epinephrine auto-injectors are available, and how do you use them?
• How does epinephrine work, and what should we know about it?
• Why does my child have so many food allergies?
• What is oral allergy syndrome?
• Is there a chance of developing more food allergies?
• What are the chances of outgrowing food allergies?
• Should I be concerned about asthma and eczema?

For supporting information check out Episode 18 on our blog.

 

#17 - Interview with Lisa Rosenberg: food allergy anxiety

Food allergy anxiety is taking a front seat in the FA community, how do you recognize if it is impacting you and your family?

 

Helping Dr G and Kortney discuss anxiety and mental health concerning food allergies is Lisa B. Rosenberg, M.Ed., MSW, LSW, CSSW. Lisa is a licensed child and family therapist, founder of Safe & Included, LLC, and co-founder of the Food Allergy Behavioral Health Association (FABHA), 

 

In this episode, we learn about how Lisa was thrown into the world of food allergies, first as a 30-year-old and second with both her kids. Lisa shares her experience working in the school systems and how this led to more time spent working with clients on food allergy anxiety. 

We go over the signs and symptoms of food allergy anxiety and how you can seek help.

 

What we cover in this episode:

•  Lisa’s allergy story and her path to becoming an allergy consultant. From teacher to a counsellor to an allergy advocate.

•  Food allergies in the school system: how schools are modelling exclusion for kids with food allergies and what the psycho-social impact is. How teachers and school psychologists can help recognize food allergy anxiety.

•  How do food allergies impact mental health

•  How anxiety starts after the food allergy diagnosis.

•  Helpful anxiety versus debilitating anxiety - how to recognize this and what strategies and skills you need to help manage it.

•  The signs of anxiety, and how to differentiate an anxiety attack versus a reaction

•  How anxiety impacts diet leading to disordered eating, restriction, and eliminating foods out of fear.

•  Should you keep allergens in the house? How does this help or hinder your child learn skills to navigate their allergens later in life

•  How to get help if you are concerned with your budget

 

Additional resources: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-17

 

#16: Interview with Elijah's Echo - advocating for allergies and health disparities

What do you do when your son dies from a food allergy?

Dr G and Kortney talk to Dina and Thomas Silvera who had to face that very question. After their son passed away from ingesting dairy, they made it their mission never to let another family go through what they did. 

The Elijah-Alavi Foundation is an initiative designed to raise awareness on the severity of food allergies and anaphylaxis as well as the importance of education and training. Their goal is to bring training to daycares and communities and provide resources that cater to all socio-economic groups. 

Dina and Thomas discuss the health disparities in asthma and allergies, and how bringing education to these groups needs to be done in a way that is respectful and culturally sensitive. 

Health disparities refer to differences in the health status of different groups of people.  

What we covered in this episode:

• Why Thomas and Dina started the Elijah Alavi Foundation
• What they want the foundation to be: the voice for infants and younger children who are underrepresented in the policies
• How the foundation has changed the Silvera family and why Thomas is changing career paths 
• How they plan to provide hands-on training, protocols, risk reduction strategies and more after Elijah’s law passed in New York. 
• Why they want care takers and educators to take on the same role of a parent in allergy management and feel confident to act in a case of emergency
• How to address health disparities and the foundation plans to bring training to these communities. 
• Why it is essential to have someone that reflects the community present when training is delivered. The need to remember the role culture plays when bringing education. 
• Webinar training versus hands-on training

Supporting information here: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-16

#15 - Interview with Dr Ruchi Gupta - Prevalence of food allergies & managing food allergies in teens

Dr G and Kortney sit down live from Portland Maine to interview Dr Ruchi Gupta!

 

You may know her from the Netflix series Rotten, where she appears in the Peanut Problem episode. Or you may know her name from the article that came out in early 2019, Prevalence and Severity of Food Allergies Among US Adults, which stated that 1 in 10 adults have food allergies. 

 

Dr Ruchi Gupta, has more than 15 years experience as a board-certified paediatrician and health researcher. She currently serves as the director of the Science and Outcomes of Allergy & Asthma Research Program (SOAAR), where she is actively involved in clinical, epidemiological, and community-based research.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Prevalence of food allergies in kids and adults. 

• What are the top allergens for kids and adults, how do those differ from adults  

• What are the common allergens that children tend to outgrown 

• Adult-onset food allergy: How did the recent study done by Dr. Ruchi Gupta figure out 1 in 10 adults have food allergies?

• 20% of adults reported having an allergy - why we need to pay attention to that number and what it means. 1 in 5 adults are giving up food that negatively impacts them

• Allergy testing: when should be testing done and what should be tested

• Understanding allergy testing and the problem with allergy testing at this time 

• How to accurately diagnose an allergy 

• When it is appropriate to take a specific food out of your diet.

• Allergies in teens - what is helping and hindering managing their food allergies and the role of peers and classmates 

• The importance of building a community, especially for college-bound teens. 

• What allergy kids and teens think the positives are of having food allergies

Supporting info: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-15

#14 - Interview with Shahla: how cooking has empowered her family with their allergy diagnosis

How does a mom turn a food allergy diagnosis around to help empower herself and her children?

 

A new food allergy diagnosis can be overwhelming as a parent, but there is a lot of good that can come out of it. Many food allergy moms have turned a food allergy diagnosis into a new cooking passion, helping them make the transition from diagnosis to life much more manageable and empowering.

 

We talk to Shahla from My Berkley Kitchen about her journey with her daughter's diagnosis and the changes she made as a response.

 

What we cover in this episode:

•  Shahla's journey into becoming an allergy mom and fabulous cook

• Why you don't want to restrict your diet if you don't have to and how to work with your allergist to expand your diet

• When and how to try new foods

• How to navigate foods that are 'cross-reactive' to your allergens

• How to empower yourself and your kids in the kitchen by teaching them to cook and recreating foods that you can't have out at home

• How to make food fun and take away any fear that food could bring 

• Tips on eating out: allergy cards and why to call ahead

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-14

#13 - Asthma Part 4: Asthma Medications - Inhalers, Nebulizers & Montelukast

Do you know why mental health history is essential when deciding your controller medication?

 

Dr G shares her top tips on using inhalers and when it is appropriate to use a nebulizer. She also explains the side effects of certain controller medications and why doctors need to know more about you as a patient (even your mental health) when prescribing a controller medication. The decision of going on medication should be made with you in mind. 

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Inhaler tips: know that there are different brand names for the same medicine, using a spacer, how to remember to take your controller
• The side effects of inhalers
• What are nebulizers and when are they used (at home and the ER)
• Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist. When it is prescribed and the side effects. 
• Why you want to disclose your mental health history with your allergist when decided what medication to go on. 

 

Supporting information and a graphic of all asthma medications: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-13

#12 - Asthma Part 3: Asthma Medications - Inhalers

Did you know asthma medication encompasses more than just inhalers?

 

Asthma medications are a massive topic to cover! We will be covering them all in three episodes. The first part we discuss the types of inhaled medications, both for quick relief and controllers. Dr G breaks down how the medicines work in the body and why it is essential to know the function of each type of inhaler.

 

We also cover what medication you would be prescribed and how you would introduce it using step therapy.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• Types of inhaled asthma medication: Inhalers: short-acting beta 2 agonist (SABA), long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), combination LABA/ICS, and anticholinergic inhalers (tiotropium bromide)
•  How allergy shots can help with allergic asthma 
• How asthma medication work - are they receptor agonists or an antagonists
• Step therapy

Supporting information: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-12

#11 - Interview with Joey Salmingo: founder of FATE

What do you do when a family member passes away from an anaphylactic reaction?

 

Kortney interviews Joey Salmingo, the founder of FATE. Joey founded FATE after his sister Joanna passed away from eating a mochi ball made with cashew milk. Joey is making it his mission to advocate and educate on behalf of people with food allergies as he never wants another family to experience experience what he and his family had to go through in August 2018.

 

They talk about what drove Joey to start the initiative, how he spreads awareness and education through the FATE forums, and why we need to get the message out.

 

What we cover in this episode:

• The reason Joey started FATE
• What FATE does to educate those with food allergies 
• The importance of educating people who do NOT have food allergies
• Why education for restaurants, schools, the airline industry, and even paramedics is important for people with food allergies to remain safe
• Why restaurants need to hear about personal stories about how allergies impact people to understand why they need to take allergies seriously
• Why the use of Epinephrine needs to be a part of basic first aid
• What Joey is up to besides working on FATE

Supporting info: www.itchpodcast.com/blog/episode-11