Traveling with a food allergy can sometimes be seriously dangerous. At the age of 18, my friend rushed me to the hospital because I was having an allergic reaction to nuts with an Anaphylactic attack. Very difficult to do the breathing when your throat closes up.

After that day, I always carry around my EpiPen in my purse in case of emergency. That day was the start of my career with a nut allergy and traveling the world with one more thing to think about.

I have been very aware of my severe nut allergy when traveling. I always ask if it is nuts in the meal and clearly state that I’m allergic to nuts. If I don’t feel safe about eating the food, I don’t eat the food. It’s just not worth playing with my life over some food.

One day in Cusco Peru

I went for lunch with some of my lovely new roommates to a vegetarian place. We were all very excited about the food, was looking forward to trying it.

When ready to order, I asked if there were any nuts in the food I ordered. Because I’m allergic to nuts. The waiter went to the kitchen and asked to be sure that there were no nuts in my food. It was all good. Then we were allowed to pick salad and sauces from the Buffet. Then I was nervous because I didn’t know what the sauces contained. I asked again if it includes nuts, the guy said; No. I trusted that he knew what he was answering and that the waiter had control over what he was serving. That was a mistake this time. We all make mistakes. For me, this was a dangerous mistake.   

Back to Table, Tongue Tingling

I went back to our table and started eating the bread and the sauces. Then I began to feel a very scary tingling on my tongue. This tingling is not pleasant (I know it from my last Anaphylactic attack.). I went to the toilet to check if I was paranoid. No, I wasn’t; my tongue was reacting to something with many bubbles on it. Went back and asked: You are sure there are no nuts in the sauces? Then, he went to the kitchen and asked, but seriously too late to ask. Yes, there were nuts in one of the appetizers that I had eaten.

Then I took 4 of my Anti-histamines in panic and what I agreed with my doctor to do in this case. Then the next question was: Where is the hospital? I have maybe 10 minutes to get there, and I never know how strong the Anaphylactic attack will be. I always have to go to the hospital when it happens. Last time, it happened very fast.

How Many Minutes to the Hospital?

My new roommate followed me and a woman and a man from America. The women did speak Spanish fluently, and the man was a medical student. Good to have with you when you are in a foreign country and having an Anaphylactic attack with panic. I did get terrified because I didn’t know where the hospital was and how many minutes it would take to get to the hospital. Would I make it there with consciousness (Of course, whatever you do, do not panic – is easier said than done)? 

We went out in the street started looking for a Taxi that could take me to the hospital. We were walking around, my throat was not feeling better, and my panic was getting higher. Finally, we got in a taxi and started moving. Traffic was slowest as ever for me. I was sitting in the car with my EpiPen in my hand, ready to use it.

Arriving at the Hospital – Passport?

We finally arrived at the hospital. Then my panic did get a bit lighter; I did know I was in a safe area now. Then they stopped to ask me for my fucking passport. I´m not feeling very well, can we take my passport lather. I got on a wheelchair and tossed my iPhone to the medical student with a copy of my passport on the picture storage (the best thing I ever did before traveling). I was rolling into the bed, and they measured my heart and pulse or something. And told me to relax?! I know that´s better for me. I had the feeling that my life was going to be short, so not very easy to do: Tranquillo – Relax.

Everything was better than expected. My attack was under control. The first time I had an Anaphylactic attack, I was out of breath, which was very scary. I didn’t know if my second time would be worst or better. I was petrified. This time it was a better reaction or a more controlled one. I did feel awful in my trout and in shock that my worst fear just happened.

My beautiful room-mate was sent out to stand in the pharmacy line to buy the medicine that I needed for my treatment. Lucky that we had money, an interesting system going on in Peru. I’m so happy that I had good people around me when it all went down.

American women helped me translate and explain everything that was going on, and the rest of the people who were eating with me was also coming to make sure I was okay. One of them was a doctor from earlier days, so she checked all my medicine and explained what they were giving me. The medical student was helping with filling out the information form with my passport details. I was in excellent hands.

Observation for Too Many Hours

They decided that I had to stay the night for observation, in case of an after reaction of the food in my stomach. Then, I ended up on the hospital’s top floor with a magnificent panorama view over Cusco and excellent wifi for everybody that was visiting, including me. I even got some work done on the blog. I was there for observation for around 35 hours, too many hours if you ask me. Nobody asked me. It was okay. I was in good hands and was walking around with IV fluids for some time. This time, I was lucky and close to getting help fast – The hospital love to help out a tourist with excellent travel insurance. Let´s keep her forever! They did let me out in the end. That was good. I managed to catch my flight to Lima.

Great thank you – to all the people that were there and helped me out that day. It made a difference!

 Traveling with a Food Allergy

Traveling with a food allergy is to be taken seriously. I know it feels tiring to keep asking and asking about it. Every time you ask if it contains your allergy, you are protecting and saving your life. If you’re not sure if they understand the question’s gravity, talk with the other person. Please make sure they are clear on the fact that you have an allergy. If you don´t feel safe, don’t eat the food, even change place.

Your life is not worth risking over some food!

My last day in Cusco was spent in a hospital bed, the perks of traveling with a food allergy!

Traveling with food allergy in South America gave me a struggle in Cusco.

My worst breakfast in Cusco. At least it was food. Safe to eat, since it was the hospital’s food.

The View from the Hospital Room in Cusco, Peru

My Safety Rules Traveling with a Food Allergy

• I always tell before eating with new friends that I have an allergy. I say that I have an EpiPen.
• Show them the EpiPen from my purse and explain how to use it. Tell them if something terrible happens, take me to the hospital.

• In the restaurant: State clear that I have a food allergy and understand the gravity of the allergy.
• If they don’t understand the question, I don’t feel safe. I leave the place.
• Language problem: If I´m going to a country where I don´t know the language, I ask someone who knows the word to write that I´m allergic to on a paper and take a picture of it on my phone, have it always with me. In Thailand, I used a photo with a NO nuts symbol.

MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF YOUR ALLERGY!

Ask one time more, and be sure that they understand.

• Arriving into new a destinations: Ask were the hospital is and how many minutes I need to get there. In case of emergency, having this information will ease my mind that I´m close to help.

Know-How to Use an EpiPen? NO

Please watch the Movie and be

PREPARED TO SAVE A LIFE

 

Thank you for your time! I hoped you learned something.

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