tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post8500214354229506892..comments2014-11-24T23:32:11.070-05:00Comments on Anaphylaxis Axis: Dining OutSimranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03223516746831464159noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-14446545516696467752012-05-24T11:18:26.327-04:002012-05-24T11:18:26.327-04:00Yes, I have actually tried this -- this is how I n...Yes, I have actually tried this -- this is how I negotiate the probability of danger, and I have met with a good measure of success so far (after a couple of near-misses in the beginning). This list is basically the result of a decade of my experiences -- cautiously experimenting, adapting and refining my approach so as not to have to give up all vestiges of my previous lifestyle. I have not had to spend an inordinate amount of money, or rent a building. I have felt the need to tip more generously due to the fact that extra care was taken on my behalf -- and they did so without making me feel like a Martian. These restaurants tend to be mid- to upscale establishments... Fast food had been eliminated from my diet at least 15 years before I developed anaphylaxis.<br /><br />The chemicals mankind has created are killing us. More and more people seem to be developing deadly sensitivities, which seem to be forcing restaurants in the United States to adapt to be able to accommodate customers with special needs. If you go anywhere on the Disney campus in Orlando, Florida, they will go so far as to bring you the ingredient list for each meal to get your approval or understand your exact needs so that a safe experience can be provided. I have also encountered the same approach in the city of San Francisco. As a New Yorker, I can dine out regularly. In my travels throughout the US, I have been blessed with great waiters, waitresses, managers and chefs who went the extra mile to accommodate me. Travel abroad will most likely be sketchier -- right now I limit it to spending time with friends so that most of my dining is home-cooked.<br /><br />As both Multichemical and Evelyn stated, sensitivity to particles in the air make restaurant dining non-negotiable. Barring sensitivity to smell, the method detailed in this blog entry could be an alternative for some.Simranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223516746831464159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-84433989739103559142012-05-24T11:11:36.535-04:002012-05-24T11:11:36.535-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Simranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223516746831464159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-27534471145845924832012-02-27T09:45:28.433-05:002012-02-27T09:45:28.433-05:00The thing is every dish is saturated either with M...The thing is every dish is saturated either with MSG, coloring, preservatives, flavorings, or additives. Sauces are used in almost every dish. And sauces have hidden chemicals. Yes, even the organic ones. So it is a daunting task to eat outside as even the smell of the food being cooked in recycled oil can make me feel 'sick'. <br /><br />Even if they do follow instructions, where do they buy the meat from? Is it from the supermarket where chemicals have been added to it to preserve its shelve life? Or how about the wok or utensils? Did they wash them so that they do not cross-contaminate from all the sauces? How about the oil? Is it 'fresh' oil? Too many questions to consider as of now. Too risky.<br /><br />So it is best for the time being to eat from the house. Until I am stronger. And I am PATIENTLY waiting for that day! :)<br /><br />I read somewhere on the internet that there is a hotel which specially caters to people with allergy! It only takes guests who have allergies. That is an interesting point to keep in mind! :) Hopefully it does not cost a bomb though.... :PEvelyn Chuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826025577231168295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-76777905265518997652012-02-26T16:08:18.177-05:002012-02-26T16:08:18.177-05:00Have you tried doing this anywhere? Which restaura...Have you tried doing this anywhere? Which restaurants have you found actually do this? I can't imagine any typical restaurant agreeing to go to so much trouble unless one is willing to spend lots of money on private dining with specialized catering. Private catering and renting the whole building for your dining pleasure would be very spendy just to go out to eat. It would work, it's just not realistic for the average sensitive person. <br /><br />If I don't rent the whole building, isn't there a risk someone else might want to come in for a meal and their sensitivities are different from mine and they would have as many restrictions? And what about food stuffs that you might not be eating, but would be floating in the air? Vinegar comes to mind. <br /><br />I have a hard time getting anyone in life to be fragrance-free, let alone a whole restaurant who would cater to my specific food needs as well. I've had doctors offices tell me to go somewhere else. Of all businesses you'd think a doctor would comply to some very simple health-oriented practices. Most public businesses operate on the democratic principle: they cater to the majority, not the minority. The rest of us don't normally get special treatment. I count myself lucky I can find food I can eat.<br /><br />Aside from money, I don't know if going to a restaurant is worth the stress with what it takes to make it safe. What I like about your idea is it does educate people. Knowledge promotes change and tolerance.The Multiple Chemical Survivorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01459073982236135107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-20308097937743341862012-02-26T15:17:45.166-05:002012-02-26T15:17:45.166-05:00I am sorry to hear that -- my heart goes out to yo...I am sorry to hear that -- my heart goes out to you, Evelyn. Unfortunately, there were no pioneers in Malaysia before you -- there didn't need to be because it used to be that food was what was found in nature, with naturally-occurring substances used as preservatives. Now, the food substance is a fraction of the total content, since the food industry is more into chemistry (profit) than agriculture -- it is the same everywhere, I think. I am fortunate that there have been pioneers in the US who have already perilously paved the way for me. <br /><br />Living with anaphylaxis forces us to educate everyone we come into contact with on an ongoing basis. But, from some of your articles, I understand that this is a daunting task -- that people have a 'traditional' approach to understanding your health concerns. If healthcare practitioners think this is a fabrication, how will anyone else understand? You are the alpha.<br /><br />Here is an idea... Is there one restaurant that you go to often? Could you possibly try engaging the owner or manager, one on one? Or is it that your list of allergens exist in every food being prepared? If it is in the food, then it will be most difficult. If it is the ingredients added in the cooking process, there might be an opportunity for the owner/manager to begin to understand. It might not be enough to begin eating there right away, but it could begin the process creating a safe opportunity in the long term.<br /><br />The way I see it, if you can prepare it at home, then it is doable -- perhaps you could discuss specifically what they will need to do to accommodate you in the future. On occasion, I have actually told people exactly how to prepare my food, how to ensure non-contamination and specifically what ingredients to use. You might even give them the challenge of being able to safely serve you one, simple thing -- like a piece of bread -- a month down the line.<br /><br />All that said, you can only dine outside if you feel assured of safety -- much better safe than sorry. I really do hope that Malaysians will start to develop a deeper understanding of anaphylaxis. Until then, you will continue to bring home-cooked food into restaurants, depriving them of revenue... and those of us with these health concerns will not be able to enjoy the beauty of the country, depriving them of potential tourism revenue. <br /><br />Globally, greed has indirectly contributed to our development of these conditions; it's ironic that it results in our having to drop out of those revenue streams, sending us flocking back to nature.Simranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223516746831464159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5232412508755974900.post-64601833366253809192012-02-26T09:57:59.695-05:002012-02-26T09:57:59.695-05:00Sad to say, this is impossible in MAlaysia. Most o...Sad to say, this is impossible in MAlaysia. Most of the time, they would not know what I am trying to say when I say that I am allergic to chemicals and salicylates. Even explaining allergy is difficult what more a sensitivity issue which could result in an anaphylaxis!Evelyn Chuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826025577231168295noreply@blogger.com