Stupid Allergies

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 20, 2009

Most people don't know the difference between a simple preference and general irritation versus a true allergy.
Years ago, when I used to work in restaurants as a general manager, I had this woman to tell one of my staff that she wanted to know for a fact (and for the staff to check the label) if any of our products contained MSG because she had a "severe allergic reaction".
My staff member came to tell me that the boxes that the food were in, did not list the ingredients...which they do not have to, under Federal guidelines because they are not for consumer purchase.
I went out to talk to the woman, explained the problem, and her friend, who was a nurse, said, "Well, go ahead and just order and you can send them the medical bill if you get sick."...they laughed.
Well, she wasn't laughing when I told her that I would be unable to serve her ANYTHING because if she had that serious of an allergic reaction, and because I couldn't guarantee which products had MSG, which ones didn't (I knew that some of them did) and we had no control over cross-contamination for MSG.
When she found out she wasn't going to get lunch, she had to confess that it wasn't even an allergy...just a preference.
I also watched her turn 3 shades of crimson.

For some reason, I love this!

I'm allergic to onions (yes, a true allergy, to the tune of 125mg of Solu-Medrol in my heinie, and a 10 day Prednisone taper last time I got ahold of any) and whenever I eat out, I request no onions on my food. Cross-contamination is possible, that's why God made Epi-Pens, and to date, I have not had to use it. I don't throw a hissy if my food comes out with onions, I'm polite if I can not eat around them and have to ask for another dish. My hubby usually gets mad, though, he's seen what can happen.

If I even run a raw onion over my hand, I get hives where it touches. Anybody else do this?

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2009

I guess it would depend on HOW allergic you were to something, especially if the reaction was anaphylactic.

If someone has to actually consume the goods in order to get a reaction....then it's safe for them to eat out.

However, if someone can take a turn for the worst, just from trace amounts of a product....then I would say it wouldn't really be safe for them to eat out at all...b/c the risk would be too high.

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2009

Had a patient the other day, mid 50's female. She told our triage nurse that she was allergic to Codeine, as it caused rash, and "Cocaine, it makes me slutty." Yes, we documented it, and got a much needed laugh.:chuckle

omg it did the same thing to me too! :rckn: