Italian Benedryl

Yup needed Benedryl in Italy. 

Most pharmacies in Europe are not your standard issue American Walgreens or CVS. You can't go in and grab items off the shelves -- if they have shelves. Mostly there are counters with completely knowledgeable -- and often English-speaking-- helpers. 

In Italy one cannot get Benedryl-- but we got a perfectly good, super fast acting though bad- tasting( who cares) antihistamine : Polaramin

 Something in deli turkey brought on sneezing and red eyes and itchy mouth. -- I must have read something improperly because items are very well- labelled. 

The reaction did not progress and the Polaramin stopped the sneezing and itchiness and didn't even cause drowsiness. In fact we waited about half hour and then my twenty year old was hungry and we went to dinner. ( twenty year olds get hungry after a full sightseeing day)

 So  if you ever need it: Polaramin. 

We were very fortunate and happy new year to all. 

Advocates Unite

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/food-allergies-less-deadly-than-accidents/?ref=nutrition&_r=0

Read this "Nutrition"byte from Science section of Tuesday's New York Times. 

A scientific study, published in a very reputable journal comes to the conclusion that the risk of anaphylaxis is surprisingly low-- compared to life accidents-- and that one shouldn't let food allergies rule yours or your child's life...

  Really? Really?

Does this scientist NOT realize that the incidence of anaphylaxis is low BECAUSE of the precautions we as parents take and the precautions our children take daily to keep themselves safe. 

I mean, really???

From the NYTimes article:

"It’s a matter of not letting food allergy rule your or your child’s life,” said the senior author, Dr. Robert J. Boyle, a pediatric allergy specialist at Imperial College London. “The risk is surprisingly low. You still have to take precautions, but I think it’s important to see it in context.”

Traveling and food allergies.

Ok. I'm a bad traveler. Have been, but as time goes on, I'm worse. People ask if it's because my child is food allergic. No. It's not. It's me. 

 But enough about me: 

As for food allergic traveling-- pack a lot for the actual journey. And I often ship a box of staples-- rice cakes, safe chocolate, candy, energy bars, baggies, cereal 

So the chocolate and candy are because it's extremely tough for us to find dessert like items for my son. Possibly sorbet-- but that's tough too sometimes. 

As for baggies: I often go to the supermarket when I get to a city and buy some foods-- for snacks, for meal supplements-- and it helps to have a way to carry around these foods!

  I also request a refrigerator and that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. But honestly if it doesn't-- there's always an ice bucket and the mini bar: often one can speak to the front desk and explain that you need the minibar fridge and aren't really drinking all that teeny liquor and binging on the snacks. 

 And, as I often say about meals: it's who's at the table not what's on it. And traveling is much the same: it's about new cultures, art, other ways of life, and experiencing it all with family. 

Enjoy!