I remember my first allergic reaction, it was before I began kindergarten, I had two as a child. The second one happened when I was in 4th grade, I still remember the baby blue pants I was wearing when they took me to the hospital in an ambulance. That’s when it was discovered I’m allergic to avocados. I’m often reminded how delicious they are! Guacamole dips and salads, salsas, etc. are always a crowd favorite but if I eat any of that stuff, things swiftly get out of control. I can’t even let it touch my skin. I carried an EpiPen in my backpack all through school as a kid - I never had to use it!
Fast forward a couple of decades and two benedryl will counter an allergic reaction. No problem - I carried benedryl on me regularly. I’ve been practicing my whole life, I know how to order food, especially sushi or Mexican food, both of those menus have avocado in just about everything! I have to be very specific: “No avocado, please, food allergy.” I learned it’s best to say ‘allergy.’ I can’t even touch it.
The reaction is instant. It happened one time at a Farmers Market and I never touched an avocado, I know better than to touch an avocado, apparently the produce I put my hand on touched an avocado before I touched it - That’s all it takes! The clock starts: First it’s my tongue, within minutes it takes over my lips and cheeks. What happens is, inside my mouth only, my lips and tongue swell up so bad breathing becomes difficult. I have about 15 minutes before the allergy makes its way down my throat and then I’m playing with fire, that’s when things get serious! Those are the times I end up in an ambulance.
I’m at a friends house about 20 years ago, she’s having a birthday party for her daughter. I was in the kitchen by myself grazing on the appetizers and food that was spread out along the counter and dining room table. I had a bowl full of strawberries and I was filling up a second bowl with whatever else while snacking in between. I found out later there was an avocado salad on the counter, I didn’t recognize it at the time I guess but somehow I got into it. My tongue began swelling. I knew exactly what was happening. I didn’t want to frighten anyone so I grabbed my bowl of strawberries and rushed outside to my truck. Now that I wrote that, I realize it reads horribly, I don’t advise hiding all by yourself when you’re having an allergic reaction. I went outside hoping I had some benedryl in my truck or I would have to make a decision - Stat! This is before ‘Yelp’ and touchscreens - I couldn’t just look up the nearest drug store. ‘Looking things up’ was just getting started.
Before I could get out the front door I was a nervous mess! My mouth would have been swelling already, more than likely I’m sweating and I remember beginning to panic! I ate a handful of those strawberries out of nervousness as I rushed outside to my truck and, as I ate them, I could feel the allergy sensation dissipate. Not completely but it was subsiding, I could feel it. The more strawberries I ate, the more the swelling in my tongue and mouth went down. In the middle of freaking out, searching for benedryl, I ate that whole bowl of strawberries and felt surprisingly better. I rushed back inside and continued eating them and the reaction vanished completely. I never found a benedryl, nobody was ever given a reason to be alarmed, in fact, I never told anybody - It worked out great! Check out this double handful of allergy pills:
I don’t always have benedryl in the cupboard but there’s always a box of strawberries in the refridgerator, at least one, it doesn’t run out. I have used strawberries only, to counter an avocado allergy and I’ve had to rely on them three or four times now - Works every time!
