Early in the afternoon before a gathering, the hostess was running down the changes in her menu she had made to accommodate the guests. It came as a surprise to hear myself grouped among the picky eaters especially because the hostess was a retired nurse. She had seen my food allergies act up on two occasions, one of which had nearly needed an ER visit.
If anyone would understand the difference between a food preference and a medical need, wouldn't she comprehend?
Moments later it became clear that for several years she thought I exaggerated my list of dietary restrictions, adding in with the real allergies various foods she assumed I only disliked.
On seeing my reaction she added, "Doesn't everyone?"
That needed an immediate response. Nobody coaches anaphylaxis sufferers what to say in this situation so I searched for words to express the truth: I never lie about a food allergy. It would be foolish to gamble my credibility on something as frivolous as a food preference.
I hate very few foods. I detest ketchup, but the way I communicate that is, "I don't like ketchup."
In fact I wish other people wouldn't fib about food allergies. That makes it harder for people like myself who actually have the real thing to be believed.
She had always accommodated my requests because she was a sweet person and a gracious hostess. Her food was excellent. I later confirmed when another RN was among her guests that neither of them had been taught about OAS anaphylaxis in nursing school.
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