Polly's story

"I’ve been asked by Southampton to give an account of how my food allergies have affected my life and my experiences of living with them. So here’s my story:

"I was born with severe eczema and so my mum was recommended to breast feed me for as long as possible as I probably had allergies as well. This was discovered when I started eating foods and tried cauliflower cheese. They also found I was allergic to all dairy, nuts, eggs, white fish and kiwi fruit. I had a severe reaction to peanut butter on toast as well. 

"As a young child my mum ensured that I always knew what I could and couldn’t eat and to ask if I was unsure what was in something and if I didn’t know, not to eat it. I can’t say I ever felt really different at school every kid has something weird and having a food allergy was mine. I found people were more interested than mean about it. I ate soya substitutes for butter, milk and ice cream, which I often still eat now.

"A friend of the family recommended that I went to the Southampton clinic to test what foods I could still eat. I had skin prick tests and blood tests which showed up that I was still allergic to certain foods and I was given an epipen.

"When I was about ten my god mother made a film about food allergies for the Anaphylaxis Campaign and I was asked if I had grown out of any allergies. I went back to Southampton and had more skin prick tests and blood tests. They showed that I now had less of a reaction to dairy and white fish and that I could start introducing these into my diet. I also went back to do food challenges which showed I could also eat eggs and some nuts and that I could also start eating these foods too. I didn’t really like anything new at first because I wasn’t used to it, but now I can’t imagine not liking chocolate or having eggs with a morning after fry up! I did still have reactions though. I remember kissing my then boyfriend at a friend’s house and my lip swelling really badly because he’d eaten a snickers bar that morning. My now boyfriend is still annoyed that he can’t eat peanut m&m’s!

"Throughout my life I’ve always carried epipens and anti histamines. Shoving them at the bottom of my handbag and leaving them there means they’re there if I need.

"I’m 20 now and at university. Having a food allergy hasn’t really affected my life too much. Ensuring that my medication is on me and just being aware of foods has meant I can live a normal life. I still have the occasional reaction but I know what to do if I react to a food and so do my friends so I know I’m in safe hands."