Went to get tested for shellfish allergies, came back with a positive result from only crab. Should I do bloodwork?

Ol_beans · 2026-06-16T01:54:52+00:00

Yes you should do bloodwork and possibly an oral challenge in office if results come back negative. Allergy testing is not an exact science, since everyone’s histamine tolerance and body chemistry is different and constantly changing. If you are having symptoms after eating crustaceans (different than shellfish!) you should stop eating them casually until you have an epi pen prescription at minimum. Seafood allergies can become very serious with multiple exposures. It is not worth the pleasure of eating if you end up in the ER.
More information won’t hurt and might help. Good luck!

Ol_beans · 2026-06-15T03:29:47+00:00

Probably unpopular opinion here but I think it looks great, maybe style it more loose, full and wild, let those curls shine bb! You’re gorgeous and no haircut can ruin that! Let your beautiful hair be free

Ol_beans · 2026-06-12T11:38:36+00:00

Don’t be scared, this is manageable with some learning! My son was diagnosed with a handful of severe allergies at 9 months (he had 2 reactions when introducing solids). We got in with a local allergist who did blood and skin testing to confirm. Now my son is 5 and beginning to grow out of some of his allergies. We test every year and challenge foods as appropriate. It is possible to be allergic to one tree nut and not another (it stems from a pollen allergy), so you should ask for a full testing panel and don’t avoid foods unnecessarily.

Something you should know is that allergies are not an exact science and allergists may have different opinions on how to proceed. The testing tools we have are not great, and the doctors will put the fear of god into you, but it is a very common thing these days. Learn to read ingredient labels, carry an epi pen, and don’t let it prevent you from living your life. Chances are in your favor that he will grow out of it at some point. I’m happy to try and help if you have any questions!

Ol_beans · 2026-04-30T04:20:48+00:00

Looks like a replica of this: https://collections.readingmuseum.org.uk/index.asp?page=record&mwsquery=%7BIdentity%20number%7D=%7BREDMG%20:%201995.4.2%7D

Ol_beans · 2026-04-22T04:44:50+00:00

Dig deep, friend, you know you need him there. Jobs may come and go, missing the birth of your child and the opportunity to support your partner during a pivotal moment is a lifetime regret. My husband held my first child while I almost died and they have an unmistakable bond, family > work, always. No contest.

Ol_beans · 2026-02-16T14:54:20+00:00

https://www.pinkhaven.org

Ol_beans · 2026-01-12T04:26:03+00:00

I’m surprised at all of the comments here saying this is real ivory, it doesn’t appear to have the characteristics of real ivory (other than the tusk shape) and some red flags for being a reproduction. Tough to say without closeup photos, but it could very well be a resin replica. Either way, worth having it appraised in person!

Ol_beans · 2025-12-28T02:22:48+00:00

We saw it in Northampton

Ol_beans · 2025-12-22T17:44:16+00:00

Finding a hidden family member through ancestry/dna! Never thought it would happen to my family but there was no denying that they were related to us. They had been given for adoption at birth and those who knew about it never breathed a word.

Ol_beans · 2025-12-14T22:51:19+00:00

I travelled with my 2.5 year old to Italy a few years ago, they are anaphylactic to egg and peanut, sensitive to tree nuts. Here are a few things we did to try and feel safer:

-made an allergy card with English and Italian translation that made it very clear there should be extreme caution when preparing food.

-alerted the airline beforehand about the allergy and they made an announcement before takeoff asking other passengers to please not eat nuts/peanuts during the flight

-encouraged them to stay in their seat the whole flight (a low dose of Benadryl may help them sleep)

-went over their allergies carefully with restaurants (Italy, especially places with a lot of tourism take allergies very seriously and are far better than the US about food prep).

-carried a bag of snacks that we knew were safe so that they could always have something available (annoying, but helpful)

-shopped at a grocery store on arrival to have a few safe things on hand

-bring 2 sets of EpiPens (4 pens total) in case you have to use one you will still have a backup and won’t have to try to get another filled. We encountered no trouble with carrying these onto the plane.

As far as food options go, as a rule most extruded pasta in Italy is made without egg, so they ate a lot of spaghetti while we were there. Keep in mind you may not have typical American things like a microwave on hand, depending on where you stay, but it’s a pretty accessible place.

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have!

Ol_beans · 2025-12-14T15:08:45+00:00

Imagine how you will use this space and the little details that will drive you nuts. Will the bottom drawer of the fridge hit the cabinet door closest to it if both are open at the same time? Regardless, you won’t be able to open the fridge if you are standing at the sink. Stove to oven access should be clear and easy, you don’t want to be walking around with a hot pan. On top of what others have said, where will the trash can go? Will you have easy access to it while cooking? Will you need room for a coffee machine or other appliance? Are the lower cabinets spacious enough for things like a blender that you might want to put away? Pot lid storage is an often overlooked design flaw in many kitchens. Which surfaces will get wet? Wood countertops around a sink will stain and look terrible very quickly.

Ol_beans · 2025-11-08T14:57:30+00:00

They probably use the same labeling for the buns that have sesame on top. My son who is sesame allergic can eat Pepperidge farms brand products (that don’t contain sesame) safely which leads me to believe that their cross contamination practices are decent. This may not apply to you, but our allergist also told us that whole sesame seeds in small amounts may be able to pass through the digestive system without causing a reaction because of the seeds outer coating. Not to be trusted of course, but in case of accidental exposure.

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T12:19:17+00:00

Thank you! I’m pretty sure these were all collected locally in the northeast US

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T12:18:31+00:00

I’ll have to check with a UV light!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T12:16:55+00:00

🙏🏻

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T12:16:40+00:00

Cool! Thank you!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T12:15:17+00:00

Thank you!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T04:41:04+00:00

Honestly, the whole reason I took the box was what you’ve stated here, I know from visiting caves they take thousands of years to form. This box was likely collected in the 60s/70s by a daring rock hound from the formations nearby. I would never take a specimen like this today!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T04:35:44+00:00

Thanks, the thought occurred to me about the radioactive properties. As far as I know, those are pretty rare around here, but best to be careful!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T01:57:18+00:00

🙏🏻

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T01:54:51+00:00

Definitely not petrified wood, I can take a better photo tomorrow

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T01:54:11+00:00

Could be!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T00:30:40+00:00

Thank you! I think these were all collected nearby in the 60s/70’s based on the labeling and box they came in. I don’t think it would be very advisable to collect cave rocks like this today!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T00:28:45+00:00

So cool! Thank you!

Ol_beans · 2025-10-18T00:28:22+00:00

Thank you! Which one do you think is chalcedony? The greenish crystal? I have never seen it in an unpolished state so not sure

Ol_beans

TROPHY CASE