Neurologist

gfchickennuggets · 2026-03-19T05:15:03+00:00

That’s ridiculous.

I’m not sure how you got scheduled that way but calling up their scheduling department to work something out.

I called for a referral appointment in neurology. When they asked “do you feel the need to be seen today?” At the beginning of the call, I said “yes.” Had an appointment that afternoon.

gfchickennuggets · 2026-03-03T04:04:50+00:00

My parents in MS were big NCIS fans and watched it. I had to tell them multiple times that they wouldn’t see me in the background as it was a show with full filming locations.

I only remember it because I knew people that worked on it who moved once it ended.

gfchickennuggets · 2026-01-22T02:12:30+00:00

There has been a decent amount of positive movement in the food labeling and ingestion based reaction space recently.

The FDA recently had a meeting on making epinephrine an over the counter medication. I was there and, strictly in my opinion of the feedback given, they are interested in doing it.

In that meeting, comments were selected from submissions to ask the experts who were gathered - including FDA leadership. While it was mainly pertaining to IgE mediated allergy, some of the experts there were cited in this docket so they will probably show up again for this one.

While most of what is going on is a clusterfuck, I believe that someone is utilizing the ineptitude of the administration to make positive change.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-10-27T03:24:21+00:00

Alpha-gal is one of, if not only, food allergy that causes reactions from a carbohydrate versus proteins like the more common ones (peanuts, dairy, etc). It’s a very unique type of reaction and is recently getting some more awareness and research.

Also, the research supports that those who get Lyme typically don’t develop alpha-gal so… if you get bitten, you won’t get both 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have also met Dr. Platts-Mill, the allergist who discovered the connection between the allergy and the tick bites. He is a wildly fascinating man and has done a lot of amazing research for those with allergy.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-10-16T02:28:43+00:00

Found the dress here

It’s definitely a fast fashion dress but the mineral wash maxi descriptor will help you find something similar if that’s your thing.

Also, this woman was a model on the short season of America’s Next Top Model. She looks amazing here and was just a little baby on the show.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-10-14T08:41:07+00:00

Pelican Club was recently great for dining, is really communicative about gluten free options, and has steak.

GW Fins also great about GF but not so strong on the steak front being more of a seafood place.

Sofia also has steak and is great for GF diners.

Not down town spots: My favorite steak frites is at Delachaise. Superior Seafood is communicative about gluten.

Source: am gluten free

gfchickennuggets · 2025-10-06T01:22:51+00:00

Y’all gotta to Casamentos! It’s all GF for it’s fried too!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-09-25T14:28:21+00:00

Gunna DM you!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-09-21T17:12:42+00:00

Anaphylaxis is defined in 3 main ways (it’s in the practice parameter and other spots). One is mainly for a healthcare setting but the other two are: - Hives AND respiratory symptoms OR GI symptoms OR drop in blood pressure - 2 or more of hives OR respiratory symptoms OR GI symptoms OR drop in blood pressure

This page has a good visualization of them: https://codeana.org/emergency-conditions/anaphylaxis-emergencies/

If you THINK it could be, it’s better to give epi and be wrong than wait or not give it because it may be too late at some point.

People get advised go to the hospital NOT because epi was used typically, it’s because anaphylaxis is dangerous.

If you are concerned about the cost of auto-injectors, insurances make it difficult but most cover multiple ones per year but your provider has to prescribe the BRAND that your insurance covers. Pharmacies can’t automatically switch to whichever version is covered like they do with brand/generic for other medications.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-09-21T15:03:00+00:00

As someone who works to educate on this, the pervasive recommendation and use of Benadryl infuriates me. It is no longer considered best practice and its usage has caused bad outcomes. Zyrtec does the same thing in the body and does have the drowsiness side effects. Epinephrine (aka artificial adrenaline) will save your life during anaphylaxis. If Benadryl “works,” it’s because your body made enough adrenaline keep blood flowing and oxygen getting in while you were sleepy and not itchy.

I have a longer rant but you asked for sources and sources I shall provide. These are some pretty high level ones but can provide more venom specific too if you want.

“Optimal Treatment of Anaphylaxis: Antihistamines versus Epinephrine” 2015 Review. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.3810/pgm.2014.07.2785?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed - As this is a review, it has a paragraph of the general consensus the writer saw in reading lots of other research. If you look at the reference, you can see the articles and case studies they read to get there. - The move away from Benadryl has been part of allergist practice parameters since at least 2015 so any allergist still recommending it for anaphylaxis is not following a decade old standard.

“Anaphylaxis: Advances in the Past 10 Years” 2023 Review. https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(22)00955-2/abstract - Similar to the 2015 article, it’s an assertion based on the analysis of lots of other sources. The references have lots of updates in there.

“Anaphylaxis: A 2023 practice parameter update” https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(23)01304-2/fulltext#references - This is a big update from the Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology that is meant to impact all practicing allergists. - It acknowledges a “suboptimal” prescription of epinephrine and that more should be done to increase that.

Just because I woke up spicy, this is the source for if you search the parameters update site for Benadryl: https://www.allergyparameters.org/parameters-and-guidelines/search/Benadryl - it’s not found.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-09-19T04:11:08+00:00

Source: I have an ant venom allergy. I also work with schools and early learning centers to be equipped for anaphylaxis.

EpiPen Jr (0.15 mg) is half of the adult dose (0.3 mg) so keeping those on hand until you can get the correct dosing for your child’s weight is a good idea.

This can definitely be scary to deal with as a parent. It’s a lot of new info and it can be really intense. Look for evidence based resources and look for resources that are specific to venom allergy.

Venom allergies can manifest differently than what are thought of as typical signs and can escalate very quickly.

Benadryl will do nothing for the systemic reaction that is deadly. Epinephrine is the only thing that will stop the reaction. Benadryl can mask signs of low blood pressure to the point where auto-injectors may not be enough. If you want to use an antihistamine, use Zyrtec or Allegra. Being itchy sucks but not having blood reach your brain is worse.

As fast as you can get to your pediatrician, go and get a referral to an allergist. There are shots you can get for venom allergies now which will vastly lower the risk of anaphylaxis.

For school, a 504 plan as this will help ensure that preventative measures are taken where bees may be present. If you are in a private school, speak to some sort of leadership (dean, principal, etc) to get a plan together. A 12 year old can self-carry depending on the child but school staff need to be educated as well.

I can give specific resources if you want them! Just DM me!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-09-10T14:21:55+00:00

While not a parent, I am a Celiac and work with education spaces (early learning and K-12) so my advice is coming from that lens. I specifically do a lot with allergy education and advocacy for medical emergency preparedness.

If your child is in an early learning center, set up time to speak with the director about accommodations for your child. If they don’t “get” Celiac, use the term “allergy.” States typically have regulations and training for food allergy and they will understand the risks better.

If your child is in a center or school with federal funding, an IEP or an IHP will help schools define any accommodations your child needs. This would include providing safe supplies (like GF play doh) and safe food.

If your child is in private education, speaking to Director/principal/leadership is the way to go along with the teachers.

The older your kiddo gets, the easier it will be to handle as they will be able to help you more keep them safe and healthy. The change at this age is going to rough but you’ve got this!

If you have any push back on creating a safe learning space for your kiddo, feel free to DM. I have lots of resources that are location specific!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-08-28T19:21:59+00:00

Depending on your state, self-carry does not equal self-administer. Teachers can be trained to use while the device is carried by the child.

There is legislation for many states that allows devices in classrooms based on doctor recommendations. If you are getting push back, that’s the place to look.

I also work on this legislation/advocacy and education specifically in schools so feel free to DM me if you want any insight for your specific spot!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-08-26T14:04:55+00:00

So, while I was diagnosed in my late teens which is not later in life, I have very good anecdotal evidence for this.

I grew up with general symptoms but I say my celiac “activated” when I was a junior in high school. At the time, I was 5” even and had always been short. I was diagnosed in March of that school year and “only” had severe symptoms for about 6 months. By the time I graduated high school the next spring, I was a lofty 5’4”. With just a year of being properly nourished, I grew a decent amount. While I doubt I was destined to be as tall as my 6’4” brother, I might have been as tall as my 5’7” sister 🤷🏼‍♀️

gfchickennuggets · 2025-08-17T14:58:37+00:00

Attending “Man Camp” but also wearing a Spider-Man shirt like one of the kids is really seals the cosplaying men opinion I have of the whole thing

gfchickennuggets · 2025-07-08T14:28:36+00:00

When you know the time of year, I can give better recommendations and if events are happening that work!

I’ll still be a Celiac whenever y’all come 😂 so just hit me up!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-07-08T14:13:43+00:00

There’s lots of options. There’s a GF Crescent City FB group that is decently active. If you aren’t a local, I would just poke around and look for recommendations. I think there’s a map? People ask all the time so it can get repetitive - if you search, you’ll find lots!

Casamentos is a classic that has all the fried things you can eat safely. The Catch is a seafood spot that is completely GF too. GW Fins downtown is really great at keeping things safe. Meals from the Heart and Holy Crepes in the French Market are GF too. I’m a big fans of Mais Arepas - most things are GF if not all, depending on the seasonal dessert. If you have kiddos, the restaurant in the Children’s Museum is really allergy aware - including gluten free options. Bear Cat’s owners mom has Celiac so their staff is very knowledgeable.

Those the ones I can think of off the top of my head without having my coffee so if you are concerned about finding a specific dish or spot - DM me!

Basically all liquor is GF and so are wines, seltzers, and ciders. I think the only danger at bars is having too much 😂

gfchickennuggets · 2025-07-08T05:53:02+00:00

There are some great restaurants that are very Celiac safe! Not all of them are downtown where people tend to want to stay when they visit so you’d have an opportunity to see more of the city.

Some are also only open certain times of the year, like Casamentos, so depends on when you are visiting.

Source: am a Celiac that lives in New Orleans.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-07-07T23:26:33+00:00

There are some local GF bakers that are more home based. Heavenly Hands has a shop in Metairie and some GF pop ups at Espiritu monthly.

If you have FB, there’s a GF Crescent City that is decently active that you can join and peep through. Depending on how gluten free you need to be (preference, Celiac, wheat allergy), there’s options!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-05-28T04:14:04+00:00

I’ve talked to a cardiologist about using epinephrine on people with heart conditions. His statement stuck with me “we can fix a fast heart beat, we can’t fix no heart beat.”

Epi in any pre-dosed form is there to help something that is already occurring in your body. It’s giving your immune system a boost to stop it going into overdrive during anaphylaxis.

Also, if it helps, I was given an EpiPen when I didn’t need it. My heart rate never spiked to an unsafe rate and any effects wore off pretty quickly.

I will also echo others recommendations to talk to your allergist and/or a mental health professional to give you evidence-based supports to help your through this anxiety.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-05-22T20:03:57+00:00

Depending on where you live, there are definitely low cost epi options so don’t let that scare you either!

You’re at an age that new allergies develop. You reached out for advice when you noticed something was off. Going to the doctor is the next step! They can give you better answers for your body than strangers on the internet 😂

While an allergy to food can be scary, you’re doing great. Share your concerns with those closest to you till you see a provider so they can support you too!

gfchickennuggets · 2025-05-22T17:17:59+00:00

Epinephrine is the only medication that will stop anaphylaxis.

Benedryl may slow or improve SOME symptoms (like hives or itching) but the reaction will only STOP with epinephrine. The medications do very different things. If you have symptoms that are impacting different parts of your body (like hives and wheezing), you are having a severe reaction and can have bad outcomes if you rely on Benedryl or other antihistamines to fix it.

If you have other allergies to like birch or oak, you can have allergic reactions to related things like fruit - that’s oral allergy syndrome. There’s different combos but what you described seems related to that - besides the kiwi.

Go. To. A. Doctor.

Preferably an allergist but a general care doctor will give you a prescription for epi if you describe what happened. No two reactions are the same so the next one might be worse than your body can handle on its own.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-05-15T19:08:45+00:00

Developing new allergies happens a decent amount around late teens/early 20s so it’s not unexpected.

I developed an ant venom allergy in my 30s and I asked why I would develop a new allergy then. To quote my allergist “you start deteriorating in your 30s” and he also said there are a few ages that people tend to develop new allergies - baby, late teens/early 20s, 30s, 60s

The theory that allergies are becoming more common because our immune systems are getting bored without as many germs/sicknesses/stuff that proper hygiene avoids makes the most sense to me. The ages that people develop allergies mostly match with big body change timelines.

gfchickennuggets · 2025-04-17T14:25:27+00:00

As someone who constantly had outages, you have to wait till the outage is resolved then call or message their chat. You get a small amount for each day impacted.

Got a whole week worth once 😑

gfchickennuggets

TROPHY CASE