CNN iReport

Yes I carry an epi-pen. I was diagnosed with food allergies as an adult. about 6 years ago I was diagnosed with a shellfish allergy and allergy to tree nuts. I have not had to use my epi-pen. I try to be very careful when I eat out and never at baked products unless I make them myself or buy produts from some well known allergy websites. The U.S. is lagging behind in the production of a lot of food products in allergy free facilities, Canadian food manufacturers are more cognizant of food allergies and tend to do a lot more when it comes to manufacturing foods in peanut and tree nut free facilities.

Once when I was on vacation in Las Vegas while eating at the hotel restaurant, my dinner contained green beans and at the time I did not realize they were green beans almondine and after taking a bite my tongue began to tingle. I asked the waitress who told be the string beans contained almonds. I immediately took 2 benadryl and an ambulance was called. I did not use my epi-pen in that instance and the paramedics felt I did the best thing by taking the Benadryl. Although the hotel chef denied there were almonds in the string beans even after the waitress said there was, I clealry had an allergic reaction and am now careful even with vegetables.