I thought it was time to focus once again on the emotional aspects of
living with a latex allergy. Like it or not, a diagnosis of latex allergy
means major lifestyle changes. The first reaction to the diagnosis may
very well be denial. (At least, that was my first reaction!) While
protective to the psyche, it’s dangerous to the body, since the allergy
continues to get worse with every exposure. So...is there life after latex
allergy?
The first hurdle is often facing disbelief from family, friends, and
coworkers. Sometimes, you may feel like no one believes you. Incidentally,
this doesn’t help you overcome your own denial either! Latex allergy has
come a long way in being taken seriously since the early 1990’s, but there
are still a lot of people who aren’t familiar with it. The other
contributing factor is that there are at least 56 different proteins in
latex that cause reactions. This means that people with the allergy may
react very differently from each other.
The next hurdle is avoiding the 40,000 different items that contain latex.
Granted, only a few of these will actually cause a reaction in most people
with the allergy, but the challenge is in identifying which ones. For
those with cross-reactions to foods such as bananas, kiwi, and avocado,
the challenge is even greater. (For more information on cross-reactivity
between latex and certain foods, click here ). This usually means a lot of
education and patient reminders to family and friends. (I haven’t reacted
to bananas as far as I can tell, but I try to avoid them just because of
the high incidence of cross-reactivity. My family still regularly offers
them to me, just because they forget!) The enormous amount of potential
allergens may also cause others to not take you seriously. Many of the
items that contain natural rubber latex are used routinely in everyday
life, and may be overlooked as a source of the allergen. For a list of
common household items, click here
If you’ve developed chronic asthma from your latex allergy, you have two
chronic illnesses to contend with! All of a sudden, you might have
multiple new medications to take, you might have to make a drastic career
change, and your activity might be limited because of asthma. (And you
wondered why you were feeling stressed!?)
So, how does one handle all these life changes, yet remain sane and
functional? My best advice is to join a local support group. Most states
have latex allergy support groups (click here for a list of contacts).
Even if there isn’t a group in your area, you can still become a member of
a national group (for example, the American Latex Allergy
Association-check out their website in my list of links), which entitles
you to receive research and legislative updates, and which gives you a
contact for answering questions. My life changed for the better on the day
that I first talked with a representative from my local group. She
affirmed everything I had been experiencing. I wasn’t crazy after all! I
remember the wonderful sense of relief that I wasn’t alone anymore, and
that others had already been through it and could give me advice. If there
isn’t a latex allergy group near you, then I suggest finding a group that
deals with chronic illnesses, or asthma if you have it. Anything that
allows you to meet others who are going through something similar will be
beneficial.
Once you feel “centered” again, I suggest getting involved. I’m now on the
Board of Directors for my local group, and it’s given me a sense of
empowerment and purpose. There’s still a lot of work to be done on latex
allergy in the research, legislative, and treatment areas. Even more so,
people who are at risk for latex allergy, and the public in general, need
to be educated. We could use your help!
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with latex allergy, take heart. It’s a
major life change, but not necessarily a completely negative one. You may
find strengths and other talents that you didn’t know you had! Hang in
there, and be secure in the fact that you’re not alone.