Nuts & Gluten

Living with allergies has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am allergic to both nuts and gluten, including almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, and walnuts. Over the years I have grown used to avoiding these foods, but that doesn’t mean the feeling of missing out ever fully disappears. Sometimes I watch others freely try new foods without thinking twice, and I wish I could do the same. For me, trying something new has always carried risk. If something goes wrong, it can quickly turn into a frightening situation, and I never want to become the center of attention because of an allergic reaction.

In 2022, I had the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for a drug called Xolair. At the time, the treatment was still experimental and was being studied as a way to help people with severe food allergies. Every two weeks, I traveled about an hour to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to receive two injections. This first phase of the trial lasted about 18 months.

During the second phase, the process became more challenging. In addition to receiving the injections, I began consuming small doses of powders that contained the allergens I was normally unable to eat. This was carefully monitored by the medical team. In the final phase, I continued taking these powders both at Johns Hopkins and at home.

After the study ended, I later learned that Xolair had been officially approved by the FDA. Now I receive a shot each month. While I still have some allergies, the treatment has greatly reduced their severity. Because of this, I can now try different foods with much less risk than before, giving me a new sense of freedom that I never had before.