How careful do I need to be with nut allergies?

Ok, I just found out I may have nut allergies, and i need some help from people with experience. I Feel like a leper right now, how do I stop being so afriad of EVERYTHING! Everytime I eat I get a panic attack and think that im ognna get an allergic reaction, Im scared to touch anything ot anyone for fear that nuts may have some into contact with it, and when I eat, im afraid I will accidentally ingest an ingredient I didnt know had nuts or didnt lable it was made in the same place with nuts! Please help me, what CAN I eat??! what is safe and what is not? My dr. said that the allergy scratch test didnt show it was serious, but hes gonna do the blood test to be sure, but in the mean time im a nearvous wreck! Please help!

Hey, I'm not going to lie to you. I found out a few months ago I have VERY severe nut allergies. I , however, did find some comfert in knowing a few tips:

1.) READ LABELS! The FDA requires that all allergy info be listed. However, Hershey gives me a rash. Avoid candy bars. It sucks, but I don't want to die.lol

2.) Avoid open containers, and don't kiss anyone that eats anything with it! My boyfriend gave me a reaction! I made him shower and brush his teeth lol.

3.) Ask for allergy info at places you go eat. Ask what kind of oil they use EVERY time you eat there, Most places use veggie or soy. Avoid soy.

4.) unless you trust the person making it , don't eat anything someone makes! You can't check labels! Just politly decline, and if anyone asks,tell them your problem.

5.) Epi Pens bring a lot of comfert! I know if something happens, I have it!

6.)No cross contamination! Anything baked together is out too! No dessert from out!Also avoid places that are baking with it. I find I have a reaction!

7.) I also have found that explaing an action plan of epi pen is very useful.

Start reading labels of food. I'm a vegan and know it's a pain, but that's the only way to be sure.
Be sure to notice anything like "this product was produced in a place that processes nuts" and the like.
Hope this is a help!

hehehe, you're allergic to nuts

It's very normal when one is first diagnosed w/ a condition to panic and to catastrophize. Here's what you CAN eat and really don't have to worry about, as long as you're not allergic to any of these things, either: 1) You can eat any fruit you want to, with the possible exception of avocadoes. 2) Same with vegetables. 3) Same with meat, fish, eggs and most dairy except for chocolate milk or chocolate pudding. 4) Unless you're allergic to peanuts or soy, too, you can eat any bean you want to. 5) You can eat any grain you want to, but you will need to be careful w/ processed breads, crackers, pilafs (which may contain nuts, sesame or soy or may be processed on equipment that has touched or been used on nuts...), and perhaps most especially, cereals. 6) If you are allergic to peanuts, you may have to be careful of Chinese food, b/c it is often cooked in p-nut oil b/c of it's high smoking point. 7) You may have to be careful of soyfoods like tofu and tempeh and okara. Read the labels closely. 8) Do you carry an Epipen? You may not need to if you do not have extreme reactions to nuts, but in some people, these reactions can worsen over time and with repeated exposures, so better safe than sorry, I always say. Please realize that this is more of a lifestyle change and a need to be more conscious, than it is a death sentence, darlin'. This condition is both treatable and eminently preventable. You will be okay if you carry the Epipen (or Benadryl or whatever your doctor tells you to carry), are more vigilant about what you put into your mouth, and start reading labels, asking questions, and doing your own research. Best of luck to you. Things could be SO much worse than having a nut allergy, so please, over time, try to develop some perspective about this.

Depending on how severe your nut allergies are depends on how serious you should take it, if you have only minor non-life threating nut allergy than you need to be careful but not extreme as if you had life threating nut allergy which sometimes it's so bad that serious nut allergy patients only cook for themselves so they know for sure there are no nuts in the food or must tell the person who is cooking to make sure no nuts. Consult with your doctor on how you should take measurements.