Slight food allergies

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dugoutaz

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Jan 8, 2017
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Hello everyone! I'm currently a sophomore in high school and I have been working to try and make a good application for the academies. When it comes to physical and academic and leadership I think I'm doing great , good grades, I pole vault etc... the one thing I'm afraid might screw me over is my allergies. I am technically allergic to most nuts. The thing is I can eat nuts and be fine, eat peanut butter, neutella, and anything that contains traces etc... and of all the "nuts" I'm the least allergic to peanuts which I think are the biggest disqualification. What do y'all think? Do you think I am probably not going to be disqualified or what? Thanks in advance!!!
 
Do you carry an epipen? If you have a documented history of tree nut allergy you will be disqualified, but waivers may be granted if you are competitive as a candidate. I would consider visiting an allergist associated with either the military or a university hospital if that resource is available. If it is not, dodmerb will guide you through the process
 
There is a food allergy questionnaire on the DoDMERB web site. It may give you insight into what is important when you are evaluated for a waiver. You can also use it to shape your response on the medical history form when you select "yes" to allergies. Here is the link to the questionnaire. https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Forms.aspx Most likely your food allergy will disqualify you, but a waiver is possible.
 
There's a difference between food allergy and food sensitivity/intolerance. If you can eat nuts without severe reactions, you may have a food sensitivity/intolerance. I agree with above -- see an allergist for a definite diagnosis.

There can also be sensitivities to food if you have ragweed/pollen/grass allergies (oral allergy syndrome). It wasn't until I was an adult that I was told about the relationship between ragweed and bananas/cantaloupe/tomatoes, and yet I remember having symptoms (itchy mouth/throat) in early childhood.
 
ca2midwestmom said:
There's a difference between food allergy and food sensitivity/intolerance. If you can eat nuts without severe reactions, you may have a food sensitivity/intolerance. I agree with above -- see an allergist for a definite diagnosis.
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Great point. If you do not have a physician's diagnosis of a food allergy, you may want to consider it a sensitivity. The question on the medical form is "Do you have Allergies". If you have a Dr. diagnosis, obviously the answer is "yes". Without the diagnosis you may consider it a sensitivity and answer "No".
 
So here's the thing. About 5 years ago I went in to my allergist and started taking allergy shots, they have resolved my allergies but through the process they tested me for food allergies and found about the nuts. They put it on my record, so recently I talked to my allergist, he's pretty supportive and told me that we could possibly do an all day test, where I eat a lot of nuts and if I dont have a reaction then he can get it off my record or something like that. So I think im going to do that, im just nervous it will still say im allergic to nuts, and my chances disappear. thanks for the help everyone!!!
 
When talking to my allergist, she said all they really care about is a food allergy (not intolerance.) The biggest concern is whether or not you carry an EpiPen or other epinephrine auto injector. Intolerances like lactose or gluten (but Celiac is a whole different beast) aren't as serious and may not even need consideration for a waiver if your doctor has not had it listed in your medical records.
 
If you have a food allergy, then DODMERB will have you take an IgE RAST to determine level of severity. The results of the test will determine whether or not you are disqualified. If you are DQ due to your allergy, it is possible to get a waiver, but not guaranteed.
 
We regret ever mentioning that our son had an egg allergy on the application. He can eat eggs in things, but alone, they made his mouth itch a little. He can eat them, but chooses not to. You cannot imagine the hoops we had to go through to get a waiver. His allergist documented that he had no ill effects from eating them. That did not satisfy DoDMERB. My husband had to drive over 400 miles to take him to a doctor affiliated with the Academy so he could eat an egg in front of the doctor to prove he had no severe reaction. That doctor said the whole thing was ridiculous and sent the appropriate forms to DoDMERB so he could be cleared. It took weeks to clear this up. Unless it is a life threatening allergy, I wouldn't recommend listing it.
 
Sorry you had to go through hoops and I am glad it all worked out in the end. But, don't you feel better that you answered the question truthfully, because obviously DS does have a mild food allergy, since eggs make his mouth itch. I disagree, if you have an allergy, list it and go through the process.
 
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