Wheezy

No, not Weezy, silly; wheezy. Here’s a tip for dining at Benihana if you are allergic to shellfish. Don’t. In addition, if you have an…

by j. brotherlove

No, not Weezy, silly; wheezy. Here’s a tip for dining at Benihana if you are allergic to shellfish. Don’t. In addition, if you have an appointment afterward where smelling like a greasy hibachi would be disadvantageous, it would behoove you to dine elsewhere as well.

So, my team had our holiday lunch yesterday. Out of obligation, mind you. None of us are in a holiday mood. Add to the feeling that we have to pay for our own lunch and you get the gist of the situation. Office politics. Bah.

We arrive and I immediately notice the chef cooks everything (beef, chicken, shrimp) on the same grill at the same time. Okay. That’s not going to work for thebrotherlove. I inform our chef that I’m allergic to shellfish and ask him to cook the beef and chicken first so as to not pass on the oils from the shrimp to my food.

Okay? Okay.

Despite extreme situations where shellfish (shrimp, crab, scallops, lobster, crawfish, et al) is in every dish my allergy is very manageable. In fact, the biggest annoyance comes from (a surprising amount of) ignorant and/or insensitive people who make remarks like “How could you not like shrimp or [other shellfish item that prohibits my breathing and could kill me]?” or “It’s probably all in your head. When’s the last time you tasted it?” Even the well-meaning “Really? What happens if you eat it?” grates on my nerve (as if I have to justify my allergy).

I have learned to avoid eating situations that include shellfish and know when to ask people who “hide” it in dishes like dressing or pasta salad. Ergo, I thought I’d adequately protected myself by requesting the shrimp be cooked last. Ha!

[…] “In addition, fish protein can become airborne during cooking and cause an allergic reaction.” […]

Oops.

I forgot I’d be sitting directly on the grill engulfed in shrimp steam and oil. I ignored the initial sneezing because I am prone to sneezing in any situation. But toward the end of the meal I recognized the dreaded feeling of my throat closing in on me. I excused myself and sought outside air. By the time I got to the corner, I was full blown wheezing. I walked to my car to get some meds only to discover I was out. Great. I sat in the Boycrusier for about 30 minutes calming myself before returning to my desk. Needless to say, I didn’t do much work after that.

I couldn’t wait to get home. But I didn’t have any medicine at home either. After another hour when my symptoms failed to go away, I drove to Kroger to get some Benadryl. Benadryl made things a little better (chiefly by putting me to sleep). But I woke at 4:00 this morning, extremely dry and still wheezy. A TheraFlu Flu & Sore Throat packet fixed me right up and I fell back to sleep.

So now, I’m about 85% with a little wheeze here and there. Today is supposed to be a vacation day to run errands. I’m still in bed though. It’ll get better.

Have a great, hypoallergenic weekend.

And I was gonna cook tonight. Psyche!

J, get some more medicine and don’t let yourself run out again!!! Next time something like this occurs, you should be prepared. Don’t let me come here again and read that you inhaled fish mist and went to wheezing and didn’t have any medicine.

Mama Elle

Oh dear! There’s always been something about that whole hibachi eating experience at Benihana’s that just ain’t sit right with me. Cook my food out of sight, thankyouverymuch.

Oh wait…umm, forget I said that last sentence. Stay in and take it easy.

The messed up part is, you had to pay for it too.

hey there,
sorry to hear about your allegic rxn. i certainly remember you having rxns here in chicago. and i can certainly relate. if you can remember when we went to that brazilian restaurant and i asked them to not use brazil nut oil, and somehow i still was violently ill with a rxn after that dining experience.
URGH! be careful sweetie.

see i thought my office was messed up we had a christmas luncheon and the manager ordered everyone the same thing, well his cheap arse didn’t pay for it we had to now if i am paying why can’t i order what i want, and these office’s are so selfish hell it doesn’t hurt to pay for your employees lunch.

anywho i hope you are feeling better.