Let's Talk About Alpha-Gal Allergy

Alpha-Gal Allergy is something which can happen after being bit by ticks - I have recently been diagnosed, though I suspected it for several years.  My symptoms got worse after a new tick bite on Feb 15th of this year, and I have been very sick ever since.  As wildlife photographers, I think everyone should be educated on this and how it can affect your life.  In this video, I talk about my experience, and my thoughts.  I'm not going over all the research and scientific things...you can search Google for all of the published information.  Instead, I'm telling you my experience from my viewpoint.  I hope you will find the information in this video useful in some way -- and if nothing else, I hope it will encourage you to be extremely diligent about tick protection.

So my advice to those who have it....

Avoidance is the #1 thing.  Avoid anything with mammal in it, including dairy. This includes butter, frying oil {many restaurants fry stuff in beef lard}, sauces and breading, salad dressing, etc. Research medicines...research household products used...and change if necessary to those without mammal.  Look at everything you: ingest, touch, or inhale.  Anything that just says "natural flavors" or "artificial flavors" on an ingredient list can potentially contain mammal and set off a reaction.
#2, Do whatever you can to prevent new bites. Check out InsectShield.Com for clothing.
#3, Don't freak out if it doesn't seem to get better for a while...keep looking into if you are accidentally exposed.  It takes inflammation in the body a LONG time to go away. 
#4, Don't eat out, or be very, very careful eating out.  Don't talk to the teenager at the counter or even waiters/waitresses...talk to management if eating out to make sure your allergy is understood.  The last thing a manager wants is an incident happening in their restaurant!
#5 Be sure any doctors who treat you are aware of your allergy, and make sure YOU understand what's in medicines so you can make THEM understand.  {like the fact GELATIN comes from mammal...I'm amazed at how many medical people seem surprised and have an "aha" moment over that one!}