Sandra's Story

Sandra Shacklock, 68, from Nottinghamshire, discovered that she had an allergy to nuts 15 years ago – after a lifetime of eating them without a second thought. Although her allergy has caused problems, it also led to Sandra meeting her husband, who is a paramedic!

“When it happened, I was walking home with some yummy walnut loaf bread, enjoying biting into it and crunching away as I strolled to the bus stop. I never thought that I would land up in hospital.

As I sat down on the bus, I started coughing and clearing my throat. I didn’t know what was happening. By the time I got home, I was wheezing and feeling nervous. I called an ambulance and was told to go downstairs and open my front door to let the emergency crew in. I was struggling to breathe.

I was whisked off to hospital where I found out to my utter amazement that I was allergic to all types of nuts.  This was a new world for me, and it was an eye opener. My life changed and I have adapted to this – although I have ended up with more trips to hospital.

I carry two Epi Pens and read every label when I do my shopping. It’s very frustrating when eating out, flying anywhere, or just meeting friends for lunch.

These days, I avoid seeds and beans as well as nuts as they often placed very close to each other in shops and, I think, probably in warehouses as well.

One good thing has come from having an anaphylaxis. In the course of being around hospitals with my condition I met a paramedic, and we later married!

It has also become a topic of education to strangers, friends and family. I wish more people and businesses understood the risks of allergies.

I am sometimes astonished at the ignorance, annoying behaviour and total rudeness of some people. I wish they would understand just how deadly an allergy can be.

Some people refuse to believe me – and I have to explain how and why they should not place food with nuts right next to any other food – as some allergies can be life-threatening.”

Allergies can appear at any age

It is a common misconception that you’re born with allergy or that they appear in childhood. In fact, almost 50% of adults with food allergies develop them later in life.  

Allergies can appear at any age – during childhood, puberty, pregnancy or even later in life. Believing that allergies mainly start in childhood could mean that symptoms of allergy can be overlooked or mistaken for something else, delaying diagnosis and treatment.   

That’s why for Allergy Awareness Week 2025, we’re launching our new campaign – ‘I Wish I Knew’.

Our aim is to ensure anyone who may be affected by allergy one day can recognise symptoms early and seek support to control and manage their allergy. The right knowledge at the right time can change the course of an allergy journey.

Find our more about our campaign