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.”