My allergy has affected my life for 12years.

I am am allergic to metal. I recently turned 40 and have accepted my allergy and others who are not familiar always have a reaction. Its the same reaction that I had 12years ago. How are you allergic to metal? I’ve never heard of that! You can’t be allergic to metal?! Oh shit, wait, metal is everywhere!

Then I explain my allergy so here we go, again.

Yes, metal is everywhere. Metal is in practically everything commercially used in for modern human consumption.

I have spent hours of my life explaining to strangers that my allergy is real and my reactions can happen within minutes to days after I’ve come in contact with one of my allergens. The thing about having a metal allergy and others being unfamiliar with this highly severe reactions is that they have not had this experience, so they think the statement is untrue. We all do it because we we’re taught the old adage ‘you have to see it to believe it’ when others do not see the person having a terrible reaction in the moment people become suspicious of you and your personality while others are wonderful some are not. And those are the ones that make my already hard to deal with life condition even more cumbersome.

I know my allergy is an inconvenience to modernity. Even as I type this now, its on a metal laptop and I have a reaction on the palms of my hands and wrists.

I know how surprising it can be learning of such a rare allergy but I didn’t create it.

I am a very social person and being social comes with a certain set of challenges when you’re allergic to metal. Hugging – I do not like being touch. However, this is something I am working on. However, strangers are not on the list of people to touch me unwarranted. In addition to not liking being touched by strangers in public, I believe in personal space. I generally do not hug others without asking and I prefer people respect me enough to do the same. ASK BEFORE YOU HUG, ask permission to my body because I have a lot of allergies. I am allergic to perfume because I’m allergic to flowers and pollen. I am allergic to wool and hair weaves because the fibers are processed through lead metal combs. I have an aversion to all things that are processed through metal this way. Lead is my most allergic element, brass, nickel, aluminum, silver, mercury, tin, cadmium, titanium, copper, tungsten, cobalt, bronze, iron and the list goes on.

REVELATION: I DON’T LIKE IT EITHER! Yes, I would love to not be allergic to metal again. I don’t often miss processed foods but sometimes I want to have a dollop of cool whip! My allergy is very real, my reactions are very real. My allergy has made me allergic to so many things but it has not made me allergic to love, care and kindness.

When someone shares that they have an allergy, believe them.

Thank you.

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