Talking Allergies

Alright so I've been thinking about getting "inked" for a while now. I want something meaningful, small, to go in the middle of my upper back. For a while I thought I was going to put the sanskrit representation for "OM" because I'm really into yoga but then I worried if one day I wasn't...it might not have the same meaning for me then. I am a spiritual person, I just don't know what exactly to get so I'd love some ideas. Not necessarily a cross, actually I think I would prefer if it was more symbolic. I saw some cool things: the triquetras and alpha and omega are pretty cool ideas but not sure if they're exactly what I've been looking for. I kind of want something to symbolize faith, strength, hope, all in one...
Any ideas would be great!

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Associate Editor at Allergic Living.
Allergies to all nuts and legumes except soy and green beans.

I have a tattoo and love it! It is very meaningful to me - I can upload and explain it, but am not sure how to add a picture?

I just got my second this summer. I had our daughter's name (Chinese symbol ) tattoo'd on the outside of my ankle years ago. This was something I knew I'd never regret. Both our kids had Chinese names (no english translation) given to them by my husband's grandmother/mother when they were born. I just had our son's put on recently on the inside of the same ankle.

Once you find something which means so much to you that you know you'd never regret having it on you permanently, then you know it is the right choice.

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DD 12 yrs -no allergies
4 yr old DS - asthma/eczema Anaphylactic to Peanuts, all tree nuts, sesame , all pea/lentil legumes, gelatin.
Allergic to trees, grass,ragweed, feathers, dander, mold and dust.
Outgrew eggs, fish, shellfish

Ooh, didn't it hurt on the ankle?

I don't have any tattoos...I have a hard enough time picking paint colour.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

I agree, I want it to be meaningful. It's just there are so many things that are meaningful to me I just don't know how to synthesize it all into one...

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Associate Editor at Allergic Living.
Allergies to all nuts and legumes except soy and green beans.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

Sorry to bring this "on topic" and back to allergies, but has anyone experienced allergies to tattoo ink? This has been the thing holding me back from tats.

I've heard that red ink is the one most likely to trigger a reaction so I doubt I'll get that big Canadian maple leaf with the Tim Horton's logo across my back!

My MIL got a tattoo for her 60th birthday. She had an allergic reaction to it and her whole leg swelled up. The doctors did not know what was wrong with her leg right away and it got quite bad. For anyone who knows my past experience with my MIL...I was feeling like this over the whole thing. The grief she causes me over allergies and then to have that happen to her it was sweet payback .

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DD age 9 1/2 -peanuts, nuts,
DD age 7 1/2 - milk, eggs, chicken, peanuts, treenuts, cats, dogs,
DS age 2 1/2
Husband- asthma, eggs, treenuts, fish, shellfish environmental
Self - penicillan, eurithromiacin, mild laytex allergy.

I've been waiting for someone to use the dancing banana.

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DD 12 yrs -no allergies
4 yr old DS - asthma/eczema Anaphylactic to Peanuts, all tree nuts, sesame , all pea/lentil legumes, gelatin.
Allergic to trees, grass,ragweed, feathers, dander, mold and dust.
Outgrew eggs, fish, shellfish

I have a 3 tattoos, all are symbolic to me in a way. I found that personally I stay away from letters (maybe it's the mortal fear that the artist would spell it wrong), I go with pictures.. My second one that I got 5 years ago was a symmetrical design of a lotus flower. It is quite nice, kind of large, but in a place where it is almost never seen (my head). It represents to me inner peace, balance, and clarity of mind. I say go for it, I love all of my tattoos, my first one was 8 years ago (I only have 3.. not a ton).

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Daughter 3.5 years) - Dairy, Eggs, Peanuts, Sesame, Beef; asthma and eczema
Daughter (2 years) - Peanuts Eczema
Son (7 months) - Contact allergy to something food undetermined

Speaking of something meaningful, my son who is not a fan of jewelry or watches has asked about having a "medic alert" type tattoo done on his wrist. I have some mixed emotions about this and was wondering what insight others may have into this subject. I appreciated the information about reacting to the dye used. Oddly, I had not even considered that.

As for something meaningful for your tattoo Lisa, you will know what feels right when you find it. What about having a consultation with the artist who might be doing the tattoo to help you come up with a suitable design? Just a thought.

Good point Andrea. One of my friends told me she got hers done at a place where they ONLY do custom tattoos. I like that idea. Also, another one of my friends is actually a really good artist (I saw her drawing during class!). I asked her if she could design me something and she didn't hesitate. She said she's done it for some of her other friends too. So I gave her some guidelines and can't wait to see what she has done!
As for the Medic Alert tattoo...maybe it's not such a great idea. What if he outgrows his allergies one day or we find a cure? He might want to move on from this part of his life and not be reminded by it.

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Associate Editor at Allergic Living.
Allergies to all nuts and legumes except soy and green beans.

I thankfully outgrew a few of my adult onset allergies, but they seem to fluctuate so much that I'd probably end up with a Medic Alert tattoo sleeve!