A WOMAN who could die if she eats fruit, nuts or soy has told how she had to be rushed to hospital after eating a chip in a restaurant.

Amanda Fitzpatrcik, from Ramsbottom, has to give herself injections if she comes into contact with any food which containins preservatives.

The 25-year-old trainee teacher suffers from anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening condition caused by allergic reactions.

She hasn’t dined out since last October, when she stopped breathing after she ate a chip. She was taken to hospital where she was treated with steroids and adrenaline and observed for several hours.

Even kissing her boyfriend after he has eaten something she cannot eat could affect her. Miss Fitzpatrick, a PCGE student who currently lives in Carlise, said: “I live with my boyfriend and he eats whatever he wants. But has to be really careful, he brushes his teeth a lot.

“This year has been really bad so far. It got so bad that I wasn’t eating because I didn’t want to have a reaction and I lost weight.

“I started having panic attacks and couldn’t control my breathing.

“I am terrified when it happens because I can’t breathe, and if you stop breathing then you die.” Her rare combination of allergies did not emerge until after she turned 17.

Now, bananas are the only fruit she can eat safely, with tinned tuna, chewing gum and popcorn also on her lengthy banned list. She survives mainly on jacket potatoes, bread, chicken and pasta.

Amanda is hopeful a treatment will be developed that can help her condition.

She is a member of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, which keeps sufferers up-to-date with different food types that may affect their allergies.

However, she said her main concern was that her symptoms and allergies will get worse.

For more information about The Anaphylaxis Campaign, visit www. anaphylaxis.org.uk.