OT. Peanut allergy...or not???!!!

[knitdiva]

I feel so guilty! My DS 5 was diagnosed with a life-threatening peanut allergy when he was 18 months (skin test positive and one ananphylactic reaction). Fast forward to today (here's the guilty part). DS ate quite a bit of candy today and I checked the candy beforehand. One peanut butter cup in a pumpkin wrapper (no brand on the wrapper but an ingredient list at the back that I obviously missed) was still in the bag and my son ate 1/4 of the peanut butter cup!!! Immediately I gave him Benadryl and waited with his epipen in hand (did not give it). Nothing happened! After 30 minutes he became anxious because I was so worried and complained of abdominal pain. He threw up 45 minutes after ingesting the peanut butter cup. Then he was fine. This happened more than 9 hours ago and he is sleeping soundly. I have been checking up on him every 5 minutes since he went to bed. I'm still feeling nervous but the doctor tells me that after more than 8 hours, nothing will happen. We will schedule another allergy test! Still I feel extremely guilty for not finding that peanut butter cup! After 3 1/2 years of peanut allergy and no accidents! Thanks for letting me share the emotions of the day!!!!

 

[HLAuburn]

Hmmm....maybe he's outgrown it? The vomiting sounds more like an intolerance than an allergy since its more of a digestive response than an immune response. DD has tested positive for egg allergies, although she can handle them in small quantities and in certain forms, so I'm not really sure what it is. I'm hoping she's outgrowing it, whatever it is.

Anyway, glad to hear it turned out the way it did!

Keep us posted...

 

[turkeymama]

I just want to say, don't beat yourself up. My daughter has a life-threatening allergy to dairy. We know this and she gets retested every 18 months or so. Two years ago, DH accidentally mixed up her soy milk and my son's dairy milk. Needless to say she reacted almost immediately, with swollen tongue, hives on the face. It was very scary. I did the same as you and gave her the Benadryl immediately and was on stand-by with epi if needed. She only took a few sips. It doesn't take much. If you're anything like me, I know you are super-vigilant about checking those ingredients, but we're human. We're bound to miss stuff sometimes. Thankfully, my daughter is old enough to check labels too, so she checks behind me. I'm glad he is okay.

On another note, it is possible to have gastrointestinal issues with a food allergy. I know we associate them more with intolerances, but it isn't unheard of. As frustrating as they are, it sounds like another allergy test is necessary. I feel your pain. Good luck and don't beat yourself up. You didn't panic and you knew what to do.

 

[pennymom]

Maybe consider doing an actual food trial right in the doctor's office since skin tests can often give false positives. My son tested positive to all tree nuts, but ate almonds with no problem during a food trial. (Pecans were another story !) It is also possible, though not likely with any nuts, that she has outgrown or is outgrowing the allergy. Vomiting and stomach pain can be signs of both allergic reaction and intolerance, so that's not a good way to judge.

Lots of luck and please don't stress over it! We are human and make mistakes no matter how hard we try not to.

 

[figment41]

My DD allegist told me that over 90% of allergic children at some point do accidently get into something they are allergic to. Which is why we all carry around those epipens. It is very scary but you are not alone. I would be watching my DD like a hawk also if this happened. Thankfully the benadryl was enough and your son seems to be doing OK. I do not know about the 8 hour thing so I can not help you there.

We just did a food trial at my drs office and before they even started they did a scratch test to see if there was any reaction before we even started. She got through it perfectly. Then when we got home home that night and next morning she woke up with about 6 different bumps on her face so I do not know what to think. That is the problem with allergies is the only test that is accurate is the response the children have to the food. You as a mother know better than anyone else. Just do what you think is best.

Best of Luck to you and your son and remeber you are not alone!!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

As others have said - don't beat yourself up. I have also missed an ingredient more than once with DD and she is fine today. Also, peanuts are nut actually a "nut" as such. If you do take further tests, you might want them to check and confirm whether this is a problem.

 

[GoofyFairie]

You can have allergic reactions for hours after exposure. For some people it can take days to completely rid the bosy of the allergens, thus the recurring allergic responses. Vomiting is the bodies way of ridding itself of the allergen. Also, there is no way to tell how a body will react from one exposure to the next. Don't stop being vigiliant and always have the Benadryl and Epi pens with you.

 

[Keri]

The throwing up says to me that there is definitely still an allergy. 2 of my kids have food allergies and though the most typical reaction to accidental exposure has been hives (but we carry epi pens, just in case, because they test so severe) but actual ingestion (of egg) has only resulted in throwing up. My son's first exposure led to hives and then throwing up at 10 months. At 5 he had one bite of a sandwich with mayo and didn't get hives at all, just threw up an hour later. He's never had a peanut, to my knowledge, and never reacted, but his skin tests are still very positive.

Accidents happen!!! Try to let yourself off the hook (easier said than done, I know -- I was the idiot who gave my kid the mayo ) but I wouldn't take it as a sign that he is no longer allergic at all. From what I have heard from the allergists, your body's reaction can change over time, either to lessen or to get worse ... hence the epi pens even though we've rarely had a reaction beyond the hives & never a respiritory one. But one more exposure might just tip him over the edge.

 

[WantToGoNow]

The allergy is probably still there (hince the vomitting) but maybe it's not as severe. I would call your allergist and have him retested.

My ds8 is allerlgic to latex, milk and egg. He can tolerate milk and egg in small amounts and if he's had his Prevacid (for reflux) he usually can keep them down. The milk and egg cooked into something he's ok with - just not straight. The doctor said when they are cooked/baked it changes the make-up of the food and allows some kids to handle it. He cannot have the flu shots though because he immediately starts the vomitting and hives.

I did something stupid with him this weekend as well. Our church was having a Fall Festival on Halloween night. They said it would be inside if the weather was bad - we'll it was a bit cold but dry so I didn't think it would be inside. We got over there and it was set up inside. There were balloons tied everywhere - he's usually ok with the balloons as long as he doesn't touch them and they aren't popped. One of the games was a balloon pop (i.e. small children with darts). He stayed clear away from that area but within 30 minutes his face was purple and itchy - I immediately took him outside and gave him his Benadryl and sat ready with the Epi. We waited in the car while the rest of the family played - then I took him trick-or-treating.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Halloween is every allergy kid's parents nightmare!!!

I was going through candy as fast as he got it and discarding as quick as we could!! EVERY parent lets something get past at some point. i gave DGS a candy off a cupcake once that I "thought" I had checked well. Imediate gagging. Egg whites!! We were ok with benedryl but had it been peanuts we might had been in worse shape as his peanut reaction is stroger!!!

I agreee that with the vomiting that is at least something still there and would not let my guard down at all. We retest yearly and I would for sure do that though only about 7% according to our dr outgrown peanut. Tolerance levels do change however.

Prayers that your son has outgrown his allergies and reasurance that you are still a great mom!!!

 

[james'mommy]

I have a peanut and tree nut allergies. But I do allow myself 1 mini reese's cup per year. And I have no reaction. But I know I can eat regular peanut butter or actual peanuts. I read somewhere that the peanut butter in peanut butter cups is so proccessed that there is hardly any peanut protein left once they are done with it.

 

[ptmmg]

I'm 45 and have had a Peanut allergy all long as I can remember. Back when I went to school nobody even heard of it there was no special table. I cant even touch the inside wrapper of a peanut butter cup or I will react (so not to sure about what the over processing thing really means). a few years ago I picked up a phone and the side of my face started to get hives I found out the DAY BEFORE somebody had been on that phone and was eating peanut buter crackers. Needless to say I carry an Epi pen. I know if I put something in my mouth by accident that has nut in it I know right away before even swallowing. I spit it out and rinse but I still get the stomach pain feeling of my chest contracting.

 

[Manda]

Have you not had him re-tested since he was 18 months? In my experience with pediatric food allergies, they retested my son every year until he had outgrown both his allergies. It's such a simple test. I'd go and ask to be retested just for piece of mind.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I read somewhere that the peanut butter in peanut butter cups is so proccessed that there is hardly any peanut protein left once they are done with it.

I have heard the same thing. I also have a friend with a life long peanut allergy that reacts by throwing up. Let us know if you get him retested. My kids get tested once a year.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

Oh and don't beat yourself up. My son had his pumpkin with all the candy in the back seat on the way home. I hear this rusting sound, finally turn around and look and he is trying to open a pb cup. ooops. He is only 2, so he has no idea what is going on!

 

[Momvic5]

My ds who is now 13yrs old was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy when he was 5yrs old. Other than two accidental exposures (and he reacted severely to them) at school when he was 6yrs old, he has not had any peanut products. Yesterday at his own hand, he ate a Reese's PB cup and a mini Butterfinger because he decided to "test his allergy". He ate them and then came to me to inform me of his actions. I remained calm and watched him for about 12hrs - Epipen in hand. We had no reaction! I was so excited for him and angry with him at the same time.

Needless to say, we are making an appointment with his doctor to have a blood test before he consumes any real peanut products.

I was upset with myself because always before I would immediately remove all peanut product candy. This year I did not. I let his sister have them, and he had an impulse to just test his allergy and he did. I knew the day was coming!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Oh and don't beat yourself up. My son had his pumpkin with all the candy in the back seat on the way home. I hear this rusting sound, finally turn around and look and he is trying to open a pb cup. ooops. He is only 2, so he has no idea what is going on!

But now is the time to start teaching him. DGS was diagnosed right before two and we started right away teaching him to tell ANYONE that gave him any food that he was allergic to peanuts. We taught him not ot eat anything with out asking if it has peanuts. He "READS" every package in the store..

He knows now at just turned 3 what peanuts and peanut butter looks like and to never touch. We of course still take charge and TRY to treat anything with peanuts like medication. A few close calls here too!

Yep, halloween made me a nervious wreck trying to let him do the normal stuff and protect him. SO hard.

He is little but he can start to begin to understand what he has to deal with.

 

[lisadobson]

hi, i have a peanut allergy and have had anaphylaxis for 11 years. Mine started gradually when i was about 2 i would be sick if i came into contact with any nut, but used to eat them because 24 years ago a nut allergy was unheard of. then it progressed with hives/rashes, chest tightening, until eventually at the age of 16 i had an anaphylactic shock whilst on holiday(after eating a pancake with strawberry sauce, go figure!) in Turkey, fell into the pool and nearly drowned.

My GP and specialist at our hospital has told me that should i have a reaction that does not need my epi-pen or have anything that feel like a reaction i am to take piriton tablets (which i think is the same as benedryl) for 5 days as the anaphylaxis is more than likely going to pass after 8 hours but a secondary reaction such as hives could still occur. They told me similar when my son was stung by a wasp earlier this year, he is 3 and not been tested for any allergies yet.

Don't feel bad these things happen, i have had many a "chance" by not realising even though i am extremely careful and check everything i eat and drink. It does make my food rather boring mind you, and i love xmas because everyone else puts weight on, i loose it because i can't eat anything!

I am worried about when i come to the world in june though. Do the restaurants etc cater and i mean ensure that food is nut free?

Lisa

 

[squirrel]

I agree with teaching children early that have allergies.

My niece is lactose intollerant but when we found out she was already 3.5 yrs old. We (my sister and I) started talking to her and reminding her to ask other people if it contained dairy.

She still ended up getting dairy a few times as my mom and her other grandmother didn't check labels like my sister and I do. They also think it's not so bad if she gets dairy.

 

[knitdiva]

OP here.
Thanks to everyone for the support! My son has been taught since we have known about his peanut allergy that her should never eat anything without asking mom or dad (or his teacher) first. I guess we have become complacent since home is peanut free, friends houses are peanut free, school is peanut free and we have had no accidental exposure for 4 years. Anyhow, DS is doing fine. Talked to his GP and allergist. They both confirmed allergy is probably still there and that the reaction was mild because since he was not in contact with peanuts for so long his antibody levels (IgE) to peanuts is probably very low. Now if he was in contact with peanuts again in the near future, it would be a whole different story. So we will be going for a blood test then skin test and if he passes both (IgE very low and non reactive skin test) we will undergo an oral challenge in the hospital. Someone asked why DS has not been tested since he was 18 months. Since peanut allergy is usually lifelong (very few people outgrow it), the only reason to retest is to see if the antibodies are low enough to risk an oral challenge. Our allergy specialist advised us to retest before DS started school this year but I wanted him to get used to school first.
Someone asked about WDW and food allergies. For us it has been wonderful. One of the chef at Chef Mickey even went around the buffet with us to let us know what was safe for our son to eat! Just let them know when you make ADR or when you get to the restaurant.

All allergy testing will have to wait since DS, Grandma and I are leaving for a week at WDW on the weekend!