Peanut and Seafood Allergy. Please share your story/experience/any tips?

[*Fantasia*]

The test came back positive for our 2 year old son. His dr. said he is highly allergic to peanuts and seafood. The dr. prescribed Epipen Jr. (Auto-Injectors 0.15mg). He has another appt with an allergy specialist next week.

Anyone in your family have peanut or seafood allergy? Please share your story. If it's your child who is in school, how do you go about if she/he gets affected? Thank you.

 

[rascalmom]

I am allergic to seafood - in fact, my first bad reaction happened when I was in elementary school back in the days when fish was always served on Friday.

Seafood is much easier to avoid than nuts, but I do have to be careful when dining out of cross-contamination. The worst is ordering fried foods - my allergy is so severe that I can't have any food that has been fried in the same oil that is used for any type of fish.

Dressings and sauces are another thing to watch out for. A lot of people don't know that Worcestershire sauce is made with anchovies or another type of fish. It is found in a lot of things....Caesar dressing, steak sauces, some BBQ sauces, etc. Probably not a big concern for a 2 year old as he probably wouldn't be interested in eating those things anyway, but something to keep in mind for the future.

Vitamins are another issue with me - some forms of calcium are made from shellfish byproducts and they make me sick. I have to use a vegetarian mulivitamin.

Good luck with your little guy!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you so much for sharing.. May I ask what do you do when you get the allergy reaction? Do you have to use an injection too? I didn't even thought about cross-contamination such as some fried food. Worcestershire sauce, isn't that soy-sauce? The dr. said that sometimes even just inhaling the smell of seafood or peanuts might cause him to have a reaction. We are going to an allergy specialist next week. We just went to his regular pediatrician for the allergy test a few days ago and got that call yesterday.

 

[Sleepy]

My dad is very allergic to macadamia nuts. Only has to eat one and he needs medical attention because his tongue/throat starts swelling. He was an adult before he discovered this. I don't think he had ever eaten one before then. He was always careful after that, but unfortunately, about a year ago Planters changed the ingredients of the mixed nuts to include macadamia and he did not notice this. Was just sitting on the couch. mom came home and he said "I think I ate something I was not supposed to." A quick trip the the ER and he was fine.

 

[Cruisin]

My son is 25 and was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at the age of 11 months when his whole face swelled up after he ate a small piece of toast spread with peanut butter.

Peanut allergies are quite overwhelming when you first have to deal with them but it does get easier as you learn what to look out for.

You will find that you spend a lot more time reading labels now when you are shopping for food. Everything must be thoroughly checked each time because you never know when they will decide to change ingredients.

Also you have to watch out for the "may contain..........." that you will find on a large amount of food items.

Cross contamination will also be something you have to watch out for.

There are organizations out there that have tons of information that will be helpful for you. I am in Canada but I'm sure someone will be able to help you with American organizations.

Having a possibly life threatening allergy does change your life but it does not have to limit it.

My son has travelled on cruise ships, gone to Europe, done 10 day camping/canoeing trips in the wilderness etc.

If you have any questions, maybe I can help you. Please feel free to PM or ask them here.

I am headed out of town soon, so will be offline. I am helping to move that above mentioned peanut allergic son to a new apartment and a new job as a Paramedic in a city 5 hours away from home

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

My son is allergic to shellfish. When he was about 18 months old, he had a rash after eating shrimp. He is also allergic to apples. Found that out the hard way. We keep an epi pen at home and one at school. Luckily we have never had to use it.

 

[rascalmom]

Thank you so much for sharing.. May I ask what do you do when you get the allergy reaction? Do you have to use an injection too? I didn't even thought about cross-contamination such as some fried food. Worcestershire sauce, isn't that soy-sauce? The dr. said that sometimes even just inhaling the smell of seafood or peanuts might cause him to have a reaction. We are going to an allergy specialist next week. We just went to his regular pediatrician for the allergy test a few days ago and got that call yesterday.

I do not have an Epi-pen prescription because I have become very adept at avoiding my allergen; for a child, I would definitely recommend it. My reaction includes severe itching, sometimes hives, severe gastric distress, and a mildly swelling of my hands and throat. I also turn very red - but I am very fair & also do that for other reasons (alcohol, menopause hot flashes....not something a 2 year old will have to worry about).

The fried food thing took a long time to figure out, but most restaurants only have one fryer & oil isn't changed after every use. So, if fish is on the menu on Tuesday - the french fries from the fryer made on Wednesday might still make your child sick.

I don't have any problems with cooking odors, etc. All of my family loves fish, so they very frequently order seafood when we eat out since we never have it at home.

BTW - WDW is great at working with allergies. The BBQ sauce at their restaurants onsite does NOT contain Worcestshire, so I can eat it.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks you guys for sharing your stories and tips. I'm learning a lot from here through your experiences. It's good to know what we need to look for. So far, we haven't had any seafood or peanuts since the incident where he ended up in the ER.

Can he grow out of it?

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I'm allergic to seafood, not all seafood but most. I found out the hard way when I was about 20 and it wasn't even from food I first found out I was allergic to iodine from a medical procedure and they told me that I should get tested to see if I am also allergic to things like shellfish. I never had fish other than tuna fish (which I can still have) and no one in our house ever ate it so I wasn't exposed early on to find out.

From the allergy testing I found out I'm allergic to "fish mix" which was just some generic mix of various different seafoods, iodine, bees (already knew that one), dust, pollen, anything that grows and a bunch of other stuff. The worst reaction for me is from iodine and seafood but it's important to know that not everyone that is allergic to iodine is allergic to shellfish or vice versa

I don't have an epi pen, I probably should but I havent' been back to the allergic in a few years. I just try to avoid everything and I'm usually ok. When the boss cooks salmon in the office microwave my face and hands swell up and I'm 20 feet away at my desk I keep benadryl in purse just in case

 

[TriMom]

DH has a seafood allergy. We just don't go to restaurants that will serve any type of seafood at all. Which is why I cook at home - a lot. Also, you will never want to eat at a buffet again. Most buffets have some kind of seafood, and people will cross contaminate like crazy. They will use the same pair of tongs for everything

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Thanks you guys for sharing your stories and tips. I'm learning a lot from here through your experiences. It's good to know what we need to look for. So far, we haven't had any seafood or peanuts since the incident where he ended up in the ER.

Can he grow out of it?

Yes. Anyone can "grow" out of an allergy. As well as "grow" into an allergy.
About every 6-8 years, your body chemistry will change. That is usually when a person develops allergies or loses allergies.

Mine is like clockwork. Every 7 years I will generally gain a new allergy. when I was about 3 or so, we discovered I was allergic to strawberries. I discovered about the age of 11 or so that I was no longer allergic to them. Which is good as I love them.

But, I wouldn't try at a later date to have him eat eat peanuts or seafood without the care of a doctor or an epipen around.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Yes, inhaling seafood can cause problems. I've found that if I'm in the vicinity of freshly cooked, or cooking shellfish, especially shrimp, my eyes will water, nose will run, etc. I've NEVER consumed shellfish. As others have said, cross contamination with fried foods is a very real issue. I had chicken fingers at a restaraunt last summer, and the throat got sore/tight after eating them. In hindsight, all of the other fried foods on the menu were shellfish.

 

[lisajl]

My DS-12 has peanut allergies. My DH gave him some peanut butter when he was about 8 months old and he broke out on his face.

We have an epi-pen. He has had two episodes, we used the epi pen both times and ran him to ER.

When I make my no bake cookies with peanut butter I disinfect the whole kitchen. I use a pan for those cookies that I don't use for anything else.

The best place to go when your child has peanut allergies...WDW.
Seriously, my son is treated like royalty when he is there. The chef comes out to talk to him first and then us.

You will get through this. Just read ALL labels.

Best of luck to you and your son.
Lisa

 

[Mermaid02]

My son was diagnosed with both of those within a year of each other when he was 6 (he is now 12) We were careful and he hasn't had a reaction since being diagnosed. He just tested Negative for Peanut allergy about a year ago!! YEA! He rarely asks for anything "peanut" but it's nice to not have to be so vigilant- so there is HOPE to become "unallergic" so far he is still allergic to shellfish- but he's hoping in a couple of years that will go away too! (his reactions were anaphylactic- itchy throat was the first sign....)

If you have any other questions, just ask!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Great infos guys. I very much appreciate everyone for sharing their experience/stories. So you can grow out of it. How often do you get allergy testing? I mean if you grow out of it and it can come back, isn't that scary? I mean you don't know when it's gonna hit you again, and is this mean you have to carry the epi-pen with you always just in case? Thank you so much.

 

[wowsmom]

I'm allergic to shellfish, with varying reactions (clams make my throat swell shut, other shellfish causes severe gastro reactions).

I noticed another poster mentioned iodine. As a precaution, I avoid iodine, even though I've never had a reaction to it.

Another thing I wanted to mention is to be cautious with Chinese food. A lot of Chinese foods have shellfish - oyster sauce, lobster sauce, clam juice - even if the dish is not a seafood dish.

Also, I had to stop eating sushi due to cross-contamination issues. I only ever ordered tuna roll, but every once in a while, would react.

I don't have an epi-pen but do carry benadryl with me.

 

[EMom]

I am allergic to shellfish, but not all shellfish. Only crustaceans, not mollusks. (Can't eat shrimp, lobster, etc.) The first time I had a reaction I was 10 and eating out with a friend's family. I tried to explain what was happening, but the mom thought I had indigestion or something. In reality, I was having chest pains. No one expects a 10 y.o. to have chest pains. I got blisters inside my mouth and had trouble breathing, but not enough for her to notice.

A few years later, I ate shrimp again and the reaction was much worse. Chest pains again, throat swelled shut, blisters in mouth, puffy lips, whites of my eyes turned yellow, etc. No one in my family (and I have a huge family) has this allergy...just me. After that, no more shrimp for me. A year or so later, my parents were boiling shrimp and I had a reaction just from being close to fresh shrimp being boiled. In high school, I took a small bite of lobster and started to have a reaction, but my BF's mom gave me a fistful of Benadryl and nipped the reaction in the bud. Never again.

If I eat in a restaurant where a fair amount of seafood is served, I tell them about the allergy and they make certain they use a fresh pan, oil, etc. You learn to be careful about sauces. Glucosamine is derived from shellfish, so I can't take that. I carry an EpiPen just in case. I never buy seafood that has been next to crustaceans in the seafood dept.

Truly, the peanut allergy will be harder to manage because it's harder to spot peanut products than shellfish products. And peanut products are more commonly added to food. Good luck.

 

[rascalmom]

I think "growing out of it" is a very individual thing. I first had a reaction when is was 10 or 11 to fish sticks in the school cafeteria. I'm 47 now & am still extremely allergic.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I think "growing out of it" is a very individual thing. I first had a reaction when is was 10 or 11 to fish sticks in the school cafeteria. I'm 47 now & am still extremely allergic.

Yes it is. Everyone's body chemistry is different. While I did "grow" out of my allergies to strawberries, I have been allergic to most metals since I was 14. Seasonal allergies since I was about 7 and skin allergies to perfumes and latex since 21. I'm 36 and still allergic to all these things. Infact, my seasonal allergies are now worse.

Everyone is very different. Some will lose allergies, some will gain, some might do both. You never know.

Fantasia:
I would talk to the allergist about if he should be tested every few years or not. But he probably should. Especially while he's still young and experiencing new things. You don't want to cut down on his experiences, but you don't want to have bad reactions to them either.

 

[Mermaid02]

Great infos guys. I very much appreciate everyone for sharing their experience/stories. So you can grow out of it. How often do you get allergy testing? I mean if you grow out of it and it can come back, isn't that scary? I mean you don't know when it's gonna hit you again, and is this mean you have to carry the epi-pen with you always just in case? Thank you so much.

We were retested in about 5 years. Oh, he also outgrew a haddock allergy. The allergy doc said once you are allergic and then are NOT allergic it's very rare to become allergic again. Like I said, he rarely has peanut anything (right after he tested negative he ate tons of peanut butter- but truthfully, he really doesn't like it much) We do carry epi pens- he is now allergic to Walnuts though. Much easier to avoid than peanuts.