Wow- Deadly kiss.

[Amy]

My DD11 is peanut allergic.

The good thing about her being a girl is she can carry her epipen in her pocket book, and as a teenager she will have it with her when I am not with her. If my DS was allergic, I would be very worried how he would carry around a epipen when he was out with friends. That, as others have said, would not be cool. I would probably have him carry Benedryl in his pocket, at least its something.

Horseshoes - I'm sure you've been to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network website, haven't you? It's FAAN. They have some pretty neat Epi-pen holders you can order. DS used to have one that held 2 Epi-pens plus his asthma inhaler and it hooked onto his belt loop. As he grew older, that was too noticeable. This summer I got him one that fits around his waist, like a small fanny pack. It only holds two Epi-pens, not the inhaler. But he wears it right on his waist and with the loose clothes that boys wear, you can't even tell.

 

[cardaway]

It's all good. Looks like every MY kid will stave to death comment it is equalled out by one basically saying you're being insensitive about MY childs needs.

 

[Cruisin]

The good thing about her being a girl is she can carry her epipen in her pocket book, and as a teenager she will have it with her when I am not with her. If my DS was allergic, I would be very worried how he would carry around a epipen when he was out with friends. That, as others have said, would not be cool. I would probably have him carry Benedryl in his pocket, at least its something.

My son, who has a peanut allergy, has just turned 22 years old.

He always wears cargo pants, so that he can carry around his epi-pens, easily and discreetly.

 

[disykat]

Thanks for understanding, Christine. It's hard to "let go," esp. knowing how teenagers are. DS's band will be marching at WDW next week, and he'll be on his own from Tuesday thru Sunday. We're going, too (DH, DS13 and I), but we're staying onsite; the band is staying offsite. They're staying 4 kids to a room; I already talked to the parents of the kids he's rooming with about his allergy, and the chaperones all know. He knows to ask about ingredients before he eats anything, but I'm worried that he'll forget when he's with his friends. At least we'll only be a cell-phone call away if something should happen, but I still worry.

It's hard enough letting your "normal" kids grow up and go out on their own; when you have a child with medical problems/issues, you have to hope and pray that they understand their condition and can handle it on their own.

Wow, you are so brave! One of my biggest fears is band trips! We haven't done church camp or anything because of this issue and I've always gone along on field trips. Our day is coming soon. I'm having trouble finding something he'll deem cool enough for my son's epi. He doesn't want to wear the belt. At school he has his backpack with him at all times so he keeps it in there. At youth group, sports and anywhere else he goes there's always an adult that can carry it if needed. Now that he's going to be going more places unaccompanied - it's scary! I guess I'm going to have to make the belt a requirement for more independence and them do spot checks on him. I did suceed in getting him to wear the medic alert necklace so we're getting there!

 

[disykat]

It's all good. Looks like every MY kid will stave to death comment it is equalled out by one basically saying you're being insensitive about MY childs needs.

For some of us, we are reeling from the news of yet another death in the peanut allergy community and dealing with the renewed waves of fear for our children that hit everytime we hear of another death. I don't think a dancing smilie will be enough to balance out this fear and turn it into a joke.

 

[cardaway]

For some of us, we are reeling from the news of yet another death in the peanut allergy community and dealing with the renewed waves of fear for our children that hit everytime we hear of another death. I don't think a dancing smilie will be enough to balance out this fear and turn it into a joke.

The point is that both sides are making the situation what it is.

I'll leave this thread by repeating what I posted before. The sad part is that places like planes and schools have to deal with trying to impose rules that don't solve the problem.

 

[Christine]

The point is that both sides are making the situation what it is.

I'll leave this thread by repeating what I posted before. The sad part is that places like planes and schools have to deal with trying to impose rules that don't solve the problem.

I know you are leaving the thread so you probably won't see this, but, actually imposing rules does go a long way in solving problems. It's all about reduction of risk. Certainly, the risk will never be gone. But, I for one, am glad that many airlines have gone peanut free. My son is MUCH more comfortable flying. We have been on one flight that did not serve peanuts just on our flight. The backs of his legs and arms did break out, most likely from residue in the cloth seats. Since that time, we have flown United (totally peanut free) and Independence Air (peanut free) and he has had no reaction. That's not to say that there aren't people eating peanuts on the plane. I'm sure someone on the plane has a PB&J or a Reese's. The difference is, there are not 150 people on the plane opening bags of peanuts, with the dust flying around, crumbs landing in the seats, etc. Makes a HUGE difference whether you want to believe it or not.

As far as imposing rules in school--I'm not sure whether they work or not. My son seems to be able to sit next to people eating PB&J (although it scares him). I can only speak from my own experience. I'm sure that I would think the restrictions "worked" if I had an "inhalant" allergic child.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I know you are leaving the thread so you probably won't see this, but, actually imposing rules does go a long way in solving problems. It's all about reduction of risk. Certainly, the risk will never be gone. But, I for one, am glad that many airlines have gone peanut free.

Yes. No rule ever solves a problem 100%, so that's no reason to write them off. As a parent of kids with no food allergies, I am also glad that schools and airlines are beginning to take this more seriously. If it might save a child's life, or even prevent a scare, it's worth the small inconvenience to me, to have to find something else my child will eat while she's at school. Again, I don't think any of the PA parents here have been overly sensitive about it at all.

 

[Horseshoes]

Horseshoes - I'm sure you've been to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network website, haven't you? It's FAAN. They have some pretty neat Epi-pen holders you can order. DS used to have one that held 2 Epi-pens plus his asthma inhaler and it hooked onto his belt loop. As he grew older, that was too noticeable. This summer I got him one that fits around his waist, like a small fanny pack. It only holds two Epi-pens, not the inhaler. But he wears it right on his waist and with the loose clothes that boys wear, you can't even tell.

Yes I have been to that site, but didnt know about those holders, sounds like a great idea even for my DD, when she doesnt want to carry a pocket book

Thanks

 

[YourMajesty]

LOL! Maybe in Oklahoma, but not here in Madison, WI. There are 5 vegetarian kids on the block! We have 2 strict vegetarian families on our block and another two families that are fish and chicken eaters. What's even more interesting is that you couldn't meet two bigger MEAT EATERS than my husband and me. My DD never developed the taste for meat and it really doesn't bother me .

As for the percentage of strict vegetarians v/s people with food allergies, my quicky Google research shows it to be just about the same.

Still, you proved my point. It's always something with kids. A child may feel left out and teased because he eats at the peanut free table. My daughter would get teased in Oklahoma because she doesn't eat burgers.

Actually, I do not think your daughter would be made fun of here in Oklahoma(although I guess we like our beef here). I was trying to make the point that food allergies are relatively common. They are actually a little more common in children than adults so the percents may be a little higher for children. I think FAAN states ~2 million school-aged children have food allergy and one in 20 under 3 years old has a food allergy. I hope a kid with a food allergy or a vegetarian kid would NOT be made fun at my DS's school but you never know what they are hearing at home?? I'm a Dietitian so I do have a professional interest in food allergy but overall it seems like the allergy(food and environmental) and asthma business is booming these days.... increasing in impressive numbers. I know we've have plently to go around with my kids....and I have that song stuck in my head...."In Oklahoma....not Arizona...what does it matter"!

 

[mum4jenn]

Thanks for the link to that site about allergies. I will forward that info to the school nurse and our Principal. I am the lunchroom manager at an elem school. We have lots of allergies mostly milk but there are 2 peanut allergy kids but thank goodness they are not as severe as some mentioned. I hope we never do get allergies at our school that severe but I am learning lots from all the feedback. USDA provides lots of commodity food like peanut butter so if it ever gets to a point that we need to get all of it out of our kitchen it will make things a bit difficult (especially with providing food that won't spoil for field trips) BUT.... I would make sure my school did what ever we needed to do.

 

[T16GEM]

what an awful shame. My thoughts are with the family.

 

[disneylizzy]

Somebody asked how you knew about a peanut allergy. DS was 18 mos when he had a bite of a peanut butter and jelly. He had an immediate reaction of hives on his face, swollen eyes and a runny nose. He never had peanuts or peanut butter again, but we had peanut butter in the house and his brothers and sister ate it. He had an epipen up to about 4th grade and the school was very proactive about sending home notices to parents in the beginning of the year about not sending in treats for the class with peanuts.

I actually thought he out grew his allergy until the day at Disney when he ate the pad thai. He was trying to pick out the shrimp from my meal and that must have been enough.

Now that I think of it, though, he has gotten bad headaches when we fly and I wonder if that might be from breathing the peanut dust in such an enclosed space. He is also asthmatic.

 

[mbw12]

I think you're wrong. The reason people think your statement was harsh and insensitive (I don't think anyone is honked off) was the word "starve". While it might be an inconvenience for your daughter to not eat Peanut Butter (not that anyone is asking that of her) she would not "starve" if she were unable to.

I think the implication of death, as in starving, is a sensitive issue to those of us that live with the daily reality of this allergy. Obviously, our kids don't starve because they can't eat peanuts. There are other foods out there. Personally I try never to let my son's allergy infringe upon any one else's rights, however that doesn't make me any less sensitive to comments that imply my son is somehow ruining their lives.

Had you said "my child loves PB and would have a hard time giving it up" I wouldn't have been bothered. I had a hard time giving it up as well. I think it was purely semantics that got people - your use of the word "starve".

THANK YOU! Yes, it was the insensitivity of the comment implying that her daughter would "starve"......as opposed to the SERIOUS and ACTUAL reality of that other child DYING!

 

[mbw12]

For some of us, we are reeling from the news of yet another death in the peanut allergy community and dealing with the renewed waves of fear for our children that hit everytime we hear of another death. I don't think a dancing smilie will be enough to balance out this fear and turn it into a joke.

You know what? I think that might have hit the nail on the head for me. Maybe I did take the "starving" comment to heart....but when you are dealing with it, people act like my child's allergy is such an inconvenince to THEM...and that it really is a joke or an annoyance. I think alot of people don't realize how serious it really is. Death can be an end result for alot of people...I would think that people wouldn't take it so lightly. And even with the explanantions given, I still find the comment insensitive.

I am going to avoid this thread for now on, since it is turing into a debate and I try to avoid them. And since this affects my child's LIFE....there really is nothing to debate.

 

[lisajl]

You know what? I think that might have hit the nail on the head for me. Maybe I did take the "starving" comment to heart....but when you are dealing with it, people act like my child's allergy is such an inconvenince to THEM...and that it really is a joke or an annoyance. I think alot of people don't realize how serious it really is. Death can be an end result for alot of people...I would think that people wouldn't take it so lightly. And even with the explanantions given, I still find the comment insensitive.

I am going to avoid this thread for now on, since it is turing into a debate and I try to avoid them. And since this affects my child's LIFE....there really is nothing to debate.

Amen....everytime someone posts stuff about peanut allergies you think the world was coming to an end. My son, 8 has peanut allergies.
For those of you who don't have children with such allergies, you may never understand everything we have to do to make sure our children make it through another day.
My son had an attack when he was 4 and I never, ever want him to go through that again.

Lisa

 

[cardaway]

Amen....everytime someone posts stuff about peanut allergies you think the world was coming to an end. My son, 8 has peanut allergies.
For those of you who don't have children with such allergies, you may never understand everything we have to do to make sure our children make it through another day.
My son had an attack when he was 4 and I never, ever want him to go through that again.

Lisa

IMO it has everything to do with coming up with a compromise that makes sense and works for everybody. People like me feel banning peanut products from school and other places is too over the top since it solves nothing but does force a change that does cause real problems.

I haven't seen anybody compaining about their children having to eat their peanut products away from other children. People are willing to compromise, but other people feel it isn't enough. A ban is not a compromise. It's a CYA overreaction.

As somebody pointed out, maybe these allergies are a disability by some definitions. But that doesn't mean there has to be peanut pans everywhere, only changes reducing the risk, and that's really all ANY change will do, including bans.

 

[dis ms.]

Neither of my kids has a food allergy, yet I did find robinb's comment to be insensitive. Did it offend me? No, but I wouldn't have written it. I also thought the OP's comment, "Must have been some kiss." was insensitive, as well. Just MHO.

to all of you dealing with food allergies in your kids. I can't imagine the fear you must live with.

There was a girl in my DS's preschool class that was very allergic to dairy and wheat. The parents took turns providing snacks and there was a 2-page list of snacks to avoid. If I were that girl's mother, I would probably give the teacher snacks for my daughter rather than run the risk of another parent inadvertently bringing a snack that contained wheat or dairy.

 

[Christine]

IMO it has everything to do with coming up with a compromise that makes sense and works for everybody. People like me feel banning peanut products from school and other places is too over the top since it solves nothing but does force a change that does cause real problems.

I haven't seen anybody compaining about their children having to eat their peanut products away from other children. People are willing to compromise, but other people feel it isn't enough. A ban is not a compromise. It's a CYA overreaction.

As somebody pointed out, maybe these allergies are a disability by some definitions. But that means that doesn't mean there has to be peanut pans everywhere, only changes reducing the risk, and that's really all ANY change will do, including bans.

cardaway,
I just want to say that most people *do* compromise. When you hear of all-out bannings--well, that is the more uncommon response. Most PA parents do not expect or require this. I agree with you that everyone is happy with a compromise. I just hope you don't paint all PA parents with the broad brush of being uncompromising, control freaks. We are not. And I promise not to paint all non-allergic people and insensitive, self-centered jerks like the guy who got pissed off and came into his child's school cafeteria and sat down and ate his PB&J and dared anyone to throw him out of the school.

 

[cardaway]

cardaway,
I just hope you don't paint all PA parents with the broad brush of being uncompromising, control freaks.

I do not. My SIL is one of my favorite people. Her son Chad has had two attacks, both his fault for not thinking before he ate. Epi's saved the day on both occasions.