Skip to Content
Register · Login
About Theme

A Letterboxing Community

Atlas Quest
Search Edit Search

Read Thread: Food Allergies & a Little One

Re: Food Allergies & a Little One
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #90598 by B L3
May 7, 2007 12:10pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I went through some very similar stuff with my first child. He's now 8, and I know a good bit has changed since then, but I'll see what I can answer for you a give you a little piece of mind.

First off, look at it this way: now you KNOW you need to be careful regarding a particular allergen. You can be PRO-active rather than RE-active, which as you discovered this weekend is much more scary.

The pin prick on the back test: it's not as awful as it sounds. It's minute amounts of various common allergens and they put them on a grid on the back. IF there's a reaction, there will be a little raised bump like a misquito bite. If there's no reaction, nothing happens and the grid stays clear. They gave Jay a sucker while they were 'pricking' him, but he never even noticed. It's not a REAL pin prick like a needle.


Go in with some questions, and my pediatic allergist gave me a LIST of questions, and then sat and answered them. Very helpful. Most ped allergists are used to dealing with apprehensive parents, and the questions don't bother them at all.

*IF* an epi-pen is required, it's not as awful as it sounds either. It looks like a fat cigar tube, and it's not something anyone is going to accidentally set off or anything. It takes concious effort to deploy an epi pen. Good news about an epipen. The MOMENT you think a reaction is occuring, you can use it. But, if it comes to nothing, you haven't HURT the child by using it. Obviously, the most desired choice is to not use it at all, but should it be used and then not needed, it's not going to be detrimental.

If it's a major allergy, you can always get the medic-alert bracelets. They do make those for children and infants. Letting everyone know what the allergies are is important (obviously). Some allergies are more common in children (peanuts, milk, bee stings) and educators and daycare workers are very familiar with the procedures for ensuring children don't get something they're not supposed to.

The allergist will tell you what signs to look for regarding a reaction, particularly the ones that may result in anaphalyxis (and when to use the epi pen). Whether allergy shots are required or applicable to this situation will be something to ask your doctor.

The most helpful advice I can give to you regarding piece of mind is to TRY and relax. I *do* understand how difficult it is, having been there myself. But, if you're upset and uptight, the children pick up on that as well, and it makes them apprehensive.

So...lol....that's about all I can suggest at the moment. However, feel free to AQ mail me if you'd like to bounce some ideas off of me.

Jenni P McD
Re: Food Allergies & a Little One
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #90598 by B L3
May 7, 2007 12:11pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Oh, how scary for you.

What to expect completely depends on what caused the reaction. You will have to be much more vigilant about ingredients in food. For instance, if it's a peanut allergy, you will have to check everything for peanut flour (found in most cookie doughs, mixes, and "storebought" cookies) and avoid places that fry in peanut oil (Chick-Fil-A springs to mind).

The scratch tests they are talking about are very common. With your daughter being so young, the main thing that will confront you is her inability to understand what these people are doing to her. She will cry A LOT. You need to take deep breaths and just hold her or stroke her as much as you can while they are doing the tests.

Once you discover what the allergy is, you may need to restructure how you prepare foods and find alternate recipes for faves. My mother had to switch to rice flour for most of my brother's childhood because of his severe allergy to wheat.

Another thing to realize is that allergies can change. My brother can now eat wheat but is severely allergic to canola oil. It put him in the hospital last year and came on very suddenly and without warning.

At some point, probably when she gets school-age, you will have to trust others (and her) to know what she can have and what not. The teachers at my son's school are very vigilant about keeping up with which kids have allergies and what is allowed in the classroom.

Good luck,
Knit Wit
Re: Food Allergies & a Little One
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #90606 by knit wit
May 7, 2007 6:27pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you both so much for your insight. We just returned from the t-ball field, and I only checked to make sure I had the EpiPen twice. =) It is so helpful, and calming, to gather wisdom from someone who has already traveled down the road you suddenly find yourself upon.
Again, thank you.
B L3
Re: Food Allergies & a Little One
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #90694 by B L3
May 7, 2007 10:06pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I had the back test done. There were quite a few (I guess the bigger the back, the more they test, *shrug*). It was just a bit itchy. Of course, a few didn't react, so they did them on my arm, which was much better, there were about 8. When I reacted to those, they were happy. It turns out, if it grows, I'm allergic to it. But, I've never had a reaction like your child's. How scary. Maybe you can get the allergy shots when the age is right and you won't have to worry about it anymore. It's so sad about peanut allergies (which I have and can't stay away from) because so many foods are prepared in plants that produce peanut foods also. Good luck.

Janet, Blooming Flowers