Hello. I've been reading posts on this site for the past few years. Finally I registered!
My 7 year old son was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergy when he was 3 after I noticed a hive on his chin from eating a Reeses Pieces.
The next reaction was when he was 6. He developed hives all over his body at a buffet where supposedly there were no nuts near the food, but there were nuts in the dessert section. We thought maybe cross contamination or maybe really almonds in the greenbeans or something. We gave him Benadryl, went to the ER. He was on Benadryl and steroids for a few days.
The next reaction was in May of this year. He sat at the nut free table at school, but had indoor recess due to rain. He sat at a shared activity table and immediately had an itchy tongue, went to the nurse, received Epi for the first time, spent the night in the hospital, stayed on Benadryl and steroid for a few days. The principal asked how many children ate peanutbutter for lunch that day. 4 of them did! Now, I know he can't even touch anything that someone who had eaten peanut butter touched.
Sunday (one week ago), we were in the supermarket. He pushed the cart for a few minutes and then said he felt like he was having a reaction. His throat felt funny and his chest was tight. I didn't know whether to give Epi or not, but then remembered "if you're not sure whether to give it, give it anyway". So, I did and called 911. He went to a different hospital this time where they gave him Benadryl. No steroids at all. The next day, he was still feeling like his throat was closing. I took him to the pediatrician. She thought it was anxiety due to the experience. She gave me a script for prednisolone and told me to use it if he is swollen. I filled the prescription, but didn't give it to him. He complained off and on off of an itchy throat for a couple of days. By Friday, he was very anxious. He asked me to check his throat every half hour or so and had chest pain. I called the pediatrician again and she sent him to the ER. They did an EKG everything was fine. They told me to start the steroid and keep giving Benadryl every 6 hours. The next day, he was anxious and still felt the symptoms. After the second dose of steroids (the next day), he improved. I think I checked his throat about 6 times today rather than the 100 times yesterday.
I thought it was in his head to have these symptoms so long after his reaction. I guess it wasn't and I'm feeling pretty guilty. I took him to the movies yesterday to get his mind off things and cleaned down the whole seat before we sat down. He even asked me to bring a flashlight so I could look at his throat!! He asked me a couple of times in a panic to look at this throat. His throat always looks swollen to me. I don't even know what to look for. I figure if you can see down there, it's okay??!
Now I know to ask for steroids if and when he has another reaction. I'm surprised I'm not in the psych ward myself!
I apologize for this long story. I needed to let it out!! Any advice or suggestions would ease my mind. I promise to keep it short and sweet in the future!!
I am very sorry to hear that your child is that worried. I think that he should be praised on noticing the symptoms. I am not sure if my son would notice or if he would be too scared to tell me. He is afraid of the EPI. You were also right to give the EPI if not sure. Better safe than sorry.
I hope that you can find the positive in the experience and try to talk to him at his level about his fears. Maybe have a doctor he trusts let him know that he does not need to be so worried all the time. He does deserve a normal life.
Good luck!!! I'm interested to hear how everything works out.