It can be done! Peanut-free life for 15 years and counting!

Sorry to hear about your scores, but thanks for the note of encouragement about being reaction free for 15 years!

I needed that today [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Meg

This does encourage me! Thanks for sharing (and sorry about the high RAST)
Melissa

Adrienne, Thanks! It's good to hear that even though you're a working woman - eating in restaurants, traveling, etc. that you have been reaction free for so long. It is possible! It makes me a little less anxious.
Thanks,
Adele

I may not know you, but I'm proud of you! It is so good to see someone who has taken control of her life and allergies to that extent-- especially when your allergies are sooo severe. 15 years is a long time... Here's to 15 (or 50) more peanutfree years

Bravo! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

I'm so glad you all got something out of my news :-) Most of my friends just shrugged with a question mark, "Congratulations?"

Even though I still have a high RAST, I'm very excited that I've lived peanut free and have managed to find the right strategies and have avoided any "mistakes". It's also sort of a justification in a way to still have the high RAST...knowing it was all worth it :-)

And yes Adele...I do find ways to travel safely and eat out safely. I think nothing now of bringing my own food somewhere to eat or saying "no thanks" to food at partys/restaurants. Really, I don't feel "left out", though sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just walk into any restaurant and eat anything off the menu. But, I've never known that pleasure, so I'm really not missing anything. It just plain doesn't bother me...I think it bothers those around me more!

Anyhoot - I'm glad my news meant something to those here and that I was able to share it :-) I've gotten a lot here too from everyone, keeping me on my toes so I don't slack on my comfort level (and having way too many Epipens on my person at all times *wink*)

Adrienne

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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

Hi, I wanted to add my thanks here too. As a mom of 2 dd's with PA/TNA it always reassures me when I read such positive posts from the adults that live with this. Sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking about how they'll handle things like university & meals out without us...mind you they are only 3 & 5!! I know it can be done, it's just nice to hear it first hand!
Thanks again, Gilli

Thanks Adrienne for posting such encouraging words! My DD is 15 now and her independence is very important to her, so I'm constantly worrying about things I can no longer control! She's got a good head on her shoulders too, so it's good to hear from people like yourself and Erik, who are confident and successful in dealing with their allergy.

Happy Holidays!

Linda

Good job! Thank you for your post. It is reassuring to me to know it can be done. We're still in the early stages of dealing with PA, and my DD has had 2 reactions in a year, so I start wondering if her life will involve frequent ER visits. But it's nice to know that if we learn to be very careful, it can be better. Hope is a good thing.

Quote:Originally posted by McKenziesMom:
[b] She's got a good head on her shoulders too, so it's good to hear from people like yourself and Erik, who are confident and successful in dealing with their allergy.
[/b]

Hi Linda,

Glad to hear that our experiences are helpful for you to hear.

My last ingestion reaction was when I was about 15 years old.. since I am not 40, it's been 25 years!!!

I had several reactions as a child / teenager (no-name chocolate bar, pastry, cake, cookie) .. I was not that aware of cross contamination in those days. I gave up most baked goods and am verycareful at restaurants, and have been fine since then.

A few airborne reactions (sneezing, etc) in restaurants where there were loose peanuts in the bar (during the 1990s) but I now avoid those environemnts and have had no reactions since.

Have a great holiday too! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

p.s. Adrienne.. congratulations on the 15 yrs with no reactions [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by erik (edited December 14, 2005).]

I just posted this on another thread, but when I saw this I decided it really belonged here:

Adrienne, I for one am so grateful for your input on this board! We worried parents really need the perspective that you, Erik and the other adults who grew up with this allergy can offer.

Thanks!

Amy

Quote:Originally posted by erik:
[b] ...
My last ingestion reaction was when I was about 15 years old.. since I am not 40, it's been 25 years!!!

...
p.s. Adrienne.. congratulations on the 15 yrs with no reactions [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by erik (edited December 14, 2005).][/b]

thanks Erik! I'll catch up to your 25 years peanut free in no time!

But on a sad note...I just learned today that my father's counsin's daughter's son (I think that makes her my second cousin...I'm Auntie A to her son) now has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy...he's 3.

:-( Adrienne

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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

Erik, 25 years - even better...and of course you're not 40! Although if I remember my math.....

I also have a childhood friend with severe PA, and she's the same age as me (40++++++) and she's been incident free since university, so even though I don't hear from her much, she's an inspiration as well!

Linda

Almost fourteen (or 24) years to go.
oh my.....

[This message has been edited by Adele (edited December 16, 2005).]

"...I just learned today that my father's counsin's daughter's son (I think that makes her my second cousin...I'm Auntie A to her son) now has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy...he's 3."

Always sad to hear about another allergic child, but just think how lucky he is to have an Auntie who REALLY understands and is a great role model. :-)

Quote:Originally posted by McKenziesMom:
[b]Erik, 25 years - even better...and of course you're not 40! Although if I remember my math.....[/b]

Hi Linda..

Shockingly (is that a word??), I just turned 40 last month!!! very scary.... where has the time gone...

Fortunately, I've been told the anti-oxidants in the chocolate have kept me looking young. hehe

Here we are in Venice Italy this year

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/hyperion1/venice-hdr.jpg[/img]

I'm glad all us old timers are an inspiration to you, to give encouragement that your daughter should be able to manage PA fine in adulthood [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by erik (edited December 17, 2005).]

Erik, if it were the chocolate that did the job, then I should look about 15, for the amount of it that I eat, but I don't!

I saw your honeymoon photo in the ones you posted when you got back and you definitely don't look anywhere near 40!

Twenty-five years reaction free is definitely inspirational.

Quote:Originally posted by McKenziesMom:
[b]Erik, if it were the chocolate that did the job, then I should look about 15, for the amount of it that I eat, but I don't!

I saw your honeymoon photo in the ones you posted when you got back and you definitely don't look anywhere near 40!

Twenty-five years reaction free is definitely inspirational.
[/b]

That's great.. I am glad that adults with PA do post here, as it's nice to know it gives encouragement to parents. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] And thanks for the compliment.. if I can't be young, it's good to know that at least I can try to look young! hehe

Glad you like the honeymoon pics. For anyone who wants to see more photos from Europe, just email me and I can send you more [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by erik (edited September 06, 2007).]

My PA was discovered at age 27. I am 52 now. Haven't had a PA reaction for 25 years old.

Have developed an antibiotic allergy though.

When I first knew I had it, it was very easy to eat in a restuarant etc., eat manufactured foods and avoid PA. There wasn't very much info about PA allergy then. But I was visiting Boston about that time and learned that a child had died from eating chocolate ice cream that had PA in it.
So, I was very careful.

The last 10 years or so have been a nightmare. I never eat in restaurants in any more and only eat food cooked by me. I eat no manufactured foods at all. Just fresh meat, vegetables and fruit.

Oh, well like another poster said....I eat to live. Not live to eat.

[This message has been edited by cathlina (edited December 18, 2005).]

Quote:Originally posted by cathlina:
[b]The last 10 years or so have been a nightmare. I never eat in restaurants in any more and only eat food cooked by me. I eat no manufactured foods at all. Just fresh meat, vegetables and fruit.[/b]

Hi Cathlina,

Sorry to hear it's been difficult to find safe food these past 10 years. More and more manufacturers are going peanut-free all the time.. Chapmans ice cream, Nestle chocolate, Dare cookies, Dempsters waffles and breads.. check out the manufacturers board for more info.

And some restuarants such as Swiss Chalet are safe to eat at.. I've eaten there for over 30 years [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Hope things get easier for you

I'd just like to echo Adrienne's sentiments. My last serious reaction was at the end of December 1999. I've been pretty much reaction free since then. I think it is very possible for adults to live a reaction free life, and a relatively normal life without pa ruling that life. It's very hearbreaking to see what the parents of pa children go through on here, and makes me wonder about my own parents. It seems like it's an uphill battle I'm sure, but there is hope for your child in the future.

It is so good to get your uplifting insight! Congratulations and thanks so much to all of you PA adults for encouraging us parents with your experiences.

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Luisa

Congrats on the may years without a PA reaction. I am 32 (diag when I was 4) and for some reason I guess I just get unlucky when it comes to cross-contamination. My last reaction was last Father's Day when my daughter have me a cookie that had toched another one with nuts in it... good thing I actually ahd my Epi with me! (sure does sting though!)

Even though I did go many years with out a reaction... I am still glad I was in my right mind to keep my Epi with me... you just never know!

To all the parents out there with children with PA... dont worry... as long as you make it a daily routine for them, it becomes second nature and I hardly notice what I cannot have. I just make sure I enjoy everything else that much more!

Stay safe!

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Mark Welch

Quote:Originally posted by markwelch:
[b]Congrats on the may years without a PA reaction. I am 32 (diag when I was 4) and for some reason I guess I just get unlucky when it comes to cross-contamination. My last reaction was last Father's Day when my daughter have me a cookie that had toched another one with nuts in it... good thing I actually ahd my Epi with me! (sure does sting though!)

Even though I did go many years with out a reaction... I am still glad I was in my right mind to keep my Epi with me... you just never know!

To all the parents out there with children with PA... dont worry... as long as you make it a daily routine for them, it becomes second nature and I hardly notice what I cannot have. I just make sure I enjoy everything else that much more!

Stay safe!

[/b]

hiya and welcome to PA.com! Coming on here has kept me vigilant in some ways, and I always have 2 epi's on my person now as well. Sorry to hear you had a cross-contam. reaction, your poor daughter! She must have felt awful!

Adrienne

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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

I've finally found people like me! My hubby loving called me a freak for years, since I too scored the highest possible score for soy & peanuts on my rast test. I also have reactions from airborne particles, from touch, and alot from cross contamination. I kept arguing with DH, telling him that I wasn't a freak, until a few months ago, when my regular MD told me he had gotten in touch with an MD that specialized in food allergies, and he said "He sees all the freak cases"! DH nearly died laughing, and I finally had to acknowledge that he's right. So, I've come to terms with the fact that my special talent is swelling whenever peanuts & soy are near me. But, at least I've found that I'm not alone!

By the way, in defense of DH--he's been insulin dependent for years and years (4 shots a day). The two of us are quite a pair when we eat out & on vacation!

reraising for xlared's sadness thread

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30-year old survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

I also have lived with my PA and am here at the age of 29 to tell about it. The last reaction I had was when I was 20 and in college. My professor gave us muffins and I took a big bite of one with peanuts in it. And what did that lady say to me, as I was gasping for a breath? "Now don't go dying on us or anything, Sara." Last year my eyes swelled up and turned bright red and I saw that someone near me was eating peanut M&M's. But overall, I do not have any problem. After awhile, you know what you can and can't eat. The PA is always in the back of your mind, but it isn't something that consumes my daily routine.

Sara

Bumping up for new members

I am 36 and haven't had an anaphylactic reaction in 14 years. I've had plenty of minor reactions (eye swelling, itchiness) but no ingestion reactions. I too am very careful and have somewhat tightened my comfort zone now. I would LOVE to walk into a restaurant too and feel like I can order anything off a menu and feel safe, but I know it will be difficult. I mean most of the time I can pick something and know it's safe. The only place is Chinese food, but many, many restaurants are starting to cook with vegetable oil now and not peanut oil. I have NOT had a reaction at the 3 or 4 places I've tried so far. I am extremely careful and ONLY go to those places and emphasize what will happen if I eat peanuts and they seem to get it.