new here and ? about doctor

Hello, my name is Shoshana and I have been reading the boards for a little while now. I think it is a great resource.

I had some questions, and I wanted to relay some background. A few years ago, I suspected a walnut allergy (mild difficulty breathing after injestion), so I had my allergist skin-test me for foods. Nothing showed up initially, but while I was talking to him, a very small wheal came up in the area where we thought the peanuts were tested. He told me to avoid peanuts but didn't give me any further information. I already carry an Epi-pen for a wasp allergy.

This year, I had some trouble breathing after being around boiled peanuts (a Southern delicacy) and peanut butter. These were inhalation reactions. Since I wanted to know if my allergy was getting worse, I asked the allergist to skin-test me again. I am more confused than ever.

This time, I had no reaction to peanuts, but I had small delayed reaction to pecans, black walnuts, and hazelnuts. I don't have reactions to pecans or hazelnuts. I asked the doctor what this meant, and he told me that I probably wasn't allergic to nuts, and that I should try to eat some peanuts when I got home. I gave him a strange look, and he told me that I could do it there at the office if I preferred.

Well, stupid me, I went home and ate a spoonful of chunky peanut butter. I tried to think positive thoughts, as I didn't want to have a psychological reaction. I thought I noticed a full feeling in my throat, but I wasn't sure, so I tried again in an hour. The second spoonful definitely made me feel as if something was stuck in my throat. A short time later, I laughed at something, and it caused a coughing fit, as if I were having an asthma attack. I took my inhaler and was OK after that, although my throat was sore and phlemmy for a few days afterward. I did not get any hives.

My questions are whether I should change allergists, and if I should consider myself allergic to peanuts. How stringent should I be in avoiding them? I haven't worried about may contains up to this point, and I realized that I have been eating Keebler Elf cookies (which have peanut flour as an ingredient) with no problems.

Thanks for your opinions.