My baby is allergic to peanuts !!

I just got home from the hospital with my 17 month old. One lick of peanut butter gave her a face full of hives. She was pulling at her tounge and coughing. She now has an appointment with an allergist and an epi-pen. I am totally freaked out right now and afraid to feed her.

Hollandergirl and Jill,

I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences. This really is frightening.

You are both right to go and see an allergist right away. In the meantime, stop peanut contact as you are both doing.

I am not an allergist, but studies have shown that peanuts/peanut butter on contact with skin that is not broken ie: cut, scratched etc. usually results in localized reactions only-like the hives you described Hollandergirl. She is probably still allergic and those contact reactions sound horrible-thankfully the reaction did not progress.

Jill-by your above post I'm assuming your daughter licked some peanut butter? Again, I'm not an allergist but I would say it's safe to assume given the reactions you described-she has a peanut allergy as you suspect.

Both of you should take a deep breath and try to relax a little. I know this is a frightening thing. Your kids are both young and often times those can be the most severe reactions-not always-but some times. Steer clear from the peanuts for now, get into the allergist as soon as possible, and keep the benadryl and epi pen on hand at all times.

Post back what you hear regarding test results and feel free to ask any questions.

Ruth

My daughter has a very severe contact reaction as well. After she reacted just like that (from husband eating peanuts in his car, washing his hands thoroughly, drying them off with a paper towel and then wiping her face with the same paper towel) my doctor told me that none of us could eat peanut or peanut butter unless we were on vacation without her (yeah right!) and it would be days before we touched her! So....none of us have had peanuts or pb since!

It wasn't until we visited an allergist that we got all her allergies figured out and got her eczema under control. I can now say that after four years she is completely clear (finally!!!) Today at least, lol.

These contact reactions add a whole new level to the issue because not only do I have to make sure that she doesn't eat any peanuts for her life's sake, but she can't touch anyone that has touched peanuts in the last day for her comforts sake. And let me tell ya, these contact reactions can exacerbate eczema for weeks!!!

Good luck! I hope you guys get in soon and get EpiPens so you're prepared!

Yes, carry your epi pen every where you go. We have one at home,of course, at grandma's and in the bag I carry to go on trips with the kids.
A year ago we found out our 5 year has egg, peanut and treenut allergies. We suspected some type of food allergy when the eczema did not clear but thanks to my HMO I was not able to test him until he turned 4. For the same reason we kept him away from foods that might cause him allergies, specially peanuts. To our, not so much surprise, he tested positive for peanuts,treenuts and borderline for egg. He did stay from eating birthday cake... :( Until we found a website selling peanut free, dairy free, ALLERGY free, and very easy to make, cake and cookie mixes. It is called CHERRYBROOK KITCHEN. Now, whenever we go to a family gathering I bake him his special cake and he is able to have cake with us and even share. At birthday parties I make sure the host knows about his allergies. Believe me all have been very supportive. They always have a special goodies bag made just for him and have even offered to bake the cake!!!
Now he is about to enter Kindergarden which scares me very much. I did complete the necessary form at school for the nurse and will take the epi pen at the start of the school year. The nurse said she will introduce my son to the cafeteria staff so they can watch out for him. With so many new children, how can they spot one? That really scares me. I do not want my child wearing a special card during lunch but it seems to me this would be the safest thing to do...

All of these things to think of - my mind is starting to go numb. AJ is only 9 months old and I am already thinking of home-schooling, just so I wont have to worry about that... the thought of her going to even grandma's house right now scares me so much !! I think (well, I hope, anyway), that once we get her tested I will be better, bcause at least then I will know the extent of it. Although now I have everyone on red-alert, but sometimes I think they feel I am over-reacting. Even my husband doesnt feel the need to get rid of everything in the house with peanuts, although I think he may have changed his mind now. You see, we went out to Chinese food today. We kept AJ in her stroller in the restaurant, knowing that most Chinese foods use peanut oil and other nuts, and she could not reach ANYTHING at all... we had gone there many times before with her, and she had always been fine. Well, today we were only there for about 20 minutes, and we started noticing her ecxema splotches flaring up, she had what almost looked like heat rash on her arms and legs, and she was rubbing her eyes, it looked like she hadn't slept in days, her eyes were all puffy and red. I took her outside and gave her some Benadryl, and it all cleared up fast. Then that got me thinking, maybe we just never noticed any reactions before, because we weren't looking for them. And if we did notice something out of the ordinary, we probably put it off to her being tired. Or hot. So now I feel really bad for putting her through all that.... But we have learned a lesson. No smelling peanuts either.....
And I think now that Daddy has actually seen it with his own eyes, with her just being in a restaurant cooking with it, he is more aware himself....

Sorry to hear about the peanut allergy. It's definitely scary, but eventually it's possible to ease into a lifestyle where you're (for the most part) used to living with a food allergy, and doing what it takes to prevent most reactions. I myself had a severe peanut allergy as a young child (as well as allerges to several other foods). This was in the days before Epipens were invented, and well before food manufacturers knew anything about cross-contamination. And of course, there is this community, which I'm sure you'll find very helpful.

Sounds like you have all of the support you need.

Both of my sons are off the chart peanut/tree nuts.
(my advice: carry epipens everywhere you go and everywhere you are e.g. glove complartment, purse, home, friends house, everywhere)
Its a day to day lifestyle. We are completely removed
from the NUT world.

As the children get older they become selfgoverning. You make it a way of life for them, to be cautious about anything they put in their mouths outside of the home.

I never thought I would be able to deal with it very well, as it is a depressing situation, but we have adapted, and
its OK.
Take care.

Hollandergirl-your daughter is still very young and this is still very new to you. You are doing a GREAT job at getting information, support, and learning all that you can.

I thought I'd do home school too I was so scared. My son just finished his first year of full day Kindergarten without a single reaction.

What helps is doing all that you are doing to keep her safe and yourself educated. It will get better in time-promise!

Hang in there!
Ruth