pHi.. I'm 50 yo and another one new to peanut allergy and somewhat shocked by it.. I've had allergy problems most of my life, eaten peanut butter as long as I can remember - so it was with a lot of surprise that after a skin test the doc says,the only thing that showed up positive was peanuts. Huh? I thought the reaction to that would be enough to get your attention! He told me to avoid them, as even if I'd been eating them I could not be assured of continuing to do so without a problem, and prescribed an epi-pen. I'm not quite sure what to think about all of this. And no, I don't know what degree of reaction as at the time didn't know enough to have any reason to ask or know there might a good question there.br /
Maybe someone here can help explain how this can be - that I haven't ever had a reaction that I could determine to be specific to peanuts, yet test allergic. Or can it be so mild that while it's virtually a non-issue right now and there's no way to tell when it could become an issue?br /
Thank youbr /
Myra/p
another newbie
Posted on: Wed, 04/03/2002 - 10:02am
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Wow, that sounds strange, doesn't it? I think I would want more testing, or a food challenge since you can never recall a reaction to it and have been exposed to it alot.
laughingcat,
Maybe you have reacted to peanut without knowing.
Your eyes got itchy, started sneezing like crazy, you say you suffer from allergies so maybe you attributed those reactions to that and really it's because you were eating peanut?
I'm surprised though with your Doctor's faith in the test and prescribing an epipen when you haven't had reason to think you have a peanut allergy.
You would think they would like to do a Challenge or Cap Rast to see for sure if you indeed have this allergy to peanut.
There are a lot of false positives with scratch tests so I would ask for a Cap Rast to make sure, you really have a lot of work to do if you indeed have a peanut allergy and have to be pretty serious about it, so I would want to find out for sure.
Hi, Myra.
I'm in a similar position, except with tree nuts, not peanuts. I have a child who is allergic to peanuts (and macadamias, so we keep him away from all tree nuts, too), so I haven't had these in the house for a while.
I didn't hesitate to eat something at a restaurant, though, that contained walnuts or almonds, for example, since my son isn't specifically allergic to those nuts and I wasn't bringing them home with me. (I don't eat peanuts or macadamias anymore because since my son became allergic to them I've lost my appetite for them myself!)
So I was astonished when in the course of some skin testing, I tested positive for almonds and Brazil nuts. I got a couple epipens for myself and was told to strictly avoid all tree nuts.
As far as I know, I've never had any symptoms from nuts, but since I have to carry Epipens for my son anyway and since we don't have nuts in the house anyway, this wasn't too much of a lifestyle change for me.
If you really feel the test results were a false positive, and the lifestyle change required to stear clear of peanuts is a tough one to take for no reason, you could always double check them with blood (RAST) tests.
FWIW, you're not the only one out there that this type of thing has happened to.
Debbie
[quote]Originally posted by smack:
[B]laughingcat,
Maybe you have reacted to peanut without knowing.
Your eyes got itchy, started sneezing like crazy, you say you suffer from allergies so maybe you attributed those reactions to that and really it's because you were eating peanut?
well yeah, I do that, .. and have had times when it seemed I was too short of breath..
a cap rast sounds like a good idea though! I will ask. I have to go through the referral thing for everthing!
Thanks Debbie.. I'll check about the rast thing.. I have to get all approved etc through my primary care provider. I have complained for years of allergies and nothing has helped at all.. SIL says, so do this and see if they go away before going back for more tests. The ears and skin rashes etc will be rather easy to figure out.
It is good to hear from others about it just popping up.. and needing future avoidance. I feel so much like I'm making a big thing over not much, you know? But do I really want to take a chance and find out what a bad reaction feels like? I can understand that due to the possible reaction the doc says, take no chances! I guess I just would like more info from the doc but thought about all my questions later on.. and since I would take a bet on what he'd say anyway, decided to come here! LOL. Others experiences are good to hear.
Welcome, shayesmom!
Glad you found us [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Cathy
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Mom to 7 yr old PA/TNA daughter and 4 yr old son who is allergic to eggs.
Happy you are here,
just sorry we are not an
International Flying Club rather than an International Food Allergy Club, of sorts. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
~EB
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~Eli[b]Z[/b]abeth,
Mother to 2:
DD age 5, NKA, treated as though PA/TNA
DS age 8, PA, possible TNA, Latex, legumes?
(PA diagnosed & ana reaction 1999)
Member here since 2000
Welcome.
It will be very difficult to comprehend that your daughter has one of "those" peanut allergies.... but this allergy is VERY unpredictable.
Do you have epinephrine? If you don't, you should get at least a couple of Epipens. Better to be prepared for something that never happens, right?
Many people also find that it is easiest and safest to remove all PN products from their homes... at least until the child is a lot older. Some people choose to try it and see, but most people eventually remove them all. It is just too scary if anyone but you ever feeds your child at your house. Too easy to make a mistake.
Anyway-- glad you have found us!
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Welcome! I am glad you found us here...there is a lot of information and wonderful people, knowledgable people to learn from. It's defintely a difficult road to travel at times, but armed with knowledge, you can do it! Never leave home with out your epis and benedryl...the allergy can be unpredicable for sure.
Big hugs to you....and welcome!
Hi Just read your post.. I am new here too!
I have made a decision NOT to have any Peanut or nuts of any kind in my ouse... so that my son have some place that is safe for him too eat... He still does not realize that his allergy is serious... I keep drilling it into his head and hopefully he will learn.
Therese
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