Quote:Originally posted by SallyL:
[b]Now I'm more confused! LOL Even after looking at which ones are seeds versus true nuts, etc, it makes less sense to me! I guess I'll have to call him and hope they let me ask. It's really more about curiousity than anything, just thought it was odd that he only checked one and had to specifically write in another, so it's not like he just accidentally missed checking one off.
I suppose it truly doesn't matter, as we'll avoid all 'tree nuts' but it would have given me more peace of mind knowing the results on all of them. (I did resist temptation and didn't check them off myself!! haha)
Thanks for the feedback![/b]
I'll just add that for myself, I got RAST tested for ALL treenuts and seeds (including sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, etc)...it was some 40 items and about 6 vials of blood.
It was a "I need to know" thing, ya know?
Adrienne
------------------
30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

So now I am not sure what to do. DS is PA, but we avoid all tree nuts (including shea) except for coconut, since I didn't consider that a nut and he has had it many times. I am so frustrated - having to stop using shea last year because of its classification and now coconut... Is there going to be a new "tree nut" announced every year?? I am thankful we are not allergic (so far)and don't mean to sound ungrateful - I am just annoyed - again.
Andrea

Can't add to the which is a tree nut discussion but just wanted to share our experience. My middle son is PA - class V. I treated our youngest the same way until he was tested at just over 3. The allergist did a skin test on him and he was negative to peanut and almond and everything else they tested him for. We were so excited!
A few months later, I had ordered some "peanut-free tree nuts" because my PA child is negative to tree nuts. When my youngest asked if he could have a pistachio, I decided to let him (moment of weakness) because he was going on 4, was negative... mistake. Turns out they only tested him for peanut and almond and the rest were environmental allergens. Major reaction and it turns out he's highly allergic to pistachios and cashews (has never had one of those). The allergist told me those tree nuts weren't the "most likely" allergens and they didn't test for those when they pricked his skin. I felt so bad.
Now, there are no peanuts or tree nuts of any kind allowed in our home. From our experience, if the child has an allergy to one, I'd stay away from all the others. When they did the blood test for pistachio, they included coconut as well (he was negative). I never knew it was considered a tree nut!

My allergist told us that shea is also a tree nut, I told him of my concern about the new shea ingredient in a few of Hersheys candies..He said it would be fine to try..also stating I could have my kids come in the office to try if it made me too nervous..I really like our allergist, he is younger, and really up on all new avenues of PA. I do trust him, however, for now, I am avoiding shea.! He did tell me too that coconut is a tree nut, but that is something my kids really don't even know exists, due to the fact I am not a fan! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
On another note, my son, when he was 3 was tested for tree nuts, negative, then when he was 5, new dr, retested him for tree nuts, positive, so positive especially with cashew, he is off the charts..very strange, we have just always avoided tree nuts anyway!
------------------
Amy (mom of 2)
Son PA/TNA
Daughter PA/TNA

I spoke with a nurse today at our allergist office and she stated that coconut is not a tree nut and does NOT need to be avoided. I still am wary of it as so many of your docs told you all to stay away. When I asked our doc about shea nut several months ago - the doc agreed that shea nuts/oils etc should be avoided. I trust my doc as he is well respected pediatric allergist and has always had very sound advice and very trustworthy.
Don't really know what to do, I just wanted to post that there is some difference of opinion on coconut being a tree nut. I am not going to run out and give my DS coconut, but not sure I should totally avoid since he has had it without issue before (many times)... this allergy thing can be so confusing at times.
Andrea

Check out this link for "fruits called nuts"
[url="http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph8.htm"]http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph8.htm[/url]
The FDA has a list of nuts they consider tree nuts as well...coconut is on it, shea is on it. I can't easily find it right now...but its out there....
HTH

Regarding coconut, I read on one of the links here that while it is now classified as a tree nut, it is generally not as much of a concern for some people and doctors because the part we eat is not the nut itself but the flesh - the white flaky stuff. Sorry if this is repeat information.
------------------
Kim
DS - age 4 - allergic to peanuts and eggs
DS - age 2 - no known allergies

Thanks for the website - I agree - coconut is similiar, but if I stop trusting my doc - I feel I will be at a loss. When treating my older son (regarding autism) I had to step outside of western medicine so I am used to making my own decisions regarding medicals issues for my children, but I feel with the allergy issue - it is so much important to trust your doctor since it is a life-threatening issue.
I'll have some of my PA friends call their docs too and see what they say too. I will let ya all know - not that it will change anything, but I would like to get a conscenus.
Andrea

My kids were just tested this Tues...I asked about shea nut(because we've used shea butter daily(for years) in diaper wipes, J&J baby wash and J&J baby lotion, in which we've NEVER had problems)...but get this, the allergist had no idea what I was talking about! So I figure, if reaction history plays a roll in determining an allergen, apparently none of my kids have problems with it.
Now my son Jake, he is PA and all TNA, I asked about seeds this visit too(he wanted to taste sunflower seeds). Then he said if he eats more then 2 or 3 green beans, his throat is weird....so we tested some legumes and some seeds just to be sure. Sesame was positive, and I was shocked! I had no idea(not that we really ever eat it though, we always buy plain buns etc...) so we drew blood and added sunflower, pumpkin as well as coconut. Our allergist told us to just stay away from ALL nuts, ALL seeds and coconut as well, just in case. I do think once you start adding multiple allergies to the same group, it's just safer to avoid the whole group then to try to take chances. But I agree...it's so confusing!
------------------
Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 1/2(beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig, hamster & asthma)
Jake-6 1/2(peanut, all tree nuts, seasame seeds, (avoiding all seeds&coconut)eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-4 (milk, tree nuts(avoiding peanuts and seeds)soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig, hamster, grass, mold, dust mite and EE)
Savannah-1 1/2 (milk, beef and egg, dog(avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, strawberries, sesame seeds, green beans, peas and corn)
[This message has been edited by chanda4 (edited August 04, 2007).]