Since I posted in September Timmy has had 2 anaphalactic reactions. He is in the midst of a bad hive episode right now [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] He has had hives off and on for three days. Some of them have been the size of a one dollar bill! His chest, back and face have been covered at times. Poor little guy! Only a double dose of benedryl will get rid of them (he is already on a steroid for bronchitis!)
When I give him a single dose of benedryl they will not go away. He does not have any other symptoms though.
Take Care,
Valerie

My son is 8 and had his first reaction just over a a year old. Just a few hives around his mouth. His next reaction was at the age of 3, hives over his whole body (hives on top of hives on his groin and armpits). Next was an anaphylactic reaction at the age of 7, drove him to emergency where I was told to inject him. Next was a quick and severe (would have been fatal if I didn't inject him right away) reaction at the age of 7 1/2. We are hoping this nightmare will end someday.
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Cynde Punch

My 18 year old son is PA. He has had four reactions. The latest one was from just being in a room where there had been Reeses PB cups.
Each was treated in the ER. The first two were anaphylactic, the third near anaphylactic.
He has asthma which makes his chances for anaphylaxis worse.
He probably had smaller reactions at home before he was diagnosed but he was alway sick with ear infections so a little wheezing or hives never looked that bad.
I remember he used to get one big hive on his wrist while I nursed him. I never knew it was a hive until I figured it out pretty recently.
Peggy

I'm 31 years old and have disliked peanuts ever since I can remember. I'm also allergic to penicillin.
I had my first reaction when I was about three - I ate some chocolate covered peanuts at my neighbour's birthday party. Mum tells me that I threw up everywhere and that she was glad that I didn't like them so she wouldn't have to worry about me choking on them.
I don't think anyone in a country town in Australia in the 70s had ever heard of peanut allergy.
Since then I've had numerous reactions, including hives, difficulty in breathing, throat swelling and one serious anaphylaxis (and many 'mild' reactions thankfully prevented from becoming more serious by going to emergency wards).
I've experienced many of the accidental contaminations listed by other members (I vividly remember a knife contaminated with peanut butter, being kissed on the cheek by a bearded friend who had been eating peanuts and sneezing excessively at a staff lunch - ah yes, peanuts in their shells) and I've told some of my own stories in other notice board sections on this site.
Now I am highly sensitive to the dreaded peanut, and have had to adjust my lifestyle to prevent any more life threatening incidents. I am hoping that 2003 will be a reaction free year, but I'm not making any resolutions....
I totally admire the dedication, love and spirit that parents of PA children have. It is wonderful to read about all the things you are doing to make living in this world as happy and as safe as you can for your children. I would have liked to have been protected more and not have had to experience what not to eat by trial and error, but I know that we just didn't have the info back then.
You may be reassured that once your children grow up and find a special someone (as I have in my husband), that someone will be extremely vigilent in looking after the one they have chosen to love forever :-) As my husband says, what would he do without me? It makes him very protective and careful about what we eat - so much so, that he is the one to check food labels carefully etc etc
Anyway, being a relatively new member - thanks for all the information on this site (we don't seem to have a relevant one in Aus) and if I can be of any help, just send me a message :-)
Helen (Canberra, Australia)