My 17-month-old son tested positive for peanut allergies with the skin prick test a few weeks ago. Our pediatrician sent us to the pediatric allergist after Robby broke out in hives from eating peas. Like many I was not prepared when I went to see the allergist. I was alone with my son who was trying to climb the book case and eat pen caps so I didn't think to ask a lot of questions. At the allergist I was given a prescription for epipens, told to sign up with FAN, to avoid legumes, given a list of the legume family and sent on my way. My husband and I did spend a good chunk of time with my son's pediatrician. Robby had to go in for an ear check shortly after seeing the allergist. We faxed our three pages of questions in the day before hand and she answered them as best she could (she really appreciated getting the questions in writing ahead of time). There were a couple of things that she couldn't tell us. While we do plan on scheduling a consult with the allergist without our son I was hoping for a little information from this community.
First, I've been skimming through this board for the past few weeks. It is very specific to peanuts and not legumes in general. I'm hoping that there is a peanut/pea allergic person who can tell me about partially hydrogenated soybean oil. It's in absolutely everything. Robby has never shown any type of reaction to - for example - Goldfish, Stouffers mac and cheese - and they contain hydrogenated soybean oil. If I have to eliminate this my son could starve before I learn how to cook....
Second, the prick test was done for about 7 different things. The dog test did not show positive yet my son breaks out in hives when licked by a dog. The allergist thought that maybe the skin wasn't broken properly on that test. I've asked friends/family with dogs to read me their dog food labels and several products contain ingredients from the legume list. This makes me
- hope that someday we might be able to get a dog if I can find a food that my son can tolerate
- worry that exposure to dog saliva is a much bigger problem than I thought
Has anyone asked their allergist about this?
Lastly - how did you all learn to read labels. My FAN stuff hasn't arrived yet. I'm hoping that will have more information.
Thanks,
-Laura
Hi Laura,
Sorry to hear you are having to deal with some of the puzzling aspects of this allergy. My two year old son had a small reaction to dogs (a larger reaction to cats, but we don't own any cats) on the skin test, and yet three times he has had a reaction manifested by hives and swollen eyes while in the backyard with our dog. However, he has been in the backyard with our dog countless other times and does not display any reaction! So, I am left wondering whether it is the dog he reacted to or something unknow other allergen in our backyard. My son tested a +2 to dogs on the skin test. I was just wondering what your sons test revealed, worse or better?
The peanut, on the other hand, he tested a whopping +20 to. He did not get tested for other legumes, and we have never had a problem, however; he doesn't seem to really like peas and beans, so that leaves us wondering...
I would like to hear other experiences with the skin testing, as my allergist did not offer the Rast testing, and I haven't heard of any other children or adults testing a +20 on the skin test. Is my son in a category all his own??
Good luck and stay safe.
Hi Laura
I am one of the 'sensitive to the whole group' people.
In my experience if the label says soy (oil, lecithin, protein, sauce...) it would be a good idea to avoid it. I have reached the point where something with soy oil in will make me itch. Mind you, your son probably has a few years to go before he gets that sensitive to small amounts of it.
The partial or full hydrogenation won't change the possibility of reaction, it just changes the fat's consistency for the manufacturing process.
You are probably going to have to learn to cook. I did, if only because walking around scratching in public isn't exactly the way I wanted to present myself.
In Canada, at least, there are (more expensive) ready prep foods available that have been made with canola etc. So if I'm really strapped for time, I can usually find something.
Hope that helps
Liz
------------------
I have a question about the skin prick test and soy, as well...How high does the test go? My son was a 4+ for peanuts and a 1+ for soybean. I didn't realize it could go up to 20! Does that mean his allergy is mild? And as for the soybean, his allergist said not to worry about avoiding soy because it was only a 1+, but I'd like to increase his chances of outgrowing the allergy all together. I've heard that the soybean oil is okay... I'm so confused! And while I'm at it with all the questions, is it typical to avoid the whole legume family if there is more than one allergy in that family? Joshua just loves string beans and peas! I guess I have a lot of questions for the allergist for our next visit! I'd reallly apreciate any help anyone can send my way. Sorry so long! [img]http://client.ibboards.com/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I am having this same problem. I am 26 years old and was just diagnosed with the peanut allergy. My Ige was 6 but the blood Rast was 969. What does this mean? I was told to avoid the whole legume family also. I seem to find soy in everything. the bad thing is i kept a record for three weeks and on the days I ate one of the legumes or soy lectc...whatever that is I immediately swell in the face eyes, and hands. HELLLPPP!