Hi there. I'm trying to figure out where to start. Over the past few year I started to question if I was allergic to nuts, mainly peanuts. I would just get really itchy with tiny almost whitehead pimple looking bumps. Then it seemed like any time I ate any peanuts or even other types of nuts, I would break out with occasional welts under my eyes & even a swollen eye. But that was really hit or miss.... That said, let me take you to mid Septmember.
Episode 1: I had given my 3 dd's pecans & some fruit for a snack(they don't appear to have any FA). I ate about 4 pecans, I figured I needed to stay away from peanuts mostly. Anyways, within 15 min. My face was really itchy, & I had red welts under my eyes. I then noticed a few hours later my right eye began to swell. I ended up taking 2 benadryl that night & then it took about 6 days for my eye to go back to normal. About 4 days after my reaction I had to take my youngest dd for her check up & I told the dr. about what happened & he prescribed me 2 epi-pens. (I've also gone to him as my dr.)
Episode 2: I had eaten some snyder's pretzels(which are processed in a nut environment) & I didn't think I would be that sensitive. About 40 min. later, my nose got really itchy, but again, I didn't think much of it. So, after that we go out to dinner. I ordered my usual grilled chkn. salad, which they don't prepare in any nut oil, & I started getting more itchy. I talked with the waitress & asked her to go check the ingredient list on the dressing. She then informs me that the person who makes the salads wears gloves, but the walnuts are next to the salad & she may have touched the nuts before preparing the salad.
So, I went home & I started getting more ithcy & got some more of the little whitehead bumps. I had to take 2 benadryl which seemed to help. No swelling occured, but I realized my reaction got much more sensitive, especially where I didn't even eat nuts directly.
Episode 3: Last weekend I was kissing my newest little nephew(who is absolutely adorable), & about 40 min. later I started itching & getting little whitehead bumps. I realized that my sister had eaten a tsp. of peanut butter before I had held him & she had also smooched on him.
I had to take benadryl that night, but the next a.m. I woke up with welts under my eyes & my right eye was swollen again.
I'm sorry this is so long, but part of me feels like this is a warning, but then I wonder if it is likely to ever turn into anaphalaxis?
Should I be concerned? Part of me also feels overwhelmed & in denial that it could be that bad.
Hi KIMMO,
I'd run to the nearest allergist and have testing done.
I was diagnosed with PA a couple of years ago but only after having a major reaction. Prior to that, when I had problems after eating peanuts, I didn't realize what was happening, nor did I make the connection to peanuts.
Until you go to the allergist, I would avoid ANY contact with not just peanuts and pecans, but all nuts. It you go to the MANUFACTURERS (FOOD) SAFE & UNSAFE forum and scroll back through previous posts, you'll get a pretty good idea of what food we consider safe. I'd stay away from anything that says 'may contain' or 'manufactured in a facility etc. but also don't feed your family anything with nuts in it. Most of us maintain a completely peanut free home.
When I was first diagnosed, I spent hours here every evening, reading all the forums. PA.com is pretty much how I learned to live with peanut allergy. My allergist also referred me to [url="http://www.foodallergy.org."]www.foodallergy.org.[/url]
Initially, it is overwhelming when you find out you are PA (or TNA) At first, you might be terrified to eat anything, but gradually, you'll find your comfort zone. It took me about a year before I realized I wasn't thinking about PA all the time.
As you already have epi-pens, make sure you know how and when to use them. You'll find all of that information here if you search the various threads.
I notice from your profile, that you're in North Carolina. I think we have other members from NC also. If you need a recommendation for a good allergist, you might ask here.
Keep us posted. Good luck.
Adele
Thankyou both for your replies. I have an apt. with an allergist on 11/27. I haven't quite figured out how to search threads yet, but I'll figure it out.
Part of me thinks that maybe I'm over reacting. I also can't believe that I major nut reaction can just happen. I've eaten nuts my whole life. Now I wonder about my dd's. I feel bad now that I have to tell my family that they can't eat nuts because of me, though they are very understanding & supportive.
I look forward to everyone's help & getting to know you!
Quote:Originally posted by KIMMO:
[b]
Part of me thinks that maybe I'm over reacting. I also can't believe that I major nut reaction can just happen. I've eaten nuts my whole life. [/b]
I ate nuts my entire life too - but here we are.
It will take a while for it to sink in. Then you have to find a balance where you are careful without being paranoid.
To do a search, click on 'search' in the upper right corner, right under 'reply to this topic'. The search engine works better if you just type in one word. You can ask it to search just one forum, or all of them.
Rather than use search, I would read all the posts in one forum, going back to the beginning, around 1999. Then the next evening, I'd choose another forum. Keep in mind that information on MANUFACTURERS (FOOD) SAFE AND UNSAFE will be dated. Something that was safe in 2002 may not be now, and vice versa.
Do others in your family have asthma or allergies? Did you have eczema when you were a kid? Food allergies usually occur in families with this medical history.
Hang in there. It'll get easier.
I do have excema problems. Mainly on my right hand. I always get painful slits on my fingers & on my hand. Dermatologists have never been able to figure it out. They have never said if it was psoriasis or excema. A lot of my family members have seasonal allergies, also the past 2 years I have had problems with sinus infections which I've never had a problem with before.
The strange thing is that after my last reaction, my right gland under my jaw bone, in that area hurt & felt big all day. I've had that happen before & I think that it was probably related to a reaction. It's better now.
thanks for the concern, everyone!
I agree with the others. Although your reactions were not life threatening, they can be life threatening next time. You should practice with an epipen trainer (a fake one without a needle) and make sure you are comfortable with it. You should get the video "It Only Takes One Bite" from FAAN. It is 18 minutes and will show you how and when to use an epi. I think McCobbre on this board is also adult onset and her reactions keep getting worse also. Until you see the allergist, I would avoid anything with peanuts or tree nuts, may contains, made in a plant with, etc.
[This message has been edited by Carefulmom (edited November 05, 2006).]
WOW! When you figure out how to use the search engine you should look up some of my previous posts. I too am new to this. It was hard for me to believe you can develop such a serious allergy as an adult. I had similar reactions to yours. I also had an ambulance ride...don't let it get to that point... not fun... and that wasn't even a full blown attack! Be safe... read labels, ask questions... don't forget, your not alone! Good luck with your allergist....
... my family doctor told me there was no reason to send me to an allergist as my reaction that lead to my hospital visit clearly confirmed my allergy. This made me a little angry as I wanted an official diagnosis. Anyhow I just went to the dr. the other day because of my really bad cracked dry hands and itchy ankles and legs. FINALLY... he is refuring me to an allergist! I will update later....
I am Stacey... welcome [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I would definitely be concerned. I went from being able to tolerate the smell of peanut butter, and mild reactions (just some welts and swelling to my throat closing up and not able to tolerate the smell (although this is kind of hit or miss). Each time you are exposed to an allergen, it gets worse. So, I sincerely hope you check what you eat and make sure it's safe. Trust me, it is frightening to have an anaphylactic shock, and not able to breathe. You don't want to go there!!!
Hi KIMMO,
I'd run to the nearest allergist and have testing done.
I was diagnosed with PA a couple of years ago but only after having a major reaction. Prior to that, when I had problems after eating peanuts, I didn't realize what was happening, nor did I make the connection to peanuts.
Until you go to the allergist, I would avoid ANY contact with not just peanuts and pecans, but all nuts. It you go to the MANUFACTURERS (FOOD) SAFE & UNSAFE forum and scroll back through previous posts, you'll get a pretty good idea of what food we consider safe. I'd stay away from anything that says 'may contain' or 'manufactured in a facility etc. but also don't feed your family anything with nuts in it. Most of us maintain a completely peanut free home.
When I was first diagnosed, I spent hours here every evening, reading all the forums. PA.com is pretty much how I learned to live with peanut allergy. My allergist also referred me to [url="http://www.foodallergy.org."]www.foodallergy.org.[/url]
Initially, it is overwhelming when you find out you are PA (or TNA) At first, you might be terrified to eat anything, but gradually, you'll find your comfort zone. It took me about a year before I realized I wasn't thinking about PA all the time.
As you already have epi-pens, make sure you know how and when to use them. You'll find all of that information here if you search the various threads.
I notice from your profile, that you're in North Carolina. I think we have other members from NC also. If you need a recommendation for a good allergist, you might ask here.
Keep us posted. Good luck.
Adele
Thankyou both for your replies. I have an apt. with an allergist on 11/27. I haven't quite figured out how to search threads yet, but I'll figure it out.
Part of me thinks that maybe I'm over reacting. I also can't believe that I major nut reaction can just happen. I've eaten nuts my whole life. Now I wonder about my dd's. I feel bad now that I have to tell my family that they can't eat nuts because of me, though they are very understanding & supportive.
I look forward to everyone's help & getting to know you!
Quote:Originally posted by KIMMO:
[b]
Part of me thinks that maybe I'm over reacting. I also can't believe that I major nut reaction can just happen. I've eaten nuts my whole life. [/b]
I ate nuts my entire life too - but here we are.
It will take a while for it to sink in. Then you have to find a balance where you are careful without being paranoid.
To do a search, click on 'search' in the upper right corner, right under 'reply to this topic'. The search engine works better if you just type in one word. You can ask it to search just one forum, or all of them.
Rather than use search, I would read all the posts in one forum, going back to the beginning, around 1999. Then the next evening, I'd choose another forum. Keep in mind that information on MANUFACTURERS (FOOD) SAFE AND UNSAFE will be dated. Something that was safe in 2002 may not be now, and vice versa.
Do others in your family have asthma or allergies? Did you have eczema when you were a kid? Food allergies usually occur in families with this medical history.
Hang in there. It'll get easier.
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