And just to let you know, you are not alone if your fear ebbs and flows over the years.  I am ramped up pre-start to school year.  Holiday time as well (school parties, not family necessarily).  You will also notice the board is more contentious at certain times of year (holidays and pre-school start being big) as we take out frustrations where we can.

As far as the tree nuts go, I honestly wouldn't.  I say no because your daughter is probably not of the age she can tell you how she is truly feeling in regards to a reaction, kwim.  Nor do I think it's a good idea to avoid if you don't have to do so. 

Blue Diamond has peanut free almonds though if you must.   And yes, they say peanut free and label well for other shared tree nut lines.

I don't know about those specific stores.  I know stores like Walmart (Great Value) label exceedingly well.  And then stores like Whole Foods (365 Brands) look like they label well at first site but can be a giant bunch of hooey especially if avoiding wheat.

Keep in mind that some brands label better than others.  Yes, they are required to label for the ingredients (my preference is for the brands that bold or somehow highlight their "contains").  No they are not required to label for may contains and shared lines.  Some brands are just downright frustrating to get answers, some are awesome to get answers from.   Keep in mind that peanut oils don't have to be listed as a contain because it is considered to be highly refined and devoid of protein.  I think there are some on this board that disagree. 

Keep in mind if you go into the manufacturing section that not everyone is dealing with your specific allergies.  I would say a lot of the information there is specifically to nuts whereas the other food specific sections might deal with other ingredients. 

Look in your pantry and think about the last 14 days worth of meals.  Think about those ingredients and start with them.  Try planning a trip alone to the grocery store. 

I hope you have made it over here to the new board.  Give us a wave if you have. 

Finding out as much as you can about your childs allergies will really help in reducing your fears.  My son has many allergies, and it is scary, but it does get easier over time.  The first 6 months are the most difficult, but it does get easier with time.  The 2 hour shopping trip quickly are reduced to standard shopping times once you get a handle on reading labels and what brands are safe to use (but still read the label everytime as labels do change)

As tons of questions... there is a ton of knowledge on this board and lots of great people who are always willing to help!

Posted: Sep 15th, 2011 at 01:25 pm    
This is going to be ling, sorry

My 20 month old daughter was just diagnosed with severe peanut and cashew allergy. Also tested positive for peas and wheat. She has exczema as well. At a year old she had a few hives on her face after getting some peanut butter on her face but not eating any, she has also had these hives after eating meat with A-1 and Worchestershire in it and after eating some Italian sausage.
We have just been avoiding these foods. After her 18 month check up, the
pediatrician didn't seem concerned. I had banned peanut in our home and husband thought I was overreacting. I took a tiny tasting spoon and smeared a bit of PB on it, she of course loved it and cried for more. probably about 1/4 teaspoon she ate. about 10 min later the hives showed up, (I still didn't know these white bumps with red around them were hives). And her lip was a bit swollen, she started sneezing and clear liquid started running out her nose. I rushed her upstairs and gave her a teaspoon of benadryl that she mostly let run out of her mouth. Carried her downstairs and she threw up, three times, glop, glop, glop in a row. We jumped in the car and drove to the hospital. The hives were now gone and she seemed to not have any other symptoms. the on call pediatrician saved us a visit to the ER. he came and examined her in the waiting room. we had an allergist appointment a few days later, scratch test, big reactions to peanut and cashew none to walnut or almond . medium size reaction to wheat and pea.
I am carrying an epi pen kit everywhere she goes.
the doctor said she has potential for anaphylactic reaction, I thought since she had hives, sneezing/runny nose, multiple vomit - isn't that multiple system reactions considered anaphyl? if she has these multiple symptoms, shouldn't I give her the epi- pen? The allergist said if she's having trouble breathing ect. but the video he had me watch said not to wait if multiple symptoms? He also suggested zyrtec not since it doesn't cross the brain barrier isn't diphenhydramine faster acting?

he also said we could try removing wheat and pea and see if it helps her exczema.
I cook a lot from scratch, so I figured it may be best to just eliminate the wheat anyways. although she eats bread pasta pretzels and crackers regularly and has no reactions we are aware of, besides exczema since young infant.
I find regular wheat flour has no peanut warning (I use King Arthur) but I was not able to find Gluten free flours or xantham gum that DON'T have peanut warnings. Peanut/treenut and wheat/gluten allergy folk, what do you use

I know we could have prolems a lot worse. but this is very scary and very new (just since last week)

Can't sleep, so worried, overwhelmed, scared to death of leaving my daughter with anyone( I don't even trust my husband) Just so Afraid, Afraid, Afraid!

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hezzier
Moderator

Posted: Sep 15th, 2011 at 02:19 pm    
Hi and Welcome! Sorry you had to find us. I have learned more here from reading and asking questions than I did from our first allergist. Some allergists are better at dealing with food allergies than others so sometimes it takes another try to find the right one for your family.

In the situation you described above, I would have given the epi to my child.

No offense to husbands, but sometimes it takes them a little longer to get on board with the program also.

In terms of banning the allergens, we do not allow treenuts in the house. On occasion, my husband and I will have some good dark chocolate that is a "may contain" which we do not share with the kids. Since we aren't exactly sure he's allergic to sesame (long story), I do still eat hummus, but nothing with "loose" sesame seeds. My DS can eat eggs baked in cakes, but have removed it from cookies and anything that doesn't bake for an extended period of time, so we do have eggs in the house all the time. You have to figure out what you are comfortable with.

If you are looking for a PB substitute for you son, we highly recommend sunbutter.

I'm sure we have some members that can chime in on the gluten free flour.

Keep asking question...some one here can usually give you a good answer!

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YouKnowWho
Member

Posted: Sep 15th, 2011 at 04:54 pm    
Run from your allergist, it's okay - run screaming 

Let me guess - the majority of his patients are environmental allergy sufferers? Ask me how I know this 

Not your fault, I really hate environmental allergists that parade as food allergists. Been through a few of them myself. Which is how we falsely ended up avoiding wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, eggs, soy, dairy, peanuts and tree nuts. Yeah, that wasn't fun. However my son is allergic to wheat, rye, barley and egg. And I have another son who tests positive to avoids almost all beans, spinach, mushrooms, peanuts and tree nuts.

We don't ban foods in our house because of the sheer number of food allergies we deal with (I have my own as well).

Okay, brands you want to look into -
EnerG (have to admit their bread is atrocious, but they do have flour mixes that are gluten free)
Glutino makes the gluten free pretzels (not the chocolate covered ones though)
Cherrybrook Kitchens baking mixes (cakes and cookies - gluten free)
Enjoy Life (has cookies, bagels and bread that are gluten and free of the top 8 allergens)
Tinkyada pasta - rice pasta

Will think of more and post back later tonight. Those are our hear the heavens opening up brands  And if you are avoiding pea protein, some brands that we use may not be safe.

Do you have a Whole Foods, Kroger or Publix near you? Also another place to try is "health food" stores that often have gluten and allergy free goodies with caveats as some also have open bins of nuts and their bin flour is likely contaminated. But often they have a better brand selection.

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CMdeux
Moderator1

Posted: Sep 16th, 2011 at 11:57 pm    
Just know this, for now:


it will get better.

It really will.   In six months, you'll look back and realize that you're really doing a pretty good job managing all those things you are worried about right now...

and in a year?

You'll have found a NEW groove.

But give yourself that kind of time. This is a HUGE adjustment, and it is very likely that some of your friends and family can't follow your family through the transition.

That's okay. Well, it hurts some, honestly-- but it's the way it is.   


You have a new litmus test in your life for how much people TRULY value your family.   There will be pleasant surprises there, too.


Yes to Tinkyada. Yes to Ancient Harvest quinoa products.

We've been where you are. My DD was also allergic to PN/TN, soy, wheat, egg, and milk at your DD's age. She's outgrown all but the PN/TN and egg now, and she's a healthy (and SASSY  ) twelve year old now.

You and your family will get there, too. 

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lakeswimr
Member

Posted: Sep 17th, 2011 at 02:41 pm    
Welcome! You seem to be so on top of things already!

The reaction you described would be an automatic epi pen injection, 911 call, ambulance ride, and 4+ hour stay in the ER per our emergency plan and most emergency plans out there. Yes, it was a systemic reaction and serious. The on call doctor was wrong to not have you go to the ER and stay there.

Any person who has IgE food allergies like your child has the potential to have a life threatening reaction unfortunately. The epi pen is considered very safe unless a person has a heart condition. NOT giving the epi is associated with people who have fatalities. It is nothing to avoid giving if the reaction warrants giving it. Do you have a written emergency plan and an allergist? Whoever you are working with now who told you your child has the 'potential for ana' rather than that you ought to have given the epi isn't up on food allergies and I'd see a pediatric food allergy specialist asap. Meanwhile you could print out this emergency plan and have your child's pediatrician sign it.

http://www.foodallergy.org/files/FAAP.pdf

You should know that testing is only about 50% accurate at best and may be less than 20% accurate for positive results so if there are some foods to which your child tests positive but hasn't eaten yet they could be false positives. If your child eats foods just fine but tests positive that would make the positive a false positive. Tests are over 90% accurate for negative results, though.

Many allergists now do not recommend pulling foods for just eczema because pulling it could lead to the person becoming more allergic and having anaphylaxis to the food in the future upon accidental ingestion of it but it is something to watch. Most eczema isn't cause by food allergies, though. Over 60% isn't related to food at all.

Zyrtec is good for every day because it doesn't cross the brain barrier but it isn't part of people's emergency plans. Benadryl is standard in emergency plans in the USA. But Benadryl and other anti histamines do not have the power to stop a reaction that is going to become life threatening from doing so. They are mostly for comfort.

Peas are not required to be labeled on foods so if you are avoiding them or other 'non-top 8 allergens' you have to call companies to ask if that food is in particular products. FDA requires products that contain the top 8, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish and soy, to label for those foods. The USDA does not, though (meat products, etc).

I'd find a new allergist. Good luck!

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CristyMom
New Member
Posted: Yesterday at 03:54 pm    
I just received the allergists summary of our appointment. He acknowledged every symptom and said it was not Ana. but had potential. My instinct told me it was serious and that's why we rushed to the hospital and called triage answering service on the way.
I am somewhat relieved to hear from your experience. (I don't think I can truly feel any relief at this time)
Of course use of the epi pen scares me, it indicated use for weight several pound more than my daughter. I certainly wouldn't hesitate if she has a reaction, though.

She was tested for only for peanut, cashew, black walnut and almond. very large reaction to peanut and cashew, no reaction to walnut or almond, and the allergist said she was ok to have almond. I fear she will develop more allergies to other nuts and don't want to risk a reaction.

How confident are you in the package labels? I am so wary. Even a package of frozen raspberries, that carries no warning? I'm watching my daughter like a hawk, night and day.

We shop at Safeway and City Market. we stocked up on a bag of Tootsie Roll brand candy (safe, they claim) and I haven't been able to find an ice cream maker (have to look online.

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hezzier
Moderator

Posted: Yesterday at 05:35 pm    
Personally, I would not give my child any tree nuts despite what your allergist said. She's only 20 months old, there is plenty of time in the distance future to go down the path of allowing almonds (assuming you are dealing with a single source producer).

It takes time to figure out which companies you trust. You should definitely spend some time in the Manufacturer's threads reading about brands. The new bags of tootsie rolls are even labeled at PN free...it's relatively new to this country. We have a Cuisinart ice cream maker that we love.