peanut challenge

[Mfamom]

We're doing challenge first Thursday in November.  Nervous!  DS is almost 100 percent on board.  It will be at the dr office which is 3 blocks from a major hospital. 
For anyone who has had a peanut challenge, any suggestions, advice, things I should ask about? 
I'm going to look for some previous posts about challenges. 
I'm excited, but still feeling pretty terrified to be honest with you.

[MaryM]

Good luck! 

[twinturbo]

In to give a good luck, pulling for him. No advice other than bring something to pass the time.

[GoingNuts]

Oooooh, good luck!  I'll be keeping all appendages crossed!

[YouKnowWho]

I am so happy for you!!!

We did a peanut challenge. 

My doctor's method was different than any of the top docs from what I can tell.  He honestly didn't think DS1 was allergic.  We did graduated amounts of peanuts ground up and into yogurt (I think his suggestion was pudding but DS1 thinks pudding is weird).

Thinking back - I wasn't there for the actual peanut.  I was there for the four tree nut challenges and ended up having the flu on the day of the peanut challenge.  I asked DH to go in my place.  The downside to that was in part because he lacks a mom's tenderness and was not happy when DS1 crawled under a chair and refused to come out.  He didn't fear the challenge as much as he feared being in the room for another six hours. 

DH managed to forget to bring the yogurt so our allergist ran out to get more.  It wasn't until later we learned the brand he chose was cross contaminated with wheat (DS1 vomited later in the evening).

He did pass though.  He hated nuts and peanut butter at first, took us forever to get him over that.  He does like peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, Reese's Pieces and Cups now though.  And if nuts are ground up in something, he will eat them.  But he has never been one to eat actual nuts. 

[CMdeux]

We're applesauce fans ourselves, for challenges.

Of course, that also means (because our allergist wants to use a "control" as well) that I have to sometimes be creative about finding something to "add" that looks like the allergen.  In the case of hazelnuts (ground), it was ground flax seed.

[YouKnowWho]

We're applesauce fans ourselves, for challenges.

Of course, that also means (because our allergist wants to use a "control" as well) that I have to sometimes be creative about finding something to "add" that looks like the allergen.  In the case of hazelnuts (ground), it was ground flax seed.

No control for DS1 on the peanut challenge.

If we challenge egg again, I would like to do a double blind challenge.  Though it would be nice to even get my doctor on board with a baked challenge to start...

Sometimes, he is right there with me in regards to top knowledge and then other times he seems wishy washy on subjects liked baked or other therapies to increase tolerance load.

DS1 is on board with doing another egg challenge despite failing the last one, he really liked the taste of eggs.  So unlike his other challenges where he hated the taste, this one would be easier.  But he is also an apprehensive person by nature which is why I would push for a control.

[twinturbo]

Sinai would do it. You've been in New Dirty (heh) enough lately it wouldn't be much of a stretch. Write as much as you can off on med expense.

[LinksEtc]

I'm happy & excited for you and your ds!

If I remember correctly, weren't docs previously hesitant to do a challenge because of large SPT's?
Did those reduce in size?

I was always told to bring something to do & extra clothes just in case.


Good luck!   

[booandbrimom]

That's wonderful - congrats and good luck!

Advice...well...

- Bring a change of shirt. You never know...

- Consider a blinded challenge. It takes a lot of the pressure off the kid not to really know. I've heard chocolate pudding is the best way to disguise peanut flour.

- Bring work. Or something that he thinks is really important, that you have to get done. You don't want to be staring at him every second. Don't ask every time he clears his throat "did anything change? Are you o.k." MY GOD! SHOULD I CALL SOMEONE?" (O.k., maybe I have some issues of my own that I'm working out here...)

- Don't be afraid to ask them to lengthen the doses if you're really nervous, or if you're not sure about a previous dose. There's no set reason doses have to be every 20 minutes.

- Sweat pants. Loose shirt. It's a long day. God forbid it should happen, but looser clothes = access if needed.

- Bring a pillow for your butt. Seriously. They discourage walking around during challenges, so you do a lot of sitting.

- You're generally required to bring the food, so ask about it if they didn't tell you.

- Write your list before you go of questions. Have three columns: 1) What if he passes?, 2) What if he fails?, and 3) What if we're not sure? You will be upset no matter what happens at the end (probably more upset, honestly, if he passes), so it helps to write them down in advance. Perhaps consider taking a recorder if you think it's possible you won't remember.

- Bring his daily antihistamine! The best part of being done with the challenge (pass or fail) is getting back on it. Plus, the magical anti-itch cream, of course, for the scratch test. And, of course, bring your Epi-Pens because some reactions can build slowly and you do want them in the car on the way home. Not to be negative, but we did have this happen once. 

An in-office challenge isn't as bad as the 9-hour marathons we did during the trial, but they're still mostly long periods of boredom.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/smb100421l.jpg

[YouKnowWho]

Boo - hit the nail on the head.   I forgot so much all these years later.   

The anxiety monster that comes out, oy.  If you can't control it, would your husband be better about it.

We brought movies, games, puzzles, books, coloring books - the best items were the ones he really had to work hard to concentrate on. 

[CMdeux]

I brought knitting-- and a couple of review articles (or something similar-- as Boo notes, something that I can stare at and, well, even if I'm not READING it, I can look unconcerned).

A tablet with Plants Vs. Zombies or something similar for the challengee, who is ALSO going to have a long afternoon of things.

PERFECT time to roll out a tantalizing video game or Minecraft or something.

[Stinky10]

I have a good feeling about this.