scary evening *updated*

[shevacc]

G's been fine today and DH is taking this seriously. I think criticizing me and minimizing the situation were his ways of coping with being very scared for G. I hardly slept last night but she slept ok and acted normal, though tired, today. Thank you all for your support and advice and especially mala and rjamz for consulting your DHs on G's behalf. And thank you biblionerd and jaime183 and everyone who shared your experiences. I have a few more questions I'll ask in a new thread.
________

We're now pretty sure that G is allergic to peanuts. She had some crackers and peanut butter at dinner and her face almost immediately started turning red. DH took her up for a bath which she normally loves and she wouldn't stop crying so he took her out right after washing her face, hands, and hair. By then her face had started breaking out in hives and her eyes were swelling. I called her pedi's office and had him paged. Then I tried nursing her to calm her down but she would latch on then arch away. She just kept sounding more frantic. She seemed to be getting worse so I called 911 and sent DH out for some benedryl.

15ish minutes later, the paramedics arrived. Luckily she didn't need their care -- her breathing wasn't restricted (her panicky crying wasn't actual breathing trouble). Her face swelling was starting to improve just a little. They stayed a few minutes to make sure she wasn't getting worse, then left right before DH got back with the benedryl. We gave her a dose which seemed to help the itchy hives go down and I start to get her ready for bed. Just as I'm carrying her to the glider to nurse, she throws up all over us both. Then the itching and hives return. I clean us both up and do a first pass at the puke. I call her pedi back again and get his permission to give another dose of benedryl. Then finally am able to sit down with her and get her to sleep.

After she was asleep, DH was talking like I overreacted. That a strong reaction to peanuts wasn't a real reason to call 911, and that he was sure then that she'd be fine. Plus he doesn't want to avoid peanuts and griped about the pedi's suggestion to not have peanut butter in the house. I'm a little annoyed that he's acting like I was being silly -- I was scared at the time and heard some fear in his voice too. We don't have a 24 hour urgent care on the Island and the closest hospital is a 40 minute drive. What do you think? Mostly, I'm relieved she's doing ok now, though we may have to keep giving benedryl for up to 3 days if her symptoms return.

[ashleydl83]

Umm, allergies are not something to take lightly. My brother has almost died a few times because of allergic reactions. What if you would have been more lax about it and it got worse? Allergic reactions can get super serious in such a short period of time. You were totally right in what you did.

I'm sorry your night went like that. Seeing what my brother went through makes me paranoid, and seeing someone have a reaction is scary as hell. I'm glad she is okay!

[nilex0102]

Always trust your mommy gut and better safe than sorry. Allergies can be pretty scary and I think what you did was just fine!

[Deleted]

How scary! You reacted the way I think I would have. It does sound like a peanut butter reaction. Have you given it to her before? Your husband could just also be scared from the whole ordeal and that is why he is saying those things now.

[charlielove]

You have to trust your instincts. You did the right thing. I'm so sorry you're dealing with an allergy. I hope she is feeling better in the morning. That stuff is scary. Hugs!

[eav2c]

You absolutely did the right thing. Honestly, if it happens again I wouldn't think twice and would probably call. There have been quite a few times I've called 911 for Colin's seizures even though I know how to respond to them and what to look for. I always apologize like I've wasted their time but the cops tell me that they would much rather see Colin than deal with the assholes on the street.

Can you get an epi pen in the event that this happens again? Until you know what exactly will cause her to breakout and how badly she will respond to the allergy, I would personally keep calling. You can never be too safe. Your H is totally not being fair here. Honestly, ignore him. Allergies are serious business - especially peanuts.

Where do you live?

[shevacc]

Thanks, ladies. You're making me feel much better about my reaction. @lindy, I think you might be right that DH's reaction now may be somewhat due to fear. My heart still races when I think about her swollen face.

eav2c, I live on Bainbridge Island, just outside of Seattle. You're right, the paramedics were so nice and told me not to hesitate calling if it happens again, or if she got worse, not better.

When I called her pedi about giving her more benedryl after she threw it up, I asked about what to do and he said for now to just be careful. When she's older, we can do a blood test to look for the antibodies. I'll ask at her next appointment about an epi pen.

[biblionerd]

Your husband is just plain wrong and he needs to have a discussion with an allergist or at least pediatrician to understand the severity of peanut allergies. You need to get an epi pen ASAP and consult an allergist or at least have an appt with your pedi to discuss this. Honestly though, if your pedi did not have you go in for something like this I would go straight to an allergist. Peanuts are one of the most severe allergies that can cause severe anaphylaxis (i.e. life threatening). With a reaction like that I would have used Fiona's epi pen immediately and called 911. We live in the country away from the hospital and that's what our allergist has instructed us to do. Vomiting with an allergic reaction is a symptom of anaphylaxis btw- that's one of our immediate "code reds" for using the epi pen- if any more "minor" signs like a few hives is accompanied by vomiting we use the pen immediately and get to the hospital right after. Just keep a heads up that allergic symptoms can come back within the day (I think usually less than a day?). I don't want to be alarmist, but I would check on her periodically overnight.

[biblionerd]

Jun 1, 2013 0:20:09 GMT -5 shevacc said:

When I called her pedi about giving her more benedryl after she threw it up, I asked about what to do and he said for now to just be careful. When she's older, we can do a blood test to look for the antibodies. I'll ask at her next appointment about an epi pen.

I don't mean to be bossy, but do not wait for a scheduled appt (unless you're talking next week) to get an epi pen. Fiona was blook tested and you do not need to wait for that. Regardless, blood testing is not necessary to show you she in allergic. Fiona's allergist does not allow anyone to leave the office that has a diagnosed peanut allergy without having an epi pen rx and demonstrating how to use it in the office. Peanuts are EVERYWHERE and reactions can vary. This is something that you will want to get asap. I severely question a pedi who says to "just be careful" about a peanut allergy. I would really really urge going to a pedi allergist. 

[thedahliharpa]

I'm so sorry that happened!
Go get allergy testing/skin testing done ASAP. I'm pretty sure that even after a epi pen is used the protocol is to still call 911. You did everything right.

[bean47]

That's so scary. I'm glad she's ok now. It sounds to me you did the right thing!

[mala]

You absolutely did the right thing! allergies are no joke! This does sound like early warning signs of a peanut allergy. Every time she is exposed to peanuts her reaction is going to get worse. I'll also echo three purge recommendations to go see an allergist ASAP. Your husbands denial my be because he doesn't want to admit that something is wrong with his baby. And you should also never feel bad about calling the paramedics.in this situation. Breathing problems can come on suddenly on an allergic reaction. The only times H gets angry about bong called out are people who are using the ambulance as a taxi service to get to an appointment at the hospital and people who call in the middle of the night for something minor that they could wait a few hours and go in during the day for. He absolutely would not have minded being called to your house tonight.

[Deleted]

So glad everyone is ok!!! And I would have called 911 too (and i did when H was on an apnea monitor & thigs didnt seem right). Sorry that your DH is making a big deal about it.
I'd rather be safe than sorry any day of the week.

[browneyedhunni85]

I'm glad she is okay. You did not overreact at all. Allergic reactions are scary. Always keep Benadryl on hand. When I worked in childcare we had a little girl who was highly allergic and she would sneak the other kids at snack time. Is she in daycare?

[spaghetticat]

How scary! Has she had PB before? I agree that YH may just be scared, but he's really not being fair to you. I agree with calling an allergist. Good luck!

[jaime183]

We have been dealing with allergies and you did the right thing. It's so scary.
Our allergist said Benadryl first for hives, swelling and epi pen if there is any wheezing.
I hope you can find a ped allergist and get in quick!

[jenbelle]

I would have done the same thing in your shoes! I am so glad she is okay now! (and I don't want to repeat everything that has been said, but I totally agree with all the previous posters!!!)

[robinsparkles430]

How scary! You absolutely did the right thing by calling 911. Like everyone else said, allergic reactions is not something to take lightly. Glad she is feeling better!

[rxbeth]

I'm so sorry your DH wasn't very supportive. You absolutely did the right thing.

A few weeks ago I tried peanut butter with Madison for the first time and I noticed red patches around her mouth after she ate. They were red but not swollen and went away within an hour without any Benadryl. I thought maybe the strawberries she had (which she eats all the time) had irritated her for some reason so I tried peanut butter again the next day. The same thing happened and we had taken pictures to show the pedi. Because her reaction wasn't that bad, we didn't worry too badly. For us the pedi said to just avoid for now and he didn't think she needed any epipen. However, we have a regular appointment next week and I think I'm going to tell him that my daycare insists on having one. I would rather have it on hand and not need it, YKWIM?

[unclejesse]

This is a serious nightmare for me! You did the right thing and don't let anyone ever imply that you overreacted! Big hugs to you guys and glad things are ok.

[skwcm80]

I'm glad G is ok! You absolutely did not overreact. Allergies are a big fear of mine, and I would have done exactly what you did.

[rjamz]

That is so scary! You didn't overreact at all. I asked H and he said you did the exact right thing and she definitely had an allergic reaction (he's in his final year of med school doing clinical rotations). Your husband is going to have to grow up and realize his love of his daughter is greater than his love of peanut butter.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

[sunshineluv]

I am so sorry, that had to be so scary!

If it makes you feel any better I wanted to call 911 when Henry had a nightmare, I thought it was a seizure.

I think it is easy in hindsight to say the ems was a waste, but you could point out to you DH, would it be better if the ems was absolutely needed? I wish for all of us any time we have to call an ambulance it is up being not 'needed'. Please let me over react a hundred times and never under react when it is life or death.

[imimahoney]

How scary! I would have reacted just like you.

I would do a blood and skin test and then have an epi pen on hand. Avoiding peanuts and possibly other tree nuts is probably a must. Your dh is being idiotic.

[christidee]

Wow. That sounds terrifying. I am so sorry you guys had to go through that. You did not overreact at all! Allergies are no joke. 

[Deleted]

Oh lord that's scary! I'm so glad she's ok.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

There is no such thing as overreacting. I HATE it when husbands say douchey shit like that, as if they always react perfectly in every situation. Here's a quick story for you, to make you feel better about calling.

A few weeks ago, Butterbaby had a fever following his vaccination. His fever had gone down, and I took a bath with him. I am a fucking idiot, because I made the water too hot and he ended up having a small febrile seizure because of the jump in his body temperature. He wouldn't look at me or answer me when I called his name; I was trying to nurse him, but he wouldn't latch on. I freaked the fuck out; we call the German version of 911 and the paramedics were here right away. They were very kind and didn't make me feel like a major douchebag, and said it was the right thing to call them. And that whole situation was not as big of a deal as a peanut reaction!

Anyway. You did the right thing.

[angiekay84]

You absolutely did the right thing! I'm shocked your DH would say that after the fact! In the evening time, with no urgent care available.....heck ya you have to call! Glad to hear she is getting better. I wouldn't mess with a first reaction to peanut butter that was as strong as hers.

[mala]

Ok so I showed your post to H, who is a paramedic at a very busy station with several extra certifications including pediatrics critical care. I am going to tell you what he told me.

Those paramedics were wrong. They should have taken G to the ER to be observed overnight. "Peanut alergies are no fucking joke." Apparently, there is no mild peanut allergy. Peanut allergies that are just a skin reaction/ hives are extremely rare. 99% of peanut allergies are an anaphylxis reaction. You need to get G to see an allergist ASAP to have it confirmed and get an epipen. Your husband is flat out wrong. The next time G has peanut it will be worse, and she will probably wind up in the ER. Please please please take her to an allergist.

[Deleted]

We have a possible peanut allergy here but not serious (yet.) I reacted like your husband because it scares the fuck out of me to have allergies like that. I want it not to be true. Is that stupid,? Probably. But, it is how I react to bad things.