Madison's peanut allergy update

[rxbeth]

So Madison is one of our April babies who unfortunately has an issue with peanuts but she had a very mild reaction.  She only had some red splotches around her mouth that went away after about an hour.  My pedi tried to brush it off but I insisted on being referred to an allergist.  There is a new pediatric allergist in our city and she was FANTASTIC.

We did the skin testing and she did react to peanuts but none of the tree nuts, dogs, cats (thank goodness!) and dust.  She also sent us for the blood test so that we could assess and follow the severity of her peanut allergy. Also, sometimes babies won't react to tree nuts on the skin, but are actually allergic (or something like that).  Those results were very interesting.  She tested negative to tree nuts and negative to peanuts in the blood.  So, this means she is either in the early stages of developing her peanut allergy and her blood just hasn't started reacting yet or she will hopefully outgrow a very mild reaction, hopefully soon.  We have an appointment for January to retest her (skin and blood) for peanuts and peanut butter.

She said for now we can try the other nuts if we feel comfortable that they aren't contaminated with peanuts.  We still have to have the epipen and be vigilant on avoiding all peanuts until we know what is going on with her for sure.

I wanted to share to let our other allergy mamas know how things went for us.  Faevantastic, shevacc, biblionerd.  I think those are all the peanut allergy mamas so far.

[creamsiclechica]

I'm so happy you persisted and got to the allergist, Beth. It's great you got all those results too, knowing where you stand has to be a relief! Happy for the update, and hoping it's something she's growing out of, rather than developing. I hope sweet Madison did okay with the testing too.

[imimahoney]

I hope she is able to out grow it! But in the mean time, it's great that it is a mild allergy.

[jaime183]

I'm glad you liked your allergist.
We are avoiding all nuts still because his blood test came back positive and his skin test the severe egg allergy bump ran into peanuts so they couldn't measure it
We are planning on doing the specific tree nut panel this fall after the baked egg challenge July 31st

[charlielove]

It makes such a big difference to have a GOOD doctor, glad you guys have one for her. I hope the reaction to peanuts stays mild and eventually goes away. She is definitely in good hands if she ever has a reaction to something with her pharmacist mama around.

[rxbeth]

Jun 29, 2013 11:58:00 GMT -5 creamsiclechica said:

I'm so happy you persisted and got to the allergist, Beth. It's great you got all those results too, knowing where you stand has to be a relief! Happy for the update, and hoping it's something she's growing out of, rather than developing. I hope sweet Madison did okay with the testing too.

I think she did as well as she could with the testing.  She hated being held on her belly while they put the pricks on her back but once she was free, I just bribed her with puffs.  I'm hoping with the retest it will be quicker because we won't have to do the tree nut panel.

The blood draw did suck but it was definitely worth it.  She is freakishly strong so I had to hold while the phlebotomist drew the blood and another help to hold her as well.  Again, once she's free, she calms down.  She can't stand having her hands held down or being contained.

[carawestt]

I'm glad you found a good doctor! Hopefully she'll outgrow the peanut allergy.

[rxbeth]

Jun 29, 2013 12:08:35 GMT -5 charlielove said:

It makes such a big difference to have a GOOD doctor, glad you guys have one for her. I hope the reaction to peanuts stays mild and eventually goes away. She is definitely in good hands if she ever has a reaction to something with her pharmacist mama around.

Lol.  We always have benadryl on hand and she's even gotten it some nights when I knew she was extra bad with her teeth and eczema and needed help to sleep.  She is such a scratcher.  I would hope I could react appropriately in an emergency situation but I hope I never have to find out.

[eav2c]

I am glad you have a great allergist who is going to follow up with this! I hope it is something she will grow out of but if it's a developing allergy I am so glad you guys will know and have someone in your corner! Yay!

[helicase]

That's great news about the mild allergy. Here's hoping she grows out of it.

[Faevantastic]

Thanks for the info. That's great that she only shows sign to peanut allergy and not more. I really hope that means she will grow out of it. Keep us updated!

[thedahliharpa]

I'm glad you found the right allergist and have a plan. I hope her allergy is not sever but in the meantime you are prepared and will take great care of her.

[ruby412]

Thank goodness she wasn't allergic to cats! Peanut allergies are really sucky, so I do hope she outgrows it. And if not, she'll learn to love almond butter and just have to be super careful about eating away from home, right? On the plus side, you won't have to share your Reese's.

[rxbeth]

Jun 29, 2013 19:14:13 GMT -5 ruby412 said:

Thank goodness she wasn't allergic to cats! Peanut allergies are really sucky, so I do hope she outgrows it. And if not, she'll learn to love almond butter and just have to be super careful about eating away from home, right? On the plus side, you won't have to share your Reese's.

Lol at not having to share my Reese's.  I'm freaking OBSESSED with chocolate and peanut butter, especially mixed together.  DH and I can go through a whole tub of peanut butter in a week.  I really hope she outgrows it.

[greenkitty98]

Glad she isn't allergic to anything else! I hope she outgrows her allergy so you can enjoy chocolate and pb together around her without worrying.

Jun 29, 2013 12:42:06 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

Jun 29, 2013 12:08:35 GMT -5 charlielove said:

It makes such a big difference to have a GOOD doctor, glad you guys have one for her. I hope the reaction to peanuts stays mild and eventually goes away. She is definitely in good hands if she ever has a reaction to something with her pharmacist mama around.

Lol.  We always have benadryl on hand and she's even gotten it some nights when I knew she was extra bad with her teeth and eczema and needed help to sleep.  She is such a scratcher.  I would hope I could react appropriately in an emergency situation but I hope I never have to find out.

I also hope you never have an emergency situation come up, but it is amazing how the adrenaline rush helps keep you calm and doing what you need to do until there is someone else around to help you. I haven't had to deal with allergies, but I was so calm when B got a bad tear (he did not cut it, just fell in a way to rip the skin open really far down) above his eye that was bleeding a lot and I could see white (assuming it was the bone). The calm lasted until we were in the urgent care and they were prepping him for stitches, and then I started shaking uncontrollably for awhile. (It didn't help that he was screaming for momma the whole time they were doing the stitches, and I was right there helping to hold him still.)