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Share Your Stories About Peanut Allergies

In many scenarios, the best way to learn is from other people's experiences. Below are stories you sent in to share with other families dealing with the peanut allergy. If you have a story you would like to share, please fill out the form below.

peanutfreestories

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Visitor Comments

James Louis

Peanut Story

My Grandson is allergic to peanuts. The problem was, my daughter (his Mother) would never allow me to watch him without her present. This caused many problems between us. I later discovered that she was upset I had some peanut products in my pantry (which I never took out while my Grandson was there). Once I got rid of these products from my pantry, she seemed to have trust in me. Although we never discussed this, I was very hurt. For all you relatives out there, a word of advice. To show you are fully committed to this allergy, you should not have any peanut material in your house at all.

Florida

Sandi

My peanut story

Our son's 5th grade teacher has been so supportive and protective of our child's tree nut allergy. One thing she really appreciates is the fact we bring all the supplies she needs to the classroom for protection of our child. We supply disinfectant wipes for her to clean tables after snack, hand soaps, food mats for all the children to eat off everyday, and plenty of safe snacks. The reason why I am posting this is because I think it is important to make sure the teachers don't spend their own money on supplies to protect our son. I think the teachers really appreciate this along with an open line of communication.

New Jersey

Ed

Egg Roll

My child had his first reaction to peanut allergy while having an egg roll at a Chinese restaurant. Beware of this type of food. It uses a lot of peanut products.

Oregon

JT

Lunchroom

When my daughter was in second grade, the school decided to make 3/4 of the lunchroom into a peanut free area. They also took peanut butter and jelly sandwiches off the buy your lunch program. This made me very angry. So, a bunch of parents and myself became very outspoken against this new policy. We made a stink at board meetings and PTA meetings. We organized a petition to just have a single peanut free table, with the rest of the lunchroom allowing peanut foods. To make a long story short, we lost the battle, and the policy remained in effect. Well....last year, my other daughter was diagnosed with severe tree nut and peanut food allergies. Now that I have become educated about this problem, I agree with the schools new policy. I over reacted, and was very selfish. The peanut allergic children's health and safety should have come first. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, my opinion has changed. How could I have been so selfish?

Massachusettes

Lilly

New Principal

Our son's school recently announced the principal was leaving at the end of the month. We have spoken to the new principal (a woman) via the phone. She was very willing to learn more about the peanut allergy and the school policies already in effect. She wants to keep everything exactly the same as her predecessor. I think it is imperative to start over fresh with the new principal, and not count on the other school officials to fill the new principal in about this serious allergy. We think she was very grateful to us for taking the time to talk to her about it. At first, we thought she may have thought we were coming on too strong, but as she said, "it is life threatning.....and she needs to know." This was comforting!

Massachusettes

Penni

Friends who love PB

Our son has made friends with another boy who just loves to eat peanut butter / jelly sandwiches. It is driving my wife and I crazy with fear since they play together a lot. We have tried to talk with the parents of this boy to cover precautionary measures, but no response. Since they are in the same class at school, we are lucky enough to have a teacher that is trying to help the process along. Just wanted to share this with everyone here. Sometimes the schools can be very helpful with situations like this.

Alberta, Canada

David

Change of ingredients

Just for any visitor to this wonderful web site.....read the ingredients to the food products your peanut allergic child eats..... very closely EACH TIME. This month alone, I have found 2 products that used to be safe, which now say 'made in a plant that processes peanut products.' One of the products was the smaller Hershey Bars, that at one time were safe.

United Kingdom

Samantha

Clean the lunch tables

I am a student in the 8th grade. I had a problem at lunch because the peanut residue was still on the table from the lunch before mine. Nobody was suppose to eat any peanut products at this table because it was peanut free. Always clean a table before you eat on it.

New York

Sean and Carol

Labels

At our child's school, a parent took the wrappers off a candy bar, and placed it in a regular baggie. Our child thought it looks suspicious, and questioned the other child. The other child stated how his Mom took the wrapper off because it said MAY BE PROCESSED IN A PLANT WITH PEANUT PRODUCTS. Beware my friends, beware!!!!!

Nebraska, USA

Lauren Potish

Snyder's Prezils

Hi everyone: Just wanted to let you all know that today I purchased a small bag of Snyder's prezils for my son in a vending machine. Normally, it was a safe snack. Of course, I always read the ingrediants. I was disappointed to read in now says 'produced in a facility that handles peanut butter.' Just wanted to give you all a heads up.

New Jersey

Cynthia

Thank you

Lauren, thank you. I buy those prezils. I am very grateful to your post.

San Fran, CA

Sara

Holy Crap

We always buy Snyders prezils. Thanks for the heads up.

Albany, NY

Summer

My son's daycare never had a peanut-free space until my son, who was almost 3 at the time, attempted to grab a peanut butter cookie from another child. His teacher prevented him from eating the cookie, but he still had a sever reaction just from touching the cookie. Daycare workers need to be especially vigalant with very young children with food allergies.

St. Joseph, USA

Natasha

home school?

My son was diagnosed with peanut allergy when he was almost 3 it was a month before his third birthday. the doctors say you can start giving them peanut butter around age three. i had made homemade peanut butter cookies and my son normally never had them but this time i melted chocolate on them. he took one bite and started crying histarickly i got peanuts in my throat and asking for water. i tried to stay calm telling him its only peanuts in your throat you'll be o.k ,but after the water he was still crying . his lips looked to be turning purple and in the back of my mind thinking is he allergic, this can't be happenning.then he seemed tired and it was close to nap time, so i put him to bed.. then few seconds later he was crying i came to him and he had vomited and i took him to the toliet and he continued vomiting. Then he started rolling on the floor crying his stomach hurt. i had no vehicle and was pannicking .then my mom was on her way. by the time she arrived he had purple hives bubbled all over his body.To end the story he got treatment and was o.k that was the most scary day of my life. Now we carry and epi-pen every where we go he wears it in his fanny pack around his waist. i find that way it's always right with him just in case. he will be going to school soon and i worry. he knows how to protect himself we practice situations that may arrise everyday. but i fear other people might not take as much care with the peanut issue with there kids leaving my son vonurable to those kids who ate peanuts/products, may contains ,etc. with out washing up. causing a chain reaction from oils on toys fingers and every thing, my son could touch. if i am not there he could be in real danger.I feel home school is a good idea. but i know if i were to do that my son would miss out on the interacting and socializing and greatness of school.I wish we could take away these nuts right out of society so people no longer have to die from something we can control or just take nuts out of products period and if people want nuts in their food they can buy the nuts and make thier own peanut butter or put the nut in their own cookies. but other wise have no products sold containing them. i see that as a comprimise to banning them all together.Our kids with this allergy deserve a normal life. only we can make it safe only we can change this world to make it a better place. instead children are dying because we can't get enough of those nuts. nuts are a killer like a loaded gun waiting to to go off save our children lets make this world peanut /nut free. don't let the gun go off on your kid or your kids friend. kissing can now kill just because of peanuts/nuts holding hands with a friend can now kill because of peanuts/nuts. why do we let such a product control our lives and kill our children. i hope and pray for the day their are no nuts. so we don't have to live in fear we might loose our child someday from a kiss or hand shake lets keep praying someday our allergic child will be free of the fear and constant danger and they will get to live a normal day where a birthday party or dinner party or any event where their is food involved can be safe. thanks for listening

Calgary, Alberta

Christy

Lack of Respect

My daughter is 3, and has a severe allergy to all nuts. We just went to a birthday party for a close friend and they had a asian dish with lots of peanuts on top. After have several conversations and emailing them about her allergy they still insist on serving nuts.. I feel like they are not respecting my childs life. What do we do?

Texas

Alfred

Christy

Christy.....find new friends.

UK

Steve and Mary

Disney

Just wanted to share our vacation story with you. We took our entire family to Disney last month. All the resturants in the parks were more than happy to help with our child's peanut allergy. The chef's came out to go over all the ingrediants of all the dishes. Most helpful and respectful of this allergy. If you plan a vacation there, you will be at ease.

New Hampshire

John Ramos

Disney

Steve and Mary, that is great news that Disney took good care of you. Has anyone here taken a cruise with a child with peanut allergies? If yes, what cruise line, and did they assist you in the way Disney did for Steve and Mary?

New York

Johnny

Cruises

Took a Carnival cruise last year. Worked out fine. We called a head to speak to the chef(s), and met with them on board. They prepared the food safely.

PA

Kim

vacation destinations

Before going to Disney we called ahead to check that our character dinner would be safe for our peanut allergic son. We were reassured that this would be no problem. When we arrived at the dinner the chef was rude and simply pointed out that pretty much everything was tainted with peanuts, and failed to point out the big container of peanut butter which was very prominent in one area of the buffet. There were also several knives with peanut butter scattered around tainting the entire bread area. He did not offer to make anything safely for the boys and if the waiter hadn't arranged for a plate of french fries for our children they would have had nothing to eat for a lot of money. Needless to say, I will never dine at Disney again and never wish to go back. Afterwards we went to Club Med Sand Piper in Florida for a few days. There they have a nut-free kids program. The chef was polite and showed us how absolutely every dish was lableled with its ingredients. I only recommend this place to anyone dealing with peanut allergies. It is worth the price not to worry.

New Hampshire

Celine

Disney

I am going to the Disney in Europe. I wonder if they are as good as the ones in the states. I will let you know. Thanks mates.

UK

David

Developing allergy

Well i don't know this for a medical fact but here goes, as a kid my dad got me hooked on snickers candy bars (man i love them), i dont go crazy with them maybe one or two a year, but i also love peanuts as well, here recently i started to notice some red patches on my body.....didnt pay much attention to them, i thought i was allergic to something in a new state we moved to, then my wife bought a big jar of peanuts for me and of course i munch on them alot as usual, but then she noticed the hives getting worse on me, and worse and worse to the point of some being the diameter of baseballs! Then she put two and two together, try not eating the peanuts and see what happens....and guess what.....no hives for 2 weeks now, keep in mind i am 40 years old and never had any allergic reaction to them before so now i think i will pay a visit to my doctor and find out.

Montana

Cathy

Thanks David

Thanks David. I appreciate your writing about this. It makes me think that I may have the same problem at age 37. I loved peanut butter, but it seems every time I eat a peanut product, I get rashes. I am starting to wonder if I, too, am allergic to them now?

Nebraska, USA

Marcus

Vacations

I have seen many posts about 'safe' vacations. I went to Disney and was completely impressed. For those of you in the North East of the United States, I found another destination that is wonderful to the children who suffer from peanut allergies. It is in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. The name of the resort is called "Woodloch." It is the best kept secret in the world. We already made plans to go back. They go above and beyond with the allergy. It got to the point where they were one step ahead of me with safety. I was completely impressed with their sensitivity to the allergy. Anyone worrying about a vacation destination with regards to peanut allergies should consider Woodloch. It is a truly remarkable place, with lots to do.

Connecticut

David

Developing allergy

Cathy, Well so far i have not had any reoccurances of the hives that i had and i havent had any peanut products although my wife caught me reaching for my fav candy bar..LOL....just a habit i guess.!.i can only hope my story helps others that might have unexplained rashes, thanx for your reply as well....hope all goes well.

Montana

Cathy

Thank you

Thanks again David.

Nebraska, USA

Pamela

Age doesn't matter

Like David, at age 43, I developed the peanut allergy. I thought I may have always been sensitive to it, but not allergic. Five years ago, my throat closed on me after eating a candy bar. To make a long story short, I was diagnosed with the allergy.

New York

Shannon

My Son

My son Conner (4.5) is fatally allergic to peanuts. His twin brother is not. Just wanted to find a place where I could share and learn, looks like I have found it!!!

San Diego, CA

New York

Shannon

Welcome Shannon.

Sam

Laura

Cruise Safety

Just returned from a cruise on the Norwegian Majesty. Stay AWAY! The staff there was not aware of the extreme nature of peanut allergies. My son had a reaction. Not Anaphylactic, but heading in that direction. The ship was unprepared. The staff did not understand the urgency. The peanuts were in a "almond crusted" fish. Even after the horrific episode, the staff insisted there were no peanuts!

North Carolina

Sarah

Laura

Wow, thanks for the update. We were planning a cruise for next summer. Now, after reading your post, I am canceling it. Thank you so much.

New York

Harold

Cruises

Yes, thanks for sharing. Cruising will be out of our itinerary for a while. We will go back to Disney instead.

California

Kathy

Scary stuff

Wow, that cruise story is very scary. Thanks for sharing.

Nevada

Shereen

Thank you

I read all your comments and i know some are awful. However i want to thank you all for taking the time to write them as i have a 9yr old son who allergic to nuts and i now know that i am not over reacting about this problem. I am made feel that i am making a fuss over nothing sometimes. I have all the same problems like holidays, flying and school. I would like to say thanks for the tip about supplying items for the teacher and kids.

Northern Ireland

Patty

Disney and peanut allergies

First of all, I'm so glad I found this site! I was "googling" peanut allergies+disney cruise when I found it. My almost 9 year old son has a very severe peanut allergy, diagnosed at about age 2. A year ago, we went to Disneyland, and probably the best part of the trip (for me) was the character breakfast at the Paradise Pier hotel. We told the host, who told the chef, who came out and explained that they make EVERYTHING right there, and he assured us that with just a couple of exceptions, everything else was peanut free. I was thrilled, my son was thrilled and I would definitely go back! We are going on a Disney cruise in 3 weeks. I have notified the cruise line, faxed in the medical form and will let you know how it goes! For those asking about cruises, we did go on a cruise in Hawaii on NCL a couple of years ago, and I just asked a lot of questions, and avoided anything with any kind of nut (you never know where they were processed). Does anybody know of a good carrier for an epi pen for my son? I have seen a few online, but have not tried any of them. Any advice? Thank you!

California

Loretta

Att. Patty

Patty, glad you had a great experience. It was very nice of you to share your good news. As far as a carrier, I think your local medical store would have a leather case to hold it around the belt loop. Please let us know what you used. Thanks again.

Hawaii

Kathy

Epipen Carrier

Patty, go to this site for a carrier: http://www.allstarsalesltd.com/

Wisconsin

David

All Star Sales

I was going to recommend the same web site for the carrier. Have a safe trip!

New York

Lori

Thanks

I have to say, some of the nicest people on the net are on this web site. Always the best information. Thank you.

New Hampshire

shirley

boyfriend

My boyfriend is allergic to all nuts and i'm going without nuts for him, so we can kiss. This includes all may-contains and everything. I'm not sure how long it'll take before it'll be ok to kiss him. If anyone can suggest a site or something that would be great. Thankyou

kelowna

Tracy

Nut Free Kindergarten

I am going crazy trying to find a nut free kindergarten? I live in Southern Westchester...any suggestions?

Westchester NY

Sean

Answers

SHIRLEY, if you are nut free, it should not be a problem to kiss someone allergic to nuts. As long as you brushed your teeth, washed your face, and have not eaten any nut products, you should be fine. If you are not comfortable with that, just brush your teeth and wash your mouth each time you kiss. As long as you remain nut free, it should not be a problem. TRACY, why are you looking for nut free kindergarten? If you have a child with the allergy, try to make their kindergarten a nut free room. Click the PARENTS link on the menu for ideas.

California

Carlene

Is it safe?

Well... I have a peanut/nut allergy, and well I am getting really parionoid and I don't even touch my own hands because of the germs. Is it safe?

Canada

Peter

Carlene

Carlene, nothing to be paranoid about. Just don't touch anything nut related, and you should not have a problem. Watch for any possibilities of cross contamination as well. When in doubt, just wash your hands. All the best.

New York

Joanne

Just be careful

Carlene, just be careful. You can go about your normal activity, just watch what you touch and eat, and always carry your epi-pen with you. That's the most important.

Florida

Michele

toddler peanut allergy

My two 1/2 yr old was diagnosed with a peanut allergy nearly one year ago and I've accepted that his life and my caring for him will never be the same. I don't even want to eat out anymore; I don't eat anything that would be unsafe for him (still breastfeeding)and I don't take him anywhere except parks keeping away from the playground area (although at this time it's too cold in NJ to be outside). I just found this site yesterday and feel like I found the motherlode! I haven't been this happy since I found peanutallergy.com last summer. I'll be a contributing member in the future as well. Oh, my little guy is in a peanut-free daycare which is very supportive yet I still find them under-educated at times or myself frustrated with their policies. I am happy with the school and they do work with me, so I feel he is relatively safe there. He's had a couple of minor contact reactions there (most likely from washing hands upon entry since other people handle the faucets after eating who-knows-what at home). Kevin's two epi-pens are kept in the classroom and his Benadryl as well; I've been informed that the teachers are trained but they have proven apprehensive at times about when/how to follow the instructions I've given. This is a learning experience for all of us, but I am also fearful each day of a phone call bearing news of the inevitable (911, epi, or worse). He's started having other minor reactions as well for which we haven't been able to determine the origin since he's tested negative (RAST) for the other seven allergens of the top eight and many seeds/oils as well. Not sure what it could be, we're keeping food logs again and hoping to find a link soon. I go to a parents' support group associated w/FAAN for mthly meetings which help and now will be interfacing with all of you, my new neighbors, as well. Keep healthy and happy and thanks for listening!

New Jersey

Len

For Michele

Welcome to Michele, my fellow New Jerseyite. Please consider signing up for the forum on the home page. There are some great people there. We are forming a nice support group.

New Jersey

Jacquie

Natasha

I think if your child were having an allergic reaction to nuts, there would be no vomitting as the throat closes. You never mentioned if the doctor had confirmed it was a peanut reaction. I think you may have gone to a little overboard. Should we get rid of all the bees, dogs, cats, grass, trees, hay, milk, cheese, eggs, soy, geez I could go on and on. I think if you relaxed a little you might not be so uptight.

Canada

Roberta

For Jacquie

"I think if your child were having an allergic reaction to nuts, there would be no vomitting as the throat closes." What a truly awful thing to say on a board where people are looking for support!!!!! :( This attitude in the "real world" is what makes living with a severe allery so difficult. Someone actually told me my child wasn't allergic but simply "intolerant" becuase the nuts didn't kill him. ??????????????? My child's first anaphylactic reaction at age 3 was very similar to Natasha's. He said his mouth was "spicy" and then seconds later began shreaking hysterically in pain. He began violently throwing up to the point of bringing up spots of blood and had loss of bowels. His skin turned bright red (he looked burned), hives then started head to toe. At this point his lips began to swell and wheezing started. Keep in mind this all happened in less than 15 minutes. I was perfectly calm and not "uptight" at all. (I broke down later out of his sitght when all was well) I thought he had bit himself, chocked on the pistachio, cut himself, suddenly got a stomach bug, getting a fever... it just didn't click until the hives came out and the lips swelled. "Oh, I thought numbly... THAT is what hives are..." His throat never swelled closed but I can guarantee you that he is is quite allergic to tn/pn. And yeh, the doctor even verified it.

USA

Melinda

safe nut/peanut honeymoon?

Hi My fiancee is deadly allergic to all nuts, peanuts and coconuts. he carries an epipen with him at all times. Eating out is always a challenge, we dont try many new things. We are gettibg married in June and are having a hard time finding a safe honeymoon destination, a place where he can be safe to eat (not at a buffet). we were looking into mayan riviera, italy, jamaica. Any suggestions???

Montreal

Melinda

SAFE nut/peanut FREE honeymoon?

SORRY MADE A MISTAKE, OR COURSE I MEANT PEANUT/NUT/COCONUT FREE THANKS EVERYONE!!!

Montreal

Karen

For Melinda

Melinda. Congrats on your upcoming wedding. I think you would be safer staying in the US or Canada. I don't know too much about how other countries react to this. If you went through a travel agent, maybe they can help?

New York

Debbie

Negative Allergy Test

When my son was two and a half I gave him a peanut butter sandwich and he immediately broke out in hives. We had him tested for the peanut allergy and it came back negative. After waiting awhile, I thought I would try and see if he could eat peanut butter again. This time there were no hives, but he threw up twice after eating the sandwich. After throwing up, he seemed to be okay (although I watched him like a hawk for quite awhile after that). Did anybody have an initial negative allergy test that then developed into a peanut allergy? Do you think I should have him retested?

California

Heather

Attn: Debbie

I would go and have your son re-tested. We knew our son had multiple allergies long before he was 2, but the allergist refused to do a scratch test until he was 2.5. He also insisted on re-testing at 6 years. Many kids in your child's age group can gain as well as outgrow allergies. Also, repeated exposure to peanuts can make the allergy worse. Perhaps you might want to think of seeing another allergist if you don't feel that you are getting the kind of feedback that you need. :)

Canada

DeAnne

peanut tips

I have been allergic to peanuts since birth. I have had reactions from slight discomfort to turning blue. If I touch a package of peanuts and rub my eye, my eye will swell shut. Open a jar of peanut butter or cook with peanut butter and I have to leave the room or house. When I started dating, every boyfriend who had never seen my reactions would try to sneak a snickers or butterfingers when I wasn't around only to find out that when they kissed my cheek that night my cheek would swell up ( sometimes in the shape of their lips...;)..). They told my parents that I would grow out of it but the reactions got worse with age and new allergies popped up. Soy now gives me the same reaction as nuts. Here is some advice from a peanut pro: 1. Upon ingesting a nut, my body will try to regurgitate it quickly (throw up), it doesn't stop the reaction but it does help 2. Peanuts are part of the legume family, so if your kid is allergic to peanuts they probably will have smaller reaction to peas and certain beans (itchy throat, hives in the mouth). I personally stay away from peas, black eye peas, and hard pintos that are usually found in hamhock and beans, and chili. My parents thought I just didn't like peas. 3. If you are going to eat chocolate Hershey is about the safest chocolate bar around. Mars is iffy, Nestle is even worse, and never, never, never, eat imported chocolate (have yet to find one that has not given a reaction) 4. When eating at a restaurant, inform the waiter of allergy and if they seem disinterested inform the management. My last trip to the ER was because they put pine nuts on my salad. I live in an area where several languages are spoken (chinese, vietnamese, spanish, and several middle eastern dialects) and I have often thought that it would be a good idea to make up business cards in each language telling what my allegeries are. 5. You or your child will have a reaction at some point no matter how safe you are. Just stay calm and always be prepared. Always carry benadryl and the epi with you. I keep an epi at home, at work, and at my parents. Educate family and friends about the allergy, but don't freak'em out. Tell them the signs of a reaction and what to do in case one occurs, so they don't freak out. The calmer you are the calmer the patient will be. Also, everyone knows time is of the essence in an allergic reaction, so telling someone to hurry or drive faster will just add stress. 6. Finally, don't leave in fear of the nut. Live your life!

Houston

Emma Poole

pistashio nuts

My son ate his first pistashio nut at 5 and began to vomit, wheeze and cough.He is an asthmatic, but this reation was different to an asthma attack.We stabilised him and ventolin helped.This occured again with pecan nuts.My confusion is that he has always had peanut paste and still can with no symptoms???Should I push this as a peanut allergy with my GP or just keep him away from the above nuts???

Australia

Patricia & Barbara

Patricia, Thank you for being concerned about what to pack for lunch. I have recently tried the soybean butter for my 4yo son (he has a peanut allergy), and to me it tastes very similar to the almond butter and very close to peanut butter. Most soybean butters will say made in a peanut & treen nut free facility. He said he LOVED it. Barbara, I made sure to let my son know that it was not peanut butter, but soybean butter, which is safe for him. We talked about how his friends may eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and his is like that, but it has soybean butter instead. He does not seem too confused by this so far. He was even able to verbalize that peanut butter and jelly is not safe for me, but soybean butter is. He loved that he was able to eat something "similar" to his friends who do not have an allergy. To all who are concerned about eating out and living a "normal" life....I think our children pick up on our reactions, so just be honest and give as much information that they request. We still eat out and try to live life. We try not to go overboard, but we do make sure that we are our son's advocate to make sure his preschool and houses of friends are safe. We have even given epi pens to friends he sees on a regular basis. We just make sure we write down the expiration date before we give it to them. It is manageable. I think this forum is also very helpful!

Ohio

Jamila

I just turned 24 in July and I have always been eating the same things all my life. About a week a ago I was eating a pint of twix ice cream when I first noticed that I started to break out in hives. I thought it was stress causing me to break out but then the next day my best friend and I were drinking amaretto sours and in less than 5 minutes after I starting drinking my whole entire body was covered in hives. Not only was I covered in hives but then my just started hurting really bad and I couldn't breath. After I took a benadryl the hives went away and I felt better and the next day the doctor told me I had a nut allergy. I was just shocked that at 24 I have to change the way I eat to essentialy live. I would have never that that liqour would also cause me to have an allergic reaction. Very scary!

Chicago, IL

Erin

Chocolate

I am 28 y.o. At 21, I discovered that I developed a peanut allergy. (My doctors refuse to test me to confirm because I have had serious reactions, such as facial swelling and asthma attacks, just from peanuts in the air.) I have many other food allergies, so I discovered the peanuts (and shellfish, celiac disease) by process of elimination. Anyway, I love chocolate and my problem is that I haven't been able to find any chocolate that doesn't say "may contain" or "processed in a plant" ... I think I'm ok with tree nuts (although, I just ate hazelnuts and had a reaction - hoping they were roasted in peanut oil and wasn't on the box since it was from a bakery). Any suggestions since I'm such a choco-holic! Thanks!

Ohio

jenny

possible tree nut reactions

my son is nearly nine and has never had pea- or tree nut allergic reactions before, but recently had walnuts on a brownie and his lips swelled and throat itched. then just yesterday i made pecan pie-and he had the same reaction. he eats peanut butter (no reactions), but he does have environmental allergies bad enough to be on a daily dose of singulair. i'm just wondering--can tree nut allergies develop in an older child? is it more common in kids with other allergies? can he be allergic to tree nuts and not peanuts? any info would help!

new york

carrie

its everywhere

it scares me to think... most snacks that people eat on the go, have nuts, or are manufactured on equipment that processes them... like most candy choclate bars, energy bars, and most others. i am trying to learn more about airborn and reactions that are caused from tuching...i mean, so many people eat those snacks on the go, like buy them at the cash registers and eat them in the car... is that harmful, if they throw away the wrappers, also if they tuch things and go shopping for anything- toys, even food after they eat those , is that deadly? and what about crumbs and couging or tuching your mouth? i'm starting to feel guilty about eating zone bars in the car...

ny

harold

peanut tree

where do peanuts grow?

the house

Katherine Able

Great Epipen Holder for Leg

There is a great way for kids and pre-teens to carry their epipen on their leg. We have a 13 year old son that was diagnosed with severe food allergies to peanuts and eggs and we tried every holder in the market but the only one he liked was one called LegBuddy. He likes it because he can wear it on his leg, under his pants and doesn't have to worry about where he left his Epipen. We also but one for us so that we can carry it with us if we go to a pool party or a water park. They sell it at omaxcare.com

New York

Jae

May contain

I was confused the other day because I purchase two bags of Hershy Kisses. one had a may contain warning and one did not. I decided to call and see if they had a seperate plant for some of their products. What I got was a standard answer about how they follow all regulations and put the warning on when they are supposed to. That was not good enoug for me so I pushed the matter. What I found out was that in Canada the regulations are that if the equipment is cleaned in a certaion way after processing nuts the do NOT have to put the warning on. In other words it is truly only nut free if it says processed in a nut free facility. In terms of Hersy the woman finally told me that the only products made in a nut free facility are the milk chocolate kisses. All other products that do not have a warning are mad on CLEANED equipment.

Alberta, Canada

sarah

MFA

I have a son with a few food alleriges. He is now 12. He is most def a 'atopic march ' child. which means that things dont stand still. He has grown out of some, or developed new allergies, or previously mild ones have risen in tests and reactions. We have more problem with his life threatening reactions to dog, in day to day life, than we do any of his many food allergies. Its the non stop background work that gives our children a normal life. So from the outside it can seem to others that it is of little impact. One good tip I can pass on, when your child 'forgets' to take his epi pens with him , dont nag him. Just calmly remind him. Then dont mention it again, but plan a epi pen training rehearsal. I got all my four children, and 5 cousins to go through the routine. body posisitoning, getting others to help with this, getting medical help, using the epi practice pens. Talk about the speed of reactions, what symptoms etc how a reaction can start, what triggers a mild v severe reaction. Then end up with practicing with a out of date real epi pen on an orange. Our son is 12, after practicing we didnt need to remind him, and so far he has stopped the on purpose 'forgetting'. we have disscussions about other allergic children he has met at school. differing comfort zones that he has to them. each allergic child is different, and as allergies dont come in ones, I often dream of just dealing with ONE allergy , and how easy that would be. the risky teenage years are here in our faces for us!

uk

Mitch

middle age onset

After a lifetime of eating as many peanuts as I wanted and as often as I wanted I developed a peanut allergy at the age of 50. Started with a flushed face and neck after eating a serving of boiled peanuts. I'm now approaching 51, and it has advanced to the point where a Thai meal of Pud Thai that included (unknown to me) a small amount of peanut sauce gave me a moderate reaction that required Benadryl. Later had a similar reaction to Japanese food apparently cooked with peanut oil on the restarant's hibachi. The chef kept the oil in restaurant-style ketchup squirt bottles, so it was unidentifiable to me. Since then, I ask the server in a restaurant about all possible peanut encounters. I just wanted to say that I miss peanut butter most of all. However, my wife found a peanut butter substitute made with sunflower seed/oil called "Sunbutter". It is delicious, tastes just like peanut butter, and I even prefer it to real peanut butter. It causes no reaction to me and the label assures it is manufactured in a plant with no peanut products at all. Hope this knowledge will help.

Alabama

Tammy

peanunt allergies

has a 5 yr old son with peanunt allergies.my son was dignosed with peanut allergies when he was 3 yrs old.

michigan

Michelle

Be careful!

Hi! I am new to this forum, and new to food allergies. My entire life I ate nuts/trail mixes like they were going out of style! Then, 3 months ago I have a serious reaction to nuts, and BAM...I'm allergic to like 4 different foods! Just as an FYI for chocolate lovers...Hersheys is great at labeling. I always ate their dark/regular bars, and the cookies and cream bars. However, one time, my husband brought me home the King Size bar, and I began eating it, thinking nothing of it. After one little square, my throat began feeling tight, and sure enough, the label said, "Processed on same line as almonds." I didn't even think to check since the regular sized bars are ok, but after checking agian, all King sized bars have the disclaimer. I also recently had a reaction to lotion that contained almond oil, so be careful of lotions too. I am very scared to eat anything anymore. My last statement/question: most of the "allergen free" foods contain sunflower seeds/butter. I don't think I am allergic to that, but I don't know? Is there a test for sunflower seeds??

New Jersey

lori

patricia

Patricia, my son's school tried making it a nut-free zone, however I and many of the other parents raised such a fuss that they decided to send out educational letters instead. I am a vegetarian, and my point was that if they can make it "peanut-free" just because of one kid, they should make it meat-free because there were 12 kids who were vegetarians. Yes I understand that supposedly it can be very dangerous, but the child should be educated on his or her own allergies. I did not see why my vegetarian children, who got much of their protein from pb and j sandwiches, should have to suffer. Luckily the school saw my point, or at least they were worried about the commotion we were causing.

mi

sarah

itsthe childs allergy , not yours.

The early years are a continual horrible surprise. its non stop stress. Esp if you have Multiple food allergies, both food, and environmental. Our childrens chances of survival depend, not only on them being educated, and informed on allergy, but by using , and forming their own 'comfort zones'. Dont forget to ask THEM what they think about an allergy risk. Get the allergic child to not only carry their meds,but to gain confidance in asking others about safe food. Dont worry about them feeling left out when they have to eat different food from others, they have never known anything else. certainly , they will not want an allergic reaction, esp if they have had one within their own living memory. allergic children eat to live, not live to eat, and life is not all about food, there is a whole world out there , waiting to be enjoyed, and food plays only a small part of that enjoyment. We teach our children how to cross roads, so that in the end, they can do it all themselves. What ever they do we wont stop worrying, however, whats best for them is to step out in to the world with a good chance of survivial. so think 'confidant survivor' and push that parental fear aside.

uk

Amanda

going on a cruise

I found this site when doing a search for taking a peanut allergic child on a cruise. We are going on one in july, a week long. I have no choice as my inlaws already paid for it. help.. my son just turned 3, and doesn't really realize the severity of his allergy on his own, but slowly educating him.

Ohio

Jenny

To Jacqui and Natasha

I am 35 years old and have severe allergies to peanuts and nuts. I remember my early allergies to nuts as a child, which involved throwing up violently. I only learned when I was 18 and almost died from a nut allergy, that the allergy becomes worse with every exposure. I went from throwing and and breaking out into hives to almost dying. Natasha, what your child went through reminds me of exactyly what I went through as a child. I do think that schools are alot more safe than when I was a child. I had some of my early exposures at school. In saying this, you need to do what will make you feel comfortable. It is unfortunate that people continue to not understand this type of allergy. Every person can react different at any time. I just had my first child in January and I am praying that he does not have to go through what I have gone through. As difficult as it has been for me, I can only imagine the horror of being a parent to a child with this allergy.

Canada

Lisa

504 /IHP Plans for nut allergy

What is Peanut Free?

Arizona

Lisa

504 Plan/IHP in schools

Sorry. I did not write "what is peanut free" but it is on this msg board and I am unable to delete it for some reason. Anyway...my issue is that my son is entering kindergarten and I am trying to decide if I should request a 504 plan or an Individual Health Plan only. I understand that kids with severe food allergies are eligible for 504 plans and I know they have more legal backing than an IHP alone. I want to work collaboratively with the Nurse and school.I don't want to appear like I don't trust them, yet I want to get the very best plan in place for my little boy. Have people had experiences with both? Any thoughts? Do IHP plans list accomodations well and do teachers take them seriously? I plan to list things such as peanut free areas in cafeteria, nut free room, staff carrying his epi-pen from class to class, wiping down tables in class after snack time etc...Thanks for any feedback!

Arizona

Teresa

Tree nut allergy

Is a tree nut allergy airborn like peanut allergies?

Atlanta

Sasha

School

I found out my daughter had a peanut allergy at 18 months, it was her second day of daycare and she was given a pbj sandwich and had to be rushed to the hospital. Since then I have been extremely vigulant and no one is to have peanut anything around her.We got lucky and the daycare she has been at is totally peanut-free. This year she is entering into kindergarten and the school district tells me that they cannot ask other parents follow peanut-free rules. I am so scared and I don't understand, it's not like people can't live without peanuts, We Do!

California

Susan

EpiPen Carrier?

My son is 8 years old & severely allergic to peanuts - I always have an epi-pen & benadryl with me; however, since he was about 4, I have encouraged him to carry a lunch kit w/ medicine, too. Well, he's getting too old for the lunch kit - and - he really does not wear pants with a belt. I've got the epi-belts/ holsters / you name it - it's not quite catching on -- ANYONE come up with something creative for pre-teens? like a narrow cell phone case that would carry an epi-pen?

New Orleans

Linda

tree nuts

to the poster who aske about tree nut allergies. Yes they can be just as severe, everyone is different.

NJ

Janet

Sit alone

My son will be starting school in 15 days and the only agreement i have been able to reach with the school is for him to sit alone during lunch time while the other children eat what ever they want and then i was told the children would wash their hands before and after lunch? Is this safe i am really worried because my sons allergy to peanuts is very high although he has never had a reaction because i have never exposed him to peanuts but he test extreamly high also he has an epi-pen but they told me it can only be kept in the office and there is no nurse only certain people that are authorized to use it.

Florida

Marianne

I'M A TEACHER AND A PARENT OF A PEANUT ALLERGIC CHILD

I just found this site by accident. I have been reading the stories and felt inclined to give my feelings as both and educator and parent. I'm not sure how old these stories are but today is 8/10/08. My son was not quite 1 when his face swelled up completely and I had no idea what was going on. Today he is 8 and going into 3rd grade. We have been very lucky that we haven't had to use the epi-pen because Benedryl has always helped. I was very paranoid at first and informed everyone we talked to. Taught my family and friends how to use the epi-pen. As a parent I have very strong feeling about how peanut allergies should be handled in schools and as an educator I see how hard it is for people who haven't experienced what we have to understand our fear. The fear of losing our child. I have worked very hard at educating those individuals I work with about the importance of keeping the peanut allergic child safe. I am a kindergarten teacher and I have designated my room peanut free because my son needs a safe place to go. I had a peanut allergic child in my class last year and informed the parents at Back-to-School night that I was going to have a peanut free room. My room mom made sure to remind parents that peanut free items were to be sent. If something was brought into the room that I had any question about I didn't hand it out. Now to the mom who was talking about your child eating alone, that is where my blood boils! Your child should not have to eat alone YOU should make sure his teacher tells the parents that there is a child in their class who is allergic to peanuts so they are informed. Then the teacher should ask that lunches packed from home not always be peanut butter so your child doesn't have to eat alone! Because I have a classroom my son would pick a friend or two to come eat with him in my room on PBJ days and our cafeteria doesn't have a "free Zone" I have been working on that. Our school also has 5 peanut allergic children. Any way I just wanted to let you know that it is your responsiblity to talk to your childs teacher and tell them that you are willing to help out in any way that you can. I have always worked at my child's school so if there were any questions they sent him to me. I know this isn't always the case but I volunteered for every holiday to bring the cupcakes or whatever it was so I could make sure it was something my child could have. Now, the child who was in my class last year and my son can eat products that say "May contain" or "Processed on Equipment" etc. but that is because we have tried it out and kept the Benedryl at hand. Sorry this has been such a long story but I hope it will be helpful and encouraging.

Utah

Janet

Sit alone

I have gone to over a dozen schools looking for a peanut free class room peanut free zone anything i can find that is peanut free and have found nothing i have even spoken to the school board and the best any one can do is the school them selves will not serve peanut (although other children can bring what ever they want)children will wash thier hands before and after lunch and my son can sit alone does it break my heart yes but i dont know what else to do i can not home school him i have to work. i dont know what else to say to the school to get them to make at least his class room peanut free. He is severly allergic can not eat "may contain" or "processed in shared equipment" he cant even smell or touch peanuts he starts school in 6 days and i am very scared!

Florida

Janet

Not sitting alone

I got a peanut free classroom!

Florida

Sue

Dear Grandparent who wasnt trusted with grandson

My mother also has not cleaned her cabinets .. Her home is considered NOT SAFE..That's the fact .now I will bring feelings into it..after the fact .. I would of thought with all my challenges in keeping my son safe and being brought up to love and cherish my child (take care of our cherished babies) That my Own mother would stand behind me..she sees and hears of my struggles with everyday challenges of awareness yet she's completely disregards how serious and dangerous this allergy can be. She is my mother his grandmother.... I expected more..worse her grandson feels unsafe ..There is a lot more that goes along with peanut tree nut allergies there are emotional challenges that these children deal with everyday with family help and support it would help ease these children and lead them into emotional healthy stable adults. Yes dear mother clean out your cabinets or at least bag it all until your is it is over, clean your counters, tables.. allow no one to eat anywhere other than at your table in your home this way you know what food has been where and your aware what needs extra cleaning when your grandchild comes to visit. Also do not buy food gifts unless your 100% sure its safe ... I could be that silent daughter and mother of your grandchild

NH

Cynthia

Did I cause my daughter's allergy?

Hi. August 4, 2008, my then 13 month old daughter had an allergic reaction to peanut butter. It shouldn't have happened as I was very paranoid to give her any nut products or honey. I warned anyone that even watched her for 3 minutes. However, I never told her daycare provider. She gave her a half of a Lance peanut butter cracker. Within a minute her face and lips swelled. My husband took her straight to the ER. She was given shots and benadryl. When I arrived to the ER, her eye lids and ears were bright red. She looked so sad. We have been to the allergist and we go back Sept. 11 for all of the results. We now have two Epipens and I have been researching on the Internet. I read in several places that overexposure to peanuts through pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause a food allergy. I ate boiled peanuts 3-4 times a week while preggo and at least 2 times a week while breastfeeding for 10 1/2 months. I feel guilty. I would have never done anything to hurt my baby. I also have found out that the allergist suspects asthma. We are now doing nightly breathing treatments with the nebulizer. We will find out if there is an actual diagnosis for asthma on the 11th. I am so overwhelmed with all of this. My family is scared of the epi and don't want to be alone with my daughter. I think after all of the allergy tests are back everyone will relax a little more. I came across this website today. I was actually searching for epipen carriers and it popped up on google. I have been reading every since. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I don't feel alone anymore. Cynthia

Alabama

Janet

Cynthia

There is no sense in blaming yourself b/c you cant change what happen or know 100% if it has anything to do with what you ate... Also know how to use the epi-pen but you should put more attention to what your going to do to never have to use it... trust me its lots of work but my son is now 4 1/2 and i thank god have never had to use it(i found out when he was 8 months old) but there is nothing in my house that has anything not even a trace of peanut and i also peanut proofed any house he visits often (Grandparents, uncle, ect) if they want him to be a part of their lives they have to be peanut free also is it extreme?.. no him dying is!... baking all your cakes, finding peanut free snack and foods, reading every lable (food, lotion, sunscreen, ect) for the rest of your life, planning vacations months in advance to make sure that every thing will be peanut free and safe, and trust your gut feeling always! Good luck to you and if you need any further questions just ask.

Florida

Janet

Thanks

Janet, Thanks. I have to have the peanut free talk with the family. I figure it is going to be a fight with the in-laws. They always tried to give her table food and candy before she even was eating baby food. They will just not get to have Gabie over without me there watching. My grandmother is afraid to be with my daughter without me present. She is afraid of the epi and is terrified that something will happen to my daughter in her care. I hope to change her mind and educate her instead. She is almost 77 and enjoys spending time with her great grand. Do you know what the problem is with using an epi pen with asthma? I was reading the isert and it said that people with asthma should not use the epi. In my earlier post, I posted that our alergist/asthma doc suspected my daughter of having asthma. We are using a nebulizer at night now. I only have one week left until we go back to our doc and I really want to know all of the results of the allergies now. I think I might call and see if they will tell me anything over the phone. Thanks again! Cynthia

Alabama

Janet

Cynthia

In the begining it is hard on everyone but if your child is in a peanut free enviroment they will not have a reaction my 78 year old Grandmother has been taking care of my son since he was 1 and i had go back to work at first she was very scared of the epi pen also but with time you get more confident in the fact that you know how to care for your child with allergies. as far as the asthma i am not sure thank god my son has never had asthma although the doctor said that could change as he got older:( i hope not i cant imagine having to deal with more stress than i have now (sorry b/c i know your dealing with it now) all i can assure you is that there will be better days with time you learn how to deal with the allergies and then there are the days that you thank god that, that is all they have b/c there are alot worst things to live or not live with than allergies.

Florida

Fame

God\'s Purpose

My son was diagnosed with a peanut/nut allergy when he was 9 months old, after having a severe reaction. He is now 7 years old, and every new school year gives me a bit of a jolt. Thankfully, his teachers have all taken his allergy (almost) as seriously as I do. They are very helpful! My problem has been with the nursing staff at his school. The aged nurse seems to have a "he's just a kid, and it's just allergies" attitude... that was, of course, until she had to ride in the ambulance with him after a reaction during lunch. I pray daily that the Lord would remove this allergy from my son and make him whole. But, I know that in the meantime, my son's conditions (he has eczema & asthma, too) pave the way for education for the greater population. My son is a very personable and tender young man that people find endearing; God's used him in such great ways. I do not believe that God caused it, but that He allowed it. He uses all things for good for those who love Him. And, that is what I think is happening here with my son. Of course, I will continue to pray that this will be removed from my son, but I will not allow fear to grip me so much that I don't allow my son to have a normal life. Yes, we ask a million questions when we go to a friend's house. Yes, we avoid restaurants that aren't open about their ingredients. And, yes, I terrify people sometimes with my educational schpeel about allergic reactions. I also temper it with God's grace. It's the only way we cope with it. I hope others here can find peace in knowing that God's will & purpose, though not always understood by us, is perfect and complete.

Texas

Sara

EpiPen Carriers

What a great site. Just read some of the posts and saw that some people are looking for epipen carriers. The one we use for our 4 year old is the anatote at www.allergywise.ca Hope this info helps.

Toronto Ontario

Melissa

1.5 year old allergies

My 1.5 year old son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. He has only had one reaction to nuts, and it was mild itching and skin blotches. His egg reaction was much worse, with vomiting and itching etc. I would NEVER take any chance, however, some of the foods that he has been eating since before the diagnosis, state that they have been made on peanut equipment or have been made in a factory that processes peanuts or tree nuts. Of course, I have stopped feeding him these foods. But, it is still very scary. I feel like after reading these posts and browsing this website, my son's allergist did not do a very good job in alerting us to the danger that our son could be in. Maybe since his reaction was very minor (but major enough for me to get him tested) she doesn't see it as threatening. We come from a family with absolutely no history whatsoever of any type of food allergy, so education is the key for us...this web site is a blessing!

Detroit

madelaine

daughter

I am struggling with accepting my two year old daughters allergies , after twice this weekend reacting horribly to dogs. She has peanut, treenut, casin,eggs tomatoes, beef, dog, and cat allergies. Thank you for letting me vent. I try to stay strong, somedays are harder than others. I hate to see her suffer and sometimes I beat myself up for not protecting her.

albany,ny

Julie

Peanut allergy

I started to suspect my 2 1/2 year old little girl was allergic to peanuts at around 11 mths.She grabbed her older brothers peanut butter sandwich and took a little bite. I ran over and scooped it out of her mouth. I though I got it all out. There was only a little residue. The reason I sccoped it out was because I was worried she would choke, I did not know she was allergic. Well there was only a tiny bit of residue on her tongue and I gave her water right away. Right before my eyes she got hives and her face swelled. She did not have trouble breathing though. I called her pediatrican and was told to give her Benadryl for the next 24 hors. At that point I did not have her tested. But from then on I never allowed ger to have peanut butter. At 2 1/2 her pediatrician advised me to finally have her tested. I was shocked when the allergist diluted the test as a precaution with 10 times the amount of water in the soloution and it came back VERY positive. That was a month ago. I am still very freaked out. It hurts that so many people feel like I just want attention. Even a mom at her playgroup makes muffins with nuts and feeds her two girl nuts at playgroup. She says "bring your own snack" It really dufficult cause at 2 my daughter wants to have the snack the other kids are eating. The other Moms are very nice though and let me check all the labels. My own sister and brother said I am a "Drama Queen" and just want my child to be the center of attention. Can you believe it?

New York

Marie

Venting

So I've just finished reading this entire thread of messages and I have a couple of reactions. First of all to those parents who have just found out about their child's allergy (or their own). My 4-yr old was diagnosed last summer (peanuts and treenuts). I was so scared to snd her off to her first year of school, even to eat out. My advice...read ALL you can about this allergy and anaphylaxis, be prepared, keep Epipens and Benadryl and an emergency plan on the child at ALL times (my daughter keeps hers in a tiny sparkly purple backpack on her back), and make sure everyone in their life knows as much as you do about the prevention and handling of this allergy. P.S. Just letting you all know, I found out that for every 15 minutes you live from a hospital you need one Epipen. We live 30 minutes away, so my daughter carries 2 on her. This is because the medicine may only take effect for 15 minutes or so........Secondly, to all those SELFISH, UNINFORMED parents out there who think they have a "right" to bring nuts into a school/daycare where there is an allergic child/children present.....you have no right to leave a negative comment on here or anywhere else until you become informed of this allergy. Yes, our children can DIE....no your child will not DIE without having a PB sandwich for lunch. Put yourself in our shoes....and maybe try to teach your child a life lesson in compassion for others and why they can't have PB in their lunch. And thank your lucky stars you don't have to go thru this!!!....Again to parents/people dealing with allergies..it DOES get easier to deal with over time. You will learn to be very concious about everything without constant worrying. Good luck everyone. God bless!!!

Ontario Canada

Kevin

Learning New Habits

While I was deployed my 1 year old daughter was rushed to the ER due to a very serve allergic reaction to peanut butter. She was fine after some treatment, however it really opened my eyes to just how many products contain peanuts or say they might. Out of support and love for my child I have stopped eating anything that could contain peanuts. The problem is our 3 year old does enjoy candy (when we let her), but since she will share anything with her sister we cannot give her any candy. If anyone knows of candies that either do not carry the warning for possible containing or does contain peanuts could you leave a reply to this message please. Thank you.

Texas

Janet

Kevin, TX

My son is going to be 5 yrs old i found out he was severly allergic to peanuts when he was 11 months i do not give him ANYTHING that has or may contain or processed on shared equipment NOTHING i don't take chances when it come to his life. you will find with time that it will get easier to deal with these are some suggestions but remember to always read the ingrident lines dum dum lolipops Starburt Skittles smarties totsie rolls are the easiest to find in stores then there are a few websites that you can order great candie from cherrybrookkitchen.com (They have great stuff the whole family will enjoy fun to bake great to eat) vermontnutfree.com (They have real milk chocolate taste exactly like the regular choclate candies bought at the store just made in a peanut free place my son loves ALL their candies) I have a great store Allergy-Free Shop right by my house and they sell all these things and i dont have to pay shipping they even bake fresh cupcakes everyday and they are 100% peanut free hopfully you can find something simular in your area. Good luck to you it's a little hard in the begining but once you get familiar with products and places it gets easier!

Florida

sarita

i am so gald to have found this website

my son was diagnosed with peanut allergy when he was 2, we didnt even know he was allergic to them until one day my mom was taking care of him while i worked and she was eating some peanut butter out of the jar and she gave him a spoonful and she had to call me at work because his lips started swelling up and he started breaking out so we took him to the ER and they took great care of him, the next day i took him to his doctor and she recommended that he get tested and sure enough he was allergic they gave us some pens, and ever since then we have tried to keep him from them, he is now 6 and he knows he cant eat them and if anyone gives him anything he knows to ask if it contains peanuts or if it was made at a place where they also make or use peanuts. this past summer we started doing peanuts at work( i work at a candy making company) and i have requested that they dont have me work with peanuts but even wihout working there i get the residue on m efrom the stuuf flying around the factory and i immediately get home and get rid of the clothes, the first time i came home i didnt think it would be a problem but just a few minutes from coming home he started breaking out in hives and i had to give him some meds. i have also resorted to homeschooling my son so that i know he is safe at all times. i do have one question if anyone can answer this: recently i called the doctors office to get anew prescription for the epi pens and the nurse that i spoke to kinda just laughed and said " oh you didnt have to use them, why do you need more" i said well first of all you shoud be gald that i didnt have to use them, and that im actually doing my part so that i dont have to use them, it just really upset me because i try my best to keep the peanuts away from him and this nurse makes me feel like he really doesnt need them, i dont take my son out to restaurants or take him out to eat i make sure to prepare all his food and i am very careful and it just seems like if he doesnt use his epi pens then he doesnt suffer from this. anyways another thing recently my sister moved in with us and i have told her about not bringing peanuts into the house yet she still does, how can i get her to fully understand what they can do my son? anyways it feels good to write all this down and let it all out, thanks to everyone

buffalo

Terry

Sarita

A nurse did that? That one was definitely not very professional. You are right to ask for another script especially if you only have one set on hand or yours is near the expiration date. I am an adult with the allergy and have multiple epi's kept in different locations. As for your sister, keep educating her on the danger of the peanut. Join the Forum. It has many great listeners , They understand the need to vent.

Pennslyvania

Mary

Tree Nut Allergy

Hi I live in san diego and am trying to find a nut fee school, does anyone know an easy way to do this?

San Diego

Chenoa

More than just peanuts...

My 9 yr old son was diagnosed with peanut allergy at 2yrs old. His school has been fully supportive in making the whole school peanut-free. He carries a Twinject (double-dose epipen) with him at all times and wears a Medic-Alert bracelet. In the past year he has developed severe allergies to peas, kiwis, and now lentils, and I have had to realize that I cannot expect the school to be free of these items as well so we have had to make my son, and his teacher, very aware of what foods are around him and that he is not allowed to share food with anyone. I have left a package of special treats for him with his teacher for occasions where other children bring cupcakes or treats to share with the class. Even with all of these precautions, I still dread the day that my phone will ring...

B.C., Canada

Kelly

Thank God for this site!

I have been reading various nut allergy blogs on line and I am furious at what I am finding. There are doctors giving untrue facts about nut allergies and making parents like ourselves seem over protective and crazy. Until you have a child or a loved one with a nut allergy you cannot possibly understand how scary it is. My son is 4 years old and despite how careful my husband and I are he still has several bad reactions a year. Sadly, it is usually someone in our family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc...) who cause it because they do not realize how serious his allergy is. I will say once they see an allergic reaction they are much more careful but why does it take something so severe to make them understand. I am working with the school that my son will attend in a year and a half to figure out an allergy plan for the school. I will let you all know what we have worked out. Maybe it will helps someone else out.

INDIANA

Kelly

Relatives and NUTS!

I want to share this with everyone because it is so selfish and ridiculous. On Thanksgiving my family went to my husband's grandma's house for the holiday dinner which used to be a tradition for us. My son has had his severe/deadly peanut and tree nut allergy for 3 years so everyone is aware of how dangerous nuts and nut products are for him (or so I thought). Items brought to the dinner included a cheese ball rolled in nuts, a turtle pie, pumpkin nut bread and several items that had nut warnings on the label. Once I explained that my son could not be around all of these things everything dangerous was put up (or so I thought). After a while I noticed my husband's family members all sneaking pieces of the pumpkin nut bread so we packed up our stuff so that we could leave. We made it to the front door and my husband's grandma grabbed my son and gave him a big kiss despite our warnings. My son was hived up and wheezing by the time we got out of the driveway so we spent the next 6 hours in the ER! Because of this we chose not to attend the annual Christmas dinner at his grandma's house and we have heard nothing but compliants since. I had my husband call his grandma and explain why we can't attend family functions that include food thinking she would understand. Oh, how wrong I was! She actually suggested that my husband leave my son at home with me on holidays rather than suggesting that perhaps she could make the holidays safer for my son. I am so ticked off at my husband's entire family for being so selfish and inconsiderate! Ok, I am done venting....for now!!!!

INDIANA

Nicole

flying with allergies

My daughter is 5 years old and was diagnosed at age 3 with a severe peanut/treenut allergy. We have planned a trip to disney but I am afraid of the flight because northwest does serve peanuts and they recommended she use a respirator/mask if her sllergy is airborne. I don\\\'t know if her allergy is airborne but I certainly don\\\'t want to find out mid-flight. Can anyone offer advice?

Michigan

Janet

Nicole

I am not sure if you already took your flight but there are several airlines that are more understanding and more willing to work with you i would not be very happy if they told me to put a mask on my kid if you do choose to go with this airline i would take wipes so you can clean the area around her and i would ask the people around me if they can please wait till after the flight to eat their peanuts b/c it is a child i dont think people will tell you no. Good luck have fun!

Miami

Miriam

School

My daughter will be starting kinder in August of this year she has always tested extremly high to peanut allergy but because she has never been exposed to peanuts i dont know if she will react to it just by smell. She is a very smart girl and very informed and aware of her allergies i am sure she will only eat what i send from home but how do i know if others around her can eat it? Can anyone with a peanut allergy tell me from their expirence i dont know how i should approch this. Thanks!

Florida

Barbara

canteen supervisor

Hi, i run our local school canteen and have had no nut allergies in the school until this year, it took next to nothing to become a nut free canteen and i encourage other schools to do so as its very simple, we only had to change 3 items in our canteen i was very suprised, any child with a nut allergy can buy from our canteen knowing they are safe, our school stopped selling peanut butter years ago just as a precaution, kids are so worth the effort, i continue to skan products to make sure there ingredients dont change, please other schools its not worth the debate just do it.

newcastle

Lorena

scared!

My daughter was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy. She is 4. I have an 8 yr old who has always eaten peanut butter and jelly. I never let my daughter try it because I suspected an allergy, since she has been allergic to many other foods. My husband also eats penaut butter on a daily basis. I am wondering if she could develop an airborn allergy to peanuts in the future. I want to do whatever needs to be done, but I am not sure if I should remove the peanut butter from my home for good or just make sure it is out of her reach. As I said, peanut items have been in my home since she was born and never had a reaction to them. Also, she loves Honey Nut Cheerios and she has been eating them since she got teeth. Never had a reaction to them, either. Can anyone explain airborne allergies a little better to me? THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Florida

Melinda

Contamination

Peanut allergies in adults can worsen as years pass and exposures occur. Last week I was working in Vacation Bible School at our church. One child was hitting another with a water bottle that he brought from home. A couple of minutes after I took it away from him, I noticed my lips were stinging, my hands were numb and my eyes were burning. About that time I had to fuss at him again, looked closer, and then saw the peanut butter still on his face! I did have time to down some Benedryl before my throat swelled too much - got to the doctor and got a shot. Four days later and I still have symptoms and haven't recovered from the secondary exposure. Be careful of those around you!

Oklahoma

Nut-Free

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Florida

Crystal

My son and his allergies

Well where do I start. I guess when my son was 3 yrs old he developed the allergy . I say this cause hes eatin pb sandwiches around 3 yrs old .One day he gagged on one , and I didnt see any concern when he refused to eat pb sanwiches any more for the fear of gagging. My mother one day on our way out to eat gave him what she mistakingly thought was a plain m&m, was a reeses pieces. Well 30 sec later he said it tastes nasty and threw it up, was fine after that.So when he was 7 we went to the allergist cause my son was having asthma issues. (seasonal) we went to the allergist and we did a screening and said what food should we test for ? I said can we try peanut . I have to say I was surprised seeing my son having reactions that I didnt know that existed . He turned beet red, hives (blisters) forming on back, arms, legs , swelling (looked like the cavemen on the commercials)and wheezing !I have never been so scared and emotionally drained in all my life ! I have to say I handled the reaction with a positive attitude, which helped my sons anxiety extremely. The reversals didnt work, there were 5 reversals ,2 epipens and finally something alot of doctors didnt know ,Iv heprin. Iv heperin saved my son from having to be admitted into the hospital. We went through seven yrs not aware of this fatal allergy . I tell my son god gave him a gift , hes never liked the smell of peanuts, never wanted to sit by a child that ate a peanut butter sandwich because of the smell of peanut butter. My house is peanut free.My mothers and fathers is not , but they keep it away from him and he knows not to eat it. His school has a peanut free table in the lunch room and the classroom he is in has signs making people aware . I send him a box of snack cakes to his class for times if a kid has cake and there are no ingredients labeled. His teacher is very helpful and has been very careful of what treats are fed in her class! Michael my son reminds her everytime she gives him something " is there any peanuts" I have been telling him ever since we were aware of his deadly allergie ,always ask what the ingredience are in everything you eat. That way he will be able to someday take care of himself .

Missouri

Meredith

lifelong allergy

I have been peanut allergic for as long as I can remember. My parents tried to encourage me to eat peanut butter as a small child, but I did not like the taste and refused on most occasions. I can remember at the age of 6 eating a peanut from the shell and immediately feeling sick to my stomach, and subsequently vomiting. I think that was the first real sign to my parents that I had a food allergy. Thankfully, despite my allergy getting worse with age, I have managed to only have a handful of serious reactions. Typically my mouth tingles, my tongue swells (usually raised red bumps appear on it) and I feel nauseous. On two occasions my throat has also swelled, following vomiting, which was terrifying, and means I now try to avoid throwing up after a reaction. I am assuming this is because the peanuts pass my throat once more on the way back up?! I'm now 27, and my allergy is well-controlled with vigilance and anti-histamines when necessary (probably only once or twice a year). I think I have found a balance of being aware of what I am eating, without being obsessive, and this works well for me. I now have a 9 month old daughter, and am hoping that she doesn't have any serious food allergies (no signs thus far). We are just as careful with her food intake as we are with mine, just in case.

New Zealand

lori lee

reeses pieces

My 21 month old had reeses pieces and after eating it he started to cough and vomited 3 times at daycare. When I went to go pick him up he was little on the tired side. On the way home he was drinking milk and started coughing and threw up again. After we got home I've noticed big hives around his throat,stomach,around the ankle area, and his groin area. It scared the heck out of me so I immediately applied hydrocortizone cream on him and after about an hour of applying the cream it went away. I was checking to see that he didnt have a breathin problem, which he didnt. Is this mean his allergic to peanuts?? or whatever was in the reeses pieces??? He never had peanuts or reeses pieces before. I dont know why the daycare person gave him that.

las vegas

anne

iggnorance

I noticed that a lot of people who do not have nut allergies in their home do not understand the dangers enough...they are very iggnorant. I bet if the tables were turned they would understand and not argue this nut free topic. Bottom line nut allergies are dangerous and people need to wake up and take this very seriously.

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