This was me, 9 years ago before our lives changed. You see, I was one of those people who felt that food allergies were over-rated. Allergic to nuts, don't eat em! My cousin was dating a fellow who had food allergies and I remember exchanging words with my mother prior to Christmas dinner... we always put bowls of nuts out, it's not like he has to eat them. He declined our invitation and looking back knowing what I know now, he was right to do so. We were assholes.
Call it a lesson, call it a smack in my face, call it Karma... call it what you will... In 2008, we welcomed a beautiful baby boy. A whopping 9 lbs 11 oz at that! All through my pregnancy I ate peanut butter, PB on toast, on bagels and my favourite - Reese's peanut butter cups! During the first year of my son's life, I ate nuts and peanut butter right next to him. For three months I breastfed. He had terrible eczema, cried A LOT and always had redness on his little face. When he turned a year old, I introduced him to peanut butter. I always read it was best to wait until they were one. First exposure was a small amount of Kraft natural peanut butter. It was uneventful. About a week or so later, I decided to try again with the second exposure. This time, we had no natural PB around so I used the Kraft smooth PB. Still just as delicious! I put a little bit on my finger and put it in his mouth. I remember him sticking his fingers in his mouth as he tasted this new food. Moments later he was rubbing his eyes, tired. So, naturally I put him to bed and he fell asleep. I went downstairs to check facebook (it was still pretty new to me and being a new mother, I was eager to see what was happening in the outside world). About an hour later I had a sudden fear. Oh My God. What if he had an allergic reaction while he was sleeping, what if he was dead upstairs in his crib?! I raced upstairs as fast as I could, sick to my stomach that I could be so foolish and braindead. I am a paramedic after all and should know these things. Opening his door, I sighed with relief. There my beautiful baby was, standing in his crib. I looked him over and discovered he had swelling around his eye - the same eye he'd been rubbing when he was eating the PB. He was coughing a bit too, sounded full of phlegm. Naturally you'd think as a paramedic, my house would be stocked full of supplies... it sort of it, with first aid stuff. Medications, not so much. No benedryl, no epinephrine. I called my then husband in a panic, crying, fearing the worst. (It has come more to my awareness that I will ALWAYS fear the worst in every situation). I didn't know what to do. Do I take him to ER, do I call an ambulance? Do I do nothing?!
I decided to drive him into emerg, after all, I work on an ambulance and felt that the only time I'll call my coworkers is if I'm dying - this wasn't an emergency after all and that's what ambulances are for (contrary to popular belief, we are NOT a taxi service!). They put us in the "yellow" zone, which I knew was for stable patients that weren't too bad. Good sign. We saw a doctor that I know well, and he assured me everything was alright. They gave him benedryl and watched him for a while. They suggested that his eye had probably been irritated from the PB being rubbed into it. I asked for a prescription for an epi pen since we had an upcoming trip to Cuba in a few weeks. Last thing I needed was something to happen while in another country. We left with that and an appointment for allergy testing.
Allergy testing showed he was in fact allergic to peanuts. Not just a little bit, but a LOT. His levels were 75. I asked if that was high, and the doctor said 30 is high. Great. Karma just bit me in the ass. Cuba was wonderful, we kept him on his bottle and only fed him fruits and veggies there. I decided I wanted to have the peanut component testing done as well - it's blood work which breaks down and shows the different levels in the peanut that one could be allergic to. My son, was off the charts high for each Ara h associated with anaphylaxis.
(Reactivity to Ara h 1, 2, or 3 is associated with a high risk for systemic reaction, including anaphylaxis. Reactivity to Ara h 9 is associated with a variable risk for systemic reaction, including anaphylaxis. Patients who exhibit reactivity to Ara h 1, 2, 3, and/or 9 should be counseled to avoid peanuts, foods that contain peanut products, and foods that have been processed in plants that also process peanuts.) copied from http://www.questdiagnostics.com/testcenter/testguide.action?dc=TS_Peanut_Component_Panel
My son is now 8 years old and thankfully has never had an anaphylactic reaction. We have educated him and told him how to keep himself safe. We hope he has listened. We have struggled with some family members who just didn't get it and have been blessed with those who go above and beyond. My mother has removed all nuts and peanut butter from her house. I am so fortunate for her. We have traveled a lot with my son, to show him he doesn't have to live in a bubble. Disney is by far our safest place to go on holiday. Their attention to those with food allergies is amazing. Now though, my son is getting older and he has asked if we can go to the ocean. Cuba, Mexico or the DR like he's heard his friends say. The only problem is that I can't find a resort that I feel comfortable enough with to keep him safe. We don't have baby formula to feed him this time. My fingers are crossed that something (affordable) will come along and I will be able to see the smile on his face when I tell him the news. I hate hearing him say "Mom, wouldn't it be nice if I wasn't allergic to peanuts?". Poor kid.
Last year, he was really struggling with feeling different. I found an amazing summer camp that promised they were a nut safe environment and that he would be free to eat everything served there. With a deep breath, a lot of fear and heartache, I sent him away for 2 weeks. He came back so happy, and so grown up. We had won.
Looking forward, I hope to have him retested again and maybe look into options for OIT. I've seen great success from my group members on a food allergy facebook page. Their once allergic children can now eat nuts safely. I can't even begin to imagine how life changing that would be for my son.
I'm hoping with each year that passes, with all the research being done, that something will come up. Until then, we always have him carry 2 epi pens on his person at all time, I always have one in my purse as well. We live life, to the fullest.
*** pictures are NOT my own. They are copied from a google image search.
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