Anaphylactic shocker

[Sanjøy]

Yipes. Meebies S should not have tested Roobs with peanut butter.

Hope the wee man is on the mend and get a tonka toy out of it for being a brave soldier.

Do they still do the skin prick test for allergies? Do they offer a specific one for types of nuts ?

[j2 lot]

At least you know about the problem now Ferg and can adjust accordingly Finding out about the allergy could have been much worse in a less favourable environment.
Peter your experience is a reminder to us of how fragile life can be.

[Noops]

Ditto above and thank god everything went ok.. having watched a few " shockers " with wasps over the years . I'm still amazed at the blazzzzaee attitude to anaphylactic anything . I have a Epen just incase I become stung bound ......not that it will happen this year.

[robin]

Yipes. Meebies S should not have tested Roobs with peanut butter.

Hope the wee man is on the mend and get a tonka toy out of it for being a brave soldier.

Do they still do the skin prick test for allergies? Do they offer a specific one for types of nuts ?

The peanut butter test may not be useful in any case. People develop allergies partly in response to being exposed to the allergen. So if you've eaten peanut butter 20 times in your life without reaction, it doesn't mean you won't react the 21st time - and possibly that reaction will be huge. There is a camp that then says just don't give your kids nuts. I disagree provided you are within reasonable range of a hospital. If you lived in the middle of nowhere and medical help might take one hour to reach you then it's a trickier decision as in the worst case they may develop full anaphylaxis and be unable to breath, but typically you get a warning shot where you have swelling/redness/streaming and a solid dose of Pyriton is enough to keep it in check whilst you seek medical help (and steroids!).

Cheers,
Robin

[jen]

Holy Moly!! Glad he's ok!

[keevster]

Yipes. Meebies S should not have tested Roobs with peanut butter.

Hope the wee man is on the mend and get a tonka toy out of it for being a brave soldier.

Do they still do the skin prick test for allergies? Do they offer a specific one for types of nuts ?

The peanut butter test may not be useful in any case. People develop allergies partly in response to being exposed to the allergen. So if you've eaten peanut butter 20 times in your life without reaction, it doesn't mean you won't react the 21st time - and possibly that reaction will be huge. There is a camp that then says just don't give your kids nuts. I disagree provided you are within reasonable range of a hospital. If you lived in the middle of nowhere and medical help might take one hour to reach you then it's a trickier decision as in the worst case they may develop full anaphylaxis and be unable to breath, but typically you get a warning shot where you have swelling/redness/streaming and a solid dose of Pyriton is enough to keep it in check whilst you seek medical help (and steroids!).

Cheers,
Robin

Are you in the medical profession Robin?

[S111Y TT]

Weird situation Ferg whereby he is not affected by peanuts, but is by cashews.

Good to see that they sorted it out quickly, Ian had the same with a wasp sting, and that was very close to terminal as we did not know what had caused it, but he also now carries an epidural pen.

tut

Just to point out, I was 11 years old at the time, I was stung and I swelled up extremely badly, felt awful and could feel my windpipe gradually closing. I was moaning and crying about it and continually dad just told me to stop being such a wimp and man up. Turns out I was dying......funny that!

On a serious note Ferg, only two years ago when I was 20 and moved to Aberdeen I changed doctors. When in for a check-up they realised my epi-pen was out of date, on closer look they found that for the past 6 years I have had the wrong epi-pen prescribed and it would not have been any use to me. The dosage should have been increased so keep an eye on that as he grows up. Had I been stung and relied on my epi-pen until I could seek treatment I probably would not have made it.

All that said I doubt it will hinder the wee fellas life. Even after I was found to be allergic I still spent plenty of time showing off at how I could kill a wasp with a clap of my hands. Never went wrong but did take many of them out. Also to point out I'm against killing any animal or even insect unless it is for food but I see wasps as the devil and the more which die the better. Not suggesting that he see's how many he can eat before passing out, but always have an epi-pen and piriton with him and he should wear the necklace thing with information inside. So long as he has that and checks the labels all should be good for him and hopefully he will never be hindered.

Peter that's awful. Very sorry for your loss.

[mwmackenzie]

Geez Ferg, sorry to hear this, glad he's doing better now! In my thoughts and prayers bud! Hope your OK too after your fright!

[Ferg]

Good job people generally don't eat wasps.
Like you say, he's got a wee pack with all the stuff and they were very clear about expiry dates etc. While he's still a kid and dependant on all food from adults he doesn't need a bracelet etc.

We're trying to not over compensate, but it's a little difficult until the blood tests come back listing exactly what might trigger him.

It's been interesting getting to grips with how to handle every day food consumption. Thankfully the display of allergens on food products is pretty good but you feel your gambling with his life if it's not marked so we're sticking with well labelled stuff just now. It's amazing how easy it would be to happen. For example, in the Gyle this morning we had to intercept a sweet being handed out as tasters outside a shop. Feeling slightly self concious as we're new to the threat and explained, they (Henleys) we're very helpfull and actually we're able to identify suitable sweets which were then measured in sterilised trays. All brilliantly helpfull and has given us an alternative for treats. He's been getting frustrated that he can't get chocolate or other things he might have had as a treat previously.

[robin]

Are you in the medical profession Robin?

No, just years of experience of allergic wife and son

[rossybee]

Just seen this Ferg - glad to hear the wee man came thru it with minimal fuss

Calum had a reaction at a similar age (he's now nearly 11) whilst eating Heinz lentil soup, swelling around the throat etc... what a worry it was

After much testing (which proved inconclusive) he was declared allergic to lentils, peas, and nuts. I honestly think they threw the nuts bit in to err on the side of caution...

The upshot is that he was given a prescription of a three-part remedy (which he still has but has fortunately never needed) to administer in the event of a reaction. Along with this he has liquid Piriton with which we have an accompanying doctor's letter for getting thru airport security.

The lad has a fantastic curiosity for trying different foods, and as I reckon he never had a nut allergy and now being older has possibly less likelihood to reaction, getting him further tested, in a controlled environment of course.

[Andy G]

blood hell mate - that must have been a nightmare.

Delighted Greg is ok.

[Ferg]

Thanks G.

Ross, the airport security issue was a surprise when the hospital mentioned it. They must be used to it though. Gregg's the same, he'll eat anything so educating him has been the high priority. Hopefully Calum grows out of it, or at least with a reduced sensitivity.

[rossybee]

I will share my experiences if/when we take things further - hopefully with a positive outcome