Allergies

[Deebs]

I know we have a lot of experience here, and any and all thoughts are appreciated!

DD has fairly severe allergies - hay fever, pollen, dust, trees, and grasses. She also has Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is related to that. We are in the midst of doing shots, hopeful to get her down to maybe 1-2 allergy meds daily sometime within the next year.
Saturday, DH took all the kids to a movie. He called me in the middle to come pick DD up because she was sure she was allergic to the candy she was eating, though her only symptom was that she felt weird and was all panicky. We thought she was having either a panic attack or a variant migraine (she does suffer from migraines). She had a similar episode a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was a migraine then. Gave her ibuprofen, benadryl, and she was fine both time.

Yesterday, I got a call from school shortly after she ate lunch. She felt as though she was "walking on air." She was crying intermittently, but I also think she was very scared. She was convinced she was going to need an Epi pen, but had no real signs of a reaction other than this feeling. She did have a peanut butter and honey sandwich (as she does almost every day) and there were peanuts in the movie theater candy. Last night, I became worried that she is allergic to peanuts, so DH and I gave her a scoop of peanut butter - don't try this at home. She had the same weird kind of feeling.

She went to the pediatrician this morning for her yearly physical. I brought this all up to him and he agreed - it's probably reasonable that she's reacting to peanuts, so we'll address it with the allergist next week. After lunch today, I get a call from the nurse. She has the weird feeling again, but she ate school lunch because I know it's completely peanut free. When I get to school, she also has a lacy rash down her arms, legs, and back. I give her benadryl, bring her home, 45 minutes later she's fine. She had eaten taco meat, beans, chips, cheese, and water, which she eats often. Right now I'm waiting for a call from the allergist, but I was hopeful that one of you might have a thought. I'd really like to send her to school one day this week and have her stay there!

[HouseofWool]

Deb - have you guys kept a food diary on her? I would start with that and send cold lunch with her for a couple of weeks. It might give you some insight as to what is happening.

It could be something insidious like a preservative or colorant in the food that is causing the reaction. (Not saying that to scare you, but, my sister is allergic to all synthetic fragrances and most skincare preservatives, so it is a possibility.)

the only other thought is that the next time she has this reaction she probably ought to head to the ED because the reactions sound like they are increasing in severity and rather quickly.

I can't even imagine how scary it is for you.

[scrub-jay]

Allergies

Posting on the fly, but anaphylaxis can present as shock-like symptoms. I'll post more later. I completely understand how scary it is. ((Hugs))

[Thirteen]

Posting on the fly, but anaphylaxis can present as shock-like symptoms. I'll post more later. I completely understand how scary it is. ((Hugs))

This is what DH said, also.



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[Deebs]

I guess I was more looking for an idea of a connection of her foods today (and I do need to do a food diary as Kris suggested). If she was having shock symptoms, they were VERY mild and then reversed themselves? Obviously, DH sees anaphylaxis when it's progressing and progressed, but he hasn't seen it spontaneously resolve and was unconcerned other than obviously she is having a reaction and chances are it's her allergies. Other than a buried ingredient (and I really hope that's not it), we couldn't see a quick connection of what food it could be. We are seeing the allergist Monday, but I'm trying to figure out what foods to even allow her to have until that point. Thoughts on that? Further thoughts on the shock signs?

[Sheherezade]

Allergies

Gluten? There are gluten additives in a lot of spice packs for taco stuff, and let's face it. It's everywhere. I am not allergic to gluten but it does make me feel "spacey" sometimes.
Maybe it's a blood sugar thing? I'd do the food dairy and get her involved. It's the only way to track something vague.

[Pollyanna]

Wow, that is so scary! I wish I had some insight. Sending good thoughts and prayers for quick answers.

[BonBon]

Has her allergist discussed an elimination diet with you?

My allergist had me do an elimination diet to get rid of both all the common allergens as well as everything that came up on my tests. For me, wheat is so inflammatory that it caused a ton of problems. You mentioned that your daughter has seasonal allergies. Since I cut out wheat (for the most part; been bad lately) mine have disappeared. Wheat is also implicated in a host of autoimmune conditions, as well as asthma. Something to think about. Dairy is also a common allergen.

At any rate, if you eliminate all inflammatory foods for a few weeks and slowly add foods back in, you should be able to ferret out what's causing her issues pretty quickly.

[Deebs]

We haven't done anything with food because she's never had food issues, outside what would fit with OAS. I should have realized this when I originally types - she had BEANS with lunch. Beans - legumes - like peanuts. So, we're back to testing for peanuts on Monday and going from there. I'm feeding her a pretty basic dinner and, if she has no reaction, she'll have the leftovers for school lunch tomorrow.

[peggyfromwastate]

My ds12 has had 2 anaphylactic type of rxns to foods that did resolve without having to use epipen. One was to an unknown (mustard) and the other to a known (peanut). We should have given the epi for the peanut, but my dh and my dad were there and didn't think it was necessary bc he was still able to breathe. He did feel lightheaded and scared though.

Just saying that sometimes reactions can resolve themselves.

Has she been tested for peanut before? Peanut is way easier to avoid than wheat or dairy or other little additives that might trigger reactions.

Hugs--- food allergies are so frustrating.

[Deebs]

Peggy - that's really helpful. DH has been home (thankfully) and each time has watched to see her not progress so we haven't used anything. The problem I always treat her migraines with other meds plus Benadryl (bc she's an allergic kid) so I probably clouded my own picture by going that. I was actually kind of relieved when I thought ab the beans bc -while a peanut allergy will suuuuuuuck, it is actually way easier than trying to chase down some mystery additive. So, I guess I hope my kid has a peanut allergy? She's an anxious kid, so none of this helps that and it's often hard to tell if she's having a reaction or anxiety.
She's never been food tested because any foods she's had any reaction to fit with Oral Allergy Syndrome. I'm guessing Monday will be the test and if positive, I'll be on here freaking out asking for ideas. This is my kid who really wants to be a vegetarian and eats peanut butter and honey sandwiches with a side of beans almost daily. I know people deal with so much more serious allergies and health issues, but it is really scary and frustrating. I now totally get the people who walk into a doctor looking for a CT, MRI, or other test to just say everything that could possibly be wrong.


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[BonBon]

Sorry, I was posting on the fly earlier. My point about inflammatory foods is that they can wreak havoc on your intestines giving rise to hyperpermeability, in which particles are getting through that shouldn't, which could potentially be causing the more serious allergic reaction that you're seeing. (I hope that made sense. My brain isn't working well lately...)

[scrub-jay]

Peanut allergies are awful, but there is much better awareness about them these days than ever before. Food labeling is generally good if she's allergic to one of the common food allergens. Allergies to foods can develop at ANY time to ANY person, keep that in mind. I recommend testing her for tree nut allergies when they test her for a peanut allergy. I say this because many allergists will lump those two together, but like you pointed out, peanuts are technically legumes and are incorrectly lumped with the nut family. My dd is anaphylactic to peanuts (among other things) but she has no problem with tree nuts which is fantastic because she can have almond butter or cashew butter. That being said, we have to make our own almond butter or buy one of a handful of brands that are made in a peanut-free facility. There are other substitutes for PB as well -- Sunbutter (sunflower seeds) and Soybutter (Soybeans) are becoming more common.

Until the allergist appointment, I would keep a food diary, document what you do know about the incidents and avoid peanuts and peanut-containing items. I am very glad that she has a strong level of awareness. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or if you want my #, I text frequently.

ETA: I agree with Peggy, peanut is one of the easiest to avoid. It's the dairy that seems to be in everything.

[HouseofWool]

And again, this is why I love this site. Where else can you get all sorts of qualified armchair consults at the drop of a hat?

[Deebs]

LSW - it does look similar to a post viral rash, but she got the same rash when she underwent allergy testing and gets it in the spring when her allergies peak. She's just a rashly kid, but it's definitely not a typical hive-type rash. It's weird (I did take pics for her allergist, but he's seen her with it before). I kind of wish her allergist could just come live with us for a couple days. Things that I freak out about, he'll be totally calm about and other things I think are no big deal, he'll point out the seriousness of. There are so many weird connections in allergies!

I'm packing her leftovers from dinner (that she didn't react to) for lunch and then I'll bring a peanut free treat for her Valentine's Day party and cross my fingers. I'm just resisting the urge to keep her home. I don't know how families with really medically needy kids do it!


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