Thursday, April 30, 2009
Peanut Allergy
Today I took Luke for his yearly visit to the allergist to check on his peanut allergy. They did another "drop" test, where they just drop some peanut solution on his back and then measure the reaction (red puffy spot) if there is one. Well he had one, so he still has that peanut allergy. He is unlikely to outgrow it, but it is possible. So we will return next year and check on it again. Keeping my fingers crossed that he will. ON a side note, I was at the playground the other day. They have picnic tables there. So many moms will pack their kids a lunch and bring it. There was one kid there running around the playground with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which I didn't even see until his mother started yelling at him to get back to the table with it. I heard her tell him, "You can't take your sandwich on the playground because you don't know if someone has a peanut allergy." Well, I guess I should be a little grateful that she is somewhat aware that her child's behavior could affect the health of my child. But she was still ignorant to the fact that her child probably would still get peanut butter on his hands and run all over the playground touching everything after eating his lunch. Or would get some on the picnic table. Why do you think there are "peanut free" tables at schools? UGH! I would like to avoid using Luke's EpiPen, thank you very much. So as a mother of a child with a food allergy, please do not bring peanut butter to public places where children can easily come into contact with them.
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4 comments:
Ali—my brother has a severe peanut allergy. So I have learned a lot about this. For Greg it has gotten worse as he has gotten older mostly because he has asthma that exacerbates things if he ingests peanuts. Of course, that is not always the case. But as long as he has his Epi pen, he is alright in the even that something happens (it saved his life in one situation). He says it has gotten so much better in the past 5 years because the world is much more careful about nut allergies (there have been a lot of changes in the food and airline industries involving nuts). He still chooses not to fly Southwest Airlines because they serve peanuts. But as long as he is careful to ask about restaurant ingredients (watch out: Chick-fil-a uses peanut oil), and read bag labels, he is safe. I am sorry to hear that little Luke will be dealing with this as he grows up. But Greg turned out "mostly normal" (just kidding, Greg) for a non-peanut ingesting kiddo. ;) Once you get into the swing of it, it will become second nature.
Peanut butter has the evil power to attach to anything! Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to clean up the whole world with baby wipes, or at least all the grocery carts in it. Libby
Having a nut allergy is tough especially when just the aroma drives you into an attack. I have allergies to just about everything, I always have the epi pen with me. Unfortunately unless you have allergies or have been exposed to allergies, you are dumb to them and in a playground - well as you found out first hand, it can happen.
Let's hope he doesn't develop a latex allergy - that is a tough one as well.
Peanut butter sandwich free playground- that's my dream!!
It's very interesting to me that the mom thought about that at all. Most people wouldn't even think of that.
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