NUT ALLERGIES

[jj]

Our 4 year old daughter has a nut allergy and the epi pen for home and school.
My wife is on top of it and always asks at parties if there is any chance of nuts in the cakes, slices, food in general. Usually there isn't but if  there is any uncertainity she misses out.
We take our own treats with us most places, just in case!!
We had to rush her off to hospital the first time she had peanut butter toast and it isn't something either of us would like to have to do again. It was pretty scary.
Better people know about a nut allergy. Our daughter knows she isn't allowed nuts and is getting the idea of asking if there is nuts in things, but she still has a long way to go.
We are a nut free house, but we don't expect everyone around us to be the same. The more people we tell the more people get the idea and think about how common this allergy is.
I'm the first to sneak a piece of toast smothered in crunchy peanut butter off friends when we're camping.
If ever there was a time again that looked like she was having any sort of reaction both nurses and Ambo's have said to administer the epi pen then ring an ambulance immediately, not to worry if it was a false call they would rather she be safe than sorry.
I'm glad it isn't a beer allergy

[FittedForRadio]

Hi,

I was born in 1975;  no brothers, no sisters, no contact with any animals just in case it bites you, ultra-clean house, toys, clothes, minimum contact with other kids... very paranoid, actually.

So I ended with all kind of allergies. I had daily asthma crisis at night unless I had my daily medication just before going to bed.....   UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO THAT I CAME TO AUSTRALIA 

Yes, seriously, when I came here I was carrying a pile of "Symbicort", and one night I forgot to have it... and the following morning I noticed that nothing had happened during the night !!!

Nowadays I only use it if I have been cutting the grass for long time in a dry or windy day, or I have been using the vacuum cleaner, so after so many years of poor quality of life I'm delighted with the change 

[Bunyip]

If they offer to stop eating then that's all well and good...but to expect others......

Those with an acute allergy could suffer a reaction from quite some distance away, therefore I am perfectly happy to put any food away that may cause an issue.

All I need is to know about it, so always feel free to ask

Bunyip

[Foo]

I have a problem with raw peanuts only, in the nut family. I can eat all other nuts without a problem and peanuts smoked, curried, sugar coated and what ever other way you can do them, so go figure. 

Raw oysters also make me really crook but can have them smoked, kilpatrick and any other way.

Bees and wasps well they can definitely kill me! 

All of these things never used to bother me as a yougin, it was only around the age of 18yrs that all went pear shaped for some reason.
I have had one trip in an ambulance after getting hit by about 5 black wasps but if I do get stung, I shovel 3-4 antihistammines into me and hope like hell, all will be good.

My reactions = throat closing up, heart racing, red rash and I start burning up.
Foo

[fishfinder]

When I mentioned about walking away, I would only do that if it was around people that know about the allergy but are still ignorant about it thinking we are hypochondriacs. Rather than again politely asking if nuts could be taken away and knowing the person would roll their eyes glare at my daughter and make some smart comment, I would just simply walk away, and have done so on a few occasions.

I have never TOLD people not to have nuts near her I have only ever ASKED and if they dont listen ( which very rarely happens ) again I will walk away or not go

As to when do we stop watching over her shoulder checking on all the foods she eats, answer is as it is when we think she is ready. it was only last year the school felt she was educated enough about the foods to eat and if un sure ask or just dont eat it, so they no longer have a teachers aide sitting with her during lunch breaks.  I am comfortable knowing she knows what not to eat and she always asks if unsure, and her sisters watch as well. we were once at a restaurant and asked if the apple crumble contained nuts, the waitress said no it does not so we ordered it luckily my oldest daughter who was 11 at the time was served first took a bite and said for no one to eat it as she is sure she could taste nuts she ran off with the bowl away from us walked to the toilets to rinse her mouth and scrub her hands with out us asking her to do so, so i asked for the chef to come out and questioned him about the desert and he said there was hazel nuts on it and the waitress was only assuming. So form then on we ask the waitress to make sure and explain why.

I am not one of these people that will not let her eat a product that says "MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF NUTS" as that is only the manufactures covering their themselves, if you look at biscuits, ice creams, lollies, chocolates, potato chips etc they all have that warning, and after all she is still a kid and should not miss out on everything, if a food product has nuts the label will say it contains nuts.

And with the mention of placing a sticker on the car saying we carry an epi-pen, thats a bloody good idea thanks

[LB]

If anyone wasn't prepared to go without nuts for a couple of days camping, when they presented such a serious risk to a child, I'm not sure I'd be interested in camping with them. Hardly a big ask.

x2

My dad always used to say "naivety is not a crime but ignorance is".

Its absolutely imperative you let people know, and you would be not only be doing a disservice to the child but also to those around you if you didn't. What if someone brings out something that caused a serious reaction to a child or adult and god forbid they died. They would have to live with that for the rest of their lives and I doubt not knowing in advance would be much of comfort.

One day hopefully they may come up with a cure, so till then we just need to do everything we can to keep those around us safe.

As bunyip mentioned before my best friend daughter has a nut allergy, so the only nut that comes camping is bunyip even when they are not camping with us.

LB

[DannyG]

I havent read the entire thread yet because Im too tired but I am referring to cantfindafishfinder here, and say poor little girl is allergic to nuts and her dad is one of the biggest nuts I know hahhahahahhahaha I crap myself up!! 

[Marcus73]

I havent read the entire thread yet because Im too tired but I am referring to cantfindafishfinder here, and say poor little girl is allergic to nuts and her dad is one of the biggest nuts I know hahhahahahhahaha I crap myself up!! 

You are tired aren't you?

[DannyG]

You are tired aren't you?

Not too tired to take the piss out of fishfinder before I go to bed

[fishfinder]

I havent read the entire thread yet because Im too tired but I am referring to cantfindafishfinder here, and say poor little girl is allergic to nuts and her dad is one of the biggest nuts I know hahhahahahhahaha I crap myself up!! 

some people are strange - need i say more

[DannyG]

some people are strange - need i say more

Probably best you dont LOL

[DannyG]

I just realised I said I 'crap' myself up...............Its my fear of long drops.......I meant crack myself up!!! Yep Im tired!

[fishfinder]

Good god this man needs medication

[DannyG]

Good god this man needs medication

Shouldn't you be getting a good nights sleep so your all fresh and ready for your new job lol

[jr]

Us too, 11 yo with severe allergy to cashews. He sure wasnt a kid who was over cleansed. Typical country kid mostly needing a hose off before entering a house.
Had 2 reactions, very scary stuff especially at camping/bush events. You simply dont have 30 minutes to get to help.
Zyrtec liquid is good as it can be poured in if required and can slow reaction down.
Always carry epipen and teach people how to use it - we have a trainer version too.

Had interesting conversation with my (in law) relatives where they were I overheard them really upset with why their kids couldnt take nuts to school, explained how they would just hide them in the lunchboxes.
Next discussion point from them was the inconsiderate 4WD drivers around schools and how they should be banned as they endanger their kids.

I dont get asked back there much.

[LB]

Next discussion point from them was the inconsiderate 4WD drivers around schools and how they should be banned as they endanger their kids.

Used to aviod taking the cruiser to pick the kids up, until we were talking to nurse from westmeads children hospital who told me as long as you a kept to the 40km an hour speed limit if we hit a kid with the cruiser they would most likely be knocked to the ground and drive straight over. Due to the clearance no more further a damage. The issue with the camry if they get knocked to the ground lack of clearnce would cause the child to be dragged potentionally causing more damage. Very gladl I never had to find out if this is true.

All inconsiderate drivers should be banned!!!!!!

LB

[Bunyip]

I used to park in a side street and walk to the school (less than 3 minutes) to stay well away. I have seen too many kids "hiding" from people between cars, running out on the road etc.. I could not live with myself if I ran over a kid.

As LB said, higher clearance means less chance of dragging, unless of course they go under the wheels.

Honestly, peoples behavior around schools (i'll bloke the road until my kid comes out so I don't have to go around the block. What do you mean my kid is always last out?) is far more dangerous than the cars that they drive.

Kids also need to learn (I know they are only young) that running directly out of the school gate across the road to Mum is not a good idea. Of course Mum won't say anything to offend the poor little darling/

Bunyip

[Kit_e_kat9]

..

[ozbogwam]

some people are strange - need i say more

You could have at least said "some people are nuts"

Many times products that have the warning do so because they are produced in a factory that also uses nuts in other products. Production lines that operate near each other may get "contaminated" with peanut dust or workers can cross contaminate etc

[fishfinder]

You could have at least said "some people are nuts"

Many times products that have the warning do so because they are produced in a factory that also uses nuts in other products. Production lines that operate near each other may get "contaminated" with peanut dust or workers can cross contaminate etc

True - but where can one stop - even buying something from a shop and the person hands over change just after eating nuts is just un avoidable unless she is wrapped in a bubble. but so far no problems from foods that may have a risk of cross contamination,

[Bird]

Good thread worth revisiting.

[ewoksta]

My Youngest boy is allergic to Fish, nuts and some grasses. He also suffers from asthma and eczema. No he wasn't brought up in a bubble, he is just unlucky I guess. My family were a bit sceptical at first until we were at a party and he ate a Chocolate crackle. Only problem was they had used peanut butter to mix in with the chocolate. He knew straight away something was wrong. Eyes puffed up like he had gone 12 rounds with Fenech. Took him tot he hospital 5 minutes away and they fixed him up straight away. We carry an Epi-Pen but didn't use it. Not sure why. Family is now well aware that we aren't being hypocondriacs about it. Fish is even worse than peanuts. All he has to do is touch some fish residue and he comes out in welts. we went for a walk along the waterfront at Terrigal one time and sat on the wall. He put his hand down to get up and about 2 minutes later his hand was tingling, washed it ASAP and kept an eye on him.

We are super careful when we go out for dinner. Some restaurants don't care others go out of their way to accommodate us. Yes we tell everyone about it. Would rather people know and be careful than face the other options!!

Cheers
Andrew

[4wd26]

agree with more and more children having reactions/ allergies to nuts.

My daughter has a severe reaction to "tree nuts" which is an interesting one as for years she had eaten peanuts and peanut butter with no reaction.

holidaying on Moreton island we opened some dip and daughter had some (would have been around 9) she started to throw up instantly- what a wakeup call.


anyway- I'm amazed at the attitudes of schools etc- she is not allowed on school camps to eat anything prepared with the rest of the children- that makes me sad that she is excluded on a might be even after all precautions have been taken care of.

she carries a epipen etc

but the OP poster reaction and attitude to an allergy is a bit OTT in my opinion, be aware of your surroundings and take yourself away from the risk BUT to make a point to not allow others to enjoy, benefit is going too far, again just my thoughts.

you are the one in control of the surroundings its easier if you change for your daughter for her safety than to expect everyone else to adapt.

[Nomad]

So given all the allergies around is it worth / possible to get your hands on an eppi pen for emergencies or do you need a prescription / certain qualifiactions?

I would hate to be somewhere were someone was having a reaction and not be able to do anything about it.

[D4D]

So given all the allergies around is it worth / possible to get your hands on an eppi pen for emergencies or do you need a prescription / certain qualifiactions?

You need a prescription and IIRC they only last 2 years and you throw it away.