Peanut Allergy - Newly Diagnosed

By brownie Dec 11, 2014

So, my sons new pediatrician wanted to do blood food allergy testing. She confirmed Soy (which he has been off since he was 6 months old) and also found peanut and sesame seeds. She ordered him an Epi-Pen just in case.

Historically, he had a best friend that was peanut allergic so we didn't have peanuts in the house until we moved here about 4 months ago. He has since been eating peanut butter (on toast and sandwiches) a lot since then. We know basic substitutions (sunflower seed button). But I want to know what things we should be avoiding that may be surprising. For example, we know that tuna fish may contain soy protein and wouldn't have thought of that.

Any other tips and tricks are also appreciated.

You might also enjoy...

Tags: (no tags yet)

15 comments

Mrs. Twine
blogger / nectarine / 2608 posts

Dec 11, 2014

I could possibly put you in touch with a good friend of mine whose son has soy, sesame, and peanut allergies (life-threatening). I didn't look at this website too deeply, but it might have some useful information for you or be a way to connect with other parents: http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=62&title=Peanut_allergy_avoidance_list&gclid=CImN8buEv8ICFehDMgodJCYAmA

I am sure it is a lot to start taking in and thinking about!
brownie
grapefruit / 4110 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Mrs. Twine: Wow, I didn't realize that combination comes up. It isn't too scary because we have been dealing with allergies (ours and friends) since he was born. The peanut thing is just a new one for us and is throwing me for a bit of a loop. But I wouldn't love to get to know more from other in the trenches. You learn the best things from people who experience it.
Mrs. Twine
blogger / nectarine / 2608 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@brownie: I haven't know anyone else other than him, but they got his diagnosis at around age two, and he's a little older than Ellie (8 now!) so they have been navigating the waters for a while.
jedeve
pomegranate / 3643 posts

Dec 11, 2014

Wait, he had been eating peanuts with no reaction? Our allergist told is that was the gold standard for whether or not you were allergic, not the blood work.
HappyBaker
nectarine / 2242 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@brownie: I'm surprised he was able to eat it without a reaction? Is there any way it could have been a false positive on the test?

DD has had a confirmed peanut allergy for about a year, since she was 15 months old, and the hardest thing has really been going to parties or gatherings where we have no idea where the food is from / what's in it. She is 27 months now and starting to understand and get mad that she can't have the baked goods at a birthday party - I usually bring her a special cookie from home that I've made.

As far as it being in weird things, luckily most foods are very clearly labeled for peanut allergies - our allergist has us avoid anything that says "Processed on equipment with" or "Manufactured in a plant with" foods, but I know others aren't as strict.

I've also found almost all of the Trader Joe's and Whole Foods brand food are processed / manufactured with peanuts, even totally random stuff like mac & cheese and animal crackers. I guess they just have one giant plant where they do everything?

Good luck!
Raindrop
grapefruit / 4731 posts

Dec 11, 2014

Soy and peanuts are kind of in the same family... I'm allergic to legumes which is a bean allergy which include soy beans and peanut "beans"... yeah peanuts is more closely related to beans than nuts.

Also... can he or can't he eat peanuts with no reaction? I was confused by your original post too.

For sesame ... I would avoid most Asian foods.... we love putting sesame seeds and sesame oil on everything. When it doubt at an Asian restaurant ... ask!
brownie
grapefruit / 4110 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Raindrop: Yeah, I know and we have done the skin prick test and it has never come up before. But he also didn't eat much until recently.

@HappyBaker: It could be false. It could be anything since he is still young.

I just go the news so other than getting an epi pen I'm not really sure what the plans are.
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 11, 2014

Have you done skin testing or only IgE? Have you been referred to an allergist?

The reason I ask (and please don't act on it by feeding him peanuts until you see an allergist), but my daughter tests positive to almonds, but eats almonds all the time. The allergist gave us the all clear to continue eating almonds and in fact encourages it... because she doesn't react.

Cashews and pistachios give her life threatening reactions while walnuts and pecans give her mild reactions.

Please check with an allergist before pronouncing him allergic if you can
Jess1483
nectarine / 2641 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@brownie: I just read this on a blog I follow (by a pediatrician).

http://pediatricinsider.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/food-allergy-testing-do-those-big-panels-work/

Are you seeing an allergist? Or just your ped?
brownie
grapefruit / 4110 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Jess1483: Interesting. He has a long history of food issues that we have been working on. He was born with MSPI very obviously. At 6 months we started working with a Gastro and had a few blood tests and ruled out gluten intolerance. At 18 months old we did skin testing with an allergist and he reacted to soy, cashews and oats. He hadn't had an adverse reaction to cashew or oats so he kept eating those. We tested peanut but he hadn't been eating peanut as his best friend was allergic (with reactions). So we started adding milk to his diet with that negative. At 3 years old, we retested with the allergist (before moving) and he reacted to chicken and some environmental allergens. We tried soy but he was still having gastro issues with it. When we moved here, in June we took milk (directly) out of his diet because he was getting backed up and having gastro issues. He has since gotten regular. June is also when he started having peanut butter more regularly (probably once or twice a week occasionally more).

The pediatrician wanted to confirm the soy issue so she did a blood panel when we were doing a blood draw for another issue. She called today with the three allergies. She wants the epi pen for the soy and the peanuts especially since peanuts can be unpredictable. So at this time yes it is just the pediatrician.

I am willing to pull peanuts from his diet because he doesn't absolutely need them. Also his cousin (who I am convinced was MSPI as a baby) also was allergic to peanuts for a few years. We have experience with peanut avoidance since his best friend was allergic. At least the basics for sunbutter instead of peanut butter.

Its some of the more nuanced things that I don't know about. The hidden sources or places you wouldn't think of.
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Jess1483: I agree with that blog post... except to say that there are lots of "false positives" with IgE Cap-Rast as well.

@Brownie: I'd also be cautious with vague symptoms like constipation or mucus-y stool. Pulling things from a child's diet is not without it's consequences. So if I pull Almonds from my daughter's diet and then re-expose her to them at some later time, knowing that she tests positive, she may then later react. It's important to keep exposing kids if they are testing positive but not showing symptoms (think of it almost like allergy shot de-sensitization). I don't want to get too far into the complicated weeds on this one, but I really do think that seeing a board certified allergy-immunology doc would be a fabulous idea to help you sort out what sounds like a fairly difficult to tease out situation for your little one.

I hope that helps! I just want to see your son have the minimum disruption to his life as possible
Jess1483
nectarine / 2641 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@brownie: Yeah, I understand. And by no means am I an expert. But haven't they discovered that exposure is a way to prevent (and even treat) allergies? So if you pull peanuts from his diet, could you actually be creating a problem that isn't there now? And since peanuts are so scary, I'd be wanting to prevent a bigger issue from happening.

Again, I really have no idea. But I think it's worth talking to an allergist.
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Jess1483: Jinx!
Jess1483
nectarine / 2641 posts

Dec 11, 2014

@Mrs. Jacks: Ha! Except you explained it way better than I did.
brownie
grapefruit / 4110 posts

Dec 12, 2014

@Mrs. Jacks: soy makes the kid sick. He was failure to thrive because he literally wasn't digesting his food. The milk is just milk directly he still gets cheese (he typically chooses not to eat), yogurt etc. we are avoiding soy protein for the long term likely.

For peanuts it isn't a major change because he was only really allowed peanut butter a few months ago. So avoiding it isn't really too difficult either. I also don't mind avoiding it because there are so many other good foods (tree nuts and seeds). He doesnt need it. I'm also not going to send it to school because if for some reason he does react I want to be there.

The sesame is a little less worrisome and we won't do much to avoid the small amounts he likely already gets. He loves hummus with tahini.

But I do feel there is more going on just because he seems reactive on tests. Other than soy, it's something else every time and it seems to be things he eats.

	Today	Monthly Record
Topics	0	1
Posts	1	3

Hellobee Boards

Peanut Allergy - Newly Diagnosed

You might also enjoy...

Reply

most popular tags

most recent archives

Recent Blog Posts

Recent Board Posts

Classifieds

Deals

Today's Leaders

Allergies/Sensitivities

Today's Posts

Site Basics

Features

Series

The Team

More