My child dying from accidentally ingesting peanuts is my worst nightmare.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/katelyn-carlsons-family-s_n_838110.html?just_reloaded=1

On the last day before winter break at the selective Edison Regional Gifted Center school in Albany Park, 13-year-old Katelyn Carlson died after going into anaphylactic shock in school. The cause: Chinese food ordered as a celebration for her class.

Now, ABC reports, the Carlson family is suing the restaurant that provided the food, the Chinese Inn in Niles, for using peanuts in its preparation despite explicit requests not to.

According to the lawsuit, Chicago Public Schools officials were aware of Katelyn's acute allergy to peanuts. When teacher Jack Matsumoto ordered from Chinese Inn, he asked to be sure that no peanut products would be used in the food's preparation, the Chicago Tribune writes.

But lab testing on the food after the fact revealed that it did indeed conain trace amounts of peanut products, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The wrongful death suit, which seeks an undisclosed amount above $100,000 in damages, was filed last Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. 

My daughter who is allergic to peanuts would never agree to this!

I am so thankful that there are children that participate in these type of experimental treatments for Peanut Allergies where you give the child a small amount of peanut flower to get the child's immune system built up to eventually tolerate peanuts and peanut products.   I hope they come up with a cure, but I know my daughter will never take part in the study because she is so afraid of anaphylactic shock.  You can read about the experiment at the link below:

http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-weir-peanut-allergy-20110130,0,5838599.story

We even have to read the label on candy!!!

This innocent bag of candy that Amanda found while waiting in a Doctors office had on the back in product information that this product may contain peanuts.

Great article on bullying from Foodproductdesign.com

Approximately 35 percent of children aged 5 and older who have food allergies reported to have experienced bullying, teasing or harassment as a result of their allergies, according to a new study from Mount Sinai Medical Center.

According to the findings published in the October issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, of the children who were teased or harassed, 86 percent were reported to have experienced repeated episodes. Classmates were the most common perpetrators; however, more than 20 percent reported harassment or teasing from teachers and other school staff.

You can read the full article here

http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2010/09/kids-with-food-allergies-bullied-at-school.aspx

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My Name May be Peanuts, but I Say Nay to PB&J

My latest children's book about peanut and tree-nut allergies is available for purchase.

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002M9LBTG

Please check it out.  It is a must have for any child dealing with food allergies.

Have a food allergy? This article says it might be time to re-check.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/health/11brody.html?_r=1

Disney Channel show mentions Peanut Allergies!

So tonight I was watching a show on the Disney Channel (will let you know what show later as I can't think of it now) and there was a boy in a theatre with a girl who told her that he has peanut allergies.  She asked what happens if he ingests peanuts and he says he gets hives and he throat closes and he can't breathe.  And she says, well I don't like cilantro! Haha.  Yea very funny.  His look was like you did not understand me at all and then the show went on.  Such is life in the world living with peanut allergies.

If you are not allergic to peanuts then chances are you don't understand the severity of it.

A story I dread hearing about peanut allergies

If you have a child who is anaphylactic to peanuts or tree nuts, then this article is your worst nightmare.  Children and adults alike die from accidents like this which is the scariest thing to a person who lives with life-threatening peanut allergies.

Recall on Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - This is the stuff that scares me!

he Canadian Press

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Quaker Canada is urging consumers who are allergic to peanuts to check their granola bar packages.

It's because the company received a report that someone had an anaphylactic reaction from eating one of the snacks.

Quaker said in a release Friday that the person who became ill ate a granola bar that potentially came from a mislabelled Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack.

Quaker said the individual was treated in hospital and is recovering at home.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quaker Canada said earlier this week that some Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs may have been mispacked with Quaker Dipps granola bars that contain peanuts.

A voluntary recall was announced Wednesday.

There are concerns that people with peanut allergies could have a life-threatening reaction if they eat one of the bars.

The affected product is the 364 gram Quaker brand Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack containing 14 bars and carries the UPC Bar Code 55577 10742. Consumers with the product should inspect the contents of the carton to ensure it contains the correct product -- Chewy Chocolate Chip and Chewy S'mores bars.

Quaker Canada said it is investigating how the cartons were mislabelled. It is also notifying school boards across the country and working with Anaphylaxis Canada and other health groups to reach Canadians with peanut and tree nut allergies.

For more information, consumers can contact Quaker Canada toll-free at 1-800-267-6287 or visit www.quakeroats.ca.

It's so scary that Amanda can't even eat something as innocent as dried fruit

If the label says "Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts and peanuts, then she can't eat it.  When she goes to the grocery store she reads every label to make sure it is safe for her to eat.  Grocery shopping takes longer than it does for most people because it takes time to read every single label.

HOW TO ... AVOID CHILDHOOD ALLERGIES

Many cases of food allergies and eczema - a skin condition marked by itchy rashes - are unavoidable. But dermatologists say these steps may help reduce your child's risks:

Consider your pregnancy diet. Babies whose mothers eat peanuts are more likely to test positive for peanut allergies, and the same may be true for eggs and egg allergies, according to a recently published article in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. However, previous studies have had conflicting results. Talk to your doctor.

• http://dailypress.com

Breastfeed your baby. Here's another plus for nursing: "There is evidence that for at-risk babies, exclusive breast feeding for the first four months reduces the risk of eczema and cow's milk allergy during the first two years of life," says Dr. Stephen Shield of Allergy Partners of Eastern Virginia. "At-risk" refers to a child who has a parent or sibling with allergies.

Ask about a specialized formula. If you don't breastfeed, extensively or partly hydrolyzed formula - mixtures in which protein is broken into smaller parts for easier digestion - may prevent or delay the onset of eczema in at-risk children.

Don't introduce solid foods before age 4 to 6 months. Rice and oat cereals are good first choices because they rarely trigger allergies. Many pediatricians recommend not feeding highly allergenic foods to a child until age 1 (cow's milk and citrus fruits), 2 (eggs and wheat) and 3 (peanuts and fish).

Introduce single foods at a time. Give your child a new food every three to five days. That way, you'll know exactly which one is to blame for any allergic reactions.

Ditch antibacterial soap. Regular soap and water is fine for cleaning - and may be better at preventing allergies as a child's immune system matures.

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/11/12/1717889/how-to-avoid-childhood-allergies.html#ixzz15YQWsUSr

Article about bullying

http://www.stnonline.com/blogs/special-needs-rides/2743-bullying-with-allergies

It's so sad that it starts so young - and most often innocently.   My daughter had a friend who would say to
Amanda, "oh that cereal has peanuts", after Amanda had taken her first bite.   This is funny to children who are uninformed.  The child meant no harm of course; but I do know the jokes or bullying can be worse in middle school.

Amanda's first case of a child trying to intentionally harm her was in 2nd grade.  The teacher did not enforce that the children wash their hands after snack.  And believe it or not the school is not peanut free which means that other children were allowed to bring unsafe snacks into the class room.

Having a peanut allergy is a terrible thing to live with

My daughter, Amanda is so severely allergic to peanuts that she can't even have a trace amount or she will go into anaphylactic shock.  I could have she would have to go to the emergency room but I didn't because what if you are too far to make to an emergency room?  What is you are on a plane or at camp?  That's why she has an Epi-Pen.  But even that doesn't guarantee she will live.  When a child who is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts eats a food that the body considers toxic, the child's throat will start to close and an Epi-Pen will have to be administered within 8 minutes to save the child's life.

Food Allergy News: FAAN on Lifetime's "The Balancing Act"

Food Allergy News: FAAN on Lifetime's "The Balancing Act"

Emotional toll on children that have a food allergy

My daughter, Amanda is now 10 and has been allergic to peanuts and tree nuts since she was 23 months old.  As she got older and I told her about her peanut allergy and everything she can and can't eat, I've often wondered how this has affected her emotional state.  I think it really started bothering her in 2nd grade when there was a lot of talk about it in school and the other children were told not to get near her if they had eaten something that contained peanuts.  I remember Amanda coming home and telling me that another child was eating something that had peanut butter and touched her that would make her itch.  In 3rd grade it got worse with the "table" where kids sat that had food allergies.  She sat with 3 other boys so lunch was no fun at all in a cafeteria full of chatter and laughter.

Wow, I feel so honored!

How wonderful to wake up this morning to an email informing me that my blog on peanut allergies won an award!

Dear Carla,

Congratulations! Your blog about peanut allergies has just won
our 2010 Top Food Allergy Blogs award!

We had the opportunity to work with this sponsor, as they contacted
us, so we took advantage of it!  The other award was voting based
driven, while the winners chosen for this award were more from your reader's
numerous nominations.


Winners for your 2010 Top Food Allergy Blogs award were announced on 
June 24th,  2010.


Again, Congratulations, and I hope to see your badge soon!

Cheers,
Emma Lee

Check out this blog for a giveaway of my book.

http://enjoylifeenjoynow.com/2010/06/carla-burke-reviewgiveaway.html

I received the galley print for my next book!

This is the last step - to make sure everything is just right before going off to print.  I worked late yesterday with my wonderful illustrator/friend making changes to the front cover and back cover.  I also found several minor typos with the word tree-nuts which appears many times throughout the book.  I want to be consistent and make sure that the hyphen was between the word tree-nut.

My 10 year old daughter Amanda is severely allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts.  I wrote this based on things that we were finding out about her allergy and what she can and cannot eat.  The list is long of foods she has to avoid.

I also hope children - and parents - learn that when someone has a food allergy that it is never ok to joke with that person that something they are about to eat has peanuts in it.  Anyone who is anaphylactic to peanuts or tree-nuts has the potential to die in a short amount of time after ingesting the food that is contaminated.

So stay tuned so you can find out when my book "Peanuts" is coming out.  It's the story of a little girl named Penny who is allergic to peanuts and tree-nuts.  Her pet pony is aptly named "Peanuts" and he shares everything he knows about peanut allergies and keeping his friend safe.

Yes some people (or restaurants) use peanut butter or crushed peanuts in their chili.

This is so scary to me as a mom of a child who is anaphylactic to peanuts.  Who knew?  I've never put peanut butter in my chili, but some do.  You will NEVER find this recipe in my home.

Ingredients

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
•  
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
• 2 cups tortilla chips (optional)

Directions

1. Place the diced tomatoes, water, garlic, and bay leaves into a saucepan, and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and season with the cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Cover, and simmer 15 minutes.
2. After 15 minutes, pour in the black beans and kidney beans; return to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the peanut butter until dissolved, then remove and discard the bay leaves, and season the chili with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy with a sprinkle of Cheddar cheese, tortilla chips and smile!

Interesting statistics on peanut allergies.

Researchers surveyed 5,300 households in 2008 and found that 1.4 percent of children were thought to have peanut allergies. That's more than three times the rate -- 0.4 percent -- found in a similar survey that was done in 1997.

The percentage of kids with allergies to either peanuts or tree nuts grew to 2.1 percent in 2008 from 0.6 percent in 1997.

Among adults, the level of peanut allergies didn't change: It remained at 1.3 percent.

"Our research shows that more than 3 million Americans report peanut and/or tree nut allergies, representing a significant health burden," Sicherer said. "The data also emphasize the importance of developing better prevention and treatment strategies."

It's not clear why the number of reported allergies is on the rise. One theory suggests that people are developing less immunity to allergens because they're exposed to fewer germs. Another suggests that people are wrongly diagnosed with food allergies that they don't actually have.

The researchers caution that they only called homes with telephones, possibly skewing the results toward the experiences of wealthier households.

The findings appear in the May 12 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

This innocent looking package of candy that Amanda was about to eat said that it is processed in a plant that also manufactures peanuts.  I'm so thankful Amanda is diligent enough to read every label before she eats something.  It just goes to show the amount candy and foods that are unsafe for a peanut-allergic child.

Book is finally finished!

I had a tough decision to make the last couple of weeks.  I mulled over whether or not to make a minor change to the tile of my book "Peanuts".  I finally gave the go ahead over the weekend and now finally after almost a year of editing and re-editing this book, it is now going to be a reality.  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.  I am now awaiting the hard copy in the mail so I can do one last edit.  I'm kind of a perfectionist and don't like to put out anything less than perfect, which is why it has taken me so long on this book.  It will be well worth the wait.

I can't wait to get that hard copy in my hands!! I remember when I received my first copy of my first children's book called "I Spy a Dragonfly".  What a thrill it was!  I could barely make it back home with shaking hands to show my kids.  I didn't stop smiling for a very long time.

I have my next book idea and am working on it trying to get it just right!

Beautiful strawberries from my garden.

Look at the little one hiding in the background.

My cats found a play toy.

Dum Dum lollipops - a peanut free candy

Amanda stays away from all the candy that may even contain peanuts. Her safe alternative? Dum Dum lollipops of course! She collected 20 wrappers and sent the wrappers in to recieve this Dum Dum stuffed, uh, lollipop?

Well whatever it is, she loves it.

60 degrees and swimming!

And it doesn't even bother the kids!  And no the pool is not heated - but since I am a nice mom, I did on the heater to 100 in the hot tub.

DIVVIES Cookies are Peanut and Tree Nut Free

I just ordered a chocolate bunny for Amanda.  Everything at Divvies is peanut, tree nut, milk and egg free!!!!  Such a relief.  No worries.  This is one chocolate Amanda can enjoy without the worry of cross contamination.  And what's really neat is all their treats are really yummy!
You can visit their website: http://www.divvies.com/

This is Sean in all his glorious 7 1/2 years....

This was taken at the park yesterday.  We were playing on the monkey bars.  He won.

Is there a link between a food allergy and having anxiety?

I never really thought about it until my daughter turned 10 last November.  Or maybe it was her starting to feel really alone with her allergy.  I  will post more about this later. But now you can read the article below.

http://www.allergy.org.nz/shop/allergy+today+magazine/archived+articles/fear+factor.html

Clinical Trials for Peanut Allergies

There has been so much in the news lately regarding clinical trials to desensitize children to peanuts.  You can read more about that here.  It is exciting to think about now that I've read more about it.  I casually mentioned these clinical trials going on to Amanda earlier in the week.  She told me no she wouldn't be interested because she has experienced anaphylactic shock after having accidentally eaten a trace amount of peanuts a couple of times.  Her last reaction was when she was 8 and it is something she will never forget.  And neither will I, because I was with her.  She came very, very close to dying.  I'll write more about that in my next post.  For now, the point is that Amanda has done a complete turn around and is now interested in doing a clinical trial!  Now the challenge is to find one!

My fellow blogger, Melanie has a daughter who is participating in a clinical trial.  You can read her story on her blog at http://www.clinicalpeanuttrial.blogspot.com

Never take handouts

Just got back from the store with Amanda.  While there a lady was handing out sample of a new cereal/granola bar - not even sure because it didn't matter to me.  I never sample anything.  Who needs the extra calories?  Anyway, I was just curious if would be something Amanda could eat, because we are always on the lookout for a snack that is safe.  So I asked the lady if it had peanuts and she gave me the standard answer.  No, there are no peanuts, just chocolate chips.  That was fine, but it was still something Amanda couldn't eat because on the label in very fine print it said "manufactured on equipment that also processes peanuts".   We stay away from everything that has that disclosure.

Divvies are Peanut and Tree Nut Free

Buy Divvies Here

They have chocolate bunnies and yummy cookies. And no need to worry about the ingredients if you have a child allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.

Sean and Amanda at the zoo today

At the zoo.

Peanut free and tree nut free!

These cookies are loved by my whole family. Amanda loves it when we eat them too because it makes her feel like we like "her food" too. She gobbles these up.

Amanda is 10 and is allergic peanuts.

What is anaphylaxis?

From Allergy Today.

Amanda's grade for anaphylaxis to peanuts is a 5

Amanda had a blood test a couple of weeks ago for an issue involving her enlarged lymph node. I asked at that time if she could also be test for tree nuts because although we've known since she was 2 years old that she is allergic to peanuts, we have not known if she is allergic to tree nuts because we were told to stay away from those also.

The blood test revealed that she is, on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the most severe, that she rates a 5. Of course I already knew that in my heart because of how she has reacted with even a trace of peanuts. Full anaphylaxis.

This is from the FAAN (Food, Allergy, Anaphylaxis Network

TABLE 2. Grading of Food-Induced Anaphylaxis According to Severity of Clinical Symptoms

Grade Skin GI Tract Respiratory Tract Cardiovascular Neurological

1 Localized pruritus, flushing, urticaria, angioedema Oral pruritus, oral "tingling," mild lip swelling

2 Generalized pruritus, flushing, urticaria, angioedema Any of the above, nausea and/or emesis x’s 1 Nasal congestion and/or sneezing

3 Any of the above Any of the above plus repetitive vomiting Rhinorrhea, marked congestion,sensation of throat pruritus or tightness Tachycardia (increase >15 beats/min) Change in activity level plus anxiety

4 Any of the above Any of the above plus diarrhea Any of the above,hoarseness, "barky" cough, difficulty swallowing, dyspnea, wheezing, cyanosis Any of the above,dysrhythmia and/or mild hypotension "Light headedness," feeling of "pending doom"

5 Any of the above Any of the above, loss of bowel control Any of the above,respiratory arrest Severe bradycardia and/or hypotension or cardiac arrest Loss of consciousness

All symptoms are not mandatory. The severity score should be based on the organ system most affected, eg, if grade 3 respiratory symptoms are present but only grade 1 GI symptoms, then the anaphylaxis severity score would be "grade 3." Boldface symptoms are absolute indications for the use of epinephrine; use of epinephrine with other symptoms will depend on patient’s history.

In reference to my previous post...

I am not interested in putting my daughter through something like that where they would give her small amounts of peanuts over time to help her overcome her severe peanut allergy. I know she wouldn't interested in it either. I have spoken to an adult who is 47 and has lived with a peanut allergy since he was a kid, say he would not be interested in doing that either.

Are you interested in having your child go through the process to get desensitized to peanuts?

Food Allergies and Airlines

Southwest Airlines still serves peanuts, but will advise the boarding agents of (that) flight to suspend the sale of peanuts. Southwest also encourages all passengers with food allergies to book a flight early in the morning due to cleaning schedules.

Delta and Northwest Airlines have not eliminated peanut products, but do offer a buffer zone. The zone requires the passengers of three rows in front and three rows behind to not have any peanut products or be served peanut products during the flight.

American Airlines serves no peanut products in flight, but may serve products with other nut ingredients. Also the snacks they do serve, even though they may be peanut free, be sure to read the label because it could say "may contain traces of peanuts", or "processed on a plant that also processes peanuts".

We pack our own snacks and then we don't have to worry about it.

This is for anyone who may have started reading my blog and saw my last post about Amanda getting a blood test. I know it is a little confusing.

Amanda did not get a blood test to see if she is allergic to peanuts. I have known she is anaphylactic to peanuts since she was 2. She got a blood test because she has an infected and swollen lymph node. I asked the doctor if they could also test for a tree nut allergy at the same time because she has a tremendous fear of needles and it would save her from having another blood test - especially when it can be done at the same time.

The blood test was strictly for the ENT to see what is going out with her white blood cell count. I wanted as a side to find out if Amanda is allergic to tree nuts because it would off she and I some peace of mind. One less thing to avoid.

Amanda has avoided peanuts and all tree nuts since she was first diagnosed at age 2.

It just struck me in the doctors office that there was great confusion with the nurse and what she was being tested for as far as the peanuts/tree nuts go. I had really regretted even asking for them to test for tree nuts because it created so much confusion because the nurse thought a peanut is a nut.

So whatever is going on with Amanda (which i still don't have an answer for) she is still tired, very tired in fact. Friends call to play and she says she is too tired to play. She is also always complaining that she has a headache and doesn't feel well.

One thing that was evident today, even in a doctor's office, is that a peanut allergy is so misunderstand. And most people don't even know the difference between what a peanut is and what a tree nut is. I must admit, I would not be so educated on this subject had I not had a child who almost died from ingesting a minute amount of peanut butter on a tiny piece of bread when she was 23 months. I have had to learn a lot since that day in 2001. But still, if you are professional you would think you would know the difference and then therefore not make the mistake of testing a child for only 1 tree nut. That didn't really help me. I can't assume that because she tested negative to pecans that she won't go into anaphylactic shock by ingesting one of the many other tree nuts like walnuts, cashews, almonds and pistasios.

My book on peanut allergies clearly defines the difference between the two and hopefully it will help to educate people who know nothing of peanut or tree nut allergies.

Confusing test results

I called the doctor today to see if the results from Amanda's blood test are in. It got very confusing and here is why. When I took Amanda to see the ENT last Tuesday, he said the lump on her neck is still cause for concern and ordered a blood test. Amanda hearing about having to have a needle put in her arm started to feel very anxious about it. I mentioned to the doctor that her Allergist suggested she get a blood test to determine the severity of her peanut allergy and to see if she is allergic to tree-nuts. The doctor said that they could test for all of this with this one blood test. Yay, kids two birds with one stone.

Amanda, got through the blood test somehow. I don't know how she became so deathly afraid of needles, but she is. My suspicion on this is that when she went into anaphylactic shock at age 7 the doctors had to stick all sorts of needles in her, including the Epi-Pen, just to save her life. It had taken three grown men (all doctors) to hold her down! It was a bad experience for her and now the mere mention of a needle sends her into full blown panic mode.

So after waiting over a week, I called the doctor a little while ago and spoke to the nurse. She started off by telling me that Amanda is allergic to peanuts (duh) and that she is not allergic to pecans. Eager to hear about the results of her white blood cell count related to the swollen lymph node, I asked about the rest of the test and she went on and on about what Amanda is allergic to, which I already knew. Remember, this part of the blood test was just for convenience. I really wanted to know about the other stuff. In a very confusing way she said that Amanda's lymphocytes are high at 51% but that she thought that was no big deal even though the high end is 48%. Then she said they tested her CRP but that she doesn't know what that means! Arggg! I'm not in the medical field and I don't have a clue either. I think she knew she was being vague so she said she'd have the doctor call me tomorrow.

Before we hung up and I wanted to ask her one more question about tree nuts. I said, since Amanda is not allergic to pecans does that mean she is not allergic to any tree nut? And her response was, well she's allergic to peanuts. I know she's allergic to peanuts! What I need to know is if she is allergic to walnuts, cashews and all tree nuts. I guess she doesn't know the difference between a legume and a tree nut and she didn't know enough to put the correct code on the form to test for ALL tree nuts. She put the code to just test Amanda for pecans, which doesn't make sense to me at all. Her solution? To send Amanda back to get another blood test and on this one she'll put to test for all tree nuts. Oh, ok. That will be like trying to dip a cat in water. It is no easy task. I hate mistakes like this and all the while, my main concern is I want to know if the test came back normal for her swollen lymph node. That's really all I wanted to know when I called today because Amanda has lived without eating peanuts AND tree nuts since she was two years old. It wouldn't hurt her wait a little longer. My main concern is what is going on with this lymph node?

I guess I have to wait until tomorrow to find out the results regarding what is making her lymph node swollen. Waiting it the worst!

Can showers cause the itchy's?

Lately, something in the shower is causing Amanda to have an allergic reaction. Not anaphylaxis, because she's not ingesting anything. But a rash all over her body. When she gets out she is red and has welts and hives. I have read the labels and none of them say "may contain peanut or tree nut products". If they did contain peanut traces, would that be disclosed on the list of ingredients? Could the Aveda Rosemary Mint be the problem? Or is it the body wash?

Not sure what is causing this reaction lately.

Did you know?

That a Peanut Allergy is the most prevalent food allergy in the US, where as many as 1.5 million people suffer from the disease (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Peanut Allergy is the most common cause of food related death. (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America).

If this could be true one day...

ALLERGIC reactions to peanuts could one day be as mild as hayfever, say Deakin University researchers who have established that peanut proteins form ''super allergens''.

With his team from the school of life and environmental sciences, Cenk Suphioglu has taken a novel ''whole nut'' approach - looking at the peanut's allergens and its non-allergens to establish how the proteins interact with the body's natural immune system.

''Good proteins can turn bad and play a very devious role,'' he said. ''We're trying to reveal their true identity at a molecular level.''

Peanut allergies affect about 1 per cent of the population and can be deadly.

In a paper to be submitted for publication in the US-based Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr Suphioglu outlined the structure of peanut proteins, which were sticky because of their carbohydrate content. This meant they could clump together, probably in the stomach and intestine.

''We have now shown that they form these super allergens, which for the first time explains how they interact with the immune system,'' he said. The body overreacts to the ''super allergens'' by producing more histamines, which brings about the anaphylactic reaction.

''It's a fault in the system, it's a hyper-reaction,'' he said.

The next question for his research team was how to reduce the release of histamine by the body's immune system.

''If we can do this then we can take away the life-threatening element of the peanut allergies and make it more like a pollen reaction,'' he said.

Dr Suphioglu, of Deakin University's Allergy Research Laboratory, said the signs were promising. His research has already identified a novel molecule that reduces the interaction between a major peanut allergen and human antibodies, cutting histamine release and minimising the allergic reaction.

This could lead to the making of a special peanut extract, to be used for safer diagnosis of peanut allergies and treatment.

The Blood test

Dr. Moe had Amanda take a blood test to test her white blood cell count and her liver. I asked if they could also test to see if she is allergic to tree nuts. We have always stayed away from tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts etc.). So it will be good to know. I think they can also test the severity of her allergy to peanuts. Her Allergist wanted her to have a blood test last year to test for tree nuts, but Amanda is so afraid of needles, that the mere thought of them drawing blood from her gave her an anxiety attack.

I was able to talk her into it on Tuesday by promising to take her sonic and give her a Valentine's Day present early (was was a huge red and white stuffed dog). She agreed and off we went into the clinic. She was fine until the moment came and her anxiety kicked in and she realized what was happening. It took me and two nurses to hold her down to get that blood! Phew, glad that is over. Now we await the results to see exactly what is causing the lump on her lymph node.

Working on the edits for Peanuts

Just finished the edits for Peanuts my children's book. That was one long process!

Update on Amanda's lymph node

I took Amanda to the doctor on Jan. 25 and he said her lymph node is infected and that it was probably related to her chronic sinus problems. It seems as though she is always stuffy and has to breathe through her mouth most of the time. He prescribed antibiotics and said the infection and swelling should go away. I got her the antibiotics and started her on them right away and didn't think more about it. I went out of town that Thursday and was shocked when I returned Monday and the lump was still noticeably there. I called the doctor first thing Tuesday morning and he was able to see her that afternoon. He prescribed a second round of antibiotics and told me to call an ENT doctor.

The ENT was able to see her on Feb. 9 and he measured the lump on her lymph node at 2 mm. So he ordered a blood test and now we wait on the results. Her follow up appoint. isn't until March 11. I hope I find out the results from the blood test soon.

Swollen Lymph nodes

Big lump on Amanda's neck. Took her to doctor who said it is an infection of the lymph node. He prescribed Amoxicillan and he'll check her in a couple of weeks.

She has chronic sinus problems and this seems to stem from a sinus infection that never cleared up. I just want her better.

Finding Halloween treats without nuts is like looking for a needle in a hay stack. I never buy baked goods from the bakery section, so I don't know why I thought today would be any different.

It was the beautiful display of all the colorful cookies and cupcakes that drew my attention. I read every single label and could not find one that would be safe for Amanda to eat. She doesn't eat anything that says may contain peanuts or processed on a plant that processes peanuts. It's just too risky.

Shocking article about a school teacher

Did you read the article about the teacher who tried to give an autistic student something that contained peanuts so he would have an allergic and not be able to go on the field trip? You can read it here.

Allergic reaction to peanut butter at school

Got a call from the school nurse today because Amanda was in her office. Apparently, another student, who had just finished her peanut butter sandwich had touched Amanda. It affected both of Amanda's arms which was taken care of by taking Benedryl.

Amanda is anaphylaxis when she ingests peanuts. If someone touches her with their hands which have been contaminated by peanut butter, she will get the hives and itching, but will not go into anaphylaxis.

Can someone really have anaphylaxis from touching a trace of peanut butter? I know about anaphylaxis from ingesting peanuts, but potentially dying from touching it? I'd love to hear from someone who has this bad of a peanut allergy. Is is possible? I can't imagine.

Parents who don't want peanut butter banned from schools

You can read the article here.

When a school is not peanut free

Amanda just started 4th grade. Our school does not have a peanut free table for lunch and there are no limitations in the classroom as far as what children can bring for a snack.

Last week Amanda came home and said "Mom, every one at my table in class eats a peanut butter sandwich for their snack".

The next day I was in the nurse's office discussing why my child has to be exposed to something she is severely allergic to. "It's not a peanut free school". The school doesn't even try to put all the peanut allergic in one class so as to alleviate a lot of children in the class bringing in peanut products as a snack.

Accommodating students with allergies tall order

This is an interesting article recently published in the StarPhoenix. It's about asking students to not consume peanuts 2 hours prior to going to class and to only use unscented deodorant, shaving cream and no perfume because a student is very sensitive to these products.

As a mom of child with severe peanut allergies I disagree with asking students to not consume peanut butter. Yes I disagree. You can't ask people to not eat peanut products and you sure can't trust that they will. The deeper issue for me is that all children with peanut and tree nut allergies have to learn to manage their allergies and to be careful not to consume it. But they will always be around people who do eat it which gives the peanut-allergic child a choice to simply move to another spot. Think about airplanes. Many airlines do not ban peanuts on their flights and even if you call ahead and request that they serve an alternate to peanuts, someone can still walk on with a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup or something similar that is loaded with peanut butter.

As far as being sensitive to cologne, perfume, shaving cream and deodorant, well I think we are at one time or another sensitive to these allergens and again the student can simply move to another spot or take an over the counter medication. Being sensitive to perfumes is not life-threatening like being allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. It is simply an annoyance.

You can read the article here:

Accommodating students with allergies tall order

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A mild allergic reaction to peanuts

Amanda went to one of best friend's home for the afternoon today. Everyone in the home in fully aware of her peanut allergies. My husband picked her up and when she walked in the door she said Mom I need Benedryl I'm getting hives all over. I noticed her eye was also swelling. I gave her the Benedryl then asked her what happened. She said that her friends little brother had eaten a peanut butter sandwich on the table and it hadn't been cleaned up and that she thought it hadn't been cleaned up. She of course didn't know it was there.

This was a mild reaction, but it just goes to show you that even in "good friend's homes" our peanut allergic child is never safe in a home where peanuts are eaten.

Another post on Please don't joke!!!

It just happened again this morning.  Amanda spent the night at a friends last night.  The parent knows the drill.

I called this morning to see how she was told "yea, I just gave her a peanut butter crunch cereal".  

Me speechless.  "Oh I'm just kidding!" the parent said.

Well it's not funny.  It made me feel kind of sick and then I was a little down waiting for her to come home, feeling anxiety not being able to go about my day.  All I could think about was every scenario that could possibly happen to Amanda - a child who is anaphylactic to peanuts.

Scary.  I pray every day for her safety.

Canada - such a great country!

Why Risk It?

And they take peanut allergies seriously.  They print on the front of cereals and snacks that the product is peanut free.  Not in tiny print on the back that is hidden in the ingredients section.

Why Risk It - a great Canadian website

I found this great website for peanut and food allergies.  It is called Whyriskit.ca   Check it out.  It has good information and horrifying information for any parent whose child could die from eating a bad food.  Bullying scares me.  Kids can be mean.  Hey, if parents have joked in front of Amanda that the ravioli or whatever she wants to eat contains peanuts, then we can only guess what kids are thinking about to make fun of a child who has peanut allergies.

I say nay to peanuts on Southwest Airlines

I just got back from Los Angeles and now need to regroup and make a post about peanut allergies.  The only thing I can think of right now, because I'm exhausted with the 2 hour time change, is that while flying Southwest Airlines home from LAX to SAT I was offered peanuts by the flight attendant.  I declined because I knew that the first thing I was going to do when I got home was hug and kiss Amanda and I did not want to give her hives.  I didn't need them and didn't miss them.  I say nay to peanuts.  Nice snack - if you are not ANAPHYLAXIS to peanuts.

NO JOKES PLEASE!

Please don't joke about something  a child that is about to eat or will eat or is eating, that the food contains peanuts in any way.  Not Funny!

Enough Said.

Loving your child, hating their peanut allergies

Does your child's peanut allergies ever make you feel overwhelmed, stressed or down?  I've felt all the above and I'm not afraid to admit it.  I just get plain scared sometimes.  I can't be there or protect her all the time.  And I Never will be able too.  It saddens me and scares me to think something could happen to her.  Of course cynics could say, well she could get hit by a car or die in a car crash or whatever.  But we are talking about the sustenance to life here.  We all have to eat.  And not all of us will potentially die from eating something that our body thinks is harmful and then attack itself by sending the immune system into anaphylactic shock.  Most of us can enjoy eating anything we want - only having to worry about calorie and fat intake.  If that's all I had to worry about with Amanda I would be giddy-happy.  But calories don't concern me at all.  I encourage her to eat fattening foods and all different kinds of foods because I want her to enjoy eating healthy - yet safe food.  She does remain on guard on doesn't eat anything unless I've made it or it's from McDonalds, or Red Robin.  She won't eat anything at other people's homes and NEVER eats cake, donuts, brownies or cookies outside of our home.  Hmmm...is that why she is so petite?  

Does anyone else see this in their child that has a food allergy?

This person apparently has NO clue what he is talking about

Obviously the writer of this article does not have a child with a food allergy.  If he did, he wouldn't go anywhere near implying that life-threatening food allergies are because we as parents are not letting out children get dirty.

First all, speaking from experience, my daughter Amanda has grown up just like any other child - playing at parks, in sand boxes and rolling around in dirt and mud (literally).  I have never shielded her from dirt.  What I have shielded her from is peanuts and tree nuts which will send her into anaphylactic shock.  Dirt never has.   Here is the article.

This is what I DON'T like to hear about

This is an unbelievable story.  Makes me think a lot about the camp Amanda just went to in June.  How safe are our children really when they have a life-threatening peanut allergy?

Peanut Allergy Death

Blue Bunny Ice Cream

My mom bought some Blue Bunny Ice Cream for she and my dad to have. Amanda was there for a visit and asked for some ice cream. Thank God Amanda reads every label because here it was it said it may contain: walnuts, cashews, pecans and peanuts. What was the flavor? Banana Split. Although the ice cream may not have contained any nuts, the point is, is that is "may have". And may have is a reason to not eat it.

Are sweet rolls safe at McDonald's?

On the way to the swim meet on Thursday, my husband stopped and bought the kids sweet rolls from McDonald's. He didn't think anything about it. Well Amanda did and she wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. I found out about this when I met up with them at the Natatorium right before the meet started. I told Amanda she did the right thing in not eating them despite how starving she was. I asked Phil about the rolls and he confessed that he didn't ask anyone if the rolls had peanuts or contained peanuts. Aargghh!! Scary mistake!!!! A lot of breakfast pastries contain nuts or tree nuts! That scared me out of my mind that our daughter could have gone into anaphylaxis. Thank God Amanda is so cautious. She really is. I can't say enough about her diligence in not eating a crumb unless she can read the label. But regardless of how good she is about checking labels etc, etc, I'm still a nervous nelly because of mistakes and mislabeling and whatever else can go wrong.

xoxo

Swim Meets and Protecting children with Peanut Allergies

Amanda had her last swim meet last Thursday in a chaotic environment where the kids have to sit so close to each other between events that they are practically on top of each other. At swim meets the children get to eat snacks that the parents provide. They have to stay with their team the entire time. Not a big deal if your child doesn't have a peanut allergy, but it is if your does.

I provided healthy snacks for Amanda. She had the cooler with her and could get something to eat whenever she wanted. Every other child was there too with their snacks. So what's the most popular snack to give a child who is not allergic to peanuts? The peanut butter sandwich of course! And lots of kids had them. This was an uncontrolled environment. No rules can be set for over 300 kids ranging in age from 5 to 18. Amanda did what she needed to do as a responsible 9-year-old and walked away from anyone eating that "poison" sandwich.

There was another incidence where she got a little afraid because her best friend was eating a granola bar next to her. If you have a peanut allergic child, you know that your child can't stand even the slightest smell of peanuts. They also can't stand the thought of someone eating something containing peanuts next to them.

I Spy a Dragonfly

My book is for sale here.

Sean spied a dragonfly

It's a miracle - with San Antonio in a severe drought (we've had the least amount of rain ever since 2007) and with a record just set of weeks of 100 degree plus days, Sean saw a dragonfly yesterday at our pool. He tried to get it to land on his hand, just like in the book. We are thankful for any dragonflies we see under this very hot, dry season we are in.

I love dragonflies and have written a book called I Spy a Dragonfly.

Available at:

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Peanut allergies and tree nut allergies

I was just thinking this evening as my husband and I were hanging out by the pool sans children, that even if Amanda were just allergic to peanuts, and not tree nuts, that she still wouldn't be able to eat tree nuts unless they were made in a peanut free plant. Does that make sense? It's because on the can of cashews we were eating it said "made in a plant that processes peanuts". So that means she would not have been able to eat a cashew. I really never thought of this before because it's never been an issue. She will not eat anything that contains peanuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans or almonds even though the last 4 mentioned are really not a nut at all. We just don't know for sure until we get her to take a blood test. That's the only sure fire way to know. So for now my peanut allergic child avoids peanuts and tree nuts. And that's just fine with me.

This is Sean now

Turning 7 years old on 7 -2 -02!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sean! I love you my sweet angel!

Sean is turning 7 on July 2, 2009

So hard to believe. He's growing up so fast. My sweet baby boy. He was about 20 months here. Now he is turning 7 and going into 2nd grade in the fall.

I love you Sean Thomas - you have brought joy to my life since the day you were born - you sweet angel.