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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

how to do this?

17 replies

wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/03/2013 11:10

DP says he is allergic to almonds. (I have been with him over a year and he has accidentally eaten almonds twice and nothing happened.)

But the HV has told me that when DD2 is over a year old we have to give her almonds "to see" if shes allergic.

But what if she is? Do we do it outside of A+E?

And what are the chances that DP is allergic if he doesnt have an epipen? He has the tendancy to be a bit dramatic. So while I believe almonds flare up his IBS, I am a bit doubtful of it being an allergy.

But then again, I dont know a great deal about allergies! Any advice?

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 11:14

If he's accidentally eaten almonds twice and nothing has happened then I doubt he's actually allergic to them. However, not all allergies result in anaphylaxis, that's the extreme end of allergic reaction - are you sure he didn't come out in hives, have breathing issues, feel itchy, have a skin reaction?

Or he could just be intolerant - in which case, yes, they might cause an IBS flare up. Or he might just not like them and is over-dramatising.

Re. your DD2 - if you have any fears about allergic reactions, talk to your GP. He/She will advise you on the best and safest way to assess the chances of your DD having inherited your DP's "allergy".

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/03/2013 11:18

The only thing that happened was that the little bits of almond came back up into his mouth for an hour or so after. (The same thing happens with onions.) No itch, no hives. He has asthma but his breathing was fine.

He also had no idea that cherry bakewells had almonds in them. Hmm

So has the HV given wrong advice to just give her almonds after a year to try it out?

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 11:30

HV's advice is not always the best, tbh. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. But when it comes to potential for allergies that could be anaphylactic (and tree nut allergies have that potential), I personally wouldn't "just be giving it to her to see what happens".

I remember being given that advice by some idiot on customer services for a health product made from shellfish - my Grandad was anaphylactically allergic to shellfish and the supposed health expert advisor suggested I "just give it to him and see what happens". No thanks!

So I think you should ask your GP for the best way forward.

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/03/2013 11:32

Ok, will do! Thanks :)

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 11:32

Having said that, a lot depends on the level of allergy that your DP has, and it doesn't sound that bad - so it may all be a storm in a teacup anyway! Discuss it with your GP.

Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 11:33

Sorry, xposted! I meant that you could discuss the level of allergy that your DP has with your GP as well. :)

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/03/2013 11:36

Yeah, tbh I think that he is confusing his IBS (which is very bad) with allergy. But no amount of reasoning will change his mind.

I feel like telling him to eat a whole almond and see what happens rather than DD!

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 12:06

I bet he'd have all SORTS of reactions though - psychosomatic responses can be very powerful! Wink

Just as a complete aside, has he tried cutting out other things, such as wheat, to see if it helps his IBS?

mistlethrush · 05/03/2013 12:11

And then, with some allergies, the only thing to do to test for it properly is to actually give it to you - I know this as I tested negative for paracetamol allergy on the blood test and the pin prick test - and they sent me home having given me a dose in very small quantities adding up, but I had to turn round immediately and go back in to get treatment as it turned out I was allergic to it and was having an anaphalactic reaction....

Thumbwitch · 05/03/2013 12:15

Well if they think there is a risk with a small child, MT, they should and usually will do a challenge in the hospital, but that's usually a fair way down the track after going through the gp to get a referral to be tested for allergy etc.

I think I'd be sorting out the DP's "allergy" first. But then as I said, I just wouldn't take the risk with a baby (or my Grandad!)

Bit shit of them to send you home with the paracetamol though - they should have kept you in a bit longer to see if you were going to react to it! (You weren't a small child when that happened, were you?)

mistlethrush · 05/03/2013 12:32

No - it was about three years ago! I said I thought that I was reacting - the senior reg. said he couldn't see anything and sent me packing... different story when I turned up again 50 mins later - lunchtime, no one visible - managed to find the nurses having their lunch and one took a look at me and said they'd fetch the Dr and I'd better sit down... then the Senior reg. came and he said he'd call the consultant... who came and said it was really unusual... then the other consultant came and agreed it was really unusual and could they get the hospital photographer in to take some pictures as it was so rare... All rather a lot of commotion given I'd been sent home with the all-clear!!!

I agree about the 'almond allergy' - particularly if it doesn't turn up if Bakewell tarts are consumed. I think I would be making a chocolate cake with them instead of flour (the chocolate will help to mask the taste too) and see whether there is any issue at all....

I have also been told that I couldn't be intolerant to lactose by a hospital dietician because it had not been diagnosed by a Dr specifically. Oh - and apparently the chocolate allergy must also be in my head too because that's never been formally diagnosed (I just know that the results are so dramatic that its really not worth having any more!)

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/03/2013 15:08

Thats really scary MT. They took pictures Shock

I dont want to feed him almonds because it will flare his IBS. But so tempted. Hes such a fussy eater.

We cut out wheat, dairy, fatty foods, and sugar all at different times and there was no pattern at all. It appears to be totally random.

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 06/03/2013 04:36

It was rather surreal... Grin

Whereisthesnow · 06/03/2013 05:28

Just to give you my background - if I eat certain raw foods including almonds, various other nuts, kiwis etc it makes my throat itch and lips sting. In a cooked form they are fine - never knowingly missed out on a bakewell! I suppose that means I have a mild allergy. However DS, who is 3, has quite a severe allergy to nuts - brings him out almost immediately in severe hives and swelling. He's never had an anaphylactic reaction but the consultant has given us an epi pen just in case as hes at risk.
So I suppose I'm saying mild reaction parent could equal more of a issue for kid.
She probably has had almonds in traces at some point though. Do you ever notices redness around her mouth after eating? Ds gets that after exposure to small amount of banned substances (like me eating breadsticks with sesame seeds then giving him a kiss, oops!)

Whereisthesnow · 06/03/2013 05:31

And just to add - first stage of allergy testing is pinpricks of substances on forearm to see how much reaction comes up. A food challenge has to be done further down the line in hospital in controlled conditions I believe

Original poster
wannabedomesticgoddess · 06/03/2013 06:59

Shes only 16 weeks so she hasnt eaten anything yet :o

It was just that the HV was here on mon and when we said there was a nut allergy she nearly fell off the seat. She also made a fuss over DDs weight and looked all disapproving when we said that we were moving house. Hmm

I just had visions of DD2 in a high chair swelling up because the HV told us to try almonds. Tbh I dont feel much like "just giving it a try!"

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 06/03/2013 07:47

I think it might be worth saying something to the HV, or your GP, about that advice, because it is potentially very dangerous advice indeed!

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