Just found out dd2 has a nut allergy. Had to use epi-pen and A and E trip.

[Whelk]

dd2 is allergic to eggs and cows mils. Our specialist advised we try her on nuts as tests aren't reliable (in hindsight, hmm ??).

I gave her a quarter of a pistachio and she said her throat felt funny and her mouth. Her lip swelled up massively.

It all happened so fast. I rang 999 and injected her with the epi-pen.

She's OK now. After 3 hours of observations at A and E we were sent home. We've been keeping a close eye on her and she seems fine. We'll continue to do so and set the alarm to check on her in the night.

Any advice on tonight, and for managing this allergen would be very welcome.

have you been given 3 days of oral steriods?

keep up 4 hourly anti histamines for a while if needed?

got replacement epi pen or prescription?

6 hrs is the new NICE guidlines but we have only stayed for the 4 hrs as well.

we have had a few hosptial dashes, and 3 epi pens uses. you did very well, btw. well done. be kind to yourself, the days after the reaction are more emotionally wobbily for all of you.

Oh that's crud. :(
Especially such a strong quick reaction.
The only good part is that it's probably easier to avoid than the other allergens you're already contending with.

Its sinking in now. I was surprised at how calm and methodical I was and how upbeat I managed to stay at the hospital.
I feel pants now, I had thought that she might outgrow the milk and egg allergies like dd1, who is now thankfully food allergy free.
But now we must face this nut allergy for life. She just seems to little for all that that entails.

Whelk, children do sometimes grow out of nut allergies - mine did.

Dd has a nut allergy, specifically hazelnuts. We haven't used our jest pen yet just liquid anti histamine. It's life changing though as she was reacting to things that didn't have nuts listed but has been made on the premises.

we avoid foods in packets and cook from scratch in a nut free home but its rubbish how it can restrict your life, particularly when you want to eat out.

Jext pen, not jest. Not sure what the difference is between a jext and an epipen.

Thank you katydid. That's lovely to hear.
DDD- we're already used to not eating out and taking packed meals to parties because of the other allergies. That's frightenong that your dd reacts to foods made on the premises with nuts.
I haven't avoided 'may contain traces of' in the past but maybe we'll start now.
Dd2 has her school taster session tomorrow. I think I'll ring the teacher in advance to add it to the list. And then I'll get on to the specialist for some skin prick tests for other nuts.
Thanks for the replies

Her worst ever reaction was chocolate coin with no nuts listed on the ingredients. Our gp says chocolate is to be avoided as it is often made on the same conveyer belt as the nut product and can easily pick something up. Kinnerton make chocolate in a nut free factory so we stock up on them.

The worst thing was that the chocolate coin was in her Father Christmas stocking so she was convinced he didn't like her. I convinced her it was a negligent elf.

I have a feeling that if you are allergic to pistachios then you are almost always allergic to cashews as well. Lots of pesto sauce is made using cashews, not pine nuts (which aren't a real nut).

You need to get her tested individually for all the different kinds of nuts. My nephew can't eat lots of tree nuts but can eat peanuts. My dd can eat tree nuts but is severely allergic to peanuts.

glad your DD is ok,

We avoid all nuts and any may contain traces, made in a factory with etc etc as well as egg.

Already being an allergic family you will be used to reading and checking labels

If you are on facebook there is a great support group

uk parents of kids with nut allergy peanuts

take care x