New to epi pen - any advice?

[STARE2016]

Hi all,

DD (age 6) has worsening allergies, so yesterday we were advised she should carry an epi pen. Consultant is writing to GP to get them prescribed. We were told 2 - one for school, one for home. But my reading suggests we should have 4? Should I be pushing for another 2?

Main question really, is what should I do now? School have been very good with her allergies so far & I think this was an expected step. Do I talk to the school before we have the prescription or wait til I physically have them in my hand?

Allergy nurse told me I would need to attend resus training and training for using the epi pen. Any one advise on roughly how long this will take to happen after we've got the prescription?

Any top tips in general really would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

Hi STARE2016 My dd has four Epipens! I would talk to your school to find out their procedure. I expect they already have some children with Epipens already. Some schools may like to physically keep two (like my dd's primary) and then you would need two yourself. Dd's school now (secondary) likes her to carry one in her bag and they like one to keep in the nurses office permanently. I then like two at home, that way I never have to take her one out of her school bag-safer. I just tell doctors that school has two as it is the same. Then I need two for home.
Our school insists only one is to be carried though, may be something to do with their insurance or safety policy, not sure now. But if ever she is on a trip and I am concerned in case school forget the other one, I do sneak another in her bag.
Its going back a long time now but I think my paediatrician arranged for someone to teach the staff at our primary school. I also gave them the training epipen and info. Even dvds at the time. But it was not so common back then. They know a lot more now in schools thankfully.

Hi
My DS just under 3 and he had (we think) allergy reaction to fish and hazelnuts. He vomited after very little amount of fish (tea spoon of rice and fish) and the same for one soldier with hazelnut butter on it. I bought Piriton and we are seeing GP on Friday. DS has mild eczema and his dad has allergy or egg intolerance (we are not sure) so I should have expected this. I didn't and I'm worrying myself sick.
I will be grateful for any advice you can give, esp. how to get him tested etc. We have private medical but I know that they will not cover chronic conditions so probably they will pay for first diagnosis only....
Can anyone tell me what to expect from an allergist? I know that they can run tests and let you know what food to avoid and prescribe Epipens. Is there any other help available? Thanks

Hi Madzia123, with my dd she had skin prick testing at the hospital via a paediatrician regarding her allergies. We are with NHS only. Due to her life threatening peanut allergy and other multiple more minor allergies we have seen them a lot through her lifetime. We found out at around your ds's age when my dd reacted to a peanut her brother kindly gave her.
Please don't worry, just take one step at a time. My dd is a teen now and manages lovely despite her allergies.
I personally learnt lots over the internet and with my dd I did not and do not always find the allergy appointments that helpful although we always attend and sometimes it is useful for a little guidance or protocol for school. The skin prick tests as a general step was the best but used as a guide only.
There is nothing better than what your ds's body is telling you and I personally find keeping a food diary is very useful to pin point triggers/reactions.
Skin prick tests involve putting tiny drops of solution containing the allergen on the skin and then pricking the skin to let the solutions in. You then wait and dependant on the size of the hive or wheal they will read it and measure and tell you whether they are allergic or not. How allergic and what to do about each food item. One important bit of info prior the the skin prick tests is to not let him have any piriton (here)www.allergyuk.org/diagnosis--testing-of-allergy/skin-testing
Dd had massive hives to peanuts and more minor ones to other foods which some she can tolerate and some she can't. They can test all sorts like pollen, dustmite and pet dander ect so have a think of the most important ones you may like done as well in case they ask. My dd had bad eczema, turned out to have dustmite/pollen allergies too which are ideal to know so you can take steps in your home to help.

Their advice on things will change from consultant to consultant and also dependant on advice fads at the time. I am possibly a bit outdated now as dd has not had skin pricks for years. She did however have a blood test a few months back where they can also use to test allergies to specific things. This time we were checking out salmon and a few other things as she was getting an itchy mouth but it turned out to be negative. I am still unsure and will try her eating it again as it may have been the sweet potato she had with it. Going by my dd she can still have small itchy mouth type reactions to things that come up negative but I think it is oral allergy syndrome where they react to the similar pollen like proteins in fruit/salad items/raw veg due to dd's pollen allergy. She also has these weird things happen more so when under the weather.
If he turns out to have anaphylaxis then the anaphylaxis campaign is a great source of information www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/

Our allergy appointments even gave out photocopies from their site for info. Hope that helps a little, goodluck at the doctors

Sorry link did not work here it is again www.allergyuk.org/diagnosis--testing-of-allergy/skin-testing

When I did epipen training the advice was two ( named and in date) at school. procedure was one to be administered immediately by staff while another member of staff called the ambulance , the second epipen was to be used if symptoms did not subside before the ambulance appeared.

ask to see the school's written epipenprotocols.make sure the pens are kept in places where all staff have access (ie not in locked cupboard in an office where only the office staff have access) and that at least one is immediately available to the class teacher/ta. make sure ALL staff are epipen trained by the school nurse, their training updated annually, and that they ALL know the correct procedure for informing the ambulance service appropriately.What procedures do the school have in place for trips out? who is responsible for carrying the pens, is this always written into the health and safety assessment for school visits.

If your school has not not had an epipen child before please badger the SENCO to make sure they sort out a protocol and training immediately.

DS carries two at all times. School have one and after school have one.

Yes 2 for home and 2 for school ,2 to be carried together in case first one fails.

You should have 2 sets. Not only for a 2nd use if requiremed, but also if an error is made when administering. This can happen if you are panicking, or when the child is old enough to do it themselves.

So sorry for the terribly delayed response, thank you all so much for your replies.

Was supposed to have a meeting with SENCO at school yesterday but had to cancel due to illness. I have rebooked for after half term & have phone consultation with the GP the same afternoon. Viques, I will be making a note of all your points and taking them into the meeting with me. Thanks so much.

Will try & get them to prescribe 4.

Madzia, my DD started with skin prick texts at the 1st allergy appointment and then these were followed up with blood tests. She had these approx 4 years ago & we've been managing with piriton up til now, but because of the worsening reactions (& huge number of things she appears to be allergic to) they have prescribed epipen.

Thanks again all

I'm a school health nurse and in my area we write the care plans for children with epipens. This details the allergies and how both mild and severe reactions are to be treated. We then meet with the school and parents and everyone signs it. School keeps a copy, parents get a copy and a copy is scanned to the child's health records.

We also go into schools to deliver epipen training to staff.

Contact your school nurses - we're there to offer support and advice

I should add that it might work differently in your area but the school nurses in your area will be able to advise how to ensure everything is in place to take care of your daughter.