Should I have an epi pen before a full allergy test?

[podsquash]

Hi,

My (nearly 4 year old) son had an allergic reaction to a nut the other day - it was clearly an allergic reaction (swollen lips, vomiting, throat constricted, hives, asthma attack). Anti-histamines and steroids (plus Ventolin) sorted it out. We went to the GP today to be referred for the full nut test. She has referred us to a pediatric allergy specialist (great) but said that she can't give us an epi-pen in the meantime, nd that we should give anti-histamines as needed if he has another reaction. I don't know how long until we will be seen but certainly not in the next two or three weeks. He is not in any kind of childcare or pre-school at the moment for various reasons.

Is this enough? Should I seek a second opinion? Do I need an epi-pen urgently?

Thanks!

I would think he should have an epi-pen, esp. given his asthma. A friend's son had a very similar reaction to his first taste of kiwi and he was prescribed an epi-pen on that day (by the hospital as she'd taken him to A&E).

Having said that, prevention is way better than treatment and now you know to avoid nuts (and anything that says 'may contain traces of nuts') he is extremely unlikely to eat anything nut containing again before the allergy clinic see you. So yes, ask again for a pen but by being vigilant in the meantime you should be OK regardless.

Dd got an epi pen before her testing. TBH I insisted on having one. She doesn't have asthma but I felt a lot safer just having one 'in case'.
The likelihood is I shall never use it, but it's comforting to know she has one and so do her school.

Thanks you guys. A friend I know said that I should insist but the GP said that 'GPs can't prescribe them just like that.' Is that correct? I could just go to a different doctor in the surgery and ask again, I guess. Not sure how much to push it...

No, I was given mine by a consultant. Go back to the GP and request a consultants appointment as a matter of urgency. Tell him that, due to asthma you are really concerned about the possibility of anaphylactic shock (excuse spelling!).
Mind you, I'm not sure how quickly a consultants appointment would come through. I'm sure if you state how concerned you are (even if you're not!) then the GP could do something.
Sorry, that's really not helpful at all is it/!

Podsquash - I had a similar experience with my son - I got him tested privately with a consultant who prescribed him the epi pens - but I had to get the GP to give me the prescription. It took 3 weeks to get a private appointment but he was able to do a skin prick test there and then and I was able to get the pens the next day. I am not sure if the GP can prescribe without a consultant but it sounds like your DS should get an urgent referral, I was a bit lost and scared until i saw the consultant - it's the not knowing and not being able to do anything if something does happen in the mean time. If the wait is very long could you think about going private?

GPs can prescribe them if there is a clinical need, we got one before seeing a consultant (and then 3 more). You should be OK for a couple of weeks if you are careful but you can't tell when you are going to come across contamination.

Ok, so we have an appointment with the pediatric allergy specialist on 9 January, about 5 weeks away. In the meantime we have Christmas and birthday, with IMHO a fair amount of risk with foods. Opinion so far sounds slanted in favour of taking him to see another GP and asking for an epi-pen while I wait for the consultants appointment OR trying to speed up the consultants appointment (not sure how much luck I would hav with that given Christmas holidays). I am weirdly nervous of trying to push this with the doctors...it seems disrespectful or something although even as I type that I know it is not...

I'd probably try another gp. You can telephone the consultant's secretary and ask about an earlier appointment but wouldn't rate your chances too highly. However if you give them a mobile number they may phone you if a cancellation comes up.

There are a lot of nuts around at Christmas but keep them out of your house, make sure hands get well washed and you should be fine. You can get nut free Christmas pudding in Asda, Kinnerton chocolate, Lidl mincemeat tart.

GPs often won't prescribe them without confirmation of the allergy and appropriate training and support from the allergy team nursing staff.

Also school/nursery need a pen and training and until the allergy is confirmed as being a true allergy with anaphylaxis then many GPs won't prescribe, they wait for the consultant to authorise it.

In the meantime have Piriton (or equivalent) in your bag, practice total nut avoidance as much as possible and if in any doubt that there is an anaphylactic reaction call 999.

My ds has a severe peanut allergy (amongst other things) and was given his epi-pens by the consultant and then given more by the GP who said he should have 2 with him at all times and 2 with the school/nursery. According to him young children should always have 2 because it is possible that 1 won't be enough and also if they move and you miss you should always have another as a back up. We are still waiting for the training from the community paediatric team (have been chasing them for weeks now ) but have been assured the instructions are easy enough to follow should we need to use it in the interim. Prior to seeing the consultant we were told just to use his antihistamine medication and call 999 if he didn't respond.

Hi everyone, thanks so much. I went to see a different GP in the same surgery this morning who prescribed him an Epi-Pen immediately. He said I was right to be thinking better safe than sorry, he said that of course I need proper training which I would get with the specialist clinic but that in the meantime the instructions are designed to be used by everyone and therefore straightforward. I've had a look and I think it is ok, but he said I can call them if I want them to go through it with me. We also talked about when to use it and it seemed clear. I feel fine about just having 1 for now because I would call 999 too... but I want more when we get properly set up by the clinic. BEcause he isn't in any child-care it is still quite straightforward for us.

Anyway, thanks everyone. I know I am in for a lot of label reading and home cooking!

That's great news, it's just good to know that you have it in case, i am a lot more relaxed now that I have the pens. Though of course still tense and anxious about the whole thing in general.

Have you been to the epi-pen website? They have a video on there which shows you how to use the pens and they will send you the video to your mobile as a MMS so you can send it to other poeple who maybe caring for him so that they have something to refer to in case of an emergency. The MMS is not that great but it's better then nothing until you get your proper training. It is very straightforward and you will be able to do it in an emergency.

The epi-pen site will also send you a trainer pen so that you can practise with it.

its www.epipen.co.uk in case you don't know about it.

It took me 3 weeks to get a private appt with a consultant who charged £175.00 for the appt and the skin prick test.

Best of luck

good news. As for using the pen it isn't rocket science, although the more practise you get the more likely you are not to panic in an emergency. I didn't get it 100% right and it was still very effective .

There is a good Anaphylaxis Campaign DVD available.

My daughter is 7 now but had first anphylactic shock at age 1.
We have 2 Epipens at home and 2 at school, I was advised to have this many in case they need 2, or if one dosent work.
I have to explain this at every appointment for repeat prescriptions for Epipens, but I stand my ground and insist it is vital.