Peanut STOP Study - A month on and our lives have changed....for the better... update!

[BlueBumedFly]

Hello all

Long time no post from me. I must admit I got a bit despondent for a while with MN, too much fighting in the ranks for my liking. However, I do believe there is lots of good advice given too and thought I would update those of you who supported us so wonderfully through the last year.

So, to recap. Last time I posted DD had just passed through her nut challenge, 12 nuts in total. She is now on a daily dose of 5 peanuts a day and will be for another 5 months.

What can I say? It has changed out lives. We do not allow her to have any other nuts, 5 a day is enough, however, with a 7 nut 'buffer' she is now happily eating products with nut trace warnings, she can go to bakeries, she had a Thorntons chocolate! Her life has changed, she is relaxing finally and takes her dose without complaint even though she still does not like the taste too much.

So onward and upward. A new school in September where she will be an unknown, she is so looking forward to introducing herself as just another girl, and not having to feel she has to explain her life away. We still have the EpiPens, you can never ever totally relax.

We are really looking forward to her blood tests in April now and hoping for a really positive result.

yup......am of femafexidine (sp?) 180mg...the strongest poss AFAIK.

I am also allergic to dustmite and cats/dogs/rabbits....hence the need for the anti-histamines all the time.

my allergy consultant said that as I am so allergic to the dustmite, my body is always on 'high alert', which means I am always at risk of developing more allergies.

oh, am allergic to several medications too!

tis the leg itching all night long I find hard at the moment, but I cannot afford a new mattress right now, and even tho I have protectors I don't think they are that effective.

I used to take femafexidine (sp?) 180mg as well as piriton but things seem much calmer now, perhaps having a cat for several years actually helped, I'm not sure.

Mind you I've started on beconase because of the constant sinus pain.......

Hi BBF - come and talk to us on www.peanutallergyuk.co.uk if you need a bit of support with less bitching . Jut think - you can now eat out and take flights without being petrified.

BBF - I don't have DC's with Allegies, but I recall your earlier thread and was so impressed by your bravery and and dedicated efforts to make a better life for your DD - she is a brave girl and a lucky one to have a mum like you.

Keep doing what you are doing - it's amazing and is surely giving many other mums out there hope that there can be hope of a more relaxed normal life without the fear of AS's being at the absolute forefront of one's mind all the time.

Tatt - hello! How are you doing? I will certainly pop over to peanutallergyuk later tonight when all are wrapped up and snoozing the night away. Thank you for the invite, it sounds good to me! It is amazing, we are even planning a treat Xmas trip to TGI Fridays, she is going to be sooooo happy!

Sycamore - many thanks for your kind words. It is so great, also, I can now settle down and relax a bit knowing if DD3 tests positive for a nut allergy when she is 2 we only have a few years to wait before we can get her through the programme. The hospital are wonderful and Dr C is very happy to test DD3 when the time comes.

I am less stressed and worried now. Shopping takes less time, I can confidently use the online shopping thing without stressing which is really great. No more trolling round the supermarket for me!!

Hope everyone keeps well, off to start the Nursery/School run!

Hi BBF - great to hear your family is doing well. Wanted to come back and thank everyone for their advice and support about DS's nut allergy. He is doing fine and I am a lot more relaxed about everything now and feel that I can manage the condition for him.