Peanut allergy veterans....What did you do?

[TettyLouBar]

Hi there,
DD (18MO) recently was diagnosed with peanut allergy after her 2nd, maybe 3rd exposure to peanut butter.
Paediatrician saw her in clinic and from my description stated that he has no doubt whatsoever that she is allergic to peanuts.
He agreed to refer her for skin prick tests (probably will happen in new year) and he also agreed to write a letter back to my GP recommending she has epipens as it was a moderate reaction.
I myself am an adult trained nurse and I think he assumed I knew more than I do about allergies.

I just wanted to get an idea about do's and don'ts leading up to the skin prick test.

I'm a bit confused as her said I could probably give her "tree" nuts and it wouldnt make her react, but to obviously stay away from all nuts until the tests.
But what did you all do? was there any rules that you followed with reference to the supermarket packaging:
contains nut/made in a factory that produces other products containing nuts/ traces of nuts my be present??!!/ has briefly been on same continent with nuts??!!~@!

I'm a little scared and nervous about christmas as I have already made some crimbo treats and foods with things like walnuts/chestnuts etc and really dont know what to do now.

confused

I've not been officially diagnosed but peanuts have always made my mouth/throat irritate to extent of having trouble breathing.

I assume shops are just covering themselves & unless nuts are listed as ingrediants I don't worry, but then again my reaction isn't (so far) fatal - & I guess that would determine how careful you need to be.

I'm ok with coconut & roasted chestnuts, I avoid everything else. Walnuts definitely have an effect.
Is that any use?

I have a peanut allergy, ds is allergic to cashews.

peanuts are in a different 'family' to other nuts. Check out peas too. theere are ground nuts, tree nuts and legumes. You need to start to read up on these things, theres lots of very good allergy sites to learn from.

They are all different but I avoid all nuts.
But if something has nut traces we dont worry too much, as so many of the packets now carry that warning as standard.

I have become a prolific biscuit baker at home. Crisps and some chocolate is fine, bread I dont even worry about. We get by.

its all very confusing and alarming at the start but you will become an expert

I wouldnt use walnuts or chestnuts near her.

Dont forget kissing her lips too after someone has eaten these nuts may harm her.
Just leave it all until after the tests.

My ds (now 3) was diagnosed with a nut allergy when he was about 12 months through blood tests (no exposure though) while he was being tested for other things. The hospital did a general 'nut mix' test and have said we must avoid all peanuts & tree nuts because of the risks of cross contamination. I did question it at our last appointment with the allergist and she said that current advice was still total avoidance for young children with any nut allergy.

I don't tend to exclude 'may contain nuts' products from his diet but he is already so restricted (severe dairy/egg allergy also) that he can't have most ready made things anyway. I don't buy anything for him from the bakery counter in supermarkets though and use my common sense as much as possible. I wouldn't risk the walnut & chestnut either (although coconut doesn't count just in case you didn't know!).

It's a pain to deal with but you soon get used to it!

Thanks all.

I have begun to do some research into it on the web, but its always handy to speak to others that have already dealt with the problems that arise.
I will of course keep DD away from all nuts until I know more.