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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this can't really be a life threatening allergy?

61 replies

Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:12

I might be getting this all wrong?

My newish neighbour has just told me that she has a severe nut allergy ,throat closes ,can't breathe etc...

I said " Oh ,goodness sorry, and I've been sending your children over with cakes and biscuits not realizing! you must have an Epi pen right?"

"No" she said " "I just drink half a bottle of Piriton"

For a life threatening allergy ...is that enough? Confused

OP posts:
MrsDBouquet · 22/08/2011 22:15

I would have said no.

My friends DH has a 'severe allergy' towards dogs. He absolutely HAS to take a piriton tablet if they ever decide to go anywhere with dogs. Or his eyes get sore, and his throat hurts. Bless.

It's really weird, but it doesn't seem to affect him AT ALL having 2 dogs in their own house. Hmm

squeakytoy · 22/08/2011 22:16

I know someone like that.. Grin

Has a "life threatening" allergy to shellfish, but snatched my seafood risotto out of my hands and scoffed the lot... with no ill effects..

FabbyChic · 22/08/2011 22:16

No she should have Epi Pens.

Himalayanbalsam · 22/08/2011 22:17

And how is her medical condition up for you to judge? So she doesn't need to use an epipen Hmm I fail to see the issue here.

thisisyesterday · 22/08/2011 22:18

afaik not everyone with a severe allergy has epipens.
it can be severe with throat closing etc and be treatable with anti-histamines (ie piriton)

did she say severe? or did she say life threatening? because i thinkt here is a difference

Sirzy · 22/08/2011 22:20

If it was an allergy so bad she can't breath I would be shocked if she didnt have an Epi pen. Anything like that needs treatment ASAP

Original poster
Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:20

hima I am not judging Confused I am asking ...

for a life threatening allergy I would have suspected one would need something stronger.

Particularly as I have, (as recently as yesterday) sent over some baked goods,she knew they were coming ...but she didn't mention the nut problem!

OP posts:
Original poster
Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:22

thisis when she said her throat closes etc...I suspected it would be life threatening?

But you are right ...maybe her situation can be fixed with a quick swig!

and that is why I posted :)

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 22/08/2011 22:24

well yes, this is a fair point! lol

i think you could have minimal swelling (which she has interpreted as throat closing) which is treatable with piriton

but really you would just avoid nuts i think as allergies can become worse the more times you are exposed to the thing setting them off.

eicosapentaenoic · 22/08/2011 22:26

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/food-allergy/Pages/Treatment.aspx
As part of your emergency care plan, you will usually be given two types of medication that you should keep with you at all times:
?antihistamine tablets and/or gels, which can be used to manage the symptoms of a mild to moderate allergic reaction, and
?adrenaline, which is used to manage the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
She either knows what she's doing, or she's daft as a brush. Could be either. My friend was told to carry an epipen for nut allergy - although response is normally mild swollen throat, could be anaphylaxis any time.

SiamoFottuti · 22/08/2011 22:27

if you throat was closed and you couldn't breathe, you wouldn't be able to swallow any piriton, would you?
She's exaggerating, lots of people do it.

Katyrah · 22/08/2011 22:30

I have a nut allergy - I have an epi pen and have to be taken to hospital immediately if I eat one!

It sounds like your neighbour has an intolerance, she probably just gets a rash if priton gets rid of it! Still that doesn't sound as dramatic :)

Original poster
Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:30

It mainly caught my attention, because I had sent over so many treats for them all over the summer holiday!

Thanks for the link eicsapentaenoic

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 22/08/2011 22:32

Well, my DH has a nut allergy which does not allow him to eat baked stuff with nuts, cereals with nuts and he feels IABU for buying nutty stuff as I like them Shock - thankfully his 'nut allergy' is such that nuts in ice cream or chocolate are ok, as is chicken satay GrinHmmWink.

Maybe your neighbour has a similar affliction??

On a more serious note, it is entirely possible to be allergic to some types of nuts and not others.
BTW, 'half a bottle of Piriton' is just nuts [sic] and at least in theory potentially dangerous.

MadamDeathstare · 22/08/2011 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sofabitch · 22/08/2011 22:35

It depends. There are 2 kinds of reactions. An allergic reaction piriton would work. Anaphylactic shock is a different type of reaction and requires an epi pen. Although allergies like that tend to get more severe with each exposure so she should be aware that she could become dangerously allergic.

Meglet · 22/08/2011 22:35

Wouldn't half a bottle of Piriton floor her for 24 hours, it's drowsy stuff IIRC?

Sofabitch · 22/08/2011 22:37

Although maybe she just wants you to stop baking her cakes and is using it as an excuse.

thisisyesterday · 22/08/2011 22:39

"It mainly caught my attention, because I had sent over so many treats for them all over the summer holiday!"

anyone else thinking of moving house near feminine???

Original poster
Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:39

All great points ,Thanks!

She mentioned that one of the cookies I sent over, she ate a bite and thought it was a nut ,so she washed her mouth out.

Only to discover she was tasting flax-seed! :)

She is actually using the children's medicine ... that she keeps for their severe mosquito allergy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feminine · 22/08/2011 22:43

sofabitch good point! Grin

Maybe she just hasn't the heart to tell me how she dislikes homemade cup cakes with a buttercream icing!

OP posts:
MadamDeathstare · 22/08/2011 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/08/2011 23:13

I'd have assumed her response was sarcastic - as in, 'of course I have an epipen you twit!'. But maybe not.

ImperialBlether · 22/08/2011 23:14

Washing out your mouth wouldn't make any difference. If she believes she has a serious nut allergy she should ask her doctor to book her an appointment at the hospital. My friend's child has just died of this and it has to be taken very, very seriously.

MrsDBouquet · 22/08/2011 23:17

Imperial

Oh, your poor friend. My condolences. xxx