Author Topic: peanut butter  (Read 2888 times)

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Offline mmom

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peanut butter
« on: November 03, 2009, 15:29:58 pm »
I was just reading old posts on this, so I know the age of when to start offering pb seems to vary.  My LO had his 15 month check up last month and at the appt., I was discussing with the Ped how picky he is and how he doesn't get any protein at all.  He can't eat dairy and drinks rice milk, which only has 1 gram of protein.  She suggested trying peanut butter and recommends it after 1 year.  We don't have any food allergies on either side and so far the only food allergy my LO has is cow's milk protein.  However, he has GI issues and has food triggers that inflame his esophagus, and he is off of wheat, soy, eggs, and dairy.  We have no idea which food of these is a trigger (other than the dairy).  We only know that since eliminating these foods, he has been healthy.  He did eat all of these foods without an allergic reaction and as a result, he was still able to get the flu shot, which has eggs in it.  That being said, because of his disease, we are only allowed to introduce 1 food every 4-6 weeks to make sure that it doesn't inflame his esophagus.  

I discussed trying pb with DH who thought that if our LO was going to have a severe reaction to peanuts, that he would have had one.  Both he and I eat pb every day.  I eat large quantities of it actually and it is my favorite food.  I ate it while pregnant and while breast feeding.  DH is of the opinion that he is sure it has been on one of us - our lips, our hands, whatever, before having contact with our LO.

I also shared my concerns with my mom, who pointed out that the paramedics are located less than 1 mile from our house and if he had a reaction, they would be here in minutes.  Reassuring right??  thanks mom!   lol  Anyway, I know for some, 1 minute is too long.

So, we tried pb this morning.  My goal was to give 1 bite of toast with pb on it and then give him something else for breakfast.  But he loved it and freaked when I didn't give him more.  As a result, he had more, but it was less than 1/2 tsp.  Since then, I have been staring at him.  I won't leave the house and run errands.  I am just scared.  DH made me get off of the internet this morning, because I kept making myself more scared.  For those that have had a reaction, how quickly did it develop?  Also, how many different exposures to pb did it take?
Kara


Offline Mashi

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2009, 17:03:27 pm »
HUGE hugs..I really do know the feeling. My DS had a milk/soy allergy and although he outgrew it at 13 months, his paed is dead-set against me offering PB and has scared the living daylights out of me with it. But I am sooooooo tempted becuase I just don't feel there will be a problem iykwim.

The only thing I can tell you about a reaction is to share some info that our chemist (pharmacist) gave me when we were starting on soy milk. DS was diagnosed milk allergic so we had our script for soy formula, GP would not give me hypoallergenic cow's milk formula at that time and I was NOT happy about trying soy knowing that it is one of the most allergenic foods (is in the top ten).  What he told me is that a human can be allergic to **ANYTHING** - even though some things are MORE allergenic than others.  You can develop an allergy at ANY TIME...you can eat PB for years and be fine and then develop an allergy to it as an adult. While this is uncommon and perhaps unlikely it is NOT impossible (which I can see as I have grown into and out of allergies to a load of things, incl foods and drugs over my lifetime).  And, they type of reaction can be ANYTHING at all for any person....so while cats make my eyes go crazy and swell up and I want to claw them out, an allergic reaction to cats for another person can mean anaphylactic shock.  While some things are more likely to cause a shock reaction than others, that doesn't mean that one person's body wont' go into shock just because it's not common. Finally, he said a shock reaction can be within moments to within 24 hours after exposure to the allergenic substance.

So, while that doesn't give you a whole lot of answers to your questions, just wanted to point out that every mother on here could give you an identical answer to the questions but that doesn't mean your LO would be the same, kwim?  I think that you've tried it once, he did not have an immediate reaction and he's totally fine....like your DH I would tell you to not panic, let yourself calm down and relax about it, and maybe wait a month to try PB again....not for any reason other than to let yourself relax a bit before putting you through the stress again!!!

Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2009, 17:28:31 pm »
Thanks Mashi!  So you wouldn't continue on?  When I try any food now, we generally stick with the same food for 1 month give or take.  I was planning on using this as our new food.

The 24 hour reaction aspect really scares me.  I thought if it was going to be severe, it would be somewhat immediate.  I am really not going to be able to sleep.
Kara


Offline Mashi

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2009, 17:38:47 pm »
Thanks Mashi!  So you wouldn't continue on?  When I try any food now, we generally stick with the same food for 1 month give or take.  I was planning on using this as our new food.

The 24 hour reaction aspect really scares me.  I thought if it was going to be severe, it would be somewhat immediate.  I am really not going to be able to sleep.

Sorry I did not mean to scare you at all, more to reassure you...as in, he could react 24 hours after eating a plain piece of toast with nothing on it.  Or an apple.  Or carpet fluff.   KWIM?  Just that we have to accept that things in life are out of our hands....

I think statistically if it was going to be severe it would be immediate, yes.  But was just highlighting to you that there isn't any "rule" about waiting x amount of time and then being "in the clear" so to speak

I forgot as I was typing the part where you were saying about the way you have to introduce new foods....sorry.  My reason for saying that I would not continue is NOT because I think that it is risky or that there is any specific reason for not going on with it allergy wise, but more sanity wise, for yourself. If you are really panicky about it and worried about it then I would go with a food that is less likely to cause you that stress all day every day, kwim?


Offline ~*Nicole*~

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2009, 17:47:07 pm »
Just jumping in as I have heard that often times the 2nd or 3rd exposure will cause an allergy even if the 1st or 2nd didn't. (like those who are allergic to bee stings, etc.) That said, I was following a standard 3-5 day trial for new foods when DD was younger and I did PB for 3 days in the morning to keep an eye all day and then deemed her fine. But that is just me. Of course my DD ended up allergic to raw celery of all things. So we have an epi-pen anyway!







Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2009, 19:24:04 pm »
Mashi - I know you were trying to make me feel better.  I am just a head case...lol.  I was feeling more rational until I read that the reaction can take longer.  I was thinking that I would know within a few hours if it was going to be severe.  But you make a good point about it being any type of food.

Nicole - I can't believe the rxn of your LO was brought on by celery!!  What kind of reaction was it.  Also, I too have read that the 2nd or 3rd exposure can be the one that causes a reaction.  I will keep an eye on my LO.

DH wants to pursue the pb issue.  He thinks I will be this anxious no matter when we trial it.  He is right.  If my LO can eat it, it would be a great food to add to his diet.
Kara


Offline ~*Nicole*~

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2009, 23:49:04 pm »
DH cut up raw celery pieces, carrots, and cheese (from a party tray type thing for her bday that we had leftover) She had carrots and cheese many many times before but never celery. She didn't swallow any as she couldn't chew it that well since it is fairly tough and so spit them out. Her face broke out in red blotches all over. They cleared up by the time she went to bed that night. I called my mom and guess what? My uncle has a severe allergy to raw celery and goes into anaphylactic shock. I called MIL and guess what? DH's grandfather has the same allergy. Odd. So I called her ped who made us go to get blood tests. They said nothing was wrong. He still had us go to see an allergist. She had a skin test done just for the celery and it was supposed to show up as a small welt/blotch on the spot he tested. She broke out ALL OVER her body. He had to give her benadryl and we were advised to NEVER give her any celery and always keep the epi-pens handy. We have to go back in the spring to re-do the skin test to track severity/intensity (better, worse, the same?). Blech.







Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2009, 01:15:13 am »
Wow!!  How scary!  I have never met anyone with a celery allergy.  My mom is an EMT and she told me that before you go into shock, you get that red blotchy face and body.  She was primarily telling me this because I was still freaking out later today about what if my LO is sleeping and something happens?  But he still hasn't reacted.  These allergies are crazy.  I am glad your LO was ok and that you know the allergy exists, so you are prepared. 
Kara


Offline Mashi

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2009, 06:30:48 am »
Celery allergy is quite common actually!  In England most prepared foods will say if they contain celery in them, the same way they say if they contain nuts, eggs, dairy or soy!

Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2009, 10:25:22 am »
Wow, that is really interesting.  We don't see that here.  I know my SIL has been allergic to practically everything at some point in her life.  But I never heard her or anyone else I know mention celery.  I guess you never know what the food will be and maybe I should be worrying about every new food.
Kara


Offline Mashi

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2009, 10:43:30 am »
I guess you never know what the food will be

Agree with this.....

and maybe I should be worrying about every new food.

But not so much with this!

I think that if your LO was a highly allergic child then yes, you would prob have reason to stress over every new food.  But he's not really an overly allergic LO is he - can have all but dairy by the sounds of it?  Again, as I've said above it doesn't mean he won't be allergic to something totally random, but I am also not sure it is worth making yourself sick with worry over every new food, kwim? 

How has he been with the PB since then? 

Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2009, 11:07:41 am »
He hasn't had pb since yesterday.  We plan to try it at breakfast again this morning.  But this time we will give him something else 1st and then a bite of pb, so the whole meal isn't pb like yesterday.  Not that changing it will make a huge difference, but at least he won't have a larger quantity.  So far, there hasn't been any type of reaction.  But I realize that he could still have one this morning.

Thanks for all of the info Mashi!
Kara


Offline Spectra

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2009, 17:44:23 pm »
I started giving PB to my daughter when she was 12 months, and she had no problems.  My allergist told me to avoid it with my son as he has other food allergies.  While he turned 2 in Aug, and last month he grabbed my daughter's PB toast and got some on his cheek.  He ballooned up, red, hives, itching, about 5-10min after.  This lasted over 24 hours.  Thankfully he didn't eat any of it.  He's an odd one though.  Nobody in our families has food allergies, but he seems to have quite a few.
Melanie
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Offline ~*Nicole*~

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2009, 17:47:14 pm »
mashi-The celery allergy is quite uncommon here. Most people here have never heard of it. I did read on the internet about it being common in Europe afterwards. If I think about it in terms of heritage that is where a lot of our family lineage is from so I suppose that it does make sense.







Offline Mashi

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2009, 17:54:29 pm »
I had NO idea that it was a European thing!  Just did a quick scan and yes, it turns out that while peanuts are the most common allergen in North America, celery is THE most common allergy in central Europe, mainly France, Switzerland and Germany! 

Offline ~*Nicole*~

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #15 on: November 04, 2009, 17:57:26 pm »
Needless to say, none of our products clearly state on the packaging that they were made with or near celery. You have to really read the ingredients list which is always that small, fine print full of TONS of things to scan hehehehe.







Offline mmom

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #16 on: November 04, 2009, 21:50:38 pm »
Nicole - That must be very hard to figure out!

Spectra - I had read about your son's reaction in the older posts, when I was obsessing myself.
Kara


Offline ~*Nicole*~

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Re: peanut butter
« Reply #17 on: November 05, 2009, 02:10:15 am »
Yes it is. hehe.