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Basics to Know: food allergies Page 2

Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 03:14 pm

EPI-PENS

If you use an epi-pen you MUST go to the ER afterwards.

If an epi-pen gets too hot or too cold, it will ruin it.

You can see the fluid through the clear plastic cylinder of the epi-pen. Check it regularly to make sure the fluid is clear! It is is discolored, it is no longer good.

You can use it right through clothes, but don't try to go through the seam of pants, especially denim.

When you pick up your epi-pen prescription, have the pharmacist put a prescription label on EACH epi-pen. It makes it easier going through airport security.

Take your epi-pen with you EVERYWHERE you go....even if you aren't going to eat.






Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 03:21 pm

BI-PHASIC REACTION

If you have an anaphylactic reaction, you can have another reaction up to six hours after the first reaction. Sometimes the second reaction is worse than the first.

My allergist told me that if I go to the ER for a bad reaction - and if I'm released before 6 hours have passed since the first reaction....to sit in the hospital waiting room until the 6 hours are up. He was adamant about this.



booandbrimom
Member
Posted: Jun 11th, 2008 at 08:20 am

Bump. We have lots of new people, so if you haven't added to this thread, please do!

Mezzo
Member
Posted: Jun 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am

Have a plan for treating a reaction. If you can get your allergist to write one up for you, that's the best. If not, do a little research: read the anaphylaxis grading chart, read guidelines about when to use an EpiPen. And decide in advance what should be a reason for using Benadryl only and what should be a reason for using the Epi. It's still hard enough in the heat of the moment to decide, but it's easier if you have a plan in mind.

U.S. - mom to PA daughter

"Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor."
-- Cinderella, Into the Woods
Mookie86
Member
Posted: Jun 11th, 2008 at 07:36 pm

You really will be fine if you know the signs of a reaction, know how to respond to what you're seeing, and are prepared to respond (ALWAYS carry your medicines with you). Make sure anyone with whom you leave your child also knows how to recognize a reaction, knows how to respond, and is ready to respond with medicines available nearby. For me, this meant creating a plan with the allergist of "If you see X symptom, Y symptom, or Z symptom" then do "A, B, C."

I never walked out the front door without the medicine bag if my child will be with me -- not for the 30-second drive to drop off my non-allergic child at school, not to play in our yard (we often end up at a neighbor's home a few houses down if the kids see each other). Besides, always walking out the door with the medicine bag creates good habits always to carry it with me. Always be prepared.

If in doubt, give the epi pen. It can't hurt to give it when you didn't actually need to do so, but it can fatal to administer it too late.

Finally, remind yourself and others that knowledge is empowering. Knowing how to stay safe and how to respond if a reaction ends up happening is the key.

It seems overwhelming at first, but you will keep your child/yourself safe and it will be OK!

Momcat
Member
Posted: Jun 11th, 2008 at 08:59 pm

Read labels. Be familiar with high risk foods for your allergens.

DD12 allergies: peanuts
DS8 allergies: eggs
Shakita
New Member
Posted: Jul 1st, 2008 at 03:29 pm

Sep 27th, 2007 at 07:07 am, booandbrimom
Not many people die from food allergies.

It's very easy to get wrapped up in the horror of having a child die. Reading these boards can sometimes add to that because avoiding that outcome is (rightly) emphasized. However, there are millions of people with food allergies and only a handful die each year, most because they did not have an Epi-Pen and use it promptly.

Keeping a sense of perspective with regard to risk is crucial if you're not going to drive yourself crazy and end up with an anxiety disorder.

I am going to live by this, I am so paranoid about my son's allergies that Im afraid I wont let him live a normal life.

Happy Mommy of three
DD 16
DS 5
DS 3 - Nuts, Wheat, Egg, Soy Allergies

Posted: Nov 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am

First of all,



Label reading is the cornerstone of successfully managing food allergies.
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If you'd like some pretty good summaries of what you need to know about USA labeling, I'd recommend the following:

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcesnew.php

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=1&title=Grocery_shopping_for_a_child_with_food_allergies

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=50&title=FALCPA

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=8&title=Careful_label_reading_for_food_allergens

http://foodallergies.about.com/od/signsandsymptoms/bb/turkeyallergies.htm
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For a very detailed analysis of the FALCPA:

http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=4438

There is a draft of the FDLI paper here (it is not the final version of the paper):

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/730/Derr05_FINAL.html

Please don't quote from that paper ... I believe it's open for anyone to read for personal use ... but I'd ask everyone to respect the copyrights on it.
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This thread is about how the FDA is trying to develop a long-term stategy regarding allergen advisory labeling:
http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=5869

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Here is some more info on recalls:

USA: http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/faalerts.php

Canadian: http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/caalerts.php

UK: http://www.ukrecallnotice.co.uk/Food/Foodindex.htm


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Be prepared for and know how to handle a reaction. Have your allergist fill out an "action plan". For example, here is a form from FAAN:

http://www.foodallergy.org/downloads/FAAP.pdf

Sometimes it's hard in an emergency, sometimes it is easy to second guess the plan and try to downplay the reaction. It's natural to be a little apprehensive about using the Epi at first. However, it is imperative to try to be as objective as possible (For example, if symptom x and y, give epi, call 911, stay at ER for at least x hours in case of biphasic reaction).

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Here is some info on allergy testing:

http://www.foodallergy.org/downloads/FoodAllergyTesting.pdf

http://www.nationaljewish.org/healthinfo/conditions/allergy/allergens/food/food-challenges-.aspx

http://www.nationaljewish.org/programs/tests/allergy/food-challenge.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergies-elimination-diet

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This is a good story told by Dr. Wood about being cautious about eating foods prepared by others:
http://drrobertwood.com/myanaphylaxis.shtml

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This is an important article for people with both asthma & allergies to read: "When Anaphylaxis Looks Like Asthma" (starts page 11)
http://www.aanma.org/pdf/AnaphylaxisGuide.pdf


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I hope the above information helps!

Smiley



« Last Edited by Jul 11th, 2010 at 01:21 pm »

GingerPye
Moderator
Posted: Nov 7th, 2008 at 01:58 pm

Always carry at least two epipens for each person with FA. If one doesn't work for some reason, you have a back-up; also, if more than 15-20 minutes elapse before help arrives, you may need to use a second epi.

Don't drive yourself (if you are having the reaction) or your child to the hospital after using the epipen, if at all possible. Call for an ambulance. You have to be able to monitor your child, or yourself, in case you need to use another epipen.

DD, 15 - MA/EA/PA/env./eczema
DS, 12 - MA/EA/PA/env./asthma
DH - adult-onset asthma
me - env. allergies, exhaustion, & mental collapse