Food Allergies Support Group

Hi there, my daughter who is nearly 4 is also allergic to egg white and peanuts, very allergic and has to carry an epipen everywhere. I know it can feel really overwhelming when first diagnosed but it does become easier to deal with once you get used to it. I know it must be hard, especially in light of losing another child but whilst being allergy aware you really need to try not to focus on it. As she has been disgnosed young you will be able to teach her what she can and can't have from an early age so she won't know any different. Children do outgrow allergies but it depends on the severity of them to start with. My allergist has told me my daughter will never outgrow the peanuts but is hoping that she will with the egg. Hang in there,I know it seems very overwhelming at the moment but you will adapt to it and it will just become part of your life. I know what foods I can and can't give my daughter now and apart from haaving to carry an Epipen everywhere I don't really think about her allergies too much. I am always here if you need to talk.

Thank you so much for your caring advice. I know that I will eventually get used to this new way of life for my family. I appreciate your help!

Hello there. Boy do you sound like we did 5 years ago. Please know that you are not on an Island although it feels like it. You will have an adjustment in your lifestyle but it will be OK. Heck we keep peanut butter in the house for our other kids now days. The Epipen advice is very good, we do not go anywhere without it and it has saved our daughters life twice due to accidental ingestion. She has severe food allergies including egg, milk, peanut and tree nuts just to name a few. You will become a great reader of food labels, an un-official bio-chemist and your child's best advocate. Do your research on line. FAAN and Allergy Mom's are great websites my wife and I found early on. They teach you simple things like to say "that is not safe for you" vs. "No you can't eat that". Boy has something that little really allowed us to teach our child instead of explaining why not all day. We have been to National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver Co to learn how to deal with her allergies and eczema and now after being back over a year have finally been able to lead somewhat of a normal life. Everyday is a challenge, you have to watch and educate everyone, deal with the blame game from families and how can you fix it from friends. It will be ok. I have heard of some kids outgrowing their allergies at puberty but there are no guarantees. We council families all over the US and if you have any questions or just need to vent, let us know. Also check out our blog at: http://allergiesasthmaeczema.blogs... maybe there will be something there that can help you along the way. Good luck and God Bless.

Thank you SMT100. I appreciate your encouragement! I will keep in touch. :)

Bear in mind that MDs tend towards the melodramatic as a way of getting people to folow their instructions. Not every allergy is an anaphylactic "OMG we're all gonna die" type of deal. They forget that actual life-threatening reactions are pretty rare, and they also forget that encouraging people to panic is not very damned helpful. I was told to get an epipen and carry it everywhere. I refuse. In the 20 years before I was diagnosed with my allergies I never had that severe of a reaction, and they are even less severe with my maintenance dose of Benadryl. "But your hives could CLOSE YOUR AIRWAY!" They said. OK, that would suck, but it's a fairly quick death and let me repeat -- it's never happened in all the years I was miserable with untreated allergies, or in all the years I've been treating them.

Bigs hugs to you...it's difficult when you first find out. It was a month before I adjusted to finding out our 7month old was allergic to dairy and nuts. It does get easier and life will become a routine. Things will fall into place once you become familiar with what you can feed her. The worry didn't necessarily go away, but it wasn't at the front of my mind at all times after that first month. You will do great!!! It might not seem like it now, but you will. The emotions that you are going through right now seem very strong and bigger than you...but you will get past this. Your daughter is counting on you and it's in you to do whatever you can to make sure she is safe. Hang in there, it won't be this dark forever.

Our doc has had hope from the beginning that Daniel will outgrow his allergies. We are testing him this month to check where he is. Though his allergies were moderate, nothing severe. Talk with your doc about where your daughter is with the allergy and what the chances are of outgrowing it. It's possible to outgrow allergies, but not everyone does.

Hi I am nearly 30 yrs old and lived in a home where I was the only one allergic to peanuts. The rest of my family like peanut butter sandwiches and ate them while I was growing up and I survived it all :) Once I was able to explain that being close to peanut butter made me itch my parents were able to explain to the doctor and thus get my diagnosis. I have never had an epipen but I can smell an open jar of peanut butter more than 50 ft away. Your daughter will become her own best advocate and you will do fine. One thing that helped me was learning to read labels and keeping a liquid allergy product close at hand. Liquid Children's Benedryl has saved my life more than once I still keep it on hand just in case. I have become more tolerant to peanuts as I have aged, I still can't touch them but the smell no longer sets off an instant attack. I hope this helps and good luck I know you will do the very best that you can and that is all that anyone can ask of you.