Road Trip with a Peanut Allergy - Part 2: "Eating Away from Home"

The scariest thing about traveling with a peanut allergy is eating!! I stay prepared with plenty of "safe" snacks and restaurant options. I try to always have more food than we need and more restaurant choices than necessary so it is not a crisis if we are out longer than planned or a restaurant is closed. I will probably say this a million times on this blog: Always Be Prepared!! It is vital to successfully managing the allergy and staying safe.

For our trip, we started out with a bag full of goodies for the car and traveling around during the day with our backpack. Here is what I packed, all totally peanut free:

*Pringles Potato Chips (3 different flavors)
*Kellog's Rice Crispy Treats
*Mutligrain crackers (generic brand from a Midwest store called Meijer's)
*Apples
*Bananas
*Pop Tarts (2 different flavors)
*Individual packages Lorna Doone cookies
*Individual packages of Oreo cookies
*Small bags of fruit snacks

Again, there was more food than the 4 of us needed for our 3 day trip. But I like lots of options also so everyone can have something that sounds good to them. These aren't things we snack a lot on on a regular basis around the house (except the fruit) so it made them real treats.

The Pop Tarts were for Tyler's breakfast. Our hotel had a free breakfast but I decided to not go through all of the hassle it would require for Tyler to eat (reading ingredients, talking to chef, etc). Having a "sure thing" was good for him...and me. If there had been a toaster for the Pop Tart, I would not have used it for Tyler since I would not have known what had been there previously. Just so he didn't feel too left out, I ate a cold Pop Tart with him each morning.

I also brought a treat bag so we had plenty of options for behavior rewards and "safe" options when Mom and Dad ate things like fudge and other "no no's" for Tyler. In that bag, I had:

*Hershey's milk chocolate bars
*Hershey's Cookies and Cream white chocolate bars
*Skittles
*Starburst
*Other non-food things he likes (i.e. anything from the movie "Cars")

Of course, no trip is complete without eating out. I printed out my "Safe" Places to Eat With a Peanut Allergy post and put it in my purse so we knew what I had already researched and deemed "safe."

On our first day we did the following:

Lunch: Red Robin restaurant. I had seen this place had a special peanut allergy menu and indeed it did. It was a positive experience. I will write a longer post just about our experience there for Saturday's post.

Dinner: Burger King

Our second day (the day we spent on Macinac Island):

Lunch: 3 Brothers Sarducci (a local pizzeria)

I had Tyler and my hubby sit down and I took my 21 month old, Dylan (he's a Mama's boy and always attached to my hip!) and went to the counter. I explained to a waitress and the cashier that my son had a life-threatening peanut allergy and wanted to know about their pizza. The waitress looked mildly confused but the cashier looked at me like I had a horn coming out of my head or something (I'm sure she must have thought it was crazy to wonder about pizza having peanuts...but ever heard of a place called Pizza Hut??)

The waitress asked the chef. I could tell he had this question before. He said "We only use corn oil in our crust." Then I asked if everything else was made from scratch. He said, "Yes." Since they didn't serve anything with peanuts and cross-contamination was not as issue, that was enough for me to determine it to be safe for Tyler.

Dinner: McDonald's

Our third day (the trip home)

Lunch: Taco Bell

I try to always be very informed on what he is eating when we are out. If I have a question of its safety, I don't let him eat it. It's that simple. If all of my attempts fail, I have EpiPen for emergencies (never had to use it for that, though). Sometimes no matter how hard we try to keep them safe, we can't.

I do not advocate not ever allowing your child to eat out, whether at home or on vacation. It's a normal part of being a kid and, quite frankly, an American. If I don't teach my PA kid now what is safe and what questions to ask to find out, he will not be armed with that knowledge later in life when he is managing his allergy himself.

We had absolutely no problems on the trip with our food. I did all of my homework and he was safe with a full belly. In the end, we have a fabulous time at all of our different fun eating spots!

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If you missed part one of this series on Road Trip with a Peanut Allergy, click here.


Tomorrow I will talk about keeping Tyler safe and happy while my husband and I enjoyed some of the nut free treats on our trip (but not safe for Tyler).

Road Trip with a Peanut Allergy - Part 1: "The Basics"

We just returned from a short road trip and am happy to report it was reaction free! Since I know some of my readers are new to the peanut allergy life, I thought I would do a short series of posts on staying safe while on the road and away from the "peanut free" bubble we call "home."

Our trip took us to northern Michigan. One day we visited a beautiful island called Macinac Island, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. It's an island that doesn't even allow motorized vehicles on the island so I actually was a little concerned about medical care. (Eventually I saw they had a clinic and I felt better!)

Since I will write a more detailed post tomorrow about what we ate during the trip, I will not cover that in this post. Instead, I will talk about how I tried to keep Tyler safe and give him a "normal" vacation (one where he didn't feel like his mom was a paranoid lunatic...which she can be when it comes to his PA.)

Wipes, Wipes and More Wipes!!
Since I have little ones in diapers, wipes are always in abundance wherever we go. When we sat down to eat our "safe" snacks and meals, I was diligent about thoroughly cleaning the table and chairs where he was sitting. I tried to clean anywhere I thought he might touch while he was in the process of constantly putting his hand to his mouth (that is kind of required when you are eating!).

Wash Those Hands
I've already written about the importance of hand washing as it relates to a peanut allergy. I did this a lot, particularly since peanuts were in the fudge and peanut brittle they were selling in various locations the day we visited the island. If a sink was not around, I just got out wipes and scrubbed away. My husband can attest to the fact I did this A LOT! Luckily, Tyler actually likes hand washing so he takes it all in stride.

Scope it Out
When we go to a new location, whether it be a restaurant, hotel, or other "fun" place, I scope it out. Sometimes I feel a bit like the CIA or the Secret Service but I look around and determine if the place appears "clean" and I even examine what others are eating. If I deem it to have any potential problem for Tyler, I pick another place. I wasn't too good at this when he was first diagnosed, but now it is second nature. I catch myself doing it when he's not even with me!

Make Plans Early
As much as possible, I try to plan ahead. If I can find out what places there are to eat where we are going, I start trying to make a decision early. The same goes to any other events we might participate in. As little spontaneity as possible is a good rule to follow when it comes to eating on the road.

Airlines
We didn't fly to our location but if you need to, there are many airlines that no longer serve peanuts. In addition, many of them will make a request that passengers keep their peanuts in their bags if there is a severely peanut allergic person aboard. Call any airline before you book your flight if this is a concern.

Trust Your Instincts
There is not enough said about this when it comes to life-threatening food allergies. But I believe God gives us Moms strong instincts for a reason. Don't ignore them even if you are annoying everyone around you (including your husband...mine can tell about me!), trust yourself. If something is you telling a situation isn't safe, don't stick around to find out why!

When we sat down to have one of our "safe" treats on a table that I had throughly washed the day we were on Macinac Island, I noticed something over Tyler's left side. You can see below why my Mommy instincts were in high gear that day!



In reality, this island did not have peanuts lurking around every corner more than any county fair or carnival does. But when your child is allergic, even one peanut can seem like a giant monster!

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I'll be back tomorrow with a detailed list of "safe" snacks we took and what restaurants I chose and why!!

Way Cool Benadryl!!

Look what I found!! These things are great. They are pre-measured doses of Benadryl. It solves that whole "Bendadryl in a baggie" issue. Instead, just pop these little babies into your medicine pack with EpiPens and anything else you carry for an allergic emergency. I put 3 of them in ours and it is so much lighter than carrying a bottle of Benadryl around.

A word of caution, these are pre-measured for ages six and above. Tyler is three and this would be a little too much for him. Based on his dosage, I would give him slightly more than half of a package.

As an added bonus, I put a few in my purse for my husband who has food allergies (not life threatening so no EpiPen, thank goodness!!). Shucks, it might even come in handy for my occasional environmental allergies. I simply can't find a good reason not to buy these things.

I found my package Walgreens. I'm sure they are sold nearly everywhere. They're not cheap but still worth every penny. A box of 10 put me out $6.99. Worth it!!


Thanks to "The Allergic Kid" for cluing me into the fact that these things even existed.

Scary Buffets

Let me let you in on a little secret: Food buffets scare me to death when I think of my son's peanut allergy. We received an invitation from a Sunday School group at our church where my husband pastors last week. I respectfully declined for my boys and myself (hubby still went). Here is why I declined:

1. The invitation was to a Chinese buffet. This is probably a post for another day but Chinese restaurants are notorious for putting peanuts in main dishes and other unsuspecting places. So buffet or no buffet, this makes Chinese food an absolute "no no" for Tyler.

2. Even a "peanut free" dish might not be by the time it makes it to your child's plate. OK, we don't want to think about what all happens as people walk by our potential food but the possibilities are endless. A serving utensil that is in a "safe" dish might have been used in an "unsafe" dish by the funny looking guy two people ahead of you. Also, the crazy haired teenager that put a million peanuts on his hot fudge sundae might lean over a "safe" food and drop a few peanuts in without even realizing it. I'm sure there are other scary possibilities but these two are enough for me.

****

In the end, I don't feel that buffets of any sort are safe for a child with a peanut allergy. I have to admit, I love Chinese buffets but the thought of what could happen to my PA kid is enough to make me loose my appetite.

I Never Thought To Tell Him That!!

There are so many things to communicate to your child when they have a peanut allergy. My son and I talk about it at least a little every day. Although he is only 3, I think he is beginning to understand not to take food from others and always remind people he has a peanut allergy. If our little trip to the ER on June 30 did anything positive, it showed him just how allergic he is to peanuts. Before that, he didn't really understand his allergy.

That is why I was shocked at what happened yesterday morning. Even though he has become an expert hand washer and I keep his nails trimmed, he had something under his fingernail. He took it out and brought it to me. It was red and looked like a little fuzz. Before I could grab it from him, he popped it in his mouth!! He has never been a child to put things in his mouth so I was really surprised but not overly concerned.

Within minutes a rash appeared on the left side of his face. It continued to get worse so I gave him some Zyrtec. Pretty soon the rash was gone. I told him how important it was to not eat ANYTHING without asking Mommy or Daddy because even something under his fingernail could have peanuts in it.

I thought our little experience was over until shortly before dinner time (the ingestion was at breakfast). Presumably the Zyrtec had now worn off and the rash came back. It was even worse this time. I gave him another dose of Zyrtec and treated it with topical steroids, as well. Shortly before bed, the rash was still noticeable but he seemed fine in every other respect.

I am not sure what happened. I don't know if it was peanuts , his eczema, or some other unknown allergy. But it was another reminder that I must cover every base with him. I must be diligent about his nails (I just cut them a few days ago!) so that nothing that could have peanut residue gets caught up there.

As parents of peanut allergy kids, educating them about their allergy is nearly as important as reading labels. In the end, when they are adults, they are the one who will be responsible for the allergy. Not us. Understanding the magnitude of the situation is crucial.

And, yes, I guess we need to tell our PA children not to eat red fuzz! Who knew!!

Peanuts and Baseball

Normally in life I don't like to listen to gossip. When I hear what happened to so and so in such and such place, I usually turn my ears off. I just don't like "second hand" information. But since becoming the parent of a child with a peanut allergy, I make exceptions when it come to what has happened to others with a peanut allergy. I always listen, hoping I can learn something that will protect my little guy.

This week I began receiving physical therapy on my knee. On Friday morning I told my PT about Tyler's peanut allergy during our converstation. She told me about all of the children she knew that had the same problem. I was amazed she knew so many! Then she told me a story about her next door neighbors who have 2 PA children. (YIKES!!)

The family knew their son had a peanut allergy but did not think their daughter did. Doing what many families do this time of year where I live, they went to a Detroit Tigers baseball game. Since they knew the son was allergic to peanuts, they had him sit on Dad's lap. Their daughter had her own seat. No one was eating peanuts around them, thankfully. But during the game the daughter began breaking out in hives. Before they were able to get her out of the park, she began vomiting. They rushed her to the hospital. In the end, they found out she also had a peanut allergy.

What I found so interesting about this story was that no one was eating peanuts around them. The daughter must have ingested some residue from her chair. Many major league baseball parks are having special "peanut free" baseball games this summer. I even saw how one team is designating some sections "peanut free" on certain dates. I thought this was a wonderful idea and have considered writing to the Detroit Tiger to consider this, as well.

The problem, however, is not just the peanuts that are being consumed around PA kids. It is the microscopic residue that parents can't see. Unless the ball parks throughly clean every seat where a potential PA kid might sit, the "peanut free" games are not completely safe.

While this may not prevent me from ever allowing my son to attend a baseball game, it does make me think twice. If a PA kid does attend, bringing cleaning supplies might be the best way to make sure that a game truly is "peanut free."

Sound crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely!


photo courtesy flickr

Why Our Home Is Peanut-Free

If you have a child with a peanut allergy, particularly a young one, do you have a peanut-free home?

When my son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at 13 months, I still allowed there to be a jar of peanut butter far from his reach. I had absolutely no desire to eat it, knowing that it could kill my son. My husband, a lover of PB sandwiches, said he would only eat the sandwiches over the sink while Tyler slept. Still being new the whole PA life, I agreed. As we learned more, however, my husband also lost his taste for PB.

My husband is a pastor and we frequently entertain people in our home. One night a group of friends were coming over to play games after Tyler was in bed. One lady brought a bag of Chex Mix. Since my PA child was in bed and I knew I would dispose of any leftovers, I didn't say anything.

The next day Tyler, 20 months old at the time, brought me something. I nearly fainted when I saw it! In his little hand was a peanut! It had been dropped on the floor and he was (and still is, most days) a very obedient child. He knew he was not to eat things off the floor but to bring them to his mother. So when he saw the peanut, that is what he did.

I was nearly 8 months pregnant and very hormonal. I burst into tears. At my request, my husband began sweeping the tile floor and vacuuming the carpet. I continued to sob until the entire place was spotless. It wasn't until the next day when I had finally settled down that my husband told me while he was cleaning the day before he found another peanut!

After that, we began telling people we were a nut-free home (tree nuts included, just in case). We read ingredients before we allow it into the home. We avoided a potential disaster that day and we don't ever want to have that possibility again. Today our second child is 20 months old and eats whatever he finds on the floor. He gives no thought to handing it to mom like Tyler did. We will have him tested for a peanut allergy soon, even if he tests negative our nut policy will continue.

More than anything, I want Tyler to feel like he has a "safe place" that potential deadly land mines aren't lurking. If home is not a "safe place" for a PA child, where will be?

Wash Those Hands!

Have you ever seen those shows that take a swab from some random public place and analyze it to see exactly what is lurking in microscopic amounts all around us? The answers are usually meant to shock and "gross out" the viewers. Some of what they find are unmentionable on this blog.

However, have you ever considered the things they do find that seem harmless to most, but could be deadly to a child with a peanut allergy? If people don't wash their hands after using the bathroom or goodness knows what else, what makes us think they will wash their hands after indulging in a peanut and butter and jelly sandwich?

Some people who have a PA react from only trace amounts. That could come from a smudge on the mall escalator or a doorknob at a friend's house. It's only a matter of time before that hand is up by the face and eventually the mouth.

Washing hands after being in public is a great practice for anyone to have. It cuts down on colds and other viruses. But it could also prevent peanuts entering the mouth of a PA child. Is it unlikely that this could happen? Maybe. But why take chance? I am trying to train my PA 3 year old to wash his hands every time we come in from a public place. Maybe I'm being an over-reactive mom but at least my son will have the cleanest hands around!

Don't Leave Home Without It

One of the worst parts of being a PA parent is reading the stories of children that don’t survive the allergy. I used to be completely unable to read these frightening stories. Now, however, I deem it important in my quest to stay totally informed on this allergy. Is there a lesson that I can learn from these tragedies?

According to FAAN, 100 people die every year from peanut allergy. When you consider that 1.5 million people suffer from it, the numbers really are not that high. I don’t, however, want my child to be in that number.

As a result, I read those unfortunate stories to see what went wrong. Is there one common denominator that stands out to me as a parent so that I can protect my child?

The answer is: YES. There is one gigantic thing that stands out to me that is a lesson I never want to forget. Those who die do not have an EpiPen with them. (There is the exception, of course, but there is any in health-related situation.) For this small number of people that die from PA, it seems a lack of EpiPen seems to be the common denominator.

Here are a few stories that I am talking about:
* Daniel Sargent

* Emily Vonder Meulen

* Ross Baillie

* Young British girl

One more story that I don't see on the Internet is one my allergist told me. There was a teenage boy of a Chicago allergist. The family went to a Chinese restaurant.In rush out the door, they had forgotten the EpiPen. No problem, though, he was eating something he had eaten several times before without a problem. What the family didn't know was that the chef had changed and he had begun adding peanuts to the dish. This boy, whose father, an allergist and was with him, died. The EpiPen would have saved his life.

When we are out, Tyler’s EpiPen is usually within 2-3 feet from him at all times. If a question arises as to why, I need to only point people to these tragic stories.

Another important thing for me to remember since he is only 3, however, is that at least one person that is caring for him MUST know how to use it. Since we are very active in church and he is in the nursery on a regular basis, I make sure at least one person caring for him is trained. Even better is two people. As most of us trained to use an EpiPen know, it could not be simpler with the trainers they provide. (If you don’t know how, visit this website.)

So, as the old saying goes, “Don’t leave home without it.” In fact, it could be a life or death matter for anyone with PA.

"Safe" Places to Eat with a Peanut Allergy

In preparation for an upcoming road trip, I compiled a list of some "safe" restaurants. (They are linked to their respective allergen information pages.)

Fast Food

*A & W's
*Arby's
*Burger King
*Hardee's
*KFC
*Jack in the Box
*McDonald's
*Long John Silver's
*Taco Bell
*Wendy's

Some of these places serve peanuts in their desserts. Even if a dessert does not have peanuts, I stay away from it due to the risk of cross contamination. Some of the salads contain tree nuts as well if that is a concern (we avoid them).

My rule of thumb for fast food is that if I can see their preparation area and it appears that the desserts are far away from the burger and fries prep area and cleanliness standards appear to be high, I will allow Tyler to eat there. I also recommend wiping the seat and table down before eating just in case.

Restaurants (always tell your server about the PA when ordering so the chef is aware)
*Outback Steakhouse
*Red Lobster ( I spoke with the manager at our local one)
*Red Robin (While I don't have a link w/ allergen info I have read in multiple places they have a peanut allergy menu!! We plan to try it out on our trip and I will post a review!!)

Again, stay away from desserts, even if they are appear peanut free.

Pizza
*Chuck E Cheese
*CiCi's
*Domino's Pizza
*Papa John's
*Pizza Hut

Stay away from desserts here, too.

Absolute No-No places for us:

*Chick fil a (fry in peanut oil)
*Chili's (multiple peanut desserts, plus they put PB in chili, which puts it way too close to food Tyler might eat.)
*Dairy Queen (sign at our local store states not to eat there if you are PA)
*Ice cream place of any kind (risk of cross contamination is too high)

If you know of other "safe" places, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

Shopping for Peanut Free Snacks

One thing that peanut allergies rob you is the ability to be spontaneous in terms of food choices. If you are not going to be eating at home, there is no room for, “We'll just eat what they have wherever we are going.” For me, this was one of the most daunting parts of Tyler’s peanut allergy when he was first diagnosed. Now that I have two and a half years under my belt, I’ve learned how to always be prepared.

No matter where we are going, I almost never trust sweets (cookies, cakes, candy, etc) unless myself or a trusted relative has baked them. That’s where a trip to Sam’s Wholesale comes in handy. I go there and buy several big boxes of individually wrapped treats that I know are safe. I send several of them to church with my husband, a pastor. This prevents me from freaking out over unexpected potlucks or spontaneous dinner invites. I also keep several packages in both cars for other unexpected food issues. The extras are just stored in our basement storage room for other planned outings.

It’s very hard to explain to a three year old why everyone else is eating cookies and he can’t have any. That’s why I always try to be prepared so there are no tears. While he may not be able to have what everyone else is eating, he is overjoyed by the treats he does get. I try not to let him eat these around the house too much so they really are “treats” for him.

Here’s what a recent shopping trip yielded:



(As a bonus all three of these also happen to be milk and egg free, too!!)

While spontaneity may not be a big part of our life anymore, having special treats within arms reach that I know my little guy can eat brings me a big peace of mind. That is more valuable to this PA mom than anything money can buy.

What's Lurking in Fair Food?

I was so happy to see that one of the larger papers in our metro area had an article warning those with food allergies to be extra vigilant at fairs this summer. With the quest for non-transfat oils these days, many are switching to soybean and peanut oil for frying. Oh my! It’s one more thing for PA parents to be on the lookout for, not just at fairs, but anywhere that foods are fried.

While many PA kids can eat things fried in peanut oil and do just fine since the heat breaks the proteins down, my allergist told me to avoid it...just in case they don't all break down... so I do.

(For the complete article, click here.)

Wouldn’t it be nice if food stands at fairs, and even restaurants, were required to post a list of the common allergens for their products like food packaging is required to do?

Peanuts and Pregnancy - Do They Mix?

This week peanuts have been big news. According to a study by the American Thoracic Society, moms who consume fairly large amounts of peanuts during pregnancy increase their child’s likelihood of developing asthma by 50%. (One of many of these stories can be seen here.)

While the report makes little mention of the connection between consuming peanuts during pregnancy and a child developing an allergy to them, I think the possibility should still be considered. There are not yet definitive studies out that conclusively draw this conclusion. However, any parent with a PA child should consider this possibility if they get pregnant again. Why take the chance of having two PA children?

Shortly after Tyler’s diagnosis of PA in 2006, my sister in law, an RN, mentioned this possibility to me. My sister in law has two children allergic to tree nuts. She said that another RN told her there is a possible connection. We both reluctantly admitted that we had eaten what our children were allergic to in rather large amounts while pregnant. (This leads to a whole “Mommy guilt” that is a post for another day.)

The greatest risk, if there is one, appears to be in the last trimester. In fact, when I was pregnant with Tyler, I did eat a large amount of peanuts. During, you guessed it, the last trimester, I discovered my “middle of the night cravings” that so many pregnant women have were quickly satisfied with a piece of peanut butter toast. This was quick and it allowed me to get back to bed quickly. I also felt this was a very healthy snack. Gasp!

Nursing is another consideration. I feel certain this did contribute to the severity of Tyler’s allergy. As you can see in our PA story, his eczema became worse after my eating peanuts. Since the rash also got worse after not eating peanuts, I decided it wasn’t nuts. What I had not considered (but the doctor certainly should have) was multiple food allergies. Turns out, my little man was allergic to milk and eggs, too.

Had I realized there was any possible risk for this life-threatening allergy during my pregnancy or nursing, I never, ever would have eaten them. I avoided caffeine even though my doctor said it was fine in small amounts. I wasn’t taking any chances with my baby. And to think I was eating peanuts!

Needless to say, I steered clear of the peanuts during my second pregnancy. They were not even in the house since we maintained a peanut free home. My second child, Dylan, is 20 months old and, of course, has never come within five feet of a peanut. I do, however, allow him to eat things processed in a facility with them. In a worst case scenario, an EpiPen is available. In addition, his pediatrician has ordered a RAST test that I will take him in for soon, just to be on the safe side. The thought of having two PA children is incomprehensible!

I hope, even if there are not definitive studies out for several years, more pregnant women hear of the possible risk, particularly those with food allergies in their families, like us. Hopefully, moms-to-be don’t smoke or drink due to the possible risks. There should also be a little thought given to nut consumption, as well. Even if they choose to eat them, they understand on some level, there is at least a possible risk.

I would love to hear from other PA moms on this. Did you eat peanuts (or other foods your child is allergic to) during your pregnancy? If so, how much? Please leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail. I would love to hear!

"Peanut Bling"

We were so excited the other day to receive Tyler's medical alert bracelet in the mail. We told him how "cool" it is and he loves it! You can see by the picture that he is pretty proud of it. He picked out one with baseballs on it.

I debated long and hard about what to put on it. Finally I settled on "PEANUT ALLERGY: USE EPIPEN THEN CALL 911." The band is so small that it didn't leave me much room. But I wanted my message to be loud and clear. When I first ordered it I had the word "and" instead of "then." I began worrying someone might get them out of order and call first. So I contacted the company to ask for the word change. They obliged and even told me that what I finally settled on is what a lot of people choose. That made me feel much better.

Tyler has been very excited to show people his band and try to explain in 3 year old language that it means "No Peanuts."

I hope he will wear it all the time, only removing it when he bathes. My husband felt it would be sufficient only when he left the house. Then I reminded him how scatter brained I can be trying to get 2 kids in the car and how I would forget the keys if I didn't need them for the car. He agreed (he has learned something in our nearly 7 years of marriage!!).

So far Tyler has only asked to remove it a couple of times and I've reminded him that it is way too "cool" to take off. That satisfies him and he goes about his 3 year old business. Hopefully he will forget about it and it will become a permanent fixture on that tiny wrist of his.

Are You Kidding Me Pizza Hut??

If there is one thing this family loves it is pizza. Since Tyler outgrew his milk allergy earlier this year, it has become his favorite food. In fact, we splurged for his first pizza: Pizza Hut!!

I was shocked to read the other day that Pizza Hut processes many of their products in a facility with peanuts!! I shuddered because Tyler has eaten this more than once. Seriously, I thought it would be safe. If you need proof, however, check out their allergen information page here.

This reminds me how vigilant we PA parents need to be. I am contacting other pizza places to see what their practices are. I will post when I hear back from them.

Tyler's Peanut Allergy Story

Anyone that has a child with a peanut allergy has a story. It’s sort of a cruel initiation into this club to which we all reluctantly belong. Our family is no different. Since I’ve learned a lot reading the stories of others, I will share ours.

When Tyler was born in January of 2005, he looked perfect in every way. At six weeks, however, he developed a rash on his forehead. Within a few days it turned as rough as sandpaper and frequently had a crust over it that was the color of honey. I called the doctor and they told me not to worry about it. They suggested A & D ointment to protect it.

By 4 months the rash had spread all over his scalp. His entire face was red and inflamed. Some areas were infected. We took him to the doctor so he could see for himself. He suggested I cut out various things from my diet since I was nursing. I obliged and cut out one common allergen each week. One week, after eating peanut butter candy, I noticed his rash got much worse. I immediately cut all nuts out of my diet. Still, the rash persisted. As a result, peanuts entered back into my diet.

Since the rash never went away, the pediatrician said it was not my diet. I requested food allergy testing to make sure. He told me it would do no good. We finally received a steroid cream to treat the rash but the cause of it still bothered me.

Fast forward to 11 months when weaning began. I gave him his first bottle of milk-based formula to see how he would like it. He sucked all 8 ounces down in no time flat. A short time later, he vomited and broke out in massive hives. They were so large they looked like boils. Had a friend of mine who is an RN not been over at the time, I would have taken him to the ER.

At his 12 month check up, I demanded allergy testing, stating his problem certainly had been something in my diet. I feared milk might not be his only allergy. I did not want to find out the hard way again. He finally agreed and a month later we were in for allergy testing. They tested for about a dozen different things. Three big bumps emerged. The doctor said he was allergic to milk and eggs. Then she pointed out the biggest bump and said, “That one is peanuts.” I gasped. I knew enough to know that was not good.

After that appointment, I got on the internet only to see peanuts was the most deadly food allergy there is. I was pregnant at the time with baby number two (and very hormonal, I might add!) and I spent a great deal of time crying. I knew I ate tons of peanut butter nursing. In addition, a child gave Tyler a small peanut piece to eat when he was 9 months old. He swallowed it before I could stop him. That, I knew, was probably what kicked him over the edge.

We lived a peanut free life. We learned how to use Epipens. We also prayed he would be one of the few that outgrows this allergy. Two years later, in February 2008, his RAST test showed no allergies, including peanuts!! We were thrilled!! Refusing to do an oral challenge at home for peanuts, I waited until his next appointment with his allergist in June. She promised he had outgrown it. There was no need for me to fear.

Then she gave him a small amount of peanut butter.

I could tell almost immediately by the look in his eyes he didn’t feel well. The doctor examined him and told me she could see nothing wrong. Less than 5 minutes later, 911 was called. (You can read a post I wrote the day after that horrible experience here.)

From that experience it was apparent he would never outgrow his peanut allergy. I wanted to hide under a rock and take him with me. How could I protect him from the peanut-filled world out there as he grew older?

I can’t, of course. Instead, I decided to educate anyone and everyone that would listen. I decided to be an advocate for him, including educating the school systems and legislators about this life threatening condition.

Out of that, “Peanut Allergy Kid” was born. It is my first step as a parent to make an impact, however small it might be, on this situation. I truly believe one day there will be some sort of a treatment for this condition. Until then, I have committed to do whatever I can to make a difference in Tyler's fight to stay peanut free and all other children like him.

Why This Blog??

Welcome to Peanut Allergy Kid!! We are so glad you stopped in for a “peanut free” visit!! This blog was born out of a love for my son, Tyler, who is severely allergic to peanuts. During our PA journey since February 2006, I have been amazed at the lack of information written by moms like me that want to educate others about day to day life with a PA child.

I am not a doctor or even a nurse. My background is in journalism, HR, and Christian ministry. So what can I offer? Not medical advice that’s for sure! That’s why if you suspect any sort of peanut allergy, visit your allergist first. This blog is not in any way meant to replace the advice of a doctor. PA cannot be managed without medical supervision. Period.

Instead, this blog it will offer a glimpse into the life of a somewhat scatterbrained parent that loves her PA son more than life itself. It will chronicle the challenges that I encounter as a PA mom as I try to keep my son peanut free and give him a normal life. Hopefully it will offer anyone who loves a PA child some hope and encouragement along the way.

Peanut allergy does not mean the end of fun! It just means one of the greatest acts of love you can do for your PA child is to read EVERY ingredient before your child eats. Not too hard, is it? Oh wait, it can be down right impossible some days!

This is a blog that I don’t want to write. I don’t want my son to have a peanut allergy. I don’t want our family to live in fear of what he eats. I want him to live a normal life and be able to eat whatever he wants. But this is the hand God allowed us to be dealt and I really believe there is a purpose in it. Instead of hiding in a bubble, I want to help others understand children like Tyler. I want to unite with other PA parents and learn from them, as well. I know together, we can help all PA children.

I do not want to write this blog forever. There are many treatments for PA being researched right now that don’t promise a cure, but do offer potential treatment that make this allergy not so deadly. All PA parents will breathe a huge sigh of relief when that day comes. Until then, I’ll be sharing our life, learning everything I can about PA and blogging about it all. I hope you’ll join me!!