Tyler & Sunbutter...The Saga Continues

A few weeks ago we finally found out the news I had hoped for: Tyler is not allergic to sunflower seeds! This was exciting news around here. But it was not met without a lot of anxiety. Doesn't anything involve new foods, particularly those resembling nuts, involve a healthy dose of anxiety?

Why did this create so my anxiety for our family? Determining Tyler was truly not allergic to sunflower seeds involved a food challenge. Food challenges are scary for us since Tyler's last one involved an anaphylacitc reaction and a visit to our local ER.

So, understandably we were nervous. He had a negative skin test for sunflower seeds a few months before. But, our allergist is like me, very, very cautious. An oral challenge in the office is the only way to be 100% sure that there is no true allergy.

I spent the week or two before the challenge explaining to Tyler what would happen. He remembered his failed last challenge but seemed excited at the prospect of adding a once forbidden food.

So we went to the office for the challenge. I whipped out the Sunbutter he had seen before and placed it on a cracker. He freaked out. I feel certain he had flash backs from last year.

I begged and pleaded for him to try something that looked like peanut butter but was not. He would not budge. Really, I don't blame him.

The allergist had other patients to see. He left me alone in the room to beg and plead on my own. I offered money. I offered candy. It seems cruel but I wanted this challenge to be done in the office. I did not want to go through rescheduling and possibly repeating the process all over again.

I admit I felt like an awful parent at moments. But it was for Tyler's safety. It also opened the door for him to have some other nutritious food options. (Yes, sunflower seeds are good for you!)

Finally I spoke his language. I offered him a train of his choice at the store. (Note: He loves Thomas the Tank Engine! Here is what he picked.)

He took one bite and LOVED it!! He wanted more but we needed to wait for several minutes to make sure he did not react. And then he ate more and more. He begged for more and more!

After 4 or 5 feedings with absolutely no reaction, he was deemed by the allergist to have no sunflower seed allergy. I can't tell you the weight I felt lifted off of me!

After a few days of eating it, he decided he didn't like it. Weird, but I accepted that. He was not allergic and that was all that mattered. Plus, I can't imagine how odd it must be to eat something that looks like the thing that sent you to the hospital the year before.

In the last few weeks, I now always offer a Sunbutter sandwich to both kids if they don't like the other lunch options. At first both kids (Dylan follows suit with whatever Tyler does) did not want it. That was fine. But I hoped eventually both boys would eventually learn to like it.

In the last week or so, however, they both love them! When offered, they frequently pick the Sunbutter sandwich. Now everyone in the house loves them!

It may not sound like much but this whole process has been a big victory for me. Sunbutter is king in our home just like peanut butter was in the days before Tyler's peanut allergy diagnosis. We all love it and the whole "peanut allergy" thing seems less of a big deal. (Read: its still a big deal, just not within our kitchen anymore.)

What has your Peanut Allergy Kid's feelings been about Sunbutter (or soynut butter)? We would love to hear in the comments.

photo credit: flickr