Ask:
Hi Ladies,
I am looking to connect with other moms dealing with food allergies. My older son (7) is allergic to peanuts and cashews. My younger son (3), has no allergies.
I want to develop a support group. I'd like to be able to share ideas, stories (great and horror), recipes, resources, laughs, and stuff like that.
This time of year seems very hard for me. It seems like every well meaning person has a cookie, piece of candy, or other treat to offer my child. Some get very offended when I say that my boys can't have what they are offering. Some try to give food to my boys anyway - here's something for you for being such a good kid, don't let Mom see what I gave you...
Also, my younger child is frustrated that there are somethings he can have when we are out and his big brother is in school, but he can't have it at home. But Mama, I'm not allergic to nuts!
I would love to hear from anyone who is raising children with food allergies or who has them. I could really use some good ideas.
Thank you very much. I am looking very forward to getting in touch!
Annie
Answer:
Hello!
My 6 year old is allergic to peanuts and dairy. I would love to chat with you more, I understand where you are coming from we don't have anything in the house with peanuts ( on occasion we have stuff with peanuts in a locked cupboard ) It has helped that he aware of his allergies.
I also have a 3 month old with a milk allergy, she drinks soy formula.
This time of year is tough, I know when my son was younger I made stickers on the computer that said " do not feed me ask my mom first, I am allergic to peanuts" they helped so much at this time of the year with family gatherings and potluck type meals. Now he knows to ask first but there have been times when he will ask after he has eaten something.
Hope to chat with you more!
Answer:
I so feel for you. My son has a few mild allergies/sensitivities, including dairy, and I have a problem with onions, (and mild dairy) and sometimes garlic, but nothing in the proportion that you are dealing with. I'm sure you'll find some others on this board. For me, it's amazing how many companies and restaurants put onions in their foods. Before I found out what my problem was, I would get so sick. Even smelling it as I pass a deli or sub shop makes me sneeze. I break out on my neck. Some are becoming aware of peanut problems, but nobody seems to think about onions - in some cases, the more the merrier! Often, I have to send a plate back to the kitchen in a restaurant because, while I, and the waiter, specified no onions, the dish comes out with them. Sometimes, they try sending the plate back out, same food, with just onions removed. Gee, thanks, but I still will have a breathing problem!
I know we had the subject of peanuts on airplanes come up before, and there were quite a few who had sensitivities in their families. No fun!
Answer:
I don't really have any advice to offer, just support. I suffer from Celiac Disease so I know how difficult it can be to not be able to eat most items that are pre-made, processed, fast food, etc.
I have two children, and so far none of them have Celiac Disease, but if I had to guess which one might eventually develope it, it would be my son.
Good luck!
Jennifer
Answer:
Hi we have to deal with the oldest dd is lactose intolerant in a bad way and is allergic to different kinds of food dye and my youngest dd is allergic to tomatoes and chocolate, berries and some food additives. My youngest dd will breakout if she is in the same room with spaghetti sauce or ketchup. I feel for you I never new how many tomato flakes were in processed food, I am allergic to so many kinds of foods that I can't list them all. I just try to make as much from scratch and have made many different meals in one night just to have variety for us all. I hate having to be the food police when we are out but I can't have a sick child. My oldest dd watches what she eats and brings her own snacks when out but youngest dd I talk for her with others and most people respect her allergies. We do have kids at the school who have nut allergies so the school does pretty well to watch out for them for all kids. Big help there.
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My ds (2 1/2 yo) was diagnosed with food allergies about a year ago. He is allergic to all nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, beef, chicken, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese and caffinated drinks. Fortunately he we are able to control most of these with daily medication. If he eats something without medication he gets a severe rash throughout his whole body and spends the whole night coughing. We are lucky that none of these allergies are life threatening. However, he is still not able to have any nuts or raw eggs even when he is on the medication or he will become sick immediately.
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Ugh...food allergies. They rule our lives. My 7yo ds is anaphylactic to cashews and pistachios and maybe some others they haven't tested for yet. He is also allergic to other things, but not in a life-threatening way, such as sesame, sunflower seed, soy, wheat. He is allergic to cats and dogs and environmental allergens also.
My 4 yo has no allergies.
My 2 yo is anaphylactic to milk!!! We are desperately hoping he outgrows it.... dr. says it is possible. Meantime, no butter, no cheese, no yogurt, and many many processed foods like cookies, breads, crackers... even spaghetti sauce, deli meats, vitamins etc.. have milk products. Grrrr it is frustrating. Neither dh nor I have any allergies! Why our kids??? It makes absolutely no sense. We are SO praying for a breakthrough in what is causing the rise in allergies as well as a treatment/cure.
Answer:
My DS who is 5 does not have food allergies but does have pretty severe environemental allergies for his age. He is allergic to cats, dust and dust mites and some mildews/molds. I can totally relate with you that this is a hard time of the year. I find it hard when it comes to visitng other's home's and he has an allergy attack becuase of dust and cats. He has a hard time at my parent's house if I don't medicate him first. This has cause some tension in the past, because my parent's feel like I am berating their ability to keep a clean house. I know it sounds kind of crazy. I find one of the hardest things with his allergies at this time of the year that they are always changing. Just when you think he is all set, he has a relapse and needs to change his meds around. Good luck and I hope you find a nice balance with your child to keep them healthy. Happy Holidays!
Leah