phantom allergy: what to say

[Anonymous]

What would you do if a mom dropped off her kid to sleep-over a playdate with epi-pen, instructions etc for a serious peanut allergy (injested only) when the child doesn't have an allergy at all? My son has a new friend, who some time after being with us, got into the peanut butter I had deliberately put on the top shelf of the pantry. My son told me a couple of hours after this had happened and then I'm freaking out, pen in hand wondering whether to call mom or the ambulance first. The kid who is nine says "I always try and have peanut butter when I'm away from my mom or when I'm staying with my dad because she tells everyone I'm allergic to a whole lot of stuff but I'm not. I never get sick at all." My DH and I differ in opinion with respect to what I should have done. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I would call the mom, relate the accident while apologizing for the incident. "In a there was an incident, here is what happened. I am sorry. I thought you need to know. I am sorry. "and let her deal with it.

Maybe some of the allergies were false + and the mom doesn't know, but maybe some are real and the mom/kid need to know about the kid not believing she is allergic,...
there is the "we don't serve ourselves in other people house" thing as well.

[Anonymous]

If he is wrong (and really, it is hard to imagine any Mom imposing these restrictions on her kid unless she is mentally ill), the kid could die. Tell the Mom.

[Anonymous]

You need to tell the mom.

But also be prepared that this could impact your kid and playdates at your house. if the kid was deathly allergic, he could have died from lack of supervision and not putting away allergens.

also, if the PB was hidden on the top shelf, how did your kid know to look there?

[Anonymous]

Maybe his pediatrician has said he MAY have an allergic reaction so avoid it altogether. Or maybe she knows that some of the time he eats peanuts he is fine, and some of the times he has a deadly reaction, and she never knows which it will be.

I would tell the mom.

[Anonymous]

Troll, for real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Troll, for real.

Yeah. This sounds like possibly a non-custodial parent or other relative who doesn't "believe in allergies" trying to rag on a "crazy" ex/mom.

[Anonymous]

Epi pen requires a Rx, so the kid's ped must think he's deathly allergic as well, not just the mom. So I agree with troll finding. If not, then yes call the mom and told her what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Epi pen requires a Rx, so the kid's ped must think he's deathly allergic as well, not just the mom. So I agree with troll finding. If not, then yes call the mom and told her what happened.

Yeah. I am one of the PPs and I am convinced. Troll. I rescind my response.

[Anonymous]

It's not that hard to get an epi pen. I have severe allergic reactions that I have been able to halt with a double dose of benedryl thus far, and we have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. The doctor has never seen the reaction, I didn't test high enough that I should be anaphylactic to anything, but I was given an epi pen rx, "just in case."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not that hard to get an epi pen. I have severe allergic reactions that I have been able to halt with a double dose of benedryl thus far, and we have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. The doctor has never seen the reaction, I didn't test high enough that I should be anaphylactic to anything, but I was given an epi pen rx, "just in case."

what are your symptoms?

[Anonymous]

Ds got hives from eating peanuts. I called the pedi who immediately called in an epi pen rx and told us to see the allergist. One quick phone call got us an epi pen. Not difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that hard to get an epi pen. I have severe allergic reactions that I have been able to halt with a double dose of benedryl thus far, and we have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. The doctor has never seen the reaction, I didn't test high enough that I should be anaphylactic to anything, but I was given an epi pen rx, "just in case."

what are your symptoms?

in this order...
My ears clog completely
My tongue gets itchy/tingly
My throat starts itching
My sinuses fill suddenly
I start wheezing and coughing

It hasn't gotten past that point. I take benedryl as soon as my ears clog and it usually starts slowing down before the wheezing and coughing.

[Anonymous]

Did you see the kid eat the PB? Are you sure some is missing? Maybe they are just messing with you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ds got hives from eating peanuts. I called the pedi who immediately called in an epi pen rx and told us to see the allergist. One quick phone call got us an epi pen. Not difficult.

But it would come up at the next ped appointment, and you wouldn't get ANOTHER prescription without testing and a diagnosis.

So unless she just started pretending for whatever reason that her kid has a food allergy, the story just doesn't add up.

Also, I have met a lot of food allergy kids. I have never met one - especially at 9 - who is so rebellious and defiant about complying with restrictions. Usually these kids are the most compliant, diligent kids out there.