How Did You Get Here and Our Thai Birthday

This blog has been wonderful for me. I've met so many people that are going through the SAME thing as me - navigating this tough (and sometimes horrible) world of peanut allergy, not to mention some of you out there who have to deal with multiple food allergies (some of them not in the top 8 - I don't know how you do it)! I am truly humbled and thankful when I hear from someone who is relieved to see someone else out there with the same fears!

A recent email I got reminded me how terrifying it is when your child is first diagnosed (unfortunately I don't need too much reminding to get back to that place). A sweet reader told me how her little baby reacted inadvertently to a few kisses from a peanut buttery mouth. In seconds I was transported back to my dining room two years ago. I got chills and teared up. I wished so badly that she lived near me so I could have her over and talk to her and tell her how this would be better. Really, it would be better. And I tried my best to help via email and hope I did ok. But I wanted her to know about all of YOU, my fellow peanut allergy villagers.

And it led me to this post. You all know how I got here.

But there are lots of you that are lurking, never commenting (I know you are there - I have stats to prove it!).

How did you get here?

Seeing your stories would help countless other parents out there just starting out on the journey we're used to at a certain degree.

Please leave a comment about how your child was (or you were) diagnosed. If you have a blog, please leave a link to your site too. How do you feel now vs. that first month or so?

Personally, I feel like I freak out less about Bella's allergy. Don't get me wrong, I'm still vigilant. We were at a birthday party for our nephew (by friendship, not blood) this afternoon and the family is from Thailand. So there was Thai food everywhere - cue horror music! Satay, pad thai, peanut sauce, not to mention a huge tub of crushed peanuts. And I didn't freak. I just figured out what she could eat (and I had a stash of snacks in my purse) and dealt with it. There were hot dogs and buns on a dedicated grill, so we had a hot dog. The Thai food hadn't been touched yet so no utensils came in contact with it. Problem solved. But the old me? She probably would have left and denied Bella the time of her life playing with nerf rockets (with 10 year old boys - but that's another story :>). As I like to say - "I would have freaked my freak!"

So back to my request. We're all in this together. Hearing other's stories helps me and I think it will help someone else who's feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

Wont you take a second to help a newbie out?

Thanks,

Gab

p.s. oddly enough at the party today there was a 10 year old there with a peanut allergy. i couldn't help watching him during the party (not in a freaky obvious way) and it was REALLY interesting (and comforting) to watch him navigate the food and figure out a safe alternative for himself. and he did. and it was no big deal for him. or his friends. it was SO COOL!

OK So I thought of something...

I'd like to put together an FAQ of sorts for new parents to allergic kids.

But I'd like your help. This would be a resource that parents of newly diagnosed kids could reference to help them navigate the first few days, weeks, and months of handling a peanut allergy (or any food allergy for that matter). This will ideally be a 'quick guide' of sorts.

I'm thinking under 10 pages.

But here's where you come in. In the comments section, let me know what your biggest question/concern/issue was when you starting making your child's world 'allergy safe'. Note that I didn't say allergy free - can anyone really protect their child from the allergen at all times? I don't think I can.

So back to your feedback. What did you NEED to know, but didn't have time to read in one of the other great, albeit thick, books out there?

Was it:

• How to tell your family?
• Preparing meals?
• Eating Out?
• Educating your caregiver/schools/teachers?
• Traveling?
• Learning about what foods and products to avoid?
• How to find websites or support groups that could help?
• Learning about the different tests out there for allergies?
  

I think we all had the same questions, I just want to put them in one place (or try to at least) to make that new, scared parent feel a little more at ease in this crazy food allergy world.

I look forward to your comments. If you'd prefer to email me, send your suggestions on to peanutfreemamaATgmailDOTcom.

Thanks!

epipen carriers - sassy options out there?

i must admit, i really need to be more diligent about how i carry around our epipens. i am usually really good about taking her messenger bag into the house each day after our forays out and about. but there have been times where i've forgotten it in the car. upon realization of this lame-brained-ness, i smack myself (think "i shoulda had a v8") and frantically look at the epi pens to make sure they haven't been compromised by the heat or the cold. and yes, because of my stupidity, I've replaced a few!

well, since it's 2008, i'm making a post new year's resolution to find a better way to keep these puppies safe and sound for bella.

so after searching, googling, and surfing the peanutallergy.com site, this is what I came up with (along with my notes, albeit brief, on each one). Some are plain carriers, some are insulated, and some are geared towards packs to keep at school or daycare:

• http://www.medicareplus.co.uk/acatalog/Anaphalaxis.html?gclid=CL6a_-KOi5ECFQU6awodM1RfGw - good variety, has packs for folks that need to carry and epi-pen and inhaler!
• http://www.bluebearaware.com/EpiPen_Twinject_Pouches_s/58.htm - not into the 'princess' one, but that race car one looks cute for boys!
• http://www.omaxcare.com/ - cool looking carriers for active people - check out the leg buddy!
• EpiAccess http://www.epiaccess.ca/en/single.htm- bright blue!
• EpiSafe http://www.medi-episafe.com/index.asp - simple holder - insulated
• AllergyKids http://www.allergykids.com/product.php?proid=11&sub_catid=- bright green!
• Ana-Tote http://www.allstarsales.ca/index.html?lang=en-us&target=d17.html - simple carrier - love the carabiner clip
  
• E-belt http://www.ebelt.ca/products.asp - waist and belt loop holders - good for boys
• Epinephrine mate https://www.foodallergy.org/shoppingcart/CGI-BIN/msascartlist.dll/ProductI nfo?productcd=EPIMATEWAIST - waist pack for two pens - not sure if it's insulated?
• https://www.foodallergy.org/shoppingcart/cgi-bin/msascartlist.dll/ProductInfo?productcd=EPIMATEBK - plastic holder for one pen - not sure if it's insulated?
• Medipouch http://www.medipouch.com/ - simple waistband style holder
• Allergypack http://www.allergypack.com/ - very rugged looking, good assortment of styles
• Safetysack http://www.safetysack.com/ - doesn't look like it's insulated, but looks good for school/daycare/caregivers to have
• Epipuppy http://www.epipuppy.com/ - a little too cutesie for me, but if your child loves dogs...
• @RiskRescue http://www.atriskrescue.com/kit.html - these look more suited to the school environment
• https://www.foodallergy.org/shoppingcart/cgi-bin/msascartlist.dll/ProductInfo?productcd=EPENPAL2 - a little more utilitarian, but good for a guy to carry

These are the ones I like the best:
http://www.kozyepi.com/epipen/plain/index.htm - super cute, especially the mocha one (check it out at left).

http://allergyhaven.com/ - love the fabrics (check out the photo below), and best of all it looks like they are offering a 15% discount right now. Score!

since i'm the one carrying it (oh and mark too I guess), I want something cute (of course) that I can find easily in my purse or the messenger bag. keep in mind that even though these are my preferred carriers - it's just a personal preference, not a judgment of the others. these all look like they fit a need out there!

i'd love to hear from you all - have you used any of these? do you have a favorite? any other choices I didn't stumble across? spill, people!

I'm Sorry (so sorry)....

I've noticed a rude habit I've acquired since I became a PA mom.

I read labels.

Well, that's not really my rude habit. It's the way I do it. I fear that I am coming across as a real pain in the you-know-what when I go to other people's homes. If I see something (anything) that could possibly be served to Bella, I practically lunge forward and pick it up, scanning the labels for 'may contain' and 'processed in a facility' warnings. My maternal instinct takes over I guess.

Am I discreet?

Um.

NO.

And I do this at my parent's home, my sister-in-laws for Pete's sake. People whom I REALLY trust. Heck, I even do it when I'm at work eating something myself. With Bella over 10 MILES AWAY!

I actually looked at the label on a salad bag last night. I think I need an intervention.

Tell me, will I ever stop doing this? Please tell me you do the same thing...

This Month's Harper's Article?

Update: I've read the article (thanks to all of you who emailed it to me directly!). I just shook my head as I read this. IMHO, she's really in no position to make these remarks and I'm not sure what exactly she was trying to accomplish with her piece? Should us moms just chill out and not pay any attention if our kids pick up a PB&J at a birthday party? Uh, sorry but that will never happen. And as someone who works in scientific publishing (with one of the highest impact factors in all of STM publishing actually), I find her comments and insinuations on the bias of scientific publications laughable. As Bugs Bunny would say, "what a maroon".

Has anyone read the article in this month's Harper's?

Everyone's gone nuts:

The exaggerated threat of food allergies

by Meredith Broussard

I'm going to try to pick up a copy today, but if it's lame and I shouldn't waste my time let me know. I'm afraid it's just an opinion piece saying how all moms of PA kids are overreacting...

Mock Pies?

Have any of you out there made the Ritz Mock Apple Pie recipe?

I am starting to think of baking for the holidays and may try it (mainly because I am curious - not because of allergies).

But seeing this recipe made me curious about mock Pecan Pie. Growing up, pecan pie was my absolute favorite! But Bella can't have it (even though she's not allergic to pecans - can't have that cross contamination risk though). But I do want her to experience even a fraction of the joy of this taste sensation, so I am going to do my best to recreate it safely.

I've seen two versions online. One with oats and one with pinto beans (which sounds horrendous, but hey so does a pie full of crackers and people seem to love it).

But I have a few ideas on how to make a nut-free pecan pie up my sleeve and I'll post my findings soon.

Come to think of it, are there any recipes that have nuts (or other allergen) that you wish you could make nut free? Maybe I can take a stab at those too! Leave me a comment -

Allergy vs. Intolerance

Since Bella's PA diagnosis I've been super sensitive about allergies - making sure that I accommodate folks who come for meals and make sure snacks or treats I bring to daycare are safe for all the kids.

But I have also become more aware of folks who tell me how allergic they are to something when they really just have an intolerance. For example, someone I know gets a little crampy if they have a certain type of cheese - but she tells me she's allergic. It drives me a little crazy (ok I need to say it - it drives me nuts- hee hee). I think to myself - does she have any idea what being allergic really means?

But then I thought to myself - do I?

So I went a' searching and here's what I found, courtesy
of the Mayo Clinic:

Food intolerance vs. food allergy: What's the difference?

ANSWER
Although many people have adverse reactions to certain foods, true food allergy — a reaction triggered by the immune system — is uncommon. Only about 2 percent of adults and 6 percent of children have a true food allergy. Far more people have a food intolerance, unpleasant symptoms triggered by certain foods. Unlike a food allergy, a food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system.

Lactose intolerance is one example of a food intolerance. People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme lactase needed to digest milk sugar (lactose) in milk and other dairy foods. This inability to break down lactose during digestion may cause diarrhea, gas, bloating and abdominal pain.

In a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a component of a food as a harmful substance. Your immune system triggers certain cells to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the culprit food or food component. The next time you eat even the smallest amount of that food, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream. Signs and symptoms of a food allergy may include tingling in the mouth, hives, swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, wheezing or breathing difficulties, and dizziness or fainting.

It's important to distinguish food intolerance from food allergy. If you have a food allergy, eating even the tiniest amount of the food may trigger a serious allergic reaction. By contrast, if you have a food intolerance, you usually can eat small amounts of the food without a reaction.

If you have a reaction to a particular food, tell your doctor about it. Tests can help determine whether you have a food allergy.

So now you know. Have you encountered folks saying they are allergic to something and they are really intolerant? Should we treat an intolerance with the same seriousness? Even though it bugs me a bit, I still respect it as I wouldn't want someone else to brush off Bella's true allergy (and by true I mean life threatening). But how would you respond to someone? I told my friend she had an intolerance and she was adamant she was allergic - ah well.

And what do YOU eat?

On my other site I posted recently about how I go about planning our meals. It's a good system (but not without some faults - but hey, it's an evolving process) and it keeps me sane each week. I'm a bit OCD about it in some respect - I even keep my menus in a neat little pile next to my cookbooks. They serve as inspiration for me when I just can't think of anything new to make.

I'm always amazed at folks who ask, upon learning about Bella's PA, "my god, what do you eat?", as if there aren't ten million other options for us (I mean, I count ourselves as lucky - we only have a peanut allergy in our household. It could be so much more!).

So what are we having at Casa Peanut Free this week? Here you go:

Sunday
Ribs. Coleslaw. Cornbread. Napkins. Yum.

Monday
Seafood Pasta. Bread. Salad.

Tuesday
Grilled Vietnamese Chicken over Rice Vermicelli (hold the peanuts!). Cucumber Salad.

Wednesday
Pork Tenderloin. Lemon Orzo. Salad. Bread.

Thursday
Grilled Salmon Kebabs. Orange butter. Asparagus. Rice.

Friday
Kids are swimming. Eat out with cousins and inlaws. Probably pizza.

Saturday
Baked pasta with chicken sausage. Salad. Bread.

I just noticed that I making alot of other people's recipes this week. I usually wing it more. So what are YOU having? Share please!

I didn't forget!

Allergic Girl tagged me for a meme. I was out of town with the hubby for a few days. I'll get this posted soon, I promise!

Recipes: How do you do it?

Today I wanted to raise the issue of recipes. I am a recipe fiend (yes, I am one of those people who reads cookbooks for pleasure). And I try recipes out all the time. Many times I try to adapt the recipe to remove the offending peanuts (or peanut butter) and usually I'm pretty successful. For some, I just omit the nuts (like the Thai Beef Salad in the September Everyday Food). For others, I replace the oil and use canola instead of peanut oil. And for others, I get creative and use tahini instead of PB.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this. I'd love to hear some of your success stories! Have you made a pecan free pecan pie? Really? I'd love to know how! Leave them in the comments for me.

Would you all be interested in me listing the recipes I adapt here?