Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

So 3 yr old DD had an allergic reaction 2 weeks ago and I brought her to the ped for a blood test. Turns out she is allergic to peanuts. She doesn't like peanut butter, but has had it and has had no reaction, so I am surprised. The ped said the levels were "through the roof" - thanlks for scaring the hell out of me! So I asked what we needed to do and he said that I would need to start reading ingredient lists, etc. DD has always eaten anything and everything and has always been fine. So what do I do now? Keep giving her all the things she has normally eaten? She eats cookies & cakes from whatever bakery, birthday party, etc. Do I change that now? Did this allergy just recently develop or has it always been there? I am very confused.

I also plan on taking her to see an allergist so wanted to see if anyone could recommend one - preferably in Nassau County (I live in East Meadow).

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

I have no advice but DS goes to Dr Strauss in Westbury.

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

DS had a reaction to peanut butter at 14 months. According to his bloodwork he has a level 4 out of 6 allergy. A scratch test determined he was severely allergic. We have an epi pen and I do read all ingredients and ask at parties and such before I allow him to eat anything.

When we had the bloodwork done it came back he was also Level 4 allergy to egg whites. But he had never had a reaction. The ped told me whatever he was already eating that may contain egg is fine. Just not to give him any new foods or straight eggs going forward.

I had him scratch tested at the allergist a year later and his egg allergy is nearly gone. So now I allow him to have anything he wants with egg products in it.

I am very happy with his allergist - Dr. Steven Weiss in Syosset.

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

My son tests a level 4 for peanut allergy. But he has eaten peanuts in small doses without reaction. We did a food challenge where he had peanut butter foods in larger doses and he got sick. So the allergy is definitely there. He's always had other foods that "may contain traces of peanuts" so we haven't changed anything there.

We see Dr. Marchlewski in Garden City. He's great!

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

my DS had a reaction to peanuts..face and lip swelled up big time...but only that once..so we now carry an epi pen and benedryl where ever we go..

we went to the allergist and the blood test came back and the results came back with:

Class 3 - Peanuts
Class 2 - Maple
Class 2 - Oak
Class 2 - Eggs
Class 2 - Beef
Class 2 - Soy beans
Class 2 - Corn
Class 3 - Wheat
Class 2 - Milk

i first freaked out bec ...this is pretty much his daily diet..he loves his egg sandwich on wheat bread and milk ... almost every morning...

but the allergist said kids with allergies and eczema often have false positives in those blood tests and the only 100% proof to what he is allergic to is to see what he has reactions to...and since we see nothing when he eats all the others...we continue to give it to them (dr said to do this) we can assume he is really not allergic to these things

so really the ONLY thing we stay away from is peanut...we give it to my daughter and we have it in the house bec he only had that one reaction when he actually ingested it. and we havent had another reaction in 2 years (knock on wood)

i also give him all stuff that says "may contain nuts" and "made in the same facility where nut products are processed" bec i am convinced this is their way of avoiding being sued in the rare chance someone DOES have a reaction...bec otherwise these days those sayings are on EVERYTHING...like M&Ms (really?!?!!?)

you will just get used to being label readers!

but since it is so popular...it is easy to see if peanuts are in a product bec it is on bold ont he bottom of the ingredient list..

good luck! any wues please feel free to ask

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

I avoid everything that has nuts, may contain nuts, processed with nuts. I do not let him eat anything unless I can read the label, or I ask at a restaurant, etc.
He is also severely allergic to eggs.
We carry an epi pen everywhere.

I love our allergist, Dr. Nolan with Queens-LI medical group. We go to the Ronkonkoma office.

To the poster above who mentioned M&Ms, why are you shocked that those may contain peanuts? There are peanut M&Ms and peanut butter M&Ms, and are all made in the same facility, there is absolutely a chance that a rogue peanut butter M&M could find its way into a regular M&M package. That saying is NOT on everything, if it was my DS wouldn't be able to eat anything.

Re: Need some advice - Peanut Allergy

DD never had a reaction to anything except when she came in contact with an actual nut.

But, I am not taking any chances and I read all labels and ensure any baked goods, or anything is nut free and comes from nut free environments.

At first it was overwhelming but now it's second nature and she's aware of her allergy. It also makes it so much easier that her camp and school is nut free.