F/U friday's epipen injection..

magdusia

thank you ladies for your comments. (re: this post)

I'm just curious where do you get your pre-measured spoons of benadryl? i though they aren't offered anymore.

I really think the epi pen was necessary since he swallowed a bit much of the popcorn before she even noticed him eating something (issue in its own). And when he was being checked at the ER they did notice his glans swollen a little, but not sure if it was due to him eating something or something unrelated. So i guess it's better that she did the epi pen

If that was me i probably would have done benadryl and then just listen to his breathing for a while.  But this shouldn't even have happened in the first place. i'm very disturbed to see my nanny take her study books to the park which only means she was studying. Not sure what possessed her to do it especially since he naps for 3 hours during the day and she can study then (but she sometimes naps). She has her priorities all mixed up and we're looking for a new nanny but that will be hard.  Either way she's gone come december.

 

thank you everyone for your nice words!  my DH won't let me post it on FB b/c he says it's private -i agree.. so i need to let this out. 

Court0026

I was going to ask you when you are due! 

I don't know about the Benadryl.  We had an FSA and stocked up last year.  My mom has had trouble finding it too.  I think you are almost always smart to give the Benadryl with the epi. That makes it an easy decision to just give it.  I certainly wouldn't doubt if he needed the epi pen.  Definitely not worth the chance. 

Interesting about your nanny.  How long of a maternity leave are you going to have?  I hope you find someone you trust and like.  

I just want to add that for me, I share allergy-related stuff on FB all of the time to give other people awareness of what we (people) are dealing with.  I totally respect that you don't want to share (esp dealing with your nanny), just saying I see it differently.   When I realized my lip glosses all contained almond extract, I put it on there, etc.  Subtly teaching "the world" about the dangers and how serious it can be. 

magdusia

Court0026:

I was going to ask you when you are due! 

I don't know about the Benadryl.  We had an FSA and stocked up last year.  My mom has had trouble finding it too.  I think you are almost always smart to give the Benadryl with the epi. That makes it an easy decision to just give it.  I certainly wouldn't doubt if he needed the epi pen.  Definitely not worth the chance. 

Interesting about your nanny.  How long of a maternity leave are you going to have?  I hope you find someone you trust and like.  

I just want to add that for me, I share allergy-related stuff on FB all of the time to give other people awareness of what we (people) are dealing with.  I totally respect that you don't want to share (esp dealing with your nanny), just saying I see it differently.   When I realized my lip glosses all contained almond extract, I put it on there, etc.  Subtly teaching "the world" about the dangers and how serious it can be. 

due date is December 22nd, but they are going to schedule a c-section 7 to 10 days prior.  maternity leave is 3.5 months so enough to find someone (hopefully!) if not, i might just need to stay home. Not a great option but an option.

 I do share a ton on FB about allergies but for some reason my DH was super against me posting about his epipen injection. I kinda get it b/c he's really private but i kinda wanted to tell ppl.. i think he didn't want anyone having a pitty party on me.  I totally get what you said -it's a great way to provide awareness b/c many ppl think we're over reacting many times.

 

Miller238

I think we need to have a vent post so we can all get out our frustrations.  I don't post much of anything on Facebook about allergies because no one gets it.

g_belle

I've been lurking from my phone while we were out and about all weekend- but couldn't reply.

I'm so sorry you had a need to use the epi pen!  I can't imagine getting that phone call while driving- I'd be a wreck.  I'm glad he's ok now and it sounds like your nanny made the right call (to give the epi- not studying/texting while at the playground?!). 

I do post allergy stuff on FB.  Sometimes it does result in a pity party- and that's obviously not my intention- but our friends/family really don't get how much the food allergies effect us on a day to day basis and that seems to help clue people in.  I usually post when I'm trying a new recipie and I get a ton of comments/suggestions from other people.  And then my sisters will come over to try whatever I made to taste test it  

heyitsme

As for the pre-measured spoons of Benadryl, my ped actually recommended the Traiminic Thin Strips instead, because they require a lot less "swallowing." You just put one on the child's tongue and it dissolves.

Triaminic sells an "Allergy" Thin Strip, and a "Cough and Runny Nose" Thin Strip, but they're both the same ingredient (Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5mg) and are the exact same dosage as a premeasured Benadryl spoon. We get ours at Target or Walmart, but a lot of pharmacies sell them. I keep them in my purse, even for me--because 2=an adult dosage.

magdusia

heyitsme:

As for the pre-measured spoons of Benadryl, my ped actually recommended the Traiminic Thin Strips instead, because they require a lot less "swallowing." You just put one on the child's tongue and it dissolves.

Triaminic sells an "Allergy" Thin Strip, and a "Cough and Runny Nose" Thin Strip, but they're both the same ingredient (Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5mg) and are the exact same dosage as a premeasured Benadryl spoon. We get ours at Target or Walmart, but a lot of pharmacies sell them. I keep them in my purse, even for me--because 2=an adult dosage.

thank you!! i'll run this by my allergist before buying it but that might be so much better and easier to give to him

blue33

OMG! I haven't been on in a couple of days. I am so sorry to hear that your nanny had to use your son's epi pen. I would be absolutely CRAZY. The feeling that you could not get to your child fast enough, the not knowing how severe the reaction was, or if the nanny administered the pen correctly. I would be a wreck. Thank God everything was all right. So, she didn't notice him eating something? That is too much. I know that it is tough economic times, and I would never rejoice or advocate for someone to be fired, but this is a good reason why she should be let go. I was told that once you administer the epi, you are to immediately call 911, is this not true, or do you only do that if there is breathing problems?

Court0026

blue33:

OMG! I haven't been on in a couple of days. I am so sorry to hear that your nanny had to use your son's epi pen. I would be absolutely CRAZY. The feeling that you could not get to your child fast enough, the not knowing how severe the reaction was, or if the nanny administered the pen correctly. I would be a wreck. Thank God everything was all right. So, she didn't notice him eating something? That is too much. I know that it is tough economic times, and I would never rejoice or advocate for someone to be fired, but this is a good reason why she should be let go. I was told that once you administer the epi, you are to immediately call 911, is this not true, or do you only do that if there is breathing problems?

Yes.  Or if you are very close to a hospital you can drive there, but the epi only lasts 20 minutes.  Either way, give Benadryl after the Epi!

Court0026

heyitsme:

As for the pre-measured spoons of Benadryl, my ped actually recommended the Traiminic Thin Strips instead, because they require a lot less "swallowing." You just put one on the child's tongue and it dissolves.

Triaminic sells an "Allergy" Thin Strip, and a "Cough and Runny Nose" Thin Strip, but they're both the same ingredient (Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5mg) and are the exact same dosage as a premeasured Benadryl spoon. We get ours at Target or Walmart, but a lot of pharmacies sell them. I keep them in my purse, even for me--because 2=an adult dosage.

Awesome to know!

mrs_kelly1014

I responded earlier today in your other post, but in case you don't see it - you can buy the premeasured Benadryl spoons just about anywhere now. They weren't being produced after the large Benadryl recall last year (the spoons weren't recalled, but they were using those production lines to catch up on making regular bottles of Benadryl). I found them in Target last month for the first time since then and was thrilled. They are also available on Amazon and Drugstore.com, but I'm sure you can find them locally.

I'm still a bit confused as to what his reaction was. You don't need to give the Epi Pen just because he ate a food that is an allergen/suspected allergen (unless you know for-sure that it's going to be an anaphylactic reaction - like if my DS ate a peanut, we would be 100% sure his throat would be closed within a couple minutes based on prior reactions). It sounds like the reaction wasn't actually all that bad - he just ate a decent amount of popcorn - is that right?

The guidelines for needing to use Epinepherine are to give it if there is a problem with breathing (always give in that case!), or if there are 2 systems involved (meaning he is puking and has hives, or, his throat is itchy and he has hives, etc.). If there are just hives, or nothing (but you suspect a reaction would be coming because he ate a food that is an allergen to him) then typically you would just give Benadryl. However, if you ever felt that the reaction was bad or felt you needed to give the Epi - you always should! It will not do any harm if it's given and not needed, so always go with your gut on that one. If you need to give Epi, give it first, and then the Benadryl after you have called 911 (if your allergist even wants you to give Benadryl - some don't). Benadryl will NOT stop an anaphylactic reaction from happening which is why you give Epi first and Benadryl second.

If you do use the Epi - you must call 911 or go to the ER immediately if it's close by. A dose of Epi lasts anywhere from 10-20 minutes before it wears off. This is why people are always supposed to carry at least 2 Epis at all times. So, you can give one when the reaction occurs, and still have another dose to use while waiting for the ambulance, or to use while driving to the ER. If a reaction is so severe that it requires Epinepherine, the kiddo (or adult) needs to be checked out and monitored for several hours. They will often do a dose of oral steroids in the ER as well, and they will definitely keep you there for at least 2-3 hours to make sure the reaction does not reoccur.

If you don't have an allergist for him, I would really encourage you to find one. The allergist will be able to give you an Allergy Action Plan to detail exactly what your plan of action should be during a reaction so that you are not left wondering what to do in a stressful moment.  

magdusia

Thank you! I'm going to buy a bunch.

I have very mixed feelings about whether or not he should have received an epi pen.  My nanny wasn't sure what he ate prior to popcorn since there was a bunch of food around (i'm livid about that and that she didn't scope the place out before he played).. the nurse that was in the school watched him for a few minutes before telling her to inject him.  My DH spoke to the school nurse and she said his face was changing quickly . He wasn't really talking or anything so they started getting worried.

I don't think i would have given him the epipen if that was me.. But i'm (sort of) glad she did use it since she wasn't sure.. i would rather her use the epi pen and him being ok than not and she wasn't sure if she should used it.  Especially since he did swallow whatever it was (popcorn and might be other things).  Also, she didn't have benadryl on her and she wasn't sure if he could have it (this annoyed me since i have benadryl bottles all over my house and i always tell her whenever i give him a dose.. so she should know benadryl is ok for him )

i'm just glad the nurse was there to guide her.   We do have a great allergist and so far everyone said she did the right thing.. The allergist did say, he'd probably be ok w/ out it.. but never doubt yourself. its not going to hurt him -if anything it will save him.

I did speak to her yesterday about when she should give it to him and to start carrying Benadryl.  We actually are prohibiting her to take him out of our house and backyard -sucks and that's the extreme but i think it's safest until we get a new nanny.  We have a decent size back yard. an awesome swing set and we'll buy some new toys so he's occupied.  I already called a bunch of neighbors to bring their kids over during the day so he has some sort of kid interaction.

mrs_kelly1014

I definitely agree with you that it is great that she Epi'd. If in doubt, just do it! I hope this was a wake-up call to her to realize how closely she has to watch him. It sounds like you have a plan going forward though!