So you may remember that a while back, Sam started developing a pretty strong rash after eating peanut butter or other nut butters. He didn't seem to be too bothered by it - but it was itchy and red and the biggest trouble was his bottom would get really red and raised after the nut product, erm, left his system ![]()
He had blood allergy testing (low positive for peanut, negative for tree nuts) and the pedi had us see an allergist. The allergist did skin testing and he tested as "maybe" allergic - definite reaction, but minor as far as they go. She recommended giving him PB at home in a controlled setting and not letting it touch ANY of his skin. We were to then observe and see if he displayed any signs of real allergy - distaste for the food, rubbing his lips or tongue, discomfort, etc. And we were supposed to keep the epi pen nearby. Her reasoning is that either it's a real allergy and it could get worse, fast; or, it's a sensitivity and in that case we are to give him PB often so he will tolerize.
It's not like we've had nothing going on, so avoiding nut products has been easier. But today he was BEGGING for my PB crackers so I have him some - a tiny amount on a cracker that I placed in his mouth. He loved it and wanted more immediately. So I gave him a tiny bit more. And a few minutes later, more. And then more. And then I let him get it on his lips. And over maybe 30 minutes, he had about a half teaspoon or more - more than enough to trigger a real reaction.
And nothing! We'll see what his diaper "reveals" tomorrow, but I'm hoping that it was just a temporary sensitivity. If the diaper is OK, we'll give him PB at least 4-5 times per week to help with tolerance.
Hooray! Small victories, right?


Re: Peanut butter may be back on the menu! Allergy-related
Very cool! That's exactly what I was hoping for you -- if it works out, it thankfully would remind me of Kira's egg allergy that went away. Please keep us posted!
And yay for exactly 16,000 posts -- wow! The round number caught my eye!
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
Great news! I love your allergist's theory and method. As you know, E had a very similar skin reaction, but her bloodwork was very low positive for peanuts, negative for tree nuts. When we did the skin test, she had NO reaction, but our allergist said absolutely no peanut products and retest in a year. hmmmm....
Hope Sam's bum is all clear! Keep me posted!
"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame
Morning update - bum was all clear this morning despite a big poop! Looks like we might be OK to start PB more often.
As for eggs - Sam totally has that egg thing. He can't eat "pure" eggs (scrambled, or say, where they are not well cooked like in french toast), but can eat anything with baked eggs. When confronted with eggs his reaction is more severe - lots of hives, refusal to eat the food, watery runny eyes, etc. Allergist said this is SUPER common and to keep giving him baked goods with eggs since this will help him tolerize to that too. She "guarantees" he'll grow out of it. So hopefully we are on our way to being food allergy free!
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Awesome!
FWIW, Kira had egg issues from 18 months to right at her 3rd birthday. Nothing before, no question about it during, and nothing since. I hope it's similar for Sam!
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10