Food Allergy
summer80
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New to this and scared
summer80
member
in Food Allergy
My 10 month old was just diagnosed with a sesame and peanut allergy. I gave her hummus and she had a bad reaction to it. We later learned sesame is a top allergen. I just have all these questions running thru my mind about how this changes our lifestyle. Will we be able to eat out, travel, can she do sleepovers or field trips when she gets older. I'm already a very paranoid person/helicopter type mom, I'm trying to figure out how to move on from this and keep our lives as normal as possible. Plus how do you explain to a child when they're older like three, if you eat this it could kill you??? Also do you keep this food in your house, my son loves hummus but I threw all our hummus out. Any help, advice or answers to my question would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Re: New to this and scared
My daughter also has a sesame seed allergy--we found out by giving her hummus as well.
However, I already think she is starting to outgrow it. She had hummus over the summer--and broke out in hives. We finally were able to get her tested the last two weeks and her skin test was inconclusive--her bloodwork was .94; and unknowing to us the bread she was eating for the last couple of weeks had sesame seeds in it.
The hard thing about sesame seeds--at least in the US, is it doesn't have to be labeled on the packaging. It can be listed as "spice"--which means, I am sticking to brands she already HAS been eating--without a reaction. Also sesame oil is in lots of cosmetics.
She also has a peanut allergy (and egg and almond)--but because of the awareness of peanut allergies--I feel that many more people are aware of it. However, since my daughter never actually had peanuts (just skin reaction-I do not know how severe it is)
We go out to eat a lot--and we bring her. Many times she is able to order off the menu, just may not always be the healthiest option (hot dog minus the bun for example). But many times pizza is fine, quesadillas are fine, mac & cheese. We do stick to restaurants that we frequent with her. Also when we go out to eat, we always OVER bring on snacks etc--just in case there really isn't anything. (cereal, bagels, etc)
My daughter LOVES hummus-here is a sesame free one:
https://allrecipes.com/recipe/extra-easy-hummus/
We found out at 4 mos that my son as allergic to milk & soy and was put on prescription formula, Neocate. At 1 yr old, he tested positive for milk, soy, oat, tree nuts, peanuts, and coconut. His soy was low so, we did a soy challenge test which is where he gets a little bit every 15 mins or so and watch for a reaction. He reacted after about an hr. He can have some soy, but low amounts and only certain types like soy lecthin. At 2 yrs old, (he's now 28 mos), he tested positive for milk, soy, oat, tree nuts, peanuts, coconut & now mustard. I was hoping the soy would be gone but nope, we got another one.
When we go out, I always ask for the allergy menus which some places do like Chili's and Applebees. When he was younger, I used to bring foods with us. I still bring some foods to peoples homes when we go for dinner, just in case. If I'm not 100% sure about something then he won't have it.
I actually got an IPhone bc of the apps. I use Allergen Menu, AllergyPal, iEatOut, UPC Scanner, KFA Forums, iCanEat, and AllergyEats. They are all great apps. Plus, if you are on Facebook, there are great pages for support, like Kids with Food Allergies.
it will get easier and then hard and then easy.. There maybe peanut free / allergy groups near you that you can connect with. I have one via yahoo groups. Join the FAAN walk this year. Start visiting websites.
My son is allergic to milk/soy/eggs/peanuts/tree nuts and was allergic to sessame but grew out of it (yay!).
With sesame, You have to be careful with lipstic - which sometimes has sesame. So i would just make a rull of only hugs and no kisses -especially on the lips! we allow no face kisses what so ever. When it comes to hummus, you can make your own -it's SUPER EASY! or buy tahini free hummus.. i know trader joes has them.
The biggest pain in the butt with a sesame allergy is bread. There was alwasy a cross contamination to sessame seeds. I had to make my own bread.. i love making bread now but it was painful at first.
Visit health food store (without your kid/s) and spend a lot of time just going through isles and looking at labels. ALWAYS READ LABELS.. things change and ingredients change.
We made our house safe for my son.. so no milk/soy/eggs/nuts anywhere in the house. Not even Cross contamination. I learned how to cook which is sometimes hard b/c i work full time but it's doable. I make meals for everyone in my house and it's always free of our allergens.. but that took a long time and many tears.
Also, peanut is a very common allergy and many places are already peanut free.
good luck.. i can go on forever but just take it one step at a time.