I had no idea what I was in for when we first found out my daughter has life-threatening food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and milk. And while food allergies definitely became a big part of our daily lives, after about a year we found a “new normal” and most of my energy was spent on the daily management of food allergies (the food, the safety, training other people).
Unfortunately, over the past week, we’ve had two food allergy scares that have really thrown me for a loop. One was a call I received from daycare worrying about a possible food mix-up. Everything turned out okay and Avery didn’t have any symptoms (which leads me to believe she didn’t get the wrong food after all), but the fear of our daycare provider and my need to stay calm and give information and instructions really took it’s toll on me. After I got off the phone, I broke down in tears. It was my first emergency food allergy phone call and I realized the gravity of how scary it is when my child’s life is at stake. I also flashed forward to her attending school someday and losing even more control of her environment and the realization that I’ll probably get more of these emergency calls. So tough.
The next morning, we had a REAL food allergy scare when Avery had a serious reaction while eating watermelon. She ate a slice with no problem, but after she started eating a second slice (from a different portion of the watermelon) she began complaining almost immediately of being itchy. She had a minor rash (that we were just at the doctor for the night before) so I thought it might have been from that. Then I watched her get down from the table and lay on her back trying to roll around and scratch her back using the carpet for relief. That jolted me into action – my child has NEVER done that before and it was as if she was an animal with sounds and movements trying to get relief. I looked her over and she was turning into a giant, red, itchy mess. Her entire back was bright red and puffy, the back of her neck had a hive on it, her mouth and neck were red, there was a red splotch on her forhead, her chest and her stomach.
I scooped her up and ran for the benedryl, the hydrocortizone, the baby wipes. I quickly wiped her down (in case any of it was from the juice of the watermelon – a contact reaction) and wiped some hydrocortizone ointment on the most angry part of the red area on her back. Then I wrapped her in a blanket and tried to give her benedryl, which she spit half of it out. She was upset and crying and flailing about because she was so uncomfortable. I was trying to stay calm but I was starting to realize that this was a real food allergy reaction and how could it be from watermelon? I was confused and disoriented and my brain couldn’t logically understand because she had not eaten peanuts, nuts or eggs. She was eating fruit, at home, where everything was safe.
I calmed her down by holding her and singing, but knew I needed to get more benadryl in her – I got another dose and convinced her in the most serious of tone that she had a choice, to drink the benadryl or go to the doctor. She’s totally freaked out by doctors right now and I knew she wouldn’t want to do that (because of all the blood draws, shots and exams she’s had lately – makes me so sad), so it scared her into taking the medicine without spitting it out. In hindsight, although that worked to motivate her, it wasn’t something I could really stick to. I knew she needed the medicine ASAP and it was either that or the epipen, not a trip to the doctor.
I watched her for other symptoms as my thoughts raced- no coughing, no eyeballs turning red or rolling back in her head, she seemed alert, didn’t talk about her tongue or mouth being scratchy (and I didn’t think to ask). In less than 5 minutes all the redness was lightening up and she asked if she could go play with her brother. I said yes. And sat in the rocking chair in her room a bit stunned by what had happened. What on earth had just happened?
Keeping my eyes on her and checking her skin constantly, I called the allergist’s office and then my food allergy buddy/mentor. And they both said the same thing – either it was cross contamination from the watermelon being pre-cut at the store (it was a 1/4 melon) or she could be allergic to watermelon now. The only way to know for sure is to get her tested for watermelon. Evidently, anyone can develop food allergies to any food at any time, even if it was eaten safely even the week before. I called her dad to talk about a plan. Obviously no watermelon for now. I called our daycare provider to talk about next week.
I have honestly never thought about pre-cut fruit being a concern for food allergies. I would be worried if we were at your house and would give you the third degree about how it was cut, with what knife on what surface and were your hands clean… but I never thought about it at a store. Why not? I had never read it in any books… I have no excuse, other than it never seemed risky to me to buy a pre-cut 1/4 watermelon or pre-cubed mixed fruit. I have bought it this way many times over the past three years, although it was my first time buying pre-cut fruit from this particular market. I spent time on the phone this morning with the store manager who explained their practices for cutting watermelon. It all sounded very legit and it didn’t sound like there was an opportunity to be cross-contaminated. But… despite his assurances, it’s still a possibility. As is the fact she could have suddenly developed an allergy to watermelon, which is almost scarier to me to absorb the fact she could be allergic to more foods now and in the future.
Last night Avery asked me a few questions about what happened with the watermelon and why she had a reaction. Is she allergic to it now? (I don’t know.) Maybe her brother touched something unsafe and then touched it (wanting to blame someone — but this didn’t happen). She’s was trying to figure it out – just like me. I see so many of us in the food allergy world putting on our investigator hats after a food allergy reaction - so much time trying to dissect what happened so we can prevent it from happening again.
If we stop investigating for a moment and absorb the reality of what happened… the enormity… the fear of ”what could have happened” and the “how could I have let this happen” … it can be overwhelming. As I said on Twitter last night, dealing with life or death situations (daily!) with a child takes parenting to a whole ‘nother level.
It’s kind of like busy parking lots. I hate those, too. I always make my kids hold onto me (and I hold onto them) as we walk through parking lots. The daily practice of living with food allergies is like constantly being on guard in a parking lot. Worried about safety, things out of your control and always needing to be on guard. And then there are those moments when you get separated from your child and a car is coming straight at them (this has happened to me before). THAT is the fear I experience, physically and emotionally, during a food allergy reaction. My adrenaline rushes, my animal instincts to protect my child takes over and my mind shuts off.
Making it to the other side of a food allergy reaction successfully (meaning nobody died) is like the sense of relief when you grab your kid BEFORE the car in the parking lot hits them. Relieved, but still so freaking traumatic because you realize how high the stakes are… how close you came to losing your child.
I hate to end this on a depressing note. Of course there’s hope and we’ll get back to normal soon and we’ll be okay – but right now, today in this moment, I am a bit beaten up by the realities and emotions of living with food allergies. But now I’m going to go put on a smile and take my kids to a movie theatre – smuggling in safe treats for Avery, hoping the last person who sat in her seat didn’t eat peanut butter cups, and holding on to them tightly in the parking lot.
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23 Responses to “the reality of food allergy scares”
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Marketing Mama® features articles on parenting as a working mom, health, family activities, cool products, my two adorable children and sometimes I even talk about marketing.
Oh dear! I hear you! We had a situation like that with pre-cut Canteloupe melon. We have eaten it many times before with no issue and then one day my 4 yo threw up after eating it. That was the only thing he had eaten and he was not sick. No one in the house was sick. He also had contact rash from it. After than never again I would buy precut fruit. Better buy whole and cut at home. If I waste some so be it, but is not worth the risk. Glad she is ok.!
Wow, thanks for sharing your experience Alba! I’m learning so much about the pre-cut fruits from this experience. 99% of the time it appears they are safe, but there are those occasions when they aren’t – and that’s just not an acceptable risk! Glad to hear your child only had the one reaction and wasn’t allergic to it! Thanks for staying in touch – still love how we met (me seeing you on TV and recognizing the playground)
I hate that you are dealing with this right now. It is sooooo scary and this is an awesome post about the scary reality of food allergies. They’re life changing. Thank you for sharing. Thinking of you guys!
Thanks Abby – I hate that we are going through it, too – but there’s always a lesson to be learned … or two or three or four. I hope sharing this experience helps other people, too. Hugs back to you.
What an incredibly scary ordeal! The most important thing is that your daughter is safe. You did all the right things and didn’t panic. I am a doc and I always tell my patients to keep their epipens close at hand because you never know when something like this could happen. I am so glad your daughter is okay!
At Tasterie, we are looking for safe treats and foods for kids with food allergies so that we can help make life with food allergies easier. I would love your insight on what we can do to help.
Thanks Lama for the note – interesting to hear about your biz – I’ll check out your link when I have a moment! Missy
Oh boy, I’ve been there! Actually, watermelon was a recent weird reaction for my DS as well. In addition to the store-cut fruit, I worry about deli meat and bakery breads for cross contamination. Once you get more testing, you’ll have more sense of security. My son seems to react to a large number of fruits and veggies in the spring, which his allergist says is a pollen related allergy. The whole thing is exasperating. And exhausting! Being on alert all the time is terrible. The not thinking of possible problems, well, that I can relate to a LOT! I just wrote about that on my blog today; us allergy moms don’t get to relax. With you in spirit! Glad your daughter is ok! Jennifer
Hi Jennifer, thanks for the note. I personally stay very, very far away from the bakery b/c of my daughter’s nut & peanut allergies. I would be seriously nervous about buying anything from there. We buy bread that shows it has all safe ingredients and is made off site. Interesting about the watermelon & your DS. So far we haven’t had any fruit reactions at all and I’m still not sure (obviously) if this was a reaction to the fruit or if it was cross-contamination.
Thanks again for stopping by and for the note. xo
{hugs}
Missy,
I am VERY glad that your family’s scare had a happy ending. Your are an incredibly BRAVE woman!
Thanks, Eric, although I certainly didn’t feel brave at the time…
How scary Missy! It’s terrifying to have those moments of clarity when you realize how dangerous food can be for your child. Sounds like you were prepared and stayed calm. (hugs)
I am so sorry you had to go through that. It is scary. The good news is, you knew what to do, and did everything right. Way to go. I would also have suspected the fruit being cut at the store. It sounds like you will have to get in the habit of washing the outsides of fruits that we don’t normally have to wash (like melons), especially if she is allergic to other fruits and veggies.
Thanks so much – never thought of having to wash the outside of fruits before (other than water on apples, grapes). I wonder if the water even does anything or if I need to use dishsoap (um, yuck) or a veggie wash? Oh lord…
Oh my goodness. What a scary ordeal. Watermelon?! Wow. I can’t decide what’s the bets outcome here… she’s allergic to watermelon or that it was some cross-contamination. I NEVER thought of cut fruit as a concern. Wow. Glad everything was okay, and I hope you’ll update us as you learn more.
Perhaps it’s one of those saturation limit combination allergies. I just read that watermelon and ragweed allergies are related (in the same way that kiwi and birch trees are), so if your daughter has a mild ragweed allergy and ragweed pollen is high right now, the combination put her over some limit. I know someone who cannot eat kiwi when the birch pollen is high for the same reason.
Very interesting theory Barb! I’m meeting with the allergist soon and I will ask about that. I haven’t observed any seasonal allergies with her, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t lurking. Thanks!
Foods scare me I admit everytime I buy something at store even if fresh vegitation about cross contamition I can’t gairante some one didn’t grab fresh olives or touch mulberies then touch the fruit I’m buying fruits that have peals that have to be pealed are safer. Labels are so unclear olives can be marked as spices or even their oil in trace amounts can be marked as spices mulberies can be labeled as natural flavors. Food is scary when you have food allergy esibally when its bot in top 8 but I can’t help I’m allergic to olives(blood test said so after facial swelling) and anaphlatic to mulberies(skin prick said so after reaction that never something want to exepernce that again). Resturants are joke I see you wait staff roll eyes when I say I’m allergic to olives. mulberies werent in american quizine for awhile but they are back I can’t imagine looks and eye rolls I will get now among other things. I wish these were a joke but they arent. Then I’ve wintessed morons with dislike of food say they had allergy to that food and laugh once server is out of ear shot they make it hard for those with real food allergies to be taken seriously. Last reaction was only 4th time I had olives and this was far from intal out if town forgot to metion food allergy when wrote them about it thinking they cooked in olive oil they explianed they didnt and was probaly prepared on same grill top with olive salad so cross contaminatikj may have happend and I even had lil trouble breathing during that time it wasn’t anaphlyaxis I know that but still scared me a lot I got benadryl in timely fashion but it was so scary. everything I eat I am hoping hasnt come in contact with something I’m allergic to I know it dosent take much for cross contamintion even with “safe” foods.
Wow, Amanda – I haven’t heard of someone being allergic to olives before, and although I don’t see them a lot of places, I do see olive OIL everywhere. I totally agree on restaurants often being uneducated and not taking it seriously – although I have observed some increased awareness in the past couple of years. Thanks for sharing your story!
I’m so glad she’s okay physically and I hope that you (and she) can be feeling better emotionally soon. Close calls, mysterious reactions, etc. are so scary because they bring all of those emotions roaring to the surface again. There are many days that I hardly give food allergy a second thought other than the day-to-day keeping on that we do. And then there are days where I think, “Some day my 12 year old son is going to…..date, go to college, want a life of his own,etc. HOW am I going to DO that?” One day at a time I guess, right?
Thanks Nicole – yes, it’s traumatic and emotional. I keep thinking about when she goes to school soon and how awful it would be to have this happen when I can’t see/monitor her…
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[...] so much to all of you who offered support, suggestions and comfort over the past week about our food allergy scare. We still don’t know what caused it (cross contamination or possibly a new allergy to [...]
I had a similar reaction once in middle school (I’m in high school now) a teacher had brought in watermelon for a class treat and sliced it himself. I am allergic to peanuts and tree nuts so I thought the watermelon would be safe. What I didn’t know was that he hadn’t washed his hands after having peanut butter on toast for breakfast. My face started getting red and blotchy bit we figured it was just from the game we were playing, running around on the field. Then my throat began to itch and I went to the teacher and asked him if he had touched anything with peanuts in it before cutting the fruit. He then admitted to having touched peanut butter and not washing his hands. I had to run to the nurses office (which made the reaction worse) where we found a substitute nurse who didn’t know how to use an epipen. I injected myself while she called an ambulance. I now only eat snacks that I bring myself because I don’t ever want to have to do that again.