PeanutAllergyUK

[ashley_hates_peanuts]

well i was eating peanuts and like 20mins later i started to feel really ill!

so then my boyfriend told me my face had started swelling up and my neck and my lips and tounge i got rushed to hospitial had spots and rashes everywhere

turns out it was a MILD attack!

i was very lucky feeling a little better now still not well but getting better
just means ive got to watch what i eat/buy

first reaction at 19 years old

any advice is more than welcome even bad comments welcome

thanks

[emmaj24]

hiya ashley welcome to the forum

what's this about bad comments - none of that - you're more than welcome here!

a lot of people on the boards had their first reactions as adults so you're definately not alone there and MILD is subjective if you ask me - the docs have told me I've had mild reactions before and they certainly felt a heck of a lot worse than that to me!

watch out because the severity of the last reaction doesn't predict the next so the next one could be a lot less severe or a lot more, it's one of the trials of allergy I'm afraid. Definately best to avoid avoid avoid.

Have you had any tests yet? Seen a consultant? Got any epi-pens? If not chase these asap with your doctor. You need to know what you're dealing with and what you can do to help yourself.

There are some good guides out there on the net but also a lot of misinformation so watch out for that - go to properly checked sites only and of course use this fab forum

If you've got time read through all/some of the old posts because lots of people have been through this and there has been a lot of advice exchanged, which I found really helpful when I first joined. I'm sure you will too. For a starter on what is safe to eat there are a few lists in the food forum and to be honest shopping is one of the most aggravating parts of the allergy a lot of the time!

Here are some resources to get you started:

Peanut Allergy Basic Info http://www.peanutallergyuk.co.uk/basicinfo.html
Addenbrookes Hospital Patient Leaflets - nut avoidance leaflet, epi pen leaflet
http://www.cuh.org.uk/addenbrookes/patients/patient_information/patient_information_a_z.html
SNDRI - scottish dieticians (i.e qualified ones not flunky nutritionists who aren't regulated and could be anyone even with no training - these are NHS qualified dieticians so it's proper advice and its a good leafet IMHO)
http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/sndri/pdf/070118NutFree_SAMPLE.pdf
Uptodate - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~u55pia.nJGQ/Gs&selectedTitle=1~150&source=search_result
NHS Choices - http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Allergies/Pages/Allergieshome.aspx
Allergy UK
http://www.allergyuk.org/info_factsheets.aspx
Anaphylaxis Campaign
http://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/home.aspx

That should give you a starting point.

I would push for an appointment with a specialist Consultant - they are few and far between in the UK i'm afraid and waiting lists are long I'm not sure where you are in the country but if you look at the British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (allergy docs) http://www.bsaci.org/ there is a list for patients of the NHS and private UK hosptials and consultants.

You can also get private allergy tests - they MUST be skin-prick or blood RAST IgE tests - the others are not clinically relevant and there's no proof they work, utterly dangerous. BMI Healthcare are good in my experience and BUPA also offer a testing service for allergy through their wellness centres although it costs £375 so it's not a cheap option! If you are in the East Midlands I recommend Professor Powell. He only does private practice now but ran the department at the QMC and is a highly regarded specialist and does clinics at BMI the Park in Nottingham and the Nuffield in Derby. Here's his details http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/privatespecialists/find-a-doctor/?EntryId43=28952 You get a proper consultation, testing and advice so I found it really helpful because it is so hard to get a specialist opinion and time to talk via the NHS route! No offence to the NHS, they are just busy.

Think positive, things can only get better - enjoy the new year

[alexism]

Excellent comments from Emma. If your GP is not involved in this then you want to arrange it - they can do the initial IgE blood tests (and sometimes arrange skin prick testing) before any specialists need to be involved.
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Nothing in this post should be construed as medical advice.

[ashley_hates_peanuts]

thanks emma you're helps more than the help the docter gave me lol hes gave me tablets to carry around in my bag so if i feel as if ive eat the wrong thing ive to take a tablet and get to the docters straight away thats all the advice i know of he didnt exactly help on whats the bad and good.he said if i go to eat out or that ive to ask is there any traces of nuts which i think would make me look so stupid so id rather not but if i think there is then yeah fair enough i will ask of course for my own safety still not feeling that great but getting better which is a plus sign for me i guess the weather doesnt help either with now getting the cold also! well hope all had a good christmas and a good new year 2010

Ashley x

[Storm]

Hi Ashley,

There are excellent comments here by Emma and Alexis. I also think that it would be best to ask the doctor for an Epipen prescription. Tablets (Piriton?) would not be enough in the case of an anaphylactic reaction. Subsequent exposure to the allergen could result in more severe reactions so carrying an Epipen with you would be the safest option.

Don't worry about looking stupid if you need to ask about ingredients when eating out. It's best to avoid restaurants that have a lot of nut items on the menu (like Chinese, Indian, Thai) because the risk of cross-contamination is too high. Other restaurants that don't have obvious nuts in their dishes could be a safer option, as long as you enquire about the ingredients and method of preparation beforehand. It's also a good idea to avoid all desserts when eating out, as well as the bread that is served at the table.
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12-year-old son: allergic to peanuts, nuts and raw egg whites

[Lonely_princess]

Hey Ashley,

This is very familiar- i've just turned 22. And had a similar experience when i was 19. Mine turned out to be progressive and each time i had contact with nuts or any kind of nut product my reactions got worse and worse.

I now carry the tablets ( i was given Loratadine) at first. And an epi-pen.. the advice to ask your doctor for one is brilliant. I listened to people on here before and got one sharpish... and i needed it too!!

Make sure you bug about proper allergy tests - don't get fobbed off!! I ended up asking three different GPs to send me to the right type of specialist before i had a final diagnosis.

Also, be sure to get a medicalert or SOS - I prefer the SOS because you don't need to call anyone and the bracelet in my opinion is much better than medicalert. (But we're all different)

If your new to the allergy - these bracelets can save your life - trust me!! They certainly saved mine.

Always ask in resturants - people do it all the time and there is no need to feel embarassed.

I know how hard it is, and how for 19 years you haven't needed to worry, and now you need to check every packet you ever open... it is life changing, and many people who don't live with it will find it hard to understand.

Also, when i was first diagnosed, i had a huge problem with toiletries and cosmetics. I nearly killed myself with a shampoo... i had the worst reaction i've ever had. Make sure you get list of the latin names used in toiletries and carry it with you. I have it printed off in my purse and if i ever see something i like i just check it.

All the best And trust me, it gets easier
Rachel x x

[Victoria Plum]

what is a medicalert or sos, and where can I get sos for my son?

Thanks