Food Allergies
When Emma first had an allergic reaction to eggs I had no clue how serious it was. Why would I? I had never dealt with food allergies in my life before. Even working in health care I had never seen an actual anaphylactic shock to know how serious it can get and just how quickly it can get serious.
Her reaction included vomiting, hives all over her abdomen and face, eyes swelled shut, and her lips started swelling. By the time her lips had started swelling we were at urgent care and benadryl had been administered. Her oxygen levels were never effected so we never had to use an epinephrine dose. The rest of her symptoms resolved with time and the help of the benadryl. After this we met with her primary pediatrician and received some education and an epi pen jr. to carry with us everywhere, and then also met with an allergist to test Emma to confirm it was an egg allergy and to reiterate what we had learned from our pediatrician. The most valuable piece of information I learned was that every reaction is different and typically every subsequent reaction is worse. Meaning: just because Emma didn't go into anaphylactic shock with her first exposure to eggs, it doesn't mean that her next reaction will be as moderate as her last one. It meant that because her reaction was already causing vomiting and facial swelling, it is likely that her next reaction will be similar or worse.
The easy part: This causes little to no problems for us in our daily home life. Even prior to the reaction Emma's diet consisted mostly of fresh produce, whole grains, and proteins that this didn't force us to change her diet at all. I do my best to only make foods for Clint and I that do not contain eggs so that she can be included in family meals. All of our family members that spend a lot of time with Emma are wonderful and ask with each item of food they offer her, "Wait, does this have eggs in it?". It's become such a habit that her sweet Auntie asked once when close to handing Emma a banana... "Wait, Jamie... does this have eggs in it?" :)
The hard part: Holidays/Celebrations. Here comes the lack of control for me. On holidays we are traveling from home to home where I can't possibly know where all of the eggs or foods with egg ingredients in them are. With Emma being two she is busy busy busy and wanting to try everything. She has a slight understanding that she can't have eggs. She will see a dessert item (like a cookie, or cupcake) and ask "does that have eggs in it, Mommy?" or say "No eggs for Emma?" - but she is nowhere near being able to advocate for herself. She doesn't know that her great Auntie Patty's tuna casserole contains eggs in the mayonnaise. She doesn't know that the chicken noodle soup contains EGG noodles.
So, as she runs around these events asking for bites of food, we are relying on everyone else to know and understand the severity of food allergies. I do my best to educate everyone close to her as much as I can - but I feel like it can be spread further than that. I feel like we all have to be aware that not every child can have any kind of food. You might think a bite of your casserole or cookie is harmless and even a sweet gesture, but it can be deadly.
With Halloween being tomorrow, the scary part of the day should be all of the ghosts and goblins - but for us, its the candy. Surprisingly, a lot of different candies contain eggs and egg whites. And for other children, it's the peanuts. Or the gluten. It's not fair for children who suffer from food allergies to be kept from the fun festivities, but their parents are responsible for making sure it can be done safely. Do your part to help :)
Here is a link to a great resource with some tips on how to enjoy Halloween safely with food allergies.
Thank you, everyone!
Her reaction included vomiting, hives all over her abdomen and face, eyes swelled shut, and her lips started swelling. By the time her lips had started swelling we were at urgent care and benadryl had been administered. Her oxygen levels were never effected so we never had to use an epinephrine dose. The rest of her symptoms resolved with time and the help of the benadryl. After this we met with her primary pediatrician and received some education and an epi pen jr. to carry with us everywhere, and then also met with an allergist to test Emma to confirm it was an egg allergy and to reiterate what we had learned from our pediatrician. The most valuable piece of information I learned was that every reaction is different and typically every subsequent reaction is worse. Meaning: just because Emma didn't go into anaphylactic shock with her first exposure to eggs, it doesn't mean that her next reaction will be as moderate as her last one. It meant that because her reaction was already causing vomiting and facial swelling, it is likely that her next reaction will be similar or worse.
The easy part: This causes little to no problems for us in our daily home life. Even prior to the reaction Emma's diet consisted mostly of fresh produce, whole grains, and proteins that this didn't force us to change her diet at all. I do my best to only make foods for Clint and I that do not contain eggs so that she can be included in family meals. All of our family members that spend a lot of time with Emma are wonderful and ask with each item of food they offer her, "Wait, does this have eggs in it?". It's become such a habit that her sweet Auntie asked once when close to handing Emma a banana... "Wait, Jamie... does this have eggs in it?" :)
The hard part: Holidays/Celebrations. Here comes the lack of control for me. On holidays we are traveling from home to home where I can't possibly know where all of the eggs or foods with egg ingredients in them are. With Emma being two she is busy busy busy and wanting to try everything. She has a slight understanding that she can't have eggs. She will see a dessert item (like a cookie, or cupcake) and ask "does that have eggs in it, Mommy?" or say "No eggs for Emma?" - but she is nowhere near being able to advocate for herself. She doesn't know that her great Auntie Patty's tuna casserole contains eggs in the mayonnaise. She doesn't know that the chicken noodle soup contains EGG noodles.
So, as she runs around these events asking for bites of food, we are relying on everyone else to know and understand the severity of food allergies. I do my best to educate everyone close to her as much as I can - but I feel like it can be spread further than that. I feel like we all have to be aware that not every child can have any kind of food. You might think a bite of your casserole or cookie is harmless and even a sweet gesture, but it can be deadly.
With Halloween being tomorrow, the scary part of the day should be all of the ghosts and goblins - but for us, its the candy. Surprisingly, a lot of different candies contain eggs and egg whites. And for other children, it's the peanuts. Or the gluten. It's not fair for children who suffer from food allergies to be kept from the fun festivities, but their parents are responsible for making sure it can be done safely. Do your part to help :)
Here is a link to a great resource with some tips on how to enjoy Halloween safely with food allergies.
Thank you, everyone!
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