Talk me down!! (Also, questions about OAS)

[changingseasons]

DD just had the closest thing that I've seen to a serious (by serious, I mean immediate, like within seconds) reaction. I am a little freaked out right now.

I decided to try some pineapple today (since we're on this crazy new food rotation!). DD loved it when she was younger, but hasn't had it in at least 6 months. When she had it before, it seemed to irritate her eczema a little (around her mouth), but I wasn't sure if it was reaction, or just the acid irritating open skin.

So today- I cut a few very thin slices and gave them to DD. She loved them- popped each one right in her mouth and asked for more. She ate 3 or 4 pieces (totaling probably 1 T.) and then started making a weird gagging noise and kind of spitting/foaming at the mouth. At first I thought she was actually gagging, or her airway was closing or something... but then it seemed like she was just making a lot of extra saliva and was trying to get it out of her mouth. Almost like she was trying to clear her throat and didn't know how. She coughed/spit out a bunch of saliva and seemed better when I gave her some water. Then she wanted to nurse, but she didn't seem able to latch on and got really upset. She finally latched on and nursed for a bit, then fell asleep (it's naptime.)

I have her right next to me rather than in the bed so that I can watch her. Her breathing sounds fine, her temperature seems normal...

I'm wondering now if this sounds like an ana reaction, or if this might be a typical reaction of OAS? And/or has anyone heard of OAS in babies? She doesn't seem to be bothered by environmental stuff- at least she doesn't have any symptoms (like I do) that I would associate with enviro- like congestion, itchy skin, etc.

I am on the phone with the compounding pharmacy right now trying to see if I can get our corn-free Benadryl rx filled today... and kicking myself that I didn't get it filled 2 months ago. I have learned my lesson though- the emergency action plan is now on the wall, and I will have benadryl on hand from now on. (I do have vitamin C and will give her some when she wakes up. maybe an epsom salt bath too.)

Anyway- I just need someone to talk me down from my little freak-out here... and tell me what you think this sounds like- ana? oas?

[kjbrown92]

I don't know. But I can offer and a prayer.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

I don't know. But I can offer and a prayer.

Thanks- I could use a hug. I could also use a sip of your pomegranite martini (that was mentioned in the chat thread, in case anyone is confused.)

[tanyalynn]

I don't know either. But big to both of you!!

[kjbrown92]

I'll have a sip for you, but it just won't be the same, will it?
I'm recalling something about pineapples and how acidic they are... I'm wondering if it could just be that it was acidic and her body compensated by overproducing saliva.... I'm trying to find a benign answer for you!

[mtn.mama]

Its hard to say...

But I think it could be OAS.
I couldn't do raw citrus, especially pineapple as a child,
nor carrots that weren't peeled. Lettuce neither.

Then again, I haven't had IgE rxns to foods, only bees.

So who knows. I hope you'll consider using regular benedryl
if you need it and its all you have on hand.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Poor little bug.

[Wugmama]

How scary! I've been there, wishing I had XYZ in the house for emergencies (or perceived emergencies) and haven't had it.

I don't know what OAS is. Is that where your mouth burns from certain fruit? I know that happens to my dad and a friend w/certain fruit, including apples.

Keep us updated!


Tracy

[changingseasons]

Thanks guys. She's still sleeping. Her breathing is kind of rattly now- like she's got some extra mucous in her throat. The pharmacy should be able to do the rx today, but if not I will definitely be heading to Walgreens to get some regular stuff. DP should be home in a minute, so I will run out then and pick up whichever one I can get.

[nalo]

How scary!! Wish I could answer your question but I have no idea. Could you consider doing a skin prick test or something like that for pineapple so you'll know whether or not she's IgE to it? Obviously that doesn't help at the moment....just thinking.
I'm totally lazy with the icons but am sending big hugs. Hopefully she is back to normal soon.

[changingseasons]

Oh yeah- I definitely will be adding that to the SPT list for next appointment! (which I think is in like 2 months.)

[changingseasons]

HOLY !!! Why is compounding so frickin expensive?!? It's benadryl for f's sake. $59.95 for oral liquid, compounded. And that's with NO other ingredients- it's in water only. I asked if I could get a smaller amount- the smallest amount I can get is 1/2oz. and that's $42-something. :

ETA: I was so distracted by the knife in my back (from the pharmacy), that I forgot to mention that DD is awake (thanks a bunch loud firetrucks..) and seems perfectly fine. Actually, she's totally wound up and running in circles. But breathing and skin and all that seem normal.

[MyLittleWonders]

That would have been frightening. I'm too not sure what OAS is, but I know that even now I have a hard time with pineapple (I still eat it though ). It makes me produce tons of saliva and it makes my mouth burn. Funny, I never thought of that as a reaction to the fruit. Pineapple seems to be the only fruit that does that (or food for that matter).

[Theloose]

two things I can tell you about pineapple, though I don't know how relevant they are right now:

1) it's like raw tomatoes - it can cause a histamine release from cells in certain susceptible people (high histamine/undermethylated?) which could account for any red contact rash, and maybe even a throat reaction?

2) it's high in proteases (protein enzymes) and that's part of why if you eat too much pineapple, your mouth feels all cut up.

[nalo]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

HOLY !!! Why is compounding so frickin expensive?!? It's benadryl for f's sake. $59.95 for oral liquid, compounded. And that's with NO other ingredients- it's in water only. I asked if I could get a smaller amount- the smallest amount I can get is 1/2oz. and that's $42-something. :

ETA: I was so distracted by the knife in my back (from the pharmacy), that I forgot to mention that DD is awake (thanks a bunch loud firetrucks..) and seems perfectly fine. Actually, she's totally wound up and running in circles. But breathing and skin and all that seem normal.

That price is just WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's shocking to me...
(I don't mean incorrect, BTW, just f'd up!)

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by whoMe

two things I can tell you about pineapple, though I don't know how relevant they are right now:

1) it's like raw tomatoes - it can cause a histamine release from cells in certain susceptible people (high histamine/undermethylated?) which could account for any red contact rash, and maybe even a throat reaction?

2) it's high in proteases (protein enzymes) and that's part of why if you eat too much pineapple, your mouth feels all cut up.

See, that's what is weird- I was totally expecting to see some contact rash/skin flush around her mouth, but there's nothing. Maybe it is just an oas thing.

MyLittleWonders- what you described sounds like OAS to me- it's oral allergy syndrome, and it's usually linked to environmental allergies.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by nalo

That price is just WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's shocking to me...
(I don't mean incorrect, BTW, just f'd up!)

I know!! It was bad enough paying $30 for acetominephan (which of couse we've never used)... but $60?! That's insane. And of course insurance companies won't pay for it....

I just called back to ask how long it keeps for, and she told me the liquid is only good for a month, and the capsule form is good for 6 months. I said yeah- I think I'll take the capsule form. I'm not paying $60 a month just to have this sh!t on hand for emergencies. : (eta- I mean, I will if I need to of course... didn't want that to sound wrong.)

[springmum]

Oh CS, how scary!!
Glad she's well.
I don't have any insight - sorry you had to go through that!

[WildIris]

Oh CS, I'm glad she's okay. And I can't believe the price on that compounding, that's crazy!

[changingseasons]

Another update- the pineapple definitely did something to DD... after her nap, she was crazy wired- just running all over the house like a madwoman. And she keeps asking to nurse, for water, for food. I just made some zucchini muffins, and she was screaming for them as soon as she saw the pan. She could hardly wait for them to cool off, she was just shoveling them in her mouth! Maybe that's her body's way of diluting the toxins?? I gave her a little vitamin C too, so hopefully between that and the extra food she's eating, the reaction will move through her quickly.

If only I had my calcium bentonite... only like 3-7 more weeks before it gets here...

[WuWei]

It is my close up and personal, eye witness opinion that she may have just mechanically gagged on some of the stringy, fibrous pineapple, seeing as she didn't have any subsequent visible indication of a reaction.

If it is OAS, she may have subsequent GI inflammatory distress.

I hope all is fine now. That sounds very scary.

Pat