How do you overcome the fear?

[purplepaperclip]

My 16 mo dd was hospitalized last weekend for severe anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. She is ok now, but I have been living on edge all week. I feel so consumed by the fear that she is going to come into contact with peanuts and I won't be able to get her epi-pen, to the hospital, what-have-you, in time. You hear the gut-wrenching stories of children who die. How do you deal? I feel like I'm not going to be able to keep it all together.

[Catt75]

Hugs to you mama. I know how you are feeling. I cried and cried when I found out my DD was allergic to dairy. I cried some more when we got prescribed an epi pen and I cried even more when we learned she is also allergic to wheat, oats and eggs through skin testing. Some days are worse than others but I know the fear and I think hate thinking about the future some times because it scares me. My DD is 13 months.

[Therese's Mommy]

My dd has never suffered what your lo has, so I can't speak to the fear that you rightly have. There are mamas on here that I am sure can, but just wanted to offer

Beth

[purplepaperclip]

THank you both for your kind words. Allergies just suck.

[momma_c]

i am so sorry to hear about your experience. my ds had an anaphylactic reaction to dairy (which we had no idea he was allergic to at the time, we thought it was just soy not the bajillion allergies he does have) when he was 6 months old. i was honestly unable to function more than to scream at my husband to call 911, i could not even breathe. thankfully i have gotten passed that and my reaction. the fear will never subside, i am sorry to say, but i have worked on myself and what reaction i will have in the event this does happen again. i do pray a lot, although i know that is not for everyone. i think it is good to keep the fear there, in the back of your mind and to always remember to keep the epi pen near you because it is real and all of the tragic stories i have read were parents admitting to not fearing the allergies enough, and not one of them had an epi pen with them. i have read many stories and they all seem to be close to the same.

[mbbinsc]

The fear is what helps keep my DD safe. She had an ana reaction to peanut butter at 22 months, 2 years ago. She is also allergic to dairy, egg, tree nuts and shellfish. I actually had one allergist just give me a few prescriptions for epi-pens, assuming that she would be needing them. We have had to change our habits but are blessed with a healthy DD. I hope that your DD is feeling better and that you are able to learn to create a safe world. And yes, allergies suck!

[JaneS]

A wonderful therapist and planning. Keep the epipens on a magnetic hook on door to outside. For a while I also had a FAAN sticker on the dashboard of my car to remind me.

It helped to read the FAAN parents book and just cry for a while.
https://www.foodallergy.org/shopping...roductcd=PSFHP

It's early still for you, give yourself time to process it.

[purplepaperclip]

Originally Posted by JaneS

A wonderful therapist and planning. Keep the epipens on a magnetic hook on door to outside. For a while I also had a FAAN sticker on the dashboard of my car to remind me.

It helped to read the FAAN parents book and just cry for a while.
https://www.foodallergy.org/shopping...roductcd=PSFHP

It's early still for you, give yourself time to process it.

JaneS, thank you so much for the link. And thank you mbbinsc & momma_c for your support. We're just taking it one day at a time right now and trying to wrap our heads around it. She also has allergies to dairy, eggs, carrots and penicillin, but those reactions have not been nearly anywhere as severe as the peanut reaction. A dose of benedryl has cleared those reactions up pretty well.