Oh Nuts!

About 9 months ago I gave Anna some trail mix to snack on while I did some things around the house.  After a few minutes I heard her coughing a lot, so I went to check on her to make sure she wasn't choking.  I noticed she had hives all over her face.  So I took the trail mix away and gave her some water and benedryl.  I wasn't sure what was int he trail mix to make her react.  It could have been some dehydrated fruit, nuts, oil, who knows.  But I didn't give her anymore trail mix.

Yesterday we were driving in the car on our way to the store.  I gave the kids a snack.  It was a snack pack of mixed nuts.  Pretty soon I start to hear Anna coughing.  At first I didn't pay attention much because Kiah was just talking about how she has been coughing a lot at school, so I thought it was in response to that....especially since Anna said "I coughing, mommy." I said "You are, are you alright?"  And she responded yes.  But the coughing continued to I turned to look at her and she had hives surrounding her mouth.  So I gave her some water and asked her if she was ok.  She said yes.  I asked her if she wanted to go to the doctor and she said no.  But I decided to pull over and check her out.  

We were close to a gas station and I needed gas, so I pulled in and took a look.  I decided to call the doctor.  It was almost 4pm at this point, but since we were only about half a block from the doctors office they had us come in.  As I got back in the car Anna said she wanted to go to the doctor because she had thrown-up.  So off we went.  

I could tell she was really uncomfortable.  She was scratching everywhere and was covered in hives.  The whites of her eyes were red, I think from rubbing.  The cough pretty much stopped after she puked.  It seemed liked we waited forever to go back.  But she wasn't in breathing distress, so I knew ultimately she was ok.

I snapped this picture of her back after we talked with the doctor but before she had medicine.

The docotr was concerned since she reacted in so many ways.  She was coughing and wheezing, itching and hives, and vomiting.  He has referred us to an allergist.  We have to carry and Epipen.  And no nuts (ground or tree) until after we see the allergist.

I know the reaction wasn't to peanuts.  She had been eating those all week.  And she had peanut butter fairly regularly.  But we will follow the doctors directions.  I know each exposure to an allergen can increase the response your body gives.  Not the excitement I want in my life... or Anna's!

Anyway, I am sorta kicking myself now.  I just threw out the bag of trail mix she first reacted to, just a month or 2 ago.  I really debated it.  But I told myself  I really had no idea which ingredient was the culprit and I didn't need to hang on to it.  It was just taking up room.  BUT ultimately it doesn't matter.  The ingredient list on the bag of nuts was pretty short. Cashews, Almonds 

9I don't think it is this one since I am pretty sure she has eaten them earlier this week), Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts (pretty sure it's not this one either), cottonseed oil, seas salt (I would be surprised!)

Her appointment is in November in Tupelo, I always wanted to make the drive out there... this just isn't why I wanted to go!