Bummed out

A little over a year ago, Caden tested positive for a peanut allergy. We discovered it after he ate a peanut butter sandwich about a year and a half ago and hives broke out around his mouth. So since last July, we’ve been carrying around an EpiPen, telling anyone who would listen that he’s allergic to peanuts, and feeding him Sun Butter (like peanut butter but made with sunflowers.).

Earlier this year, my mom inadvertantly made a real peanut butter sandwich for Caden. He took a bite, then Noah spoke up, “Nana! Caden can’t eat peanut butter!” Caden spit out the sandwich and my mom watched him closely, holding tight to the bottle of benadryl and the EpiPen. Nothing happened. Hmmmm.

In August of this year, we headed back to the allergist for our annual check-up. After hearing the story about the sandwich in Caden’s mouth, the doctor suggested we do a blood test to measure antibodies to the peanut. The results were promising. Caden’s antibody level was 0.98. According to the doctor, anything under 6 is considered “clincally negative” (I think those were his words.). Technically, anything under 0.35 is “below the level of detection.” So the doctor suggested we schedule a “food challenge,” a test where you expose the person to increasing amounts of the allergen. Caden’s test was today.

I brought a jar of peanut butter, as well as a bag of peanut butter cups. The nurse practitioner, Sara, asked his history, did a quick assessment, then we started the test. I swiped a smear of peanut butter on his bottom lip, which he licked off, and then we waited. Thankfully, my friend, Amy, had warned me that the testing takes a while (her daughter was allergic to milk and eggs and passed both food challenges), and I prepared by bringing my parents’ portable DVD player and some Backyardigans DVDs, as well as some new books for Caden to read with me. About 20 minutes after we put the peanut butter on his lip, we finished his new train book and took a look at his lip. CRAP! Three little white bumps surrounded by red had appeared. Yup. Hives. We kept watching.

Caden was happily engrossed in the “Mission to Mars” Backyardigans episode (see picture below) when we started to notice him rubbing his right eye, which had started to turn red. He kept rubbing it, and it turned more and more red and bloodshot. The hives on his chin got a little bigger, too. Then some hives appeared just below and to the right of his right eye. It occured to me that he had rubbed his bottom lip with his right index finger, which he then started using to rub his right eye. CRAP! I packed up the peanut butter and peanut butter cups. We kept watching.

Sara left to find a doctor that could take a look, and also said she’d come back with some Zyrtec. Caden kept watching his show and rubbing his right eye. A little shot of Zyrtec, a visit by the doctor (“Stop the test, give him some Zyrtec, put some hydrocortisone on his lip, and we’ll retry next year.”), the “Samurai Pie” Backyardigans episode, and a new prescription for two EpiPen Twin-Packs later, we were on our way.

I’m quite bummed. So is Andy. So is my mom. Caden doesn’t seem to mind one way or the other! I guess we’ll see what next year brings.