KateSpot

Last night, while we were watching movies, Youngeststarted her allergy coughing. We had no clue what was causing it but we gave her benadryl (thank you Pfizer for creating benadryl. It's truly been a life saver) and a nebulizer treatment. She ended up falling alseep, wrapped in a blanket and all curled up on Eldest's beanbag chair. I carried her into bed and she was out for the night.

Later in the evening, Husband and I got ready for bed. I flicked on the tv and we watched tv for a little while. I must have fallen asleep because, the next thing I know, Husband woke me up. He was having an allergic reaction - hives everywhere on his body. Feet, hands, back, legs.. you name it. He took a large dose of benadryl and jumped into the shower. At this point. neither one of us knew what the hell was causing his reaction. It's been a long time since I've witnessed a reaction with Husband.

He got out of the shower and was still very itchy and quite uncomfortable. I had him take more benadryl and then I covered him with extra strength benadryl spray. He was certain there was something on or in the bedsheets. We sat in the couch, at 1230am, discussing what the hell might have caused this. He didn't eat anything different nor did I, therefore eliminating food contamination. We also realized that Youngestwas most likely affected due to her reaction earlier in the evening. We hashed it out and finally came to the conclusion that Husband most likely brought home peanut butter on his jeans.

Where Husband works, there are operators that work overnights. One guy, who worked overnight the past couple nights, makes himself PB&J sandwiches at work. Husband thinks he might have brushed up against a table that had trace amounts of peanut butter on it and got it on his jeans. It makes sense. Youngestwas all over Husband last night and it could have just been enough to trigger her response. When Husband got changed for bed, he most likely got it on his hands and rubbed his face or arms. His reaction was lightening fast. He had pulled out the epi-pen and was thisclose to using it. Thankfully, the benadryl worked quickly. Another ER trip avoided.

So, for every one of you who thinks that peanut allergies (or any other food allergies) are a load of bunk, well, you are sadly mistaken.

tags: benadryl + food allergies + peanut allergies + peanut allergy