Am I Overreacting?
My almost 2 year old daughter, we’ll call her Jane, had an anaphylactic reaction to eating half a perfect peanut butter bar about 4 months ago. She started coughing like crazy, had a hoarse voice, hives and threw up. Initially went to Urgent Care thinking I was over reacting, who then sent us by ambulance to the ER.
It was horrible. I never want to experience that again. I have multiple siblings and their spouses who were all sympathetic about the situation as well as my parents. Fast forward to tonight at our 4th of July gathering…
My niece made white chocolate covered peanut butter bites. Everyone is eating them, including her cousins who love playing with her and my mom who loves kissing and snuggling her. So I announce, probably with a bit of a frustrated tone, “Anyone who is eating those isn’t allowed to touch Jane anymore” I get a couple looks and someone says “Is she really that allergic?” Thankfully one of my sisters said “Well let’s not find out” then my mom says “What?? No really? Aww I’ll wash my hands!”
I tried to explain that wouldn’t be enough but everyone was looking at me like I was being a little extra. I now feel uncomfortable setting my daughter down because she puts everything in her mouth and there are crumbs of it everywhere. I had to go outside and take a walk because I started to get emotional and didn’t want it to be seen. I’m so confused. It could send her to the hospital people!!! How is this even a thing? Anyway.. I feel like no one around me is taking it serious. It makes my weak mind wonder if I’m overreacting.
I do not actually know how allergic she is. I do not know if a small peanut butter smear could send her into anaphylactic shock. But dang it I don’t want to find out.
Edit: I wanted to mention that we have been to an allergist. Blood test and scratch test have been done. Blood test showed it was a “low” allergy but my allergist said the number doesn’t really mean a whole lot. That if she had an anaphylactic reaction that’s all we need to know and she could have a worse reaction next time. We are starting OIT next month to help with accidental exposure. Also, have 2 epi pens on us at all times.