Thanks for posting an insightful blog on childhood allergies.

Our son has eczema and it is/was pretty bad. I just knew there had to be something wrong, that he was allergic to something - even though my gut said it was milk, it turned out not to be that.
We had him tested for allergies and the only reaction we got to anything was latex. Odd. Lots of dr visits later and after a scary encounter with peanut butter (he got a hold of his sister’s PB sandwich) we discovered he had an allergy to peanuts. It was bad enough that I had to call 911 - now that’s terrifying. I took the steps that I did because of things Missy had told me happened to Avery and I remembered this.
We made our trek into the dr’s office after the paramedics came so they could check him out and I FINALLY got a referral to go see Dr Helm (from Missy’s recommendation, of course!) We had him re-tested for allergies and this time they did a 20-food panel and the results came back that he was allergic to peanuts (duh!) egg whites and minimally to soy.
So, I just wanted to say, if you think there is something going on, try and get it tested. Don’t give up when the drs tell you no and if you don’t think something is right, GET A SECOND OPINION, don’t wait until it’s too late.

Our DS5 had known dairy allergies since he was 1 (we found out in a similar way to Missy - bits of cheese or yogurt before his first bday gave him a rash around his mouth, which we now know were hives). We had asked the pediatric allergist on a couple of our yearly visits if we should be concerned about peanut allergies, because DS never wanted to try peanut butter or peanuts and so we didn’t know what sort of reaction he might have. He said he didn’t like the smell of it. She said since we didn’t avoid peanuts at home, then he’s likely been exposed to it with no ill effects. Well, when on a flight last month, DS decided to try a peanut, which they serve on Delta (Northwest had stopped serving these for years, but Delta is committed to supporting Georgia’s peanut industry). Within 15 minutes of eating one peanut, he started coughing nonstop. He also has mild asthma, and although I thought it might possibly be related to the peanut allergy, we ended up giving him a puff of albuterol. This helped him breathe a little better, but what really helped is that he threw up to get the reaction to stop. As we later found out he should have been given
an epipen shot. (Albuterol does nothing to stop an allergic reaction, as we now know.) DS5 tested positive for peanuts and many tree nuts (even tree nuts he had eaten loads of in the past.) The doctor said that it is relatively common to hear of kids who don’t like the taste or smell of particular foods that they are allergic to, so I would say it’s a good idea to pay attention if you’re dealing with one of the top 8 food allergies.

If you suspect food allergies, please see a pediatric allergist. The symptoms that you believe are mild now may get worse in the future, and if you are prepared with an epipen, you can save your child’s life. As for the choice of giving Benedryl versus epipen, our doctor told us that Benedryl has never saved anyone’s life — the epipen is the best way to stop the reaction. We are going to incorporate this into the plan for the school when DS starts kindergarten in the fall (we will not be listing Benedryl as a choice of treatment for an allergic reaction). The doctor said that if a teacher has a choice between epipen or Benedryl, they will almost always choose Benedryl. Epipen shots are safe for otherwise healthy children, even if it turns out they didn’t really need it. Parents need to go in to schools and daycares and make sure the teachers/caregivers know how to use the epipens and know what the signs of a reaction are so they know when to give a shot.

Anyone who discovers their child has food allergies will quickly become an expert label reader. There are allergens in some very surprising things (e.g., milk in McDonalds french fries). And companies change their products regularly, so you must read labels every time you buy something. To be safe, you should call companies to check if they also process any of the allergens your child has. (Although the labeling laws now require companies to list the major 8 allergens in bold, I do not think there is a law requiring companies to state if the food is processed in a facility that also processes the major allergens.) Lots of makeup, soaps, and lotions contain nut oils, so if your peanut/nut allergic child is highly sensitive. Deli meats are sometimes sliced on the same slicer with cheese or cheese-containing meats. Most breads have milk added to them.

Here is a great forum where you can talk about food allergies and find support, recipes, and loads of other resources. http://allergy.hyperboards.com/
You can even search for a particular food to see if people with similar allergies have had any problems.

We got a little bit of good news at our latest pediatric allergist visit. Our DS5 will likely outgrow his dairy allergy (which seems to be the hardest to avoid). The peanut allergy is likely with him for life, though. Oh, and since our incident with Delta, we have since flown safely. You must contact the airline ahead of time and request a peanut-free buffer zone, and you can board early to wipe down the seats, buckles, pockets, and windows. Peanut protein cannot be killed with things like purell - you must actually wipe it away. Luckily, support for food allergies is pretty easy to find.

Honestly, having been to some large tech shows (in NYC), it really wasn’t that bad. The parties with the swag issues were the ones thrown by great women who hadn’t done something like that. They were doing it for the love of the party, and unforuntately they learned the hard way. The pro done ones, they didn’t have any issues.

I think individuals should get sponsorships, but I think there needs to be some good communication about how to properly represent your sponsor. Some did an amazing job that had the desired effect (I’ve gone to check out some of the companies) and the ones who were not professional, I think they’ll learn.

Overall, it was a great experience.

They wonder why the event becomes such a grab bag of sponsors and advertising — that’s why. It’s hard to afford on your own (my office paid when I went to SF, and it was about 1300 for tickets, hotel and plane, and getting a sponsor means shilling all weekend.