FACES Meeting
Minutes/Resources – February 7th, 2012
Tales from the Epipen
Speakers: Ted and Julie Collison
FAAN Updates
o Food Allergy Conference March 31st Oak Brook, IL - For details: http://www.foodallergy.org/section/food-allergy-conferences11
o Food Allergy Tool Kit for school professionals - For details: http://www.foodallergy.org/section/for-school-professionals-educators
Ted and Julie Collison spoke regarding Ted’s lifelong allergies and the allergies of their 4 year old daughter Samantha.
Sam’s first allergic reaction occurred at 9 months old. She had no known allergies prior to this reaction. Sam had 3 bites of yogurt and began coughing and wheezing. She quickly started struggling to breathe. Julie called 911 and waited for the ambulance to arrive.
Sam did not have hives or swelling. It is important to remember that every reaction is different. After the Epipen was administered it quickly began to work and Sam began to cry. Julie’s take away from this experience were breathe, have a level head and do not hesitate to call 911.
Since this first reaction Sam has had 6 anaphylactic reactions. Julie has administered the Epipen for each reaction after the first. She recommends having Epipens at each important location such as home, school, grandma’s house, etc. The Epipen can be given through thin clothes if necessary but never go through a seem in pants. Julie suggested that you have the child sitting or lying.
If the child is standing their muscles contract making it harder to administer the pen.
Sam, now 4 can verbalize what a reaction feels like and can express to her parents that she feels a reaction coming on. She will tell her mom that it feels like there is a “cough stuck in her throat”.
It is important to learn all possible symptoms of anaphylaxis (http://www.foodallergy.org/section/a) and be prepared to use the Epipen.
Ted has been dealing with food allergies since the age 2. He did not have allergy testing but was diagnosed by his parents. Ted’s allergy was evident by a flush face and vomiting as an infant and toddler. His allergy has progressed and changed as he aged. In his elementary years he became more sensitive to nuts, legumes and tree nuts. His reactions became more severe to the point that he would vomit and be whiped out for several hours. During his early high school years he would pass out with a food allergy reaction. During Ted’s sophomore year of high school he ate a few bites of a cookie and instantly he knew a reaction was occurring. He described it as the back of his tongue feeling glued to his throat and feeling that his throat was packed with cotton. He said he struggles to swallow saliva. This was his first severe anaphylactic reaction. He recalls vomiting but doesn’t remember much after that point. He was intubated at the hospital and remained hospitalized for 3 days.
Ted describes the feeling of receiving an Epipen as an “overwhelming feeling of relief”. He said that you can feel things reversing.
During Ted’s childhood and preteen years his parents were very open about his allergies and talked with other parents as needed.
Ted observed this and eventually took over this responsibility himself. He credits his parent’s role in this for giving him the confidence and comfort to handle food allergy discussions on his own. At times Ted used to feel that he needed to apologize for his allergies but he believe society is changing and moving in a direction that is more understanding of food allergies.
Overall the advice Ted and Julie offered was to instill confidence and social skills in your children. The more you talk to your children the better they will feel about their selves and how to protect their selves. Do not let food allergies rule your lives. Learn to live with them as parents and teach your children how to live with them.
Q&A
Q = Peer pressure –did you feel out of place when passing on food?
A= Ted felt that most of his peers knew about his allergy and were understand. He remembers one incident where a girl
put a PB sandwich in his face to tease him. He did have a reaction from this and
the girl later apologized for her actions.
Q = Explain more about handling food allergy situations as a preteen/teen… did you make responsible decisions?
A = If you educate your child teach them responsibility they will be more likely to make smart decisions regarding food and their
life.
Q = Do you have anxiety at restaurants or parties? As parents we often feel anxiety over our children’s allergies.
A = There will always be a little in the back of your mind as there is always some degree of risk.
Q = Ted what are your allergies and have they changed?
A = Always allergic to peanuts/legumes and tree nuts. The severity has worsened.
Q = How do you deal with traveling on airplanes?
A = Ted has always predosed with Benadryl. If feels an issue or concern he moves to an area away from peanuts such
as the bathroom of the plane as the air is circulated in the bathroom more frequently. This helps give Ted a sense of comfort.
Thank you Ted and Julie for sharing your personal experiences with us!
Speakers: Ted and Julie Collison
FAAN Updates
o Food Allergy Conference March 31st Oak Brook, IL - For details: http://www.foodallergy.org/section/food-allergy-conferences11
o Food Allergy Tool Kit for school professionals - For details: http://www.foodallergy.org/section/for-school-professionals-educators
Ted and Julie Collison spoke regarding Ted’s lifelong allergies and the allergies of their 4 year old daughter Samantha.
Sam’s first allergic reaction occurred at 9 months old. She had no known allergies prior to this reaction. Sam had 3 bites of yogurt and began coughing and wheezing. She quickly started struggling to breathe. Julie called 911 and waited for the ambulance to arrive.
Sam did not have hives or swelling. It is important to remember that every reaction is different. After the Epipen was administered it quickly began to work and Sam began to cry. Julie’s take away from this experience were breathe, have a level head and do not hesitate to call 911.
Since this first reaction Sam has had 6 anaphylactic reactions. Julie has administered the Epipen for each reaction after the first. She recommends having Epipens at each important location such as home, school, grandma’s house, etc. The Epipen can be given through thin clothes if necessary but never go through a seem in pants. Julie suggested that you have the child sitting or lying.
If the child is standing their muscles contract making it harder to administer the pen.
Sam, now 4 can verbalize what a reaction feels like and can express to her parents that she feels a reaction coming on. She will tell her mom that it feels like there is a “cough stuck in her throat”.
It is important to learn all possible symptoms of anaphylaxis (http://www.foodallergy.org/section/a) and be prepared to use the Epipen.
Ted has been dealing with food allergies since the age 2. He did not have allergy testing but was diagnosed by his parents. Ted’s allergy was evident by a flush face and vomiting as an infant and toddler. His allergy has progressed and changed as he aged. In his elementary years he became more sensitive to nuts, legumes and tree nuts. His reactions became more severe to the point that he would vomit and be whiped out for several hours. During his early high school years he would pass out with a food allergy reaction. During Ted’s sophomore year of high school he ate a few bites of a cookie and instantly he knew a reaction was occurring. He described it as the back of his tongue feeling glued to his throat and feeling that his throat was packed with cotton. He said he struggles to swallow saliva. This was his first severe anaphylactic reaction. He recalls vomiting but doesn’t remember much after that point. He was intubated at the hospital and remained hospitalized for 3 days.
Ted describes the feeling of receiving an Epipen as an “overwhelming feeling of relief”. He said that you can feel things reversing.
During Ted’s childhood and preteen years his parents were very open about his allergies and talked with other parents as needed.
Ted observed this and eventually took over this responsibility himself. He credits his parent’s role in this for giving him the confidence and comfort to handle food allergy discussions on his own. At times Ted used to feel that he needed to apologize for his allergies but he believe society is changing and moving in a direction that is more understanding of food allergies.
Overall the advice Ted and Julie offered was to instill confidence and social skills in your children. The more you talk to your children the better they will feel about their selves and how to protect their selves. Do not let food allergies rule your lives. Learn to live with them as parents and teach your children how to live with them.
Q&A
Q = Peer pressure –did you feel out of place when passing on food?
A= Ted felt that most of his peers knew about his allergy and were understand. He remembers one incident where a girl
put a PB sandwich in his face to tease him. He did have a reaction from this and
the girl later apologized for her actions.
Q = Explain more about handling food allergy situations as a preteen/teen… did you make responsible decisions?
A = If you educate your child teach them responsibility they will be more likely to make smart decisions regarding food and their
life.
Q = Do you have anxiety at restaurants or parties? As parents we often feel anxiety over our children’s allergies.
A = There will always be a little in the back of your mind as there is always some degree of risk.
Q = Ted what are your allergies and have they changed?
A = Always allergic to peanuts/legumes and tree nuts. The severity has worsened.
Q = How do you deal with traveling on airplanes?
A = Ted has always predosed with Benadryl. If feels an issue or concern he moves to an area away from peanuts such
as the bathroom of the plane as the air is circulated in the bathroom more frequently. This helps give Ted a sense of comfort.
Thank you Ted and Julie for sharing your personal experiences with us!