You are probably wondering how the two of these relate to one another~ well unfortunately our experience yesterday brings the two of these 'diseases' together.
Our day started out pretty normal for a family our size. Allen had an orthodontist appointment (can I here a cha ching cha ching cha ching? LOL) after that, I brought him into get his allergy shots. The day was slowly getting away from us.
After these appointments we drove home to quickly make some lunch and continue on with our day. Well I wish it would have been this easy. Unfortunately I was already exhausted and had a lot on my mind with upcoming injections and reuniting with my brother this weekend~ so when Maddie requested a Heath Bar (bite size) I nodded and agreed she could have it.
We sat and watched the Y&R ...but not 5 minutes after she ate the candy bar, she jumped up and started to cry with chest pains. I immediately begged AMR to read the packaging, and what do you know.....ALMONDS. Ugh. I said she could have a candy bar with NUTS???? How in the world did I agree to this, why was I so lazy to not pick up the bag and just read??? Why was I so consumed with my life rather than trying to protect my child?? These are the questions that remain with me and are teaching me a lesson I shouldn't have to be taught, because I do have common sense.
After hearing the Almonds in the candy, I brought Maddie over to the cupboard and gave her some benadryl and kept the epi pen close to me. I re-read the directions to make sure if I did have to use it, I would do it properly. I sat Maddie down and watched her like an hawk. She grew increasingly uncomfortable, and started to see red spots. At that point I loaded her into the truck and told Allen he must ride in the back with the epi pen. We had to pick up Michael from work and then we went straight to the ER.
We arrived safely and without using the epi pen to the ER and she was seen immediately. Oxygen level was in the 80's and she was getting very zoney and started to have trouble with her hand. We washed her hand thinking it was from the candy she touched...but that didn't help at all.
We were brought immediately back from the triage into a room by the nurses desk so she could be watched. As we sat, we saw Maddie's eyes start to swell and get very heavy, the hives started, then SEVERE-Massive Leg pain came out of nowhere. She said on a scale of 1-10 the pain level was at a 10. This was NOT related to the allergy reaction...this was something completely different.
The doctor asked to run a Sickle Cell Anemia Lab Test.....unfortunately this has to be sent out of the hospital to an independent lab. Sickle Cell does run in Terry's side of the family, and Terry has a step cousin that has Sickle Cell and has similar pain in her legs, as Maddie did. But from the information I've read, both parents have to be carriers of this hemaglobin S. I'm not sure that I carry it, since I'm caucasian ~ but we are testing her non the less to find out if in fact the leg pain is associated to Sickle Cell.
I pray that she was just having growing pains and that she is healthy.
Living with Peanut Allergies is hard enough for Maddie and for the family. If you haven't noticed, there are peanuts in almost everything.....peanut flour, peanut oil, made around nuts, or on machines that are in contact with nuts....the list goes on.
So that was our day...and our scare!!! Maddie is currently on prednisone, which makes her an eating monster~ but if you've seen Maddie, you know she can afford to eat as much as she wants. We are having her rest as much as possible and watching her closely.
I'm anxiously awaiting test results.
Love to all,
~T
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