Talking Allergies

Ooh - I really like that poster!! Thanks for the link, AM.

I agree that facial swelling and vomiting are not something I would want people "observing" - I would want them acting on it PRONTO!!

I also agree on your point about some parents not doing as much, or not seeming to take anaphylaxis as seriously. It frustrates me sometimes, but at least I know I am doing the right thing... and hopefully being a good role model for others.

K.

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Karen, proud Mom of
- DS1 (12 yrs): allergic to cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts, potatoes, some legumes, some fish, pumpkin seeds; OAS
- DS2 (1o yrs): ana. to dairy, eggs, peanuts; asthma

I like the article at this link for back to school:

http://www.bridges4kids.org/Disabilities/Katona.html

Oh, I love this forum. I was going to start a thread about school . . .

I don't know about you but my stress levels are extremely high right now. My daughter starts K in a couple of weeks. I have done all the pre-work and I guess I just have to see how the first weeks go.

I'm hoping the stress level reduces then. Anyone feeling the same? How do you cope with the stress aside from just being as prepared as possible?

My poor husband is just now getting a couple of weeks vacation and he doesn't understand when I tell him it was a poor time of the summer as I am stressed and busy getting "back-to-school" ready. He just wants to go have FUN !!!!! Men . . . ha ha ha

But I suppose I should distract myself with vacation activities . . . LOL (or a bottle of wine).

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Michelle
Daughter (5 yrs) - ana to milk, nuts, peanut, egg, sesame; intolerant of beef; seasonal allergies; asthma
Husband - IBS - several food intolerances
Me - Asthma, some seasonal allergies

We had a great meeting with the new Principal and were thrilled to hear that she has done away with Pizza Day!
This has always been a dream of mine but I really can't believe that it has come true.
She won't make many friends with the Parent Council and I will have to become involved to ensure that they are still able to achieve their fundraising goals.
I e-mailed her a list of concerns that I had so that our meeting would be efficient (on my lunch hour) and she was able to address all of my concerns. We really had a great meeting and I really feel much better about our daughter going into grade 1 this year.
She also mentioned that she comes here on occasion but has not posted much if ever so...do I feel funny about any of my past posts? Am I going to be more reserved in my posts?
I thought a bit about it but then I decided that I can't really change who I am and besides I am just stating what happens, how I/my family feel and problem solve how to move on. I don't think I do very much mud slinging. (I may have to re-read some of my posts)
So to my daughters' new Principal an official Hello and welcome to the forum!
Feel free to read my old posts, remember that they are not directed at you, know that last year was much better than the first and realize where I am coming from.
I look forward to working with you.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

Susan, I never think it hurts for principals to know what allergic parents go through in trying to ensure their child's school is safe.

My impression is that you were very hopeful about the new principal, so I suspect that will be her "takeaway" on what you've written if she has stopped by.

And that's great news for you on Pizza Day. Congrats.

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Allergic to soy, peanut, shellfish, penicillin

Susan, glad to hear things are looking good for the upcoming year.

I think there was a thread running on this forum about non-food fundraising for schools. That might give you a few places to start looking. If it's not on this forum, start one -- I'm sure lots of people here will have some ideas.

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self: allergy to sesame seeds and peanuts
3 sons each with at least one of the following allergies: peniciilin, sulfa-based antibiotic, latex, insect bites/stings

I used one of the templates on one of the allergy web sites and had it ready for the first day of school. We had to do this for our daycare provider a couple years prior. I later found the school district has with their ana policy and regulations posted with the action form.

At the end of last year I got the school to give me the meds permission form so that we could have the doctor sign it before the first day of school.

Our school's office has all the meds kept in one portable filing case that can be grabbed easily in the event of an evacuation. Our son's stuff is in a ziploc back with the ana poster and meds, filed under our last name. He also carries his own Epi-pen around his waist. He was in kindergarten.

Our pharmacist mentioned that we may not want to use the benadryl because you don't want an ana person drowsy. He said the reactine works just as well and keeps them alert. However, I've learned with our daughter (no known allergies) the reactine, nondrowsy makes her a bit drowsy. Our ana son is fine with it.

We now tackle the lunch program at school. Last year we got a new principal, turned out really okay. This year there is another ana child to peanuts and, at our request, the school was approved for sensor bathroom equipment in the primary boys washroom - facets, soap and towel dispensers! They are prepared to move them to the intermedidate washrooms when our son graduates to the higher grades. There was a concern that they would not be approved because the school is being rebuilt in the next few years.

With our son being more main stream in the school this year, full day instead of AM kindergarten they are willing to ask that the whole school not bring peanuts and cashews to school. When he was in kindergarten they their request to just his classroom.

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6 year old son ana to peanuts, cashews, asthma, eczema
Almost 3 year old daughter, not tested yet
Husband, lucky guy with no allergies
Self, trees, weeds & grass girl, cats, dogs, chemical sensitive, eczma & now peanuts, fish, shellfish & penicillin

Remember that there are allergic teachers too I have numerous food allergies, and a co-worker has a peanut allergy. Obviously, we can manage our own things, but this is just to say that you will not necessary find an unsympathetic attitude out there in the schools We had a catered lunch today for our last day of teacher meetings, and I heard the secretary mention the peanut allergy when she placed the order.

That said, I think my new school has so far not been as pro-active as my old school was. They mentioned "oh yeah, we are peanut free" when they hired me, but they have not distributed any sort of list to me of children who have medical conditions. There was a letter posted in the office about a child with a medical condition, but nobody particularly pointed it out to me, and someone casually pointed out to me at open house a child who has some sort of issue where she needs a special chair. As a specialist teacher who goes into every classroom, I would like to be aware of any issues with the kids, so I think perhaps a little more information would be helpful. But I also know from experience that specialist teachers are often the last to know this sort of thing

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Asthma and eczema
Drug allergy (succinylcholine)
Food (corn, raw apples, green beans, tree nuts, flax)
Misc (pollen, grass, mold, dogs, cats)

That's pretty scary!
What is percentage of children have food allergies?
I'm surprised to hear that there isn't one student at your school.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

We have had a really good start to the school year -- a world of difference between last year and this.

I first of all got everything all lined up: I met with the allergist (other years I had just gone to the GP who, in all honesty, said 'what would you like me to say?' when I showed her the medical consent form) and I went in to meet the principal with the information the allergist provided me. This gave me confidence that I was passing on accurate directions, which is always a good thing! (I know, I know....)

The next thing is that I met the principal with a reasonable idea of what they had to provide for my son, and what would be nice. The last school's principal answered everything with 'that could be complicated, know that is complicated' while this principal said he was looking to make sure that my son felt safe, and that I was confident they were doing everything they could. This difference in attitude made me more open, that is for sure. And when he said signs would go up on the classroom door, I knew he didn't have the 'complications' the other principal had. Boy, was I relieved.

So when the kids were placed in their proper classrooms on the first full day of school, a letter went home stating there were two kids with nut allergies, and please don't send in any nut or peanut products. There were loose nuts the first day of school (my son let the teacher know and he was moved) but there was nothing sent in today or on Friday. This did not happen at first in the other school -- but that was because the principal there would not ask other parents not to send anything in! So right away my son has a comfort level that was not matched by hiis former school until February of last year, whien I finally got the word out to everyone about his allergies.

EpiPen training/review is on Wednesday, and they told me that they are booking a health nurse soon. This school seems to be on top of things, so I am not nearly the frantic/worried/anxious/obnoxious mom I was last year.I won't ride them on every little thing. . . and they shouldn't react by putting up bright coloured notes on WHAT TO DO IF CAROLINE'S SON HAS AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION in his classroom, the library, the music room, the gym, etc, etc (oiy). And now I really feel that my boy can just be a kid in his school. Ya, he is one that wears a Medical Alert bracelet and an EpiPen, but there are safeguards in place that, with knowledge and preparedness, his community can help keep him safe. And isn't that what we all want?

I just cannot tell you the relief I feel. I know I chose to stay at the other school for a myriad of reasons but this year I couldn't be happier with our new situation. My only advice to others facing a non-compliant school is please consider your options, for you are right to insist your school be compliant when it comes to the safety of your child.

Caroline

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son anaphylactic to peanuts

I'm so glad that things are going better for you this year.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

my problem was to make sure that my daughters high school had atleast started to adhere to Sabrina's law... unfortunately when I checked in early February (sabrina's law took effect in January of that year) the vice principal had no idea what I was speaking about. Well, after much to do, and a summer long "discussion" shall I say, my daughter went to start school in Sept. in a reduce the risk envirnoment. To date, there is no one to follow up on whether or not sabrina's law is being followed or adhered to.
ON another note, the school bus drivers have now refused to carry epi-pens with the bus. Although my daugher carries two on her, in previous years, I had always provided one for the bus driver as well. There is a huge gap here in regards to the bus drivers and any other "sub contracted" services to our schools in regards to allergies.

Honestly Jean, you're probably better off having your daughter carry the EpiPens than on the bus. If the drivers leave them on the bus, they can become exposed to fluctuations in temperature which could render them less effective. If your daughter has to carry it she will hopefully have them on her when she needs it.
Sabrina had one in her locker but she was eating in the cafeteria.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

This is my first year having my daughter in school. We moved to the area very quickly and with short notice so I feel like I've been scrambling. I'm very happy with my daughter's teacher, but I'm not so thrilled with the school or the bus.

I feel that the school is giving me the answers they *think* are right. I get the feeling that when I talk to people they don't really know. I also volunteered in my daughters class the other day and it didn't dawn on me until after I left (it was a very busy morning) that her picture wasn't posted in the class. And all the pictures in the staff room were from last year! I did call the school about this. I offered to volunteer to help since i know they are busy, but was told that they didn't need volunteer help in the office they need it in the class room

I had a quick conversation with the principal yesterday and we are going to meet in November. She's very buys with the reorg to meet the cap sizes, which I respect and as I mentioned I'm comfortable since my daughter is in JK, always with the same teacher, wears her e-belt and has a medic-alert braclet.

I was shocked though to find out that the principal hasn't had to deal with many questions regarding thier anaphylaxis policy??? I also had to go searching through the school board website to find the school boards proticol. I actually had to call them to find out where it was since I couldn't find i t by myself.

I think my biggest concern is that the school truely believes they have good proceedures in place. But everything can be improved on right? I have joined the parent council as well so I'm hoping by the time my daughter is in school fulltime that the school will have a better system in place. I have a feeling they won't be very recepitive to new ideas though It's a fairly new school, so that gives me hope.

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4ye old DD allergic to sesame, peanut, raw egg , and mulitple environmental & seasonal allergies

2 yr old DS -no known allergies!

I would take exception to being told that tehy don't need volunteer assistance in the office but only in theclcassroom. If they are 7-9 weeks into the school year and still don't have up to date information in the office. How can that be? When do they plan on making this information known? It only takes one bite, not 2 months worth...
I would prepare the information and bring it in ASAP, put it up on the wall and not allow them to tell you they don't need your help.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb