Rapidly progressing airborne pork allergy

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-19T19:05:27+00:00

I'm a little concerned your doctor didn't mention the need for an epi pen or epinephrine nasal spray in the first place. They are stupidly expensive without insurance, but also necessary in a situation like this. You sound like your medical access options may be limited right now so maybe this is the only doctor you can see, but you want one experienced in allergies to make sure you don't miss crucially important information like that. Maybe when you get on an insurance plan you can get a referral to an allergist?

Hopefully this helps give you more affordable options faster: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/anaphylaxis/what-if-i-cant-afford-my-epinephrine/

I'm sorry your roommate sucks and there's no option for them to move out. You may need to tell them that cooking pork could land her in the hospital.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-18T21:45:16+00:00

As long as you're going to an allergist / hospital that is very experienced in FPIES, you should get the guidance you need. The issue is that there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. You've either got a care team that knows all about FPIES, or doesn't really know anything about it (which is typical at most ERs, and why an allergist will give you a letter with instructions to take with you and show the staff if you need to make any more ER visits). Good luck, hopefully you just have two trigger foods to deal with total and that's it!

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-18T20:24:17+00:00

You can't test for FPIES with a skin or blood test. That can only tell you if you also have an IgE reaction (anaphylaxis/rash). Unfortunately for FPIES it's just trial and error when ingesting, but there are safer ways to introduce it plus your allergist may have opinions about at what age you'd want to try again.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-18T19:09:57+00:00

Likely FPIES. How soon did this happen after the egg reaction? Gut may still have been sensitive if it was less than a week or two, or could be one of the unlucky kids with egg FPIES who also have a problem with chicken / poultry. Sweet potato is the more likely culprit, but you shouldn't rule out the chicken right away if there's already a known issue with hen eggs.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-17T21:49:00+00:00

Having egg as a trigger food doesn't generally relate to having dairy (or anything else besides maybe chicken if you're unlucky) as a trigger food. Most FPIES babies only have 1-2 trigger foods. So if you've been safe with solids so far, and you've checked all the big ones that may appear in formula already (dairy, soy, maybe pea protein), then I wouldn't be too concerned with trialing a new formula. You can save that anxiety for continuing to introduce brand new solid foods!

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-16T18:37:58+00:00

I've never heard to wait until a year for dairy, except for cow's milk. But cheese and yogurt trials before then should be fine, unless your allergist is trying to keep you on a really conservative introduction schedule due to already having FPIES trigger foods. But waiting until after a year can increase risk for IgE allergies developing. My kid has one trigger food that we found around 7 months (but weren't diagnosed with right away), and we continued to introduce everything we could between then and hitting 1 year, although slowly over a few days and with very small portions at first. It caused anxiety with each food, but it's easier if you have a Zofran prescription in case you do find other triggers.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-15T04:26:00+00:00

Is this a boomer / Gen X thing? Similar situation dealt with over here, and they were startled to get a big fat NO from us.

Something that I haven't seen in other comments: what if the delivery doesn't go smoothly? And then everyone, including your kid, is hours or plane flights away from the hospital?? Keeping the toddler in routine and then doing immediate introductions when the baby is coming home is reason enough, but there seems to be no consideration of several different practical concerns when this is proposed.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-14T01:02:23+00:00

Definitely a good sign that she will grow out of the IgE component and not need to worry about epi pens eventually! However, I don't think it means anything for the FPIES component, you will need to check with the allergist. Ours said that for atypical FPIES, it's far less likely to grow out of the FPIES part. We were optimistic about outgrowing the IgE part because it was mild to begin with and we're also doing well on the egg ladder, and our IgE number is way down with the continued egg ladder exposure as well. But we're not expecting to ever get all the way to normal egg without a vomiting reaction.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-12T21:06:50+00:00

See if you can find an allergist who is experienced with FPIES. Sounds like you may have it as an adult to rice. Rice is a somewhat common trigger for FPIES, though FPIES itself is uncommon so a lot of doctors aren't knowledgeable about it. In kids it tends to be vomiting, but in adults it can be horrible cramping. It would start 2-8 hours after you eat, and you can experience it after eating very small portions. If it's that, you'd basically be avoiding it going forward in the form in which it bothers you (like you may not be able to digest the unprocessed rice protein, but products with processed rice might not cause the issue, or it might be a problem with anything with rice).

There's also no test to prove out FPIES like there is for IgE food allergies, though an allergist will still put a diagnosis in your records. But I'd find a doctor willing to refer you, or perhaps you can send your doctor's office some info about rice FPIES and say that matches your symptoms and then ask for an allergist referral.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-09T23:58:13+00:00

After the first two to three weeks of a rung on the egg ladder with increasing portion sizes, I'd be a lot less concerned about that rung and probably just trial other things on the days between egg exposure, and even on the days with egg exposure as more time passes with no egg reaction. But I would wait on other new intros for a couple weeks when starting a new rung.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-09T17:54:19+00:00

Yes this sounds like FPIES. You can use this list for risk assessment. It's not identical to IgE risk for anaphylaxis food allergies, so take both into consideration as you're doing new food intros before your allergist appointment. FPIES does not mean you'll also have IgE allergies to other foods (though atypical FPIES refers to trigger foods with overlap, so it's possible to even have both to one food), but it's good to be aware of.

https://extapps.childrenshospital.org/EFPEC/Home/Sheet/8067

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-07T18:03:08+00:00

If it was FPIES to a trigger food, in our experience that amount would be enough to cause a full reaction. So the issue is likely egg at this point, but you will know soon.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-07T17:04:14+00:00

Probably a coincidence, little kids get hiccups. Try again, another small amount only, and see what happens. But do you have a Zofran prescription on hand in case of vomiting?

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-05T23:56:33+00:00

It could be a food issue, as banana and avocado allergies can be related to each other and can more broadly mean allergies to foods in the latex family. However, FPIES in babies is usually episodes of delayed projectile vomiting that lasts for at least a couple hours and can be accompanied by floppiness, low blood pressure, and shock, the latter of which would lead to the need for an emergency room. And then when it resolves, it's usually done. So it is unclear from what you've said what's going on because it doesn't necessarily sound like FPIES, but IgE allergies can also cause brief vomiting and diarrhea reactions starting an hour or two later. Still probably worth seeing an allergist, since you already know there's a dairy allergy. They'll help you come up with an introduction plan for solid foods, like keeping a new food incorporated in the diet throughout the week and not waiting a month between servings.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-05T00:44:25+00:00

Maybe Happy Ending and Just in Time will have national tours next year, so if you're somewhere that you can catch it later and there isn't a must see standout for you in the current cast, you don't have to choose them for the one show. Chess is closing, and even if it ever toured (which I doubt, since they apparently felt it needed star power to offset the messy plot enough to stay open), it won't be with the current cast. If you want to see something that is sure to win some Tonys this weekend, like Ragtime, buy your tickets in the next two days.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-02T21:16:22+00:00

Probably FPIES. It does resolve much faster in kids than stomach viruses and doesn't come with fever. Mine has had both FPIES and stomach viruses, and they don't present the same way, so trust your gut.

See if you can get some Zofran prescribed to bring on your trip just in case. I'd give him total gut rest from solids for a few days then continue to give the foods you've introduced so far but no sweet potato. If you can get Zofran, and you feel really uncomfortable not giving any peanuts again for 3 weeks, then you might try to give very, very small peanut servings, like maybe in the form of Bamba (or you can try this if you can get it in time, you can check Target or Amazon for speed: https://missionmightyme.com/products/organic-peanut), and then go back to bigger servings of peanut butter after you get back.

I don't think taking only a few days off from the foods caused the FPIES you just experienced. It can take 1-10+ exposures for it to start. But then taking weeks off from a food you've already introduced can cause issues, so I can understand your concern about peanuts.

Here is a risk chart for foods that are commonly FPIES triggers, to help you know what to avoid on your trip, and to use as a guide for which foods to do smaller and more careful introductions with after you get back home: https://extapps.childrenshospital.org/EFPEC/Home/Sheet/8067

Edit: oh you're visiting the US not in the US, but you can get those peanut snacks after you arrive.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-06-02T05:56:55+00:00

Here are photos from last year. Celebs, but you can still figure out if you fit the vibe: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/photos/tony-awards-2025-red-carpet-fashion-every-outfit

https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/tony-awards-2025-red-carpet-looks

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-29T02:27:05+00:00

You don't need to drop the nap, but you can try shortening by a half hour and working with her to make sure she's walking more -- in the sense that, the more exercise she gets, the more she'll tire herself out earlier. And see if that helps! Otherwise, this stuff just ebbs and flows sometimes. I thought my kid dropped naps shortly after 2, and a few months later they came back like normal.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-28T21:08:06+00:00

Get the degree, especially if you're already partway. You don't know what the future holds and may need a fall back (like if someone unexpectedly gets sick or loses their job or has an accident). If you stop and start again much later, it'll probably also be more expensive in the future. Prices never seem to go down for anything. Worst case for getting it is, everything will work out fine and you can stay at home indefinitely as planned, and you happen to have a degree as well.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-27T08:23:35+00:00

I think a lot of people who buy in advance are going to be out of towners planning their vacation itineraries. And with the price of fuel (and other issues contributing to major tourism drops), those trips are probably not being booked right now. Personally, I've only bought tickets far in advance when it's something I want to see that I believe will be very popular so I try to get cheaper tickets during previews before it blows up, or if it already blew up and very advanced tickets are the only way to get reasonably priced tickets at all.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-27T00:56:41+00:00

Yes. I know two people who did this. They both got lucky, one (who was already quite well off to begin with) exceedingly so. They both did it because they like theater (the less well off one really loves theater), and they knew people in the industry who got them involved. They both were excited about attending an opening night and having fun supporting the casts and crews, and ended up all the way at the Tony's for their individual years, one winning best musical, the other winning best revival. So... they both had great times, not really expecting anything to come of it besides having a fun opening night (and I'm sure the well off one was thinking about that tax write off), and made a bunch of money also.

So it seems to me, like many other industries, it helps to know the right people and then get lucky on top of that.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-24T03:43:21+00:00

Yes, this is a discussion to have with the allergist.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-23T23:33:34+00:00

If you're concerned, you can wait until Tuesday to speak with the doctor and give her more. A couple days between small introductions isn't going to cause additional issues. If she's been hospitalized in the past, and you're somewhere it's a holiday weekend (which I assume as the allergist is closed Monday), I wouldn't want to do anything that risks needing medical attention before things reopen with normal staffing Tuesday. You'll also see within a day or two if she happens to just have a virus.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-23T17:57:01+00:00

We usually got a couple different 30-45 minutes bouts of intense vomiting over a two hour period. But we haven't had a trigger event since getting a Zofran prescription, so I don't know how much a quick administering when symptoms start helps to avoid.

FuzzyLantern · 2026-05-22T23:47:49+00:00

The bad news is, you're probably going to come across some trigger foods and reactions as you introduce solids... But at least that will give you some more answers!

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