Another Great Information Web Site

Someone over at the Food Allergy Support Boards posted about this absolutely amazing site here. It is so wonderful that I thought I would also point it out here, in case anyone has not discovered it through different means. The site is put up by John Weisnagel, M.D


Really great Peanut Allergy Info.
This is a really detailed and intelligent overview on all sorts of different issues pertaining to peanut allergies. Here is an excerpt from his introduction to the article:


"This review of the complex issue of peanut allergy was started in Oct. 1998 following a great deal of attention given to the subject in the media at that particular time. This coincided with many publications in the medical literature as cited in the references seen below in the opening paragraphs, conclusions of the authors considered as "alarming, frightening", according to comments of some visitors scanning this article. There were articles in magazines, like Time, Newsweek, as well as in local papers on what seemed an increase in peanut allergy, on banning peanuts in schools or on commercial flights, etc.22,25. Some of the articles, and reactions to them, were posted and appear in the article, and may still be accessible (at times, they're removed without any warning). The effect of all this attention to peanut allergy resulted in a panic situation, both in the minds of the public as well as the medical community, an attitude that seems to persist. .....This ongoing article is updated regularly, as developments occur, hopefully not only to make everyone aware of this unpredictable allergy, but also to help ease the fear generated. All updates appear with the date of the posting and for a time (usually 3 months) preceded by this image. "


There is also a wonderful General Information Page here. This is one of the most complete list of resources related to all sorts of allergies, food allergies, asthma, and almost anything else allergy, atopic related.

Oh No!!! He Has Asthma Too!!! Links to Get Started With

As I was bribing my sweet little boy to use his nebulizer this morning by allowing him to play the PlayStation (which I HATE) while he sat there, and was thinking back to what it was like when we discovered Conor also had asthma.  It wasn't as overwhelming as the food allergy discovery, and I knew it was a possibility since he is as atopic as they come, but it was still scary, confusing and a new world of medicines, instructions and funny devices.

So, I went back, and tried to find what sites I had saved on my computer, that I looked at to try and help calm me down.  Below is some of the ones I located on what was left of my bookmarks bar since the old computer died.  Hopefully you don't need them now, and won't need them in the future, but just in case......

http://www.aanma.org/headquarters/ 

This is the Allergy and Asthma Network's Mother's of Asthmatics website.  This is a great website filled with tons and tons of information.  There is so much information that I have come nowhere near looking through all of it, but it is a great resource to start searching for what ails you.  (or your child)

http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/inforequest.stm 

(click on Tips Brochures to read them first)

This is the really really great American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology, and there is so much good stuff on here not only for food allergies, but for asthma.  There are great general overviews on what asthma is, what the medications are, and how to use them.

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8⊂=14

This is the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's website, and is also filled with great info on everything generally dealing with asthma. Check out the asthma overview.

Also look at the glossary of asthma terms here.

National Jewish: About Asthma

This is a great overview of what asthma is, and how it effects the lungs and breathing.  There is a ton of great general information here and a great place to start reading.

Checklist of early warning signs

This is a great checklist from the Jewish National site about early warning signs of an asthma attack.

Asthma Action Plan

This explains how to create as asthma action plan with your doctor, so you have a clear picture of what you need to do and when.  It also gives you helpful tips about what to ask your doctor in developing your plan.

Halloween with Food Allergies - Useful Resources

I have started trying to prepare for Halloween, and decided I should consolidate all my Halloween resources into one place. Here you go. There is some great information on trick or treating safety, candy alternatives, and safe candy information. I will tell everyone how we deal with Halloween here, that has worked so far. I know, you are holding your breath waiting.

Sure Foods Living

Allison at Sure Foods Living has made the most amazing list of information on almost every possible Halloween candy you can think of. It is completely awesome!!! Allison Rocks!!!!

The quick and easy candy information list.

http://surefoodsliving.com/2008/10/07/gluten-free-and-allergen-free-candy-quick-list/

The full and complete candy information list

http://surefoodsliving.com/2008/10/07/halloween-candy-for-kids-with-food-allergies/

Avoiding Milk Protein's great list of information on all sorts of candy

http://www.avoidingmilkprotein.com/candy.htm

Kids with Food Allergies Halloween info

Recipes

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=119&title=allergy_free_Halloween_recipes

Safety tips

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=42&title=Safely_celebrating_Halloween_when_your_child_has_food_allergies

Safe trick or treating

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=56&title=How_to_take_the_tricks_out_of_treats_when_your_child_has_food_allergies

From the AAAAI

a trick or treat checklist to give you ideas to make trick or treating safer

http://www.aaaai.org/patients/elements/1008/08halloween_checklist.stm

A nice article about the dangers of Halloween for allergic kids

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124766.php

FAAN's tips on how to have a safe Halloween

http://www.foodallergy.org/Support/Halloween/SafetyTips.html

8 Tips published by Enjoy Life Foods

(of course one of them is buy lots of enjoy life foods to have on hand, but they are really good tips.)

http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/img/media/Allergy-aware%20Halloween%20tips%20from%20Enjoy%20Life%20and%20Allergy%20Moms.pdf

Allergy Moms at About.Com

A great list of ideas and alternatives for making Halloween fun for the little ones no matter what.

http://specialchildren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=specialchildren&cdn=parenting&tm=27&gps=67_964_1579_816&f=21&tt=13&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.allergymoms.com/uploads/newsletters/halloweentipstreats.html

Even More Great Peanut Allergy and Food Allergy Links

The only upside to having so much stress over where Conor will go to school next year (yes, why not start my stress early so I can enjoy it for longer), is that I have uncovered even more great peanut allergy resources. Check out these great links below.

http://www.allergymoms.com/uploads/newsletters/allergymoms_newsletter_08_11_08.html

This is the Allergy Moms Newsletter from August 2008. I just found it on my travels along the Internet superhighway during my school stresses, and it is really great. There is an article entitled "10 Things Every Food Allergy Child Wants You to Know", which is an insightful look into what it is like to be a food allergic child. There is another article with great info on 504 plans, and a really complete school checklist to help me stress out further about what is needed for school.

http://www.rd411.com/ce_modules/PNT06.pdf

This appears to be some sort of teaching information from a continuing education class. (Yea to the place that has continuing education classes on Peanut Allergies!!) It has alot of great information in a clear and easy to follow manner, and would be a great education tool for anyone who is willing to read it.