I have 2 DS have life threatening allergies to ALL NUTS...they are 14 & 12.
I have to say the first time we flew with the our oldest DS,
I was a nervious wreck. Thankfully my DH travels a lot for work, so it is second nature to him. We have flown with them many, many times. I think we have taken the boys on more then 20 trips... where we had to fly. We even took them on a one-way
Disney Cruise to Barcelona & had to take a 17 hour flight home. We have NEVER had an full blown reaction on a plane. One time, one of my DS's had a
very mild contact reaction, that cleared up as soon as I gave him benedryl.
I agree with your doctor, you can not live your life in fear. Knowledge is the true key. You need to know what to do in an emergency and be prepared for it. You also need to take as many precautions as you can... to avoid an allergiec reaction. PA is scary but also managable. I have known about my oldest DS, PA since he was 8 months old. He is 14 now and we have NEVER had to use an epi-pen. He has had only a few 'small reactions' that have been stopped by beneryl.
This is what we do:
1) Notify the airlines of the allergy when we book our tickets. Some airlines will then choose not to serve peanuts...but not all.
2) We check in early for our flight and ask for an early boarding pass, so we can wipe down everything: seats, arm rest, tray tables. Anything they might touch.
3) I never turn on the air above our seat...I don't want to "force dirty air" onto them.
4) I make my boys wear long sleeves and long pants on the flight. I figure it gives them less chance for a contact reaction, if less skin exposed.
5) Take your own blanket...never use the one on the plane.
6) I give my boys 'allergy medication' (clarition) right before the flight. To try and keep them from having a reaction because of something in the air. This makes me feel more comfortable.
7) We carry a lot of epi-pens. We take into account how long it woud take the airplane to land in an emergency (once an emergency was declared) & to get help.
**Usually, my boys each carry an
emergency kit (with a twinjet & benedryl), my DH carries an
emergency kit & I carry a third one. I make sure that all epi-pen or twinjet have a 'label' from the pharmacy on them.
8) I always bring a safe snack from home. I DO allow them to get a closed can of soda from the flight attendant. I wipe the soda can with a handle wipe.
9) The day of the flight, I
do not let them eat anything that they have never had before.
10) Be prepare for an emergency. I carry a letter from their allergist that has all the steps to go thru in an emergency. This makes me feel better knowing that if I panick during a reaction, I have something I can take out and look at. This is a skill you will need for your childs whole life!