Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to maintaining control over the allergy. If a product doesn't have a label, allergic individuals should not eat that food. If a label contains unfamiliar terms, shoppers must call the manufacturer and ask for a definition or avoid eating that food.
For today, I'd just like to know if you've learned anything by participating, so answer one of these questions (one comment per person, please):
What have you learned this week about food allergies?
or
What question do you still have about food allergies?
I'll answer any questions (as best as I can) about allergies and my posts won't count. You could do both if you want, just leave one comment. Basically, if you comment, it counts - but just once. Clear as mud, right? :)
p.s. Hazel gained 2 oz. at her appt. this week - hooray for that! We were referred to a gastroenterologist at Primary Children's Hospital and will meet with him in 2 weeks. I'm nervous about that appointment. I think she'll probably have a scope and biopsy done on her esophagus. It won't be a whole lot of fun for her but at the same time, we'll hopefully have some answers about why she can't handle ANY solid foods. Right now she's only eating Neocate and rice crackers. Any time she eats solid food she throws up and has diarrhea. I know some day she'll thank me for discussing her bowels on the internet. Sorry, hun.
11 comments:
I have learned lots. There is a difference between an allergy & an intolerance. A person can be allergic to any type of food, but 8 food account for 90% of the reactions. The common symptons range from tingling sensations in the mouth to hives & much more in between!
Thanks Ashley!
I actually have learned alot. I had alot of food allergies as a baby that I outgrew, but I really never knew too much about it. I really appreciate you doing this, it has taught me alot. :)
So I still have a question. Have you heard of the alternative (I guess) treatments that they do to "cure" food allergies? It sounds hokey but I've heard people swear it works. I guess that's probably for intolerances and not allergies huh. Since they test adults for "allergies" they didn't know they had. And we'd notice a life-threatening allergic reaction.
But there are allergy shots for seasonal allergies right?
But your link said the only thing for food allergies is strict avoidance. So you just hope she outgrows some but you can't really do anything to cure food allergies is that right?
Oh, good question, Katy! They talked about this at the support group meeting I attended. Basically the Dr. said that they are really really close to having shots for a few food allergies. I want to say milk and peanuts?? Don't quote me on that.
There's also been some promising research for gradual introduction to some foods (can't remember the technical name). Basically, you do a drop of milk on the tongue one day along with Benadryl, the next day you do two drops with Benadryl and so on until you phase out the Benadryl and allow the body to create it's own histamines against a larger portion of the food. It's not totally proven and still in the research phases. The first allergist we went to said he doesn't believe in it. I don't know why or what he meant, but I guess it made me hesitant to find out more about it. I definitely wouldn't try it out unless supervised by a professional. I know it's a treatment that divides a lot of allergists - that makes me wary.
I guess I'm just hoping more than anything that she grows out of her allergies. Through yearly testing, we can find out which ones she grows out of and which ones stay. I know sometimes the allergies get worse and then they can be completely gone in a matter of years. I think she'll always have her peanut allergy. But, it would be extremely awesome of she would just go ahead and grow out of the others asap. :)
ashley
My family has serious allergies so I feel like I know a little bit. I was surprised that shell fish was so high up on the allergen list though.
Do most babies/kids grow out of their allergies?
I think it's more common to grow out of milk, eggs and wheat.
I have to say how much I admire you and what you and your family have to go through everyday. That is what I have learned, how carefully you have to watch everything that comes into your life.
I guess I'm just wondering more about Hazel. What's the next step? I mean she can't be on the formula forever so what are you going to have to deal with next? Hope it gets easier...
I know it's probably too late to enter, but I'm also curious about the last question asked, what's the next step for Hazel? How can she get all the nutrition she'll need? Will she need to take supplements, or are those dangerous for her? Sorry I'm so ignorant about the subject, but you have helped me learn to pay attention for my kids too, so thank you!
Emily & Keni - Good question! I'm not exactly sure what we'll do next. It depends on what kind of news we get at the allergist and GI appointments in 2 weeks. Hopefully we'll get a broader idea of what she's exactly allergic to. The blood test can have false positives - which we're kind of hoping for. If we can narrow it down - then we'll know what to feed her at or around 15 months. Then the GI specialist will help us if we need treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitus. If she has it, the treatment is similar to treating ashthma - except to the esophagus not the lungs.
Then we will take all of that information to a nutritionist at Primary's who will give us detailed plans of what foods to give her first, second and so on so that she's maximizing nutrients. It will be toward the beginning of next month until we will actually know our plan and it involves lots and lots of tests and Dr. appointments.
I hope that's kind of what you were asking.
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