Allergy Update

Just giving everyone an update on what’s going on with O’s allergies.  As you know, he was diagnosed with allergy to dairy, wheat, peanuts and egg whites.  We got the print-out of his results yesterday – and he definitely has higher antibodies in his blood against these 4 items.  They did test for pollens, mold, walnuts and fish as well – which didn’t show as many antibodies or at least any worth noting.  We have decided to make an appointment with a pediatric allergist and immunologist for next Tuesday night and I am looking into an alternative medicine person referred to me as well.  Might as well get all the information I can.  I have a list of about 26 questions to ask, so I think we’ll come out of there Tuesday night armed with as much information as the specialist can give us. 

Mainly what worries me isn’t so much the diet, it’s that in some cases these could be intolerances instead of allergies and that by removing these foods from his diet, I’m restricting his body from learning how to digest these items.  I mean, he’s only 11 months and has been eating these foods for 5 months.  Really, only for about 3 months (maybe), since his early food was only vegetables and fruits.  And all this time, he has been getting dairy, wheat, nuts and eggs from my body when I was pregnant and my milk.  If the only reaction he has to eating anything he wants is congestion, is it really that much of a concern?  And also, if it’s congestion now, based on the numbers, could this turn into a heavier reaction – vomiting (ala cousin Jeff “I can’t have wheat!”) or an Epi pen?  We will ask!

O and I have been eating a ‘free’ diet since Saturday and doing rather well.  Found yesterday morning that our soy yogurt has milk cultures, so after we finish the pack – sorry, this is too expensive to chuck, especially since his milk allergy count is so low – we’ll go to a different soy yogurt.  I also binged a snickerdoodle yesterday when no one was looking (then felt bad and repented to a very understanding Doug).  Doug has been just fabulously supportive with all this and has even printed out a list off the internet of foods that we can purchase and where.  Everyone, really, has been super supportive.  My friend, Treasure,  has put out a plea to all her Seattle librarian friends asking for information.  It's amazing.

Doug and I are trying extremely hard to focus on the positive and to not obsess.  It's difficult to do when you sit at a computer all day - all you want to do is research, research, research.  Blah!

Poor Oliver, who has had in the last month: a bad cold, an ear infection, a stomach bug and double conjunctivitis is now battling a sore throat.  Me too.  Any extra prayers you can send up would be extremely appreciated!

Thank you for your thoughts!  We love you!