Home › Forums › General Baby Care › Miscellaneous › Allergist Appointment
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October 21, 2008 at 9:59 am #57900AnonymousInactive
After seeing Ben struggle with reflux for so long, still have weird diapers from time to time, his funky rash on his arms and legs, and his odd sleeping habits, we are finally getting him in to see an allergist.
Only problem is (and the reason it has taken us so long to get to one) is that I have no idea what he might be reacting to. His “reactions” if they are even reactions, occur at no regular interval, and don’t see to follow him eating any specific food (that I have discovered, at least).So, my question is this: What should we expect at this appt.? Should I ask for certain kinds of testing to be done? Will they only test for foods I suspect, or is there a broad spectrum that they just test anyway?Also, dh has severe bee allergies and some drug allergies too. Will they test for these things in kids? Is this a separate test from the food one?Thanks for any help you can offer. I don’t expect it to be a fun visit. They told us to expect being there for at least 2 hours, and Ben is SO not a fan of needles! But it would be nice to finally have some answers, even if it is confirming that he doesn’t have allergies (as his pedi insists.)October 21, 2008 at 2:01 pm #57917AnonymousInactiveOh Naomi, I am glad you are getting in, but our appointment was horrible. I will say that my ped is now referring out of town b/c of how bad our office is. Our appointment was at 8:45 am and we didn’t get done until 12:15 maybe later. Anyway, they have a panel that they use to test for common food allergies and if you have any specifics that aren’t included they will add those. I would tell them about the bee allergy and they can test for that. I don’t know about testing for drug allergies, maybe Sheri will know.
Anyway Cooper got 40+ pokes on his back they do like 10 at a time and then we had to wait 15. then after that they redid a few b/c his egg one spread so far they couldn’t tell the ones around it. Then we waited another 15 min. They they did 13 I think intradermal pokes on his arms, (these were really bad) if you have ever had a TB test it is similar in that the fluid is pushed under the skin and they waited another 15 min to read those. Then we met with the doctor again. They did both food and enviromental at our appt, reluctantly b/c the allergiest said they don’t do enviromental until they are usually 3yrs old,but I knew Cooper had some seasonal allergies so they tested those only b/c I kinda pushed. Take snacks and toys with you to keep Ben occupied and if you can take Dh with you I would it helps to have one parent hold while the other distracts when they are doing the pokes. HTH. Good Luck, I would be happy to offer other support if you need it. Let us know how it all goes.
October 21, 2008 at 3:21 pm #57924AnonymousInactiveHey Naomi,
I think you’re wise to go ahead with the allergy testing. It was SO great for us to finally have answers. They tested Baron for about 20 or so food allergies, all on one panel, which the nurse pressed into his back (he arched and screamed bloody murder, just so you know), then I had to hold his hands in front of him for about 20 minutes so that he wouldn’t scratch his back and mess everything up, because that would have meant doing the needles all over again — no way. He pretty much sobbed the whole time, so it was not pleasant, but I’d do it again if needed.While you’re at it, I’d go ahead and let them do all the food allergy testing they’ll do — Baron showed up as strongly allergic to dairy, turkey, rice, shellfish and moderately allergic to broccoli and chocolate (lucky for him on the broccoli, not so lucky on the chocolate, LOL). Anyway, while I definitely knew milk was a problem for Baron, I would have had NO clue about the other allergies had he not been tested. Since cutting out those foods, he does so well. And I’ve re-introduced turkey, rice, and broccoli a few times in the past several months, and each time he reacts.About the bee allergies and drug allergies, maybe call and ask to speak to the nurse beforehand to ask about testing for those? I’m not sure.Good luck! Did you say when the appointment is? I may have missed it.October 21, 2008 at 3:52 pm #57926AnonymousInactiveThanks guys. That’s pretty much what I suspected, but I will definitely make dh be there too. Trying to wrestle him down for all that will be hard if I’m alone. And, Beth, I am so sorry that it took so long! I hope at pray that ours won’t be such a marathon.
And Paula, broccoli??? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that one before. Ben used to eat broccoli like a champ, but now he won’t. I just figured it was his “2” thing, but maybe he knows it bugs him. Very interesting.His appt is at 9:30 on the 29th.October 21, 2008 at 5:07 pm #57927AnonymousInactiveGood Luck!!! Ours was not that bad. We went specifically to a pediatric allergist, so they always book 2 people (the doc and a nurse) in the room with the parents. We did all of those back pricks with Dylan and the environmental came up positive, but none of the foods did, but then again, we had more of a GI reaction and with the skin reactions you are describing, you will probably get some real answers, so that is great!
Dylan didn’t like when they did it, but then they left the room and let us go back in the playroom/waiting room without a shirt on, and he played until we had to go back in to read them, so not too bad…… If you have one of those portable DVD players with a favorite movie, that might be good to bring as well.Good Luck!!!Ann MarieOctober 22, 2008 at 2:51 pm #57936AnonymousInactiveNaomi,
LOL — I know, broccoli — how weird! Leave it to my kiddo to be the one who’s also allergic to two of the main TED “non-allergenic” foods, rice and turkey. (I never did TED with him, though; just went dairy-free, so it’s not from over exposure or anything).Anyway, I just pulled up Baron’s test report and it lists the following foods as tested: chicken, whole wheat, pork, apple, onion, broccoli, strawberry, rice, turkey, chocolate, beef, lamb, whole egg, cow milk, peanut, soybean, fish mix, and shellfish mix. Kind of a strange list, seems to me, but maybe lots of kids are allergic to these foods if this is what the allergist tested??Good luck next week!!October 27, 2008 at 2:05 pm #58098AnonymousInactiveBest of luck, Naomi! Our allergist appt wasn’t that bad either–they did the panel onher back, and put a movie in while we waited, then they did the arm pricks, which were worse, but still went fast. They also had stickers etc. Dagney came up for a lot of environmental–which they said was not typical at age 2–but no food allergies. I hope you get your answers and it’s not too rough on any of you!!
October 28, 2008 at 8:31 pm #58140AnonymousInactiveGood luck at your appointment tomorrow!! Let me know how it goes!!
October 28, 2008 at 9:22 pm #58144AnonymousInactiveGood luck… I’ll be interested to know the results.
Sorry to hijack, but do you (Naomi) or anyone else know when we would be able to do this w/ Evan?
October 29, 2008 at 2:08 pm #58152AnonymousInactiveErin, our pedi was hesitant to do it before 2 as results tend to be less reliable until then. However, several moms have had it done before then when allergies were really suspected.
October 29, 2008 at 3:35 pm #58157AnonymousInactiveok thanks Naomi. Our ped GI said I think around 18mths but of course I just needed a 2nd opinion.
I saw your other post & that’s great that it all came back negative but I completely feel your frustration w/ it all b/c of the intolerances issues. I fear that will be our obstacle as well.
October 29, 2008 at 3:51 pm #58160AnonymousInactiveErin, We took Cooper 3 days before he was 18 months as we got a positive on Egg and many many environmental allergies. Our ped said that enviro allergies don’t usually show up until they are at least 3,but cooper’s are so pronounced that they showed up then and we were told they would only get worse and eventually he would probably need allergy shots.
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