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EAT => Food Allergies => Topic started by: ~ Vik ~ on April 11, 2012, 02:11:05 am

Title: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: ~ Vik ~ on April 11, 2012, 02:11:05 am
So tomorrow morning, at 815am, Dylan will have his first purposeful exposure to dairy in 3 years :o

I'm cautiously optimistic...  On one hand, his blood tests came back clear :D  and our allergist said that a dairy allergy is the one most likely to be outgrown (which is why we're doing it first).  Other the other hand, he still gets 'random' hives on occasion, which makes it hard to be confident.  It could be trace dairy, but it could also be animal dander from another kid's shirt, or someone may have had peanut butter toast for breakfast...  Or he could still be allergic to dairy.  I'm trying to keep the attitude that if he fails the food challenge no disaster will befall us - it just means that we carry on as we have been, and we've been doing just fine.  But, as all you food allergy mamas know, it would just be so, so, SO nice to not have to worry about every little "may contain traces of" or "produced in a facility that also" or paying more for dairy free alternatives that rarely measure up to the real thing.

If all goes well we'll be there from 815am to approximately 1pm (and yes, that means I have to keep him entertained in the doctor's office for that.entire.time. AND he's not allowed to have any food during the challenge).  If it doesn't go well we could be out of there by 830 :P  So any vibes, prayers, even crossed fingers would be appreciated :)
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on April 11, 2012, 02:27:04 am
oh, Vikki, tons of vibes that everything works out!!! (and that the time goes by quickly for you!)
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Happyface82 on April 11, 2012, 08:28:45 am
Good luck!!!! Hope it all goes well for you and he doesn't get too bored!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Mashi on April 11, 2012, 08:44:25 am
Tons of vibes Vikki!!!!!  Fingers are crossed for you both x
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: koe2moe on April 11, 2012, 10:20:05 am
Adding vibes!!  Xx
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Me.and.my.two.boys on April 11, 2012, 11:29:50 am
Vibes :) I hope everything goes well!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: twogirlsmommy on April 11, 2012, 12:09:47 pm
vibes that it goes well :)
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Jenybean2 on April 11, 2012, 13:47:43 pm
Good Luck!  We just had an egg challenge with our 4 year old son for egg in baked goods.. and he passed so he can have egg in baked goods.. but not anywhere else!  He's allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, and pineapple.. and I know how stressful these challenges can be first-hand.  Good luck!!!  Cautiously optimistic is how I feel too every time.. and after good news it feels hard to trust it too.  Wishing you good news and patience for the long-visit :)
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Buntybear on April 11, 2012, 16:50:07 pm
Good Luck x
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: ~ Vik ~ on April 11, 2012, 17:08:34 pm
Failure :(

Lip touch was fine, licking was okay, then 5ml swallowed.... Started coughing, couldn't catch his breath, vomited everywhere. Had to inject him with adrenaline and stay in the office for a couple hours to make sure he's okay, and now I have to watch him closely here for a few more hours. Our allergist said that there can be a delayed reaction up to 12h later. Blech.
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Buntybear on April 11, 2012, 17:40:40 pm
Oh no, was hoping for a better result for you. Definately blech!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: my3girlsjde on April 11, 2012, 17:53:26 pm
Hugs Vikki

Is it any kind of improvement from his last reaction?
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Shiv52 on April 11, 2012, 17:57:50 pm
Oh hugs hun xx

How is your wee man now?
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Happyface82 on April 11, 2012, 18:29:18 pm
Oh no! That must be so disheartening :( When will they do it again now? How does it work? Is it every year? I'm sorry!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Me.and.my.two.boys on April 11, 2012, 18:34:20 pm
oh no, this isnt the good news i was hoping for.
when will they try again?

how is he now? was there any delayed reaction? x
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: Jenybean2 on April 11, 2012, 18:38:03 pm
I'm sorry it didn't go well - how is he now?  I'm sure it was scary for both of you to have him go through it.  Whenever a challenge doesn't go well for us I always remind myself that we know how to cope with the allergies and even though it's terrible... at least we know what to feed him and how to keep him safe and all you can do is keep doing that.
hugs to you both!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow...
Post by: MasynSpencerElliotte on April 11, 2012, 18:42:39 pm
Oh no...hope Dylan is feeling okay and that there is no other rxn! (((Hugs)))
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: ~ Vik ~ on April 11, 2012, 23:12:12 pm
Thanks everyone :-* He's doing are well now, though a bit challenging behaviourally with no nap :P Aside from that though, he's been fine. A bit stuffed up and a slight cough, but he's been fighting a cold for a week so likely not related (or at least not completely). Because he couldn't nap we met my girlfriend and her 10mo at the zoo and walked around looking at the animals, and now we're about to do an early bedtime (usually he doesn't go down for an hour or so).

Is it any kind of improvement from his last reaction?
Not really... His initial reaction at 6mo was hives, and then around 2yo he ate some pepperoni at daycare that was 'may contain traces' and vomited like crazy for a couple hours (but we didn't know if it was the pepperoni or a stomach bug at the time, yk?) Now we have no hives, but breathing involvement and vomiting. And all with a negative immunocap! :(

When will they do it again now? How does it work? Is it every year?
We actually have an appointment in 3mo to redo skin tests and *possibly* try baked milk - like me making a known safe cookie recipe and using cows milk in it. I don't know if I want to do that (it's really for my convenience if that makes any sense, if he can eat may contain or cooked milk)... It seems a lot to put him through so I can buy processed crap without reading the ingredients as closely :-\
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: my3girlsjde on April 12, 2012, 00:21:49 am
What is a negative immunocap?

I hope he's feeling better now. And I totally get you. If we narrow E's issues down to possible celiac then why go through a scope just to know if we can adjust our lives?

More hugs though. I'm sure these challenges aren't easy on any of you.
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: ~ Vik ~ on April 12, 2012, 02:17:35 am
What is a negative immunocap?
That's the blood test - any result over 0.35 is considered an allergy. On Dylan's first test he got 0.8, then his last one was <0.35 (they don't quantify it if it's under) so that's why we decided to do the challenge. But as Dylan demonstrated, you can have a negative immunocap and still have a clinically significant allergy :(

And you are so right, it seems like so much to put their little bodies through for minimal gain.
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: koe2moe on April 12, 2012, 07:15:58 am
vikki!  So sorry that the reaction from so little was so much!  Is Dylan allergic to many things?  It must be so hard!  He will need to learn to read these labels very soon! 
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: Mashi on April 12, 2012, 07:23:12 am
Aw, Vikki what a disappointment :( 
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: Erin M on April 15, 2012, 20:44:22 pm
Oh boo, sorry it didn't go better.  :(
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: Jimbob on April 16, 2012, 09:43:27 am
So sorry it was a fail! At least you know now though. My ds has just passed a baked egg challenge but had a reaction when a piece of hard boiled egg was tried so it is possible that Dylan could be ok with baked milk but don't be pushed into trying it wait until you feel ready.

Kelly x
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: ~ Vik ~ on April 16, 2012, 22:54:21 pm
Kellly, that's exactly what our allergist said - that he could easily react to straight milk but be fine with baked or traces.

Is Dylan allergic to many things?
For food he's allergic to dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts (due to cross reactivity with the peanut protein he's allergic to), and mustard. Environmentally he seems to have hay-fever like symptoms lately (especially drippy nose and resulting cough) and is allergic to animal Xander and saliva (dogs are the worst, but he's reacted to cats and guinea pig too). We're fortunate that he's okay with gluten and soy so things could definitely be more limited than they are!
Title: Re: Food challenge tomorrow... *failed*
Post by: Mom to M&M on April 17, 2012, 18:39:15 pm
SO many hugs Vikki! I'm trying dairy again at 3 (so in another 6 weeks or so) and I'm terrified! Though our reaction wasn't as violent as yours (ours was blowout diapers, congestion, stomach cramps and mood swings). Negative immunocap and SPT as well, but positive IgG intolerance (strongly so) to whey when tested at about 20 months.

We will try first with regular butter, then move to milk cooked in pancakes or the like, then regular yogurt...