Back from the allergist...Spencer will never trust Dr's again!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

So, we finally had our allergist appt yesterday!  I had heard before going that this Dr. can have quite the harsh bedside manner, and while he was quite curt (only word I can think of!) he was fairly pleasant to us both.  Spencer tried to escape out the back exit right when we arrived, I think she knew something was up!

The Dr. would only do the scratch test for milk & eggs (the only 2 things we know she reacted to) and they both made miniscule welts smaller than the control. So, the Dr. thinks she is probably not allergic,  but sent us off to the hospital to do blood work too. Oh, and did I mention that Spencer screamed as soon as the liquid for the test hit her arm and didn't stop until we left, and then continued to quietly sob to herself?

It only got worse at the lab...took me and a nurse to pin her down, but I am so thankful that the nurse who took the blood found a vein quickly...I have never seen blood taken as fast as that man did. She screamed the place down and I don't think she will ever trust someone in scrubs or a lab coat again!

So...no real answers yet...Dr. says if blood work is neg too he wants me to feed her eggs (hmm...not sure on that, being in a rural setting) I would love her to not be allergic, but I don't want to cause a worse reaction in a place where the hospital and only ancient doctor may not be alot of help!

Oh, and today she had explosive poos at daycare and a fever...and the only different thing she ate yesterday was soy yogurt??

[marensmama]

Hugs for you and little Spencer!    I can't bear to see my girls in pain, even when it's for a good reason!  The good (??) news is that if they're at the doctor enough they actually become VERY cooperative (it's unnerving for the doctor at that point! )  Hopefully she continues to be a terrible patient

FWIW, I do know of a few moms that have fed their children suspected allergens in the emerg parking lot at the local hospital. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

FWIW, I do know of a few moms that have fed their children suspected allergens in the emerg parking lot at the local hospital. 

Well, it's either that or invite my neice over (she has a severe peanut allergy and comes equipped with epi-pens)  I'm just paranoid because allergies run in my family and I know that reactions can get worse and the negative results can be false in some cases.

Masyn has always been a co-operative patient, I swear she even likes getting needles!! Spencer is just going to freak at her next vax appt.

I will pass on the hugs to Spence when I peek in on her 

[Mashi]

Ugh - sorry for the disappointing day.  In a way do you feel that you would have been happier if she DID react to the scratch test because it would confirm what you know rather than now cause doubt?   I do think that it is a good idea to try when you have an epi-pen nearby or as Nicole says in the hosp parking lot.

DS had blood drawn in the hospital last week, it took one nurse lying across him and DH holding his head and shoulders down, with the paed holding his arm down to pu the catheter in (did it in his hand in case he needed to stay in on an IV).  The first hand he wasn't too bad but they could not get the vein and so had to go into his other hand, and he freaked out.  BUT once he got over it, he has been walking around all week pointing out the bruises on his hands to anyone who will look and is quite proud of them I think. 

Hoping Spencer isn't too badly affected by it Heidi xxx

[RachelC]

{{{hugs}}}}

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

  In a way do you feel that you would have been happier if she DID react to the scratch test because it would confirm what you know rather than now cause doubt?   

Yes...so dumb, but it would be easier to have a clear answer and proceed with avoiding the way we are, instead of wondering what could happen if I do feed her eggs again. She is still having explosive poos though and I have no idea why...I'm under the impression that a scratch test would only cause skin reactions, not GI problems.

Of course, the possibilty also exsists that she was more allergic last year when we fed her eggs and now she is outgrowing it. That would make my life so much easier!

(oh, and she was very mad when I took off her band aid...I think like Mini-Mashi she was proud of her little badge!)

[scarlettsmom]

aw poor thing ((((hugs)))).

I so know what you mean about kind of wanting the positive reaction so that you definitely know and don't have to doubt your next steps. 

Will be interesting to see what comes back from the blood test.  even if your ped says to go ahead with the good challenge, if you are really uncomfortable with it, wait until you are.  Mommy instincts rule.   

[~ Vik ~]

(((hugs))) for you and Spencer, what an ordeal

IKWYM about being so-so about the negative result - even though you certainly don't *want* allergies, it's so hard when the test contradicts actual symptoms that she's had in the past.  I know I would have been shocked and doubtful had Dylan's dairy test come back negative.  I'm with Tari, I think it will be interesting to see what the blood tests come back with.  Do you have a follow up appointment for the results, or are they just calling you if there are any positives?

Of course, the possibilty also exsists that she was more allergic last year when we fed her eggs and now she is outgrowing it. That would make my life so much easier!

That certainly would be the best possible outcome!!! Fingers are crossed for you

[Jimbob]

You could always ask for an in hospital challenge especially as you don't live near a hospital and allergies do run in your family.

Kelly

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Kelly, that is exactly what I would like to do...but I'm not hopeful that this allergist will go along with it, he wanted to blame all her reactions with hives on viruses, which I know is a possibility, but my instinct says that isn't it.

I don't have a follow up appt Vikki, as they said the results may take awhile and they will call me when they are in and go from there. Hopefully since we went straight to the main hospital's lab they will get done fast!

 
Heidi

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

So, heard back on the blood tests today...they tested only for milk and eggs and both came back at .35, which by the sheet they gave puts it right on the bubble of low/undetectable!!  So they want me to feed her baked in egg at home (1/4 of a cookie from a recipe baked with one egg only) and see what happens. My sister is here with her kids and has epipens...so I baked some cookies tonight and will attempt to feed her part of one in the am and then watch her like a hawk.

I'm a little torn, as I do feel she had a reaction (though not as severe as some I know) to eggs, but hopeful that even if she was allergic, she has outgrown it or can tolerate it somewhat.

some vibes that it all goes well would be great! Yikes....I can't believe I'm going to do this!

[marensmama]

Yikes!  Good luck!  Let us know how you make out! 

[~emmalou~]

hey hon, good luck, hope all goes well xxx

[~ Vik ~]

Sending loads of vibes and crossing my fingers for you. Good luck!!

[RachelC]

~~~vibes vibes vibes~~~ 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Well, I fed her 1/4 of the cookie and a while later she started turning red - almost like a patchy sunburn on her face, arms and legs. Gave her some bendryl at 4pm to see if it would go away as it was worse when she got up from her nap and that helped. So, will phone the allergist on Mon and see if they want me to keep trying or not. So, not a bad reaction, but unclear just like everything else!

[scarlettsmom]

Oh Heidi, gosh!  

My pc is acting up - but I sent you good vibes too for the trial...

So are all the other ingredients in the cookie definitely safe?  Thank goodness for benadryl eh?  How is she doing now?  The great news is that there was no wheezing or respiratory issues.

(((Hugs)))  Hoping you get some definite answers soon.    Interesting about the allergy testing. 
 

[~ Vik ~]

Oh, how frustrating

they tested only for milk and eggs and both came back at .35, which by the sheet they gave puts it right on the bubble of low/undetectable

Interestingly, the paperwork that I got from Dylan's blood tests said that anything over .35 was considered a "clinically significant reaction".  Strange that the benchmark is the same at .35, but the way the results are presented is different.

Glad that the Benadryl cleared things up for her.  To me though, that points even more to an allergy, kwim?  Be interesting to hear what the allergist says on Monday.

(((hugs))) too.  I was really hoping for no reaction at all, but like Tari said, at least there were no respiratory issues

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Well she's in bed for the night without a peep...but of course I'll be peeking in on her!  That's really interesting Vikki, the way the results are intrepreted so different.

Tari, everything in the cookies she has had before. Oh, and I forgot to say she got a snotty nose, but we have all had colds...that said though it was clear whereas the runny nose from a few days ago was greenish. Not sure what to attribute that to, but no wheezing or runny eyes etc.

sheesh nothing is ever straightforward is it? 

Thanks for all the vibes 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Well, spoke to the allergist today (okay, they secretary really, she relayed info back and forth) and we are back to avoiding eggs and doing an in office challenge in the summer.  Still have to trial milk at home, but I will give her immune system a few weeks rest before doing that!

[~ Vik ~]

Keeping my fingers crossed that your milk trial (when you do it!) goes more smoothly than the eggs

[speechie]

Heidi- hugs to your and yours- sorry your LO had to go through the bloodwork- and hope that you get more info/results this summer!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Thanks Vikki & Cathie...we had to go to the local Dr. just for her cold and as soon as she saw a white lab coat she freaked, screamed so hard that he couldn't even listen to her lungs. Yikes...I guess I lucked out having one kid who loves Dr's and needles that the other one has to be the total opposite (Masyn is excited about the prospect of her 4 yr shots  )

[scarlettsmom]

Awwww poor little Spencer getting so scared of the dr.      But did make me chuckle that your DD1 is looking forward to her 4 yo shots, lol.

Good luck with the milk challenge - I hope it goes great.  Are you doing straight milk, or starting with baked in? 

(((hugs)))

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I think I'll start with baked in because she will not purposely consume dairy (she had a fit when I tried to put a bit of cheese on her plate a while back...maybe she knows something I don't??) Also, I'm not sure if it is a milk allergy, MPI, or lactose intolerance...so not sure what to do there.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Okay, well on a whim on Monday I decided to give her a yogurt pot...she actually ate it...cheeks and arms turned red, over the course of the afternoon she got congested (I had been snuggling with her in the am and her breathing was normal, in the pm it was wheezy/rattly) and I gave her benadryl, which helped. She also went from having a normal BM on mon to none on tues to 4 blowouts on Wed morning    Phoning the allergist tomorrow to report and see where to go from here!

[~ Vik ~]

Wow, that is a pretty decisive reaction. Poor thing Hope she's feeling better today! It'll be interesting to hear what the allergist has to say!

[speechie]

Poor thing- hope you get more answers soon!

[scarlettsmom]

Oh wow, that was a fast reaction!  How is she doing now?  For some reason yogurt doesn't sit well yet with Gwynnie, even though a lot of allergic babies do ok with it.  Baked in dairy is fine for us though now which is awesome.   Baby steps.   

Maybe try something baked in next?  I guess the allergist will give you some direction.   

Thanks for keeping us posted. ((hugs)) to Spencer and I hope she is feeling better!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Well, phoned the Dr., the secretary relayed my info to the Dr., the nurse phoned back and said to avoid milk and will also try that in office, anytime we happen to be going to the city we are just to phone and get an appt.  But, she dismissed the diarhhea and said it had nothing to do with the milk...now Spencer's BM are usually looser than "normal", but this was another thing entirely, and it has continued into today. Maybe she's got a virus or something, but Masyn isn't sick and they do like to share all their germs.

[scarlettsmom]

But, she dismissed the diarhhea and said it had nothing to do with the milk...

huh??    

Good luck with the testing when you make it into town. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

But, she dismissed the diarhhea and said it had nothing to do with the milk...

huh??    

My thought exactly, oh well...if the Dr. thinks the same thing I'll just go back to our GP and get a referral to a different allergist.