Oh boy. Just got some crazy news from the pediatrician. We finally got Luke tested (blood) for food allergies. I don't know what has taken us so long to do this. His older brother has a slew of food allergies, (eggs, peanuts, treenuts, fish, shellfish) all of which would cause a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction. Our plan of management has been strict avoidance. Nothing with those allergens enter the house.
This has worked well for us. Luke has not reacted to anything ever, so we assumed he either: A- was allergic to eggs, peanuts, treenuts, fish or shellfish, or B- had no food allergies. Because of other factors usually present in food allergic kids, (eczema and asthma) not being present in Lukie, I actually let myself begin to believe he had no food allergies.
Well, we finally got around to getting an actual blood test done and the results are a little confusing. First off, he is very allergic to eggs. But he also got mild results to peanuts, wheat, and soy.
What?! He has had wheat and soy before, and has never had an ANA (food allergy slang for anaphylactic) reaction. But maybe he has had some kind of reaction that I did not correlate with a food allergic reaction. His stools get really hard and stuff sometimes, could that be from soy or wheat? He hated edamame when I gave it to him for snack once. The Dr. said that if he has had those things with no reaction, that it should be fine to give him.
So I should avoid peanuts because he has never had them and would react, but can continue to give him things containing wheat and soy? I am not sure I am comfortable with that, considering you can never predict the severity of a future reaction based on past reactions. So no. I am not comfortable with that at all, and I surely don't understand this.
Not to mention, I am feeling so so guilty. I have been super-vigilant when there have been cookies and cakes around Anthony because I knew they could make him so sick. I should have been (and was not) the same way with Luke. The many pot-lucks and birthday parties and other things that we have been to, and I had not kept a close eye on the food around him. I feel awful. I am so thankful he has never had an egg-filled cookie, or cake or treat. God has surely kept him safe.
So, what next? Another trip to the allergist, where we will get a skin test, and hopefully all of my questions answered regarding what to avoid and why. We will have to get him his own set of epi-pens, and medical alert ID things.
Oh my Lukie, I am so sorry I did not know. I am sorry I assumed everything was ok with your little immune system, and did not take the same precautions as I have for your brother. But now that I know better, I will do better.
This has worked well for us. Luke has not reacted to anything ever, so we assumed he either: A- was allergic to eggs, peanuts, treenuts, fish or shellfish, or B- had no food allergies. Because of other factors usually present in food allergic kids, (eczema and asthma) not being present in Lukie, I actually let myself begin to believe he had no food allergies.
Oh, hello Denial! How you doin'?
What?! He has had wheat and soy before, and has never had an ANA (food allergy slang for anaphylactic) reaction. But maybe he has had some kind of reaction that I did not correlate with a food allergic reaction. His stools get really hard and stuff sometimes, could that be from soy or wheat? He hated edamame when I gave it to him for snack once. The Dr. said that if he has had those things with no reaction, that it should be fine to give him.
So I should avoid peanuts because he has never had them and would react, but can continue to give him things containing wheat and soy? I am not sure I am comfortable with that, considering you can never predict the severity of a future reaction based on past reactions. So no. I am not comfortable with that at all, and I surely don't understand this.
Not to mention, I am feeling so so guilty. I have been super-vigilant when there have been cookies and cakes around Anthony because I knew they could make him so sick. I should have been (and was not) the same way with Luke. The many pot-lucks and birthday parties and other things that we have been to, and I had not kept a close eye on the food around him. I feel awful. I am so thankful he has never had an egg-filled cookie, or cake or treat. God has surely kept him safe.
So, what next? Another trip to the allergist, where we will get a skin test, and hopefully all of my questions answered regarding what to avoid and why. We will have to get him his own set of epi-pens, and medical alert ID things.
Oh my Lukie, I am so sorry I did not know. I am sorry I assumed everything was ok with your little immune system, and did not take the same precautions as I have for your brother. But now that I know better, I will do better.
I know I already commented on your fb...but who doesn't love getting comments on their blog? :)
ReplyDeleteIt breaks my heart to hear you beat yourself up! So don't :) God is good and keeping your little ones close and safe!