Multiple Allergies

Rating: 5 after 1 vote

I am a new mom of a 8 1/2 month old girl. We just found out - after an anaphalytic reaction to milk - that she is allergic to dairy, peanuts, soy, cod fish, wheat, and eggs as well as dogs (that is all she has been exposed to at this point). We are having trouble getting into a specialist and I really feel like I need help. She is getting to the point where she needs snacks and finger food and I am finding it impossible to find much that doesn't list dairy, eggs or wheat in the ingredients. I would love some advice!! I am very worried, she gets hives on a regular basis - almost every day - and I try not to worry about them unless they are on her face or there is more than about 3 of them but it's very hard. Every time her eyes get red or puffy or she gets welts I feel like she's going to have another anaphylactic reaction. I am not getting much help from any Dr's and I have a feeling she is allergic to more foods since she tested positive to everything she was tested for (I think - noones seems to be able to tell me exactly what she was even tested for). Help!!!

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Permalink Reply by Nightowlmama on May 22, 2009 at 1:26am: you need a new pediatrician. And an allergist asap. did they do a blood test for allergy or the scratch test? they should of given u a copy of the results. I received 1 when my son was tested. Call and ask for it.
she's very young and for you to have to guess whats good and not is dangerous if her allergy's are that bad. they should also set you up with a nutritionist after to go over the options. hugs good luck poor little sweetheart.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Candace Zentner on May 22, 2009 at 6:14am: thanks for your reply! they did an allergy test on her and I got a sheet of paper but I don't even know how to read it and the Dr. that told me the results was NO help. In Canada we have to be referred to a pediatrician and allergist and it took me a month and a 1/2 to find a Dr. who would do the paperwork so that I could be referred to an allergist. Now I'm waiting for a call from the allergist but apparently it could take a year to get an appointment.It's soooo frustrating!! I think I'm going to call the Dr. that saw her in Emerg when she got rushed to the hospital, he's not taking new patients but he was the only Dr. I have seen that actually took us seriously (because he saw the reaction). Right now all she eats is some fruit, veggies, chicken and rice but that's not enough for a baby her age I'm sure. Thanks for the advice!! I am also going to call a nutritionist today to try to get some tips.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lori Nordstrom on May 22, 2009 at 12:18pm: Hi, Candace!

I can help you with gluten-, dairy-, soy-, corn-, etc. free snack ideas!! I live in Iowa and buy a lot of snacks (pancakes, chips, etc.) from Campell's Nutrition. You can order online! Or I listed other wesites below:

Pancakes- Namaste brand
Almond butter (or macadamia, cashew, etc.)- MaraNatha brand
Rice milk- Rice Dream brand (can also get almond milk)
Gluten-, yeast-, wheat-free granola- RAWphoriaLIVE.com (they have nuts in them, but not peanuts!)
"No Gluten" brand (dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free) "chocolate bars". Basically, they are fruit-sweetened, rice-puffed, cocoa bars!
Rice bread: there is a kind that is gluten-free and yeast-free, but I will have to get back to you on the brand name.

Websites:
canaryconnect.com- Candida and Allergy Cookbook; candida is an overgrowth of bacteria that you can get from food allergies, autoimmune diseases, too many antibiotics, etc. Doctors will not validate the disorder most of the time, however. Trust me! If you find that your child has this, check out "The Yeast Connection". The Dr. still practices! He has a great story- more on that later if you want to hear it! Also, candida can occur when someone's diet is too high in sugar and bad stuff!

I would make sure the snacks are a good mix of protein, healthy fat and carbohydrates, i.e.- rice bread with almond butter, rice and black beans, veggies and fruit (check to see if she is allergice to fructose, a sugar naturally occurring in fruit... or even an allergy to cane sugar, etc.).

It will be difficult and very expensive, but your daughter will be eating better than most of the world!! She can still have rice and potatoes, veggies, meat, fruit, and some nuts (maybe?). This will be a hard situation and a lot of doctors do not explain or sometimes even validate food allergies or allergies in general. Make sure to fine someone that listens to you, believes you, and explains what it going on!

Stores like Campbell's, Whole Foods, and the Hy-Vee gluten-free section will come to your rescue! When your child is old enough, you may want to supplement vitamins and enzymes (Candex brand is good) to ensure she is receiving all of her vitamins/minerals. Also, a stomach plagued by food allergies will take time to heal, thus digestive enzymes, probiotics (good bacteria) and peppermint tea all help to soothe the intestinall villi and aid with digestion and a healthy immune system.

I hope this helps!

Tips:
- Keep a food log with reactions (anything from hives to crying, stomachache, anxiety, palpitations, itchy skin, hyperactivity, etc.) These will be easier to gauge when she is older.
- Get back to basics!! No more processed snacks, baby food, drinks, etc.!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laura Gonzalez on May 23, 2009 at 2:11pm: My son had the same issues he is now 17 yrs old and has NO allergies.
I was also at my wits end and dr. really didn't help him. I ended up finding a nutritionist and herbalist who explained that his immune system was suppressed. He said it didn't matter what he was allergic all were symptoms of an immune system that was being tasked.

Boosting her immune system is key. There are many products on the market that can help boost her immune system, it is good to find a person that is an expert in this field so that they can help you pick the correct supplement to implement for her.

Here is an article by Dr. Michael Murray he explains the causes behind allergies in more details
http://www.doctormurray.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=a...

His has an amazing amount of knowledge and I have heard him speak many times as well.

I also started a wellness blog because of all the things I learned that helped my family as well as myself.

http://www.virtualbiz4u.com/wellness/category/allergy-support; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JenniferB on May 25, 2009 at 6:20pm: Are you in Canada? Have you contacted Anaphylaxis Canada yet? (http://www.anaphylaxis.org/) I strongly recommend contacting one of their support groups. If you are in the US, try contacting the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org). The support groups are such a lifeline. Also, try picking the brains of other food allergy moms on www.foodallergysupport.org. They're amazing!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Candace Zentner on May 25, 2009 at 9:02pm: Thanks so much everyone!! You guys have helped me WAY more than any Dr. I have seen!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tracy Thorley on May 27, 2009 at 9:00am: My 4 year old son had milk allergies too. He has been allergy tested and is allergic to grass, cats, pollen, bees, and was allergic to milk etc. It was a horrific experience and I'm still learning and watching his every move, he also started preschool this year and will go to kindergarten next. We would go to restaurants for dinner and he would just start throwing up, it was a mess not to mention embarrassing. On top of this he has asthma and gets sick quite easily. As for the milk allergy, he used nutramigen formula as an infant and even for a little while after infancy. His pediatrician told me to start mixing the formula with a little bit of milk at a time. Which I did and at first he broke out with eczema, but now he can drink milk like no tomorrow. I also keep benedryl on hand and take it with me everywhere. So just hang in there, I know that it can get very stressful at times.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Christin on May 27, 2009 at 7:55pm: I'm so happy to see all the wonderful and helpful links here!

I have a son with allergies and when he was a baby they were severe. He can still have anaphalytic reactions to peanuts, but otherwise he is doing much better.
How horrible that you have to wait so long to see an allergist! :(

If you need anything else other then what has been posted here, please don't hesitate to ask for more info. or help. I'd love to help out with whatever I can!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Priyangani Jay on May 29, 2009 at 1:23pm: My daughter had the same issues when she was a baby.
The paediatrician recommended “Pedia Sure” It is a complete balanced nutrition formula drink for babies & toddlers.; ▶ Reply to This