Allergies. What's the big deal?
Growing up I don't remember hearing an awful lot about allergies. I assumed it meant someone sneezed alot when ragweed was in season. I never understood why it was such a big deal. That is, until Abigail, our second born, completely changed my opinion.
We did what every parent does when they are first giving foods to an infant. We introduced things one at a time, waited several days to see if it bothered their systems, and then introduced a new food a few days later. Isabella, our first born, was a champ! She ate everything (and I mean everything) with no issue, until constipation became a problem. Bella would go days and days pushing with all her might to "go" without success. As she got older, she started to refuse milk. That's when it became apparent. Bella had a dairy sensitivity. Once we figured out the problem, and switched her to nondairy milk and foods, her constipation was no longer an issue.
After our experience with Bella, we knew just what to look for when Abbi was born. The first few months were great! Then, we began solid foods. At first nothing seemed to be wrong, until she started to struggle with loose stools and not wanting to eat the food we presented. We truly didn't think anything of it. We just chalked it up to her being strong willed (which she is) and encouraged her to keep eating anyway. Little did we know that her tiny body was trying to tell us something.
It wan't until she was a year old and going into the doctors for vaccinations that her struggle with allergies became apparent. She had just received her shots and had gone down for a nap at Mimi and Poppie's house. After a few hours, when she woke up, she was covered head to toe in traveling hives and was beginning to sound congested. I immediately called the pediatrician and that's when the diagnosis was given. Abigail had an allergic reaction. But, to what? No one could give me that answer. So, our journey to find the cause of this reaction began.
We were first seen at the Allergy and Rheumatology center. Visit after visit, test after test, they tried to figure it out. My poor baby had been pricked so many times and still we had no answers. That's when we decided to get a second opinion. Dr. Pichichero at Legacy Pediatrics agreed to take our case. After one visit, and without any invasive testing, he instantly knew what Abbi had reacted to. It was the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine.
It was a quick appointment. He informed us that Abigail would not need the next booster until she was 4 and that he would see us in a few years. I left feeling relieved knowing we finally had an answer and that she was in capable hands.
For several months we did not have to see any doctors! While Abigail continued to have loose stools and often refused certain foods, we went on with life as normal. It was a few weeks before her 2nd Christmas that another reaction occurred. This time it wasn't because of a vaccine. It was because of food. We were at a family Christmas party where Abbi ate a piece of chocolate walnut fudge. A few minutes later she started talking with a frog in her throat. We all thought it was hilarious and giggled at her voice. It never dawned on us that this could become serious.
A little while later Dave and I left the party for an out-of-town date night. My sister (Becky) and brother-in-law (Mark) were keeping the girls for us. Once we were a ways down the road I got a picture message from Becky. Abbi's eye had swollen shut. Thankfully, Mark's aunt, who is a practicing nurse, was also at the family party and began connecting the dots. She knew just what to do. After a good dose of Benadryl the swelling went down and her voice normalized. We were given specific advice to get her tested...again. This time for food allergies.
That's when we landed ourselves back at Legacy Pediatrics. After testing Abbi for 32 different foods, we discovered that she has severe (as in life threatening) allergies to walnuts and pecans with a sensitivity to rice, peas and raspberries. The loose stools and refusal of food finally began to make sense!
On top of vaccination and food allergies, we're discovering how sensitive she also is to environmental things. We have considered getting her tested, but just can't do that to her when we're able to help alleviate the symptoms with the use of (many of you are not going to like this) steroids. We also do our best to avoid all animals/insects and keep her away from pollen as much as possible. The thought of taking her to the allergist for 100+ (extremely painful) shots over the course of 200+ weeks is just torturous. We will continue to hold off on that as long as possible...
My beanie now travels everywhere with her "medicine bag" consisting of an EpiPen and Benadryl. She knows how to administer the medicine herself and has become extremely careful of eating any food given to her. We are a tree nut free home and have learned that when Abbi says she doesn't like to eat something, it's for a good reason.
My opinion on allergies has changed. What's the big deal? Abigail's life is the big deal. A life I am responsible to protect. So please, don't be naive like I once was. Take it seriously when we're coming to your home for dinner, or when you see that "nut free" sign on the school door. My baby's life depends on it!
After our experience with Bella, we knew just what to look for when Abbi was born. The first few months were great! Then, we began solid foods. At first nothing seemed to be wrong, until she started to struggle with loose stools and not wanting to eat the food we presented. We truly didn't think anything of it. We just chalked it up to her being strong willed (which she is) and encouraged her to keep eating anyway. Little did we know that her tiny body was trying to tell us something.
It wan't until she was a year old and going into the doctors for vaccinations that her struggle with allergies became apparent. She had just received her shots and had gone down for a nap at Mimi and Poppie's house. After a few hours, when she woke up, she was covered head to toe in traveling hives and was beginning to sound congested. I immediately called the pediatrician and that's when the diagnosis was given. Abigail had an allergic reaction. But, to what? No one could give me that answer. So, our journey to find the cause of this reaction began.
We were first seen at the Allergy and Rheumatology center. Visit after visit, test after test, they tried to figure it out. My poor baby had been pricked so many times and still we had no answers. That's when we decided to get a second opinion. Dr. Pichichero at Legacy Pediatrics agreed to take our case. After one visit, and without any invasive testing, he instantly knew what Abbi had reacted to. It was the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine.
It was a quick appointment. He informed us that Abigail would not need the next booster until she was 4 and that he would see us in a few years. I left feeling relieved knowing we finally had an answer and that she was in capable hands.
A little while later Dave and I left the party for an out-of-town date night. My sister (Becky) and brother-in-law (Mark) were keeping the girls for us. Once we were a ways down the road I got a picture message from Becky. Abbi's eye had swollen shut. Thankfully, Mark's aunt, who is a practicing nurse, was also at the family party and began connecting the dots. She knew just what to do. After a good dose of Benadryl the swelling went down and her voice normalized. We were given specific advice to get her tested...again. This time for food allergies.
That's when we landed ourselves back at Legacy Pediatrics. After testing Abbi for 32 different foods, we discovered that she has severe (as in life threatening) allergies to walnuts and pecans with a sensitivity to rice, peas and raspberries. The loose stools and refusal of food finally began to make sense!
On top of vaccination and food allergies, we're discovering how sensitive she also is to environmental things. We have considered getting her tested, but just can't do that to her when we're able to help alleviate the symptoms with the use of (many of you are not going to like this) steroids. We also do our best to avoid all animals/insects and keep her away from pollen as much as possible. The thought of taking her to the allergist for 100+ (extremely painful) shots over the course of 200+ weeks is just torturous. We will continue to hold off on that as long as possible...
My beanie now travels everywhere with her "medicine bag" consisting of an EpiPen and Benadryl. She knows how to administer the medicine herself and has become extremely careful of eating any food given to her. We are a tree nut free home and have learned that when Abbi says she doesn't like to eat something, it's for a good reason.
My opinion on allergies has changed. What's the big deal? Abigail's life is the big deal. A life I am responsible to protect. So please, don't be naive like I once was. Take it seriously when we're coming to your home for dinner, or when you see that "nut free" sign on the school door. My baby's life depends on it!
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