dot dot dot. Those 3 little dots signify waiting. And that's what we're doing. I took Taryn to the allergist appointment on Wednesday. But, of all days, she flared up with roseola that morning and it disappeared 24 hours later. So really, she only had it on Wednesday. Of all days. Needless to say, they weren't able to do the testing since they're looking for the appearance of red dots and splotches in reaction to the allergens they prick on her back and her back was covered in red dots and splotches. So, we have to go back next Wednesday.
It wasn't a total waste, though, because I got a lot of answers and advice on things for her. Part of me feels like the lady was too over the top (recommending we have "indoor and outdoor clothes" and shower every time we come in from being outside), but the information was interesting. She told me to not let Taryn have anything with the top 8 allergens in it until she's one, so 4 more months. Okay, that means nothing with wheat, milk, eggs, soy, and peanuts in them or manufactured near them. The others are tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. Okay, easy to not give her any of the last few in our everyday meals. But to avoid wheat, milk, eggs, soy, and peanuts in the ingredients as well as "manufactured with" leaves me with...pretty much nothing. (I've learned that a ton of things have soy in them, who knew?) All that remains is fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice, oatmeal and meat. That gets expensive. Healthy, but expensive, especially since we don't know if she is allergic to anything besides eggs.
The problem with this is also that all baby food (jarred and packaged) has some of these top allergens in them, besides the ones that are straight carrots or pears, etc. I haven't been giving her jarred baby food because it's a waste of money for us. Instead, lately, I've been grinding what we eat and giving it to her. But if I can't give her anything we eat, I have to figure out a whole new way to fill her tummy. She's been waking up in the night the last 2 nights because she's just not getting enough.
Then the allergist recommended that I go off of all those allergens until Taryn is done nursing. So, really? It just doesn't seem practical. I'd rather wean her and monitor her diet than have to flip our entire diet and meals or make double the meals, for me and then for Braden and Keara. She is 8 months afterall and can do fine on formula for 4 more months a lot better than I can do without Thanksgiving dinner, and pretty much everything I make. Maybe I'm just being selfish.
But then I reached another stumbling block. If I can't give her milk, then I'd have to give her soy formula. But if I can't give her soy, what can I give her? I guess that just leaves nursing. But I know that there has to be a formula out there for babies who were bottle fed and then found to be allergic. Any thoughts?
Regardless, I'm looking forward to next week's appointment to get more conclusive answers. In the end, however, allergies can be developed at any age. So just because she's not allergic to, say, tree nuts next week doesn't mean she won't develop an allergy for them in the future. What am I supposed to do, not let her eat forever just in case? How did we survive for the 6000 years before we trained allergists?
If you have any thoughts, advice, criticsm, or hints, I'd appreciate them.
4 comments:
How about "Glad it's you and not me?" JUST KIDDING! Lauren had some kids in her school class who were deathly allergic to milk, nuts and a bunch of other things. I had never realized how serious it was. I hope Taryn grows out of it. I would stop nursing. They have a million formulas out there. There has to be one.
Has Taryn had a reaction so bad that you felt her life/ health was in danger? If not, then I would just cut one thing out of her diet at 2 weeks at a time and watch what happens. No need to go whippery-jippery on this like the nurse is suggesting. I think sometimes doctors and nurses are around sick people too much that they themselves become sickly paranoid.
I like that advise from Heidi. what do you think Cheri? Although, your Dr. appt is coming up soon, too.
I visit taught a girl whose baby was allergic to her breast milk and the only thing to feed her was formula that cost $45 bucks a can! So...look for the most expensive organic formula you can find and maybe that is it. I'll give her a call tomorrow. As for good hearty food...cook oatmeal, put it in the blender with some fruit and juice like those peaches you just canned, blend it all together and it will stick to her tummy like the peanut butter she can't have.
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