appointment with paediatric allergist and other stuff

[Catt75]

What to expect? It is in April. I am so overwhelmed by all of this. Then I read on here that the allergist appointment may leave me with less answers and more questions...ahhh. I am so going crazy. I have stopped the elimination diet..I can't do it. I will lose my job if I keep this up. I am tired and hungry and cannot function. I will stay off of dairy because I know that she gets hives from dairy through direct consumption. As for everything else, I don't know..I can't figure it out. I don't know why she gets random little hives every now and again, I don't know why she itches, I just don't know anything anymore. I thought I would enjoy being a mother, which I did before all of this crap started now I am just miserable. I feel bad that I cancelled her birthday party for tomorrow but what is the point. She can't have anything and I can't get her to stop scratching.

I was really hoping the appointment with the allergist would help but now I'm not so sure.

[kjbrown92]

If she gets hives from things, then she likely does have IgE allergies, so an allergist will help. It's the people with the stomach/digestive issues that it doesn't always help. And eczema is a crapshoot; sometimes it's IgE and sometimes it's an intolerance. Hopefully you'll get some answers.

My DD2 has a long list of things she can't eat (dairy, soy, corn, gluten, apples, strawberries, and more) yet we're having a birthday party tonight with 25 people coming. She can't eat the main course (beef burgundy because she can't have beef) but she'll have something different. Plus rice, peas, baked squash, and for dessert I made "fig newtons" and most people will get regular ice cream, and I bought So Delicious coconut milk ice cream for her and I.

Did you try a food journal while you were doing the elimination? Hives seem like they'd be a pretty fast reaction.

[riomidwife]

It does sound like hives will be much easier to diagnose and treat than a more elusive rash or symptoms, so that could be good news!

Here are my 2 recent threads on the subject, one pre-appointment, one after.

Like http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1054313
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1058274

[Catt75]

Thanks ladies, I was just having a week moment. I'm not convinced that the random hives have to do with food as they come and go so very randomly. Her hive reaction to milk and to oats (go figure) happened within 2 hours of her ingesting it. I'm thinking these random hives may be due to environment. Sadly, I think it might be dogs and/or cats.
I'm not sure about the itching. Could be pets or maybe it is food..I don't know.

Today I went to a friends place to visit. We were there for three hours. She has never had animals and has all hardwood floors. DD never scratched once and didn't get any random hives. She nursed like she normally does and ate what she would normally eat on any given day.

Maybe she was just having a good three hours but I don't know....May have to go visit that friend more often but I so don't want it to be pet dander...can you tell we have animals

DD will have a birthday party...I will just postpone it till after the testing. I'm just so worn out right now as I just returned to work and am a tad crazy from the diet. I have been keeping a journal (still not that great about keeping it but I will get better).

[kjbrown92]

DD1 has cat allergies and DH has cat and dog allergies (actually it's allergy-induced asthma from those culprits). We have an American Hairless Terrier and DH is fine with him. We have hardwood floors on the main level. All our mattresses are encased with dust mite covers. Etc.

And if it is pets, the allergist can certainly confirm that. And if it is, ask him what the chances are of it developing into asthma if you keep the pets (our allergist said that was the most likely path to asthma but I'm curious if all allergists think that).

[Catt75]

If she does have pet allergies I will ask about it leading to asthma. I'll update once we have our appointment.

I did have DD's birthday party today..on her birthday. We just had fruit and veggie trays. Sure we didn't have a smush the birthday cake picture but her smile when her grandparents (on both sides) came to the door. And the pictures of her holding and looking at her cards as if she was actually reading them mean just as much.

Thank you to you ladies for helping to keep my head above water.