New with questions

[JDel69]

Hello,

My name is Julie and I am so happy to have found this forum!  I am having health problems with my daughter and I am so confused about what to do next.

I really think she has allergies.  She is congested, gets headaches, thumping in her ear when she hears ringing or beeping, gas, bloating, constant stomach aches, insomnia, dry skin, vaginal itching (new in the last couple days), bags under her eyes, cough, and now she has been diagnosed with asthma and has to use an inhaler.  She is only 8 years old.  I think she has had problems since birth (colicky, reflux, etc.), but she has never been this bad.  She seems to have gotten worse since we moved out to the desert? 

I have taken her to the doctor numerous times.  I have been told she has a virus, she has allergies, use Zyrtec or Claritin.  I went back so many times that her pediatrician finally decided to send her to an allergist and neurologist.  The neurologist thinks there is nothing wrong with her, that she may just be developing migraines.  The allergist tested her (skin) and found that she reacted to nothing (dust, mold, grass, various trees, dogs and cats).  She did a sinus x-ray and we are waiting on the results for that.  She did a PFT and found that her lung capacity was only 80% and now she is on the inhaler twice a day, which is the first time in her life that this has happened.

I feel like I'm at a loss.  The allergy doctor said that Kaiser doesn't test for food allergies unless there is hives or something of that nature.  She said any other symptom is not considered a true food allergy.  My daughter is sick.  You can see it in her eyes.  Something is not right and I don't really know where to turn.  I am wondering if I should just test her on my own?  Do I need a doctor to do that (get a lab order)?  Does anyone know what the price is for testing?  I just feel so bad for her and want her back to normal.

Thanks for any advice!!!!  

[Momo123]

My DS has some allergies that show up on the skin test (which are IgE allergies) but he also has additional foods that he reacts to which don't show up on the skin test but when he eats them, he reacts with rashes, bad sleep etc. These are considered food intolerances or IgG, and while there are tests for those, it's not considered by most "mainstream" doctors. You can also try to see if you can find a naturopath who might know more about this.

Have you tried taking out certain foods out of her diet to see if anything changes? I know it's hard to make major changes in your child's diet, but a lot of mamas who frequent this board have done it by trial and error. Maybe just start with dairy for a week or two and see what happens? I just picked dairy because it's one of the top 8 allergens but it could be any food (probably something she eats every day if the symptoms never go away) .

I'm just scratching the surface but hopefully other more experienced mamas will respond.

[flightgoddess]

It probably will have to come out of your own pocket, but there is testing out there for food sensitivities and intolerances (IgG type of reaction) Skin testing only shows IgE reactions.

ALCAT and ELISA are two names to google. Usually you can get testing on your own, sometimes even through a naturopath or chiropractor. Either way, after the results, then you would do an elimination diet for 3-6 months of the offending foods, depening on the severity.

If you have any reason to suspect celiac, get that testing NOW before any diet changes, becuase gluten must be currently consumed for the tests to be accurate.

I got ALCAT in the past, I also added on the 'Food dyes and preservatives" and found many of my issues stemed from there.

[lil_miss_understood]

I've been spending a lot of time off of MDC and I don't venture back here often. I'm sorry you have reason to come to this forum.

DS1 was diagnosed with food allergies and intolerance at the age of 8, though I suspected for many years that something was not "right". It took me taking him to a ND to get the help he needed.

We were sent to an immunologist/allergist, who has a degree in Environmental Medicine. DS1 had blood tests run for both IgE and IgG responses to just under 100 foods. This cost about $300 out of pocket. His tests returned positive results for both IgE and IgG to dairy (and lamb, which we NEVER eat), as well as IgG to wheat/gluten and eggs. We already had him off of food dyes and some various foods (anything with whey, ketchup, peaches) and discovered that he also reacts to soy.

He had been having hives for years which were repeatedly brushed off as "heat rash" or anything else under the sun that they could come up with. He has asthma, which miraculously disappeared after taking out his allergens (and "mysteriously" reappears for 2 weeks following an accidental dairy exposure). His behaviour has improved, as his attention. He doesn't sweat like he used to. He doesn't have pee "accidents". He no longer needs Claritin.

If you suspect food allergies, any allergist worth their salt will tell you that the "Golden rule" is "Results trump tests." meaning, if you remove an allergen and see improvements and then return the food to the diet and see a return of symptoms, that is a positive food allergy, regardless of what your SPT, Blood test, patch test or whatEVER says. Many patients, knowing this, will start keeping a detailed food diary to see if they can figure out any rhyme or reason to their symptoms. Some will even go so far as to go on a rotation diet in conjunction with a food diary. With the exceptions of dairy (which takes up to a month) and gluten (which most say takes up to 3 months), most foods take about 4 days to leave the system completely, so eating them only once every 4 days will reduce, if not eradicate, reactions.

I agree with flightgoddess. If you are planning to get the Celiac test, I recommend doing so now, before going gluten free. Otherwise, they will expect you to reinstate gluten into the diet for 6 weeks prior to testing (at a minimum exposure, to my understanding, of 3 slices of bread daily).

If there is anything else with which I can help, please feel free to ask. :)

JR

[lil_miss_understood]

I feel it necessary to add that I listed only a few of the symptoms which improved upon removing his allergens. There were many more.

[JDel69]

Thank you for the information.  I did find a lab in which I can do the test at home and send it in.  It is a few hundred dollars, but well worth it.  Even though she didn't react to anything on the skin test (they only tested a few things because of her age), I will still do things around the house in case she has allergies to dust, etc.  I am getting a special filter for the air conditioner, covers for pillow and mattresses, changing her soap, and switching to all natural cleaners.  When our lease is up, I will find a place with hardwood or tile floors.  I am ordering the test today, so I'm anxious to get it and get this started.

I had to get another inhaler yesterday, because the one they gave her was giving her chest pain, and it just breaks my heart to see her this way.

Thank you for the help and I will keep you updated with the test results.

Julie