daughter has many mild "allergic" symptoms typical of alot of children i see

[avantgauze]

hello mdc-ers

though not exactly a new member i havent partcipated much, especially in the last few years. so hello again. i have a situation and i would appreciate any advice...

my (3.5 year old) daughter is having a lot different types of symptoms. she has been having them for a year and a half actually. five months ago she was diagnosed with viral induced asthma by a pulmonologist because she would be sick with a cold/cough for months at a time and wheeze occasionaly and sometimes her lips would turn blue when she exerted herself, so whenever she gets a cold i treat her with flovent for several weeks. i never wanted to put her on inhaled steroids, but they worked like a miracle, mostly.

symptoms she currenlty has despite being on flovent daily:slight cough, very dark purple circles under her eyes. blue/purple lips when cold (gets cold very easily-in the summer!), often cold hands and feet, gi symptoms ("my tummy hurts"), gerd symptoms ("i feel pukey in my throat"), bloated stomach, behavioral issues (rage, innapropriate anger). well the behavioral issues are neither here nor there, they could very well be a result of my crappy understanding of discipline combined with her very defiant personality. but certainly her behavior seems to worsen when her symptoms do. the pulmonologist had also ordered allergy testing (blood). it was quite an extensive list of tested allergens and she had undetectable levels to almost everything except: egg whites, cat dander, and dog epithelium... all class 2 allergies. we own a dog and two cats. she has never had any noticeable reaction to eggs.

her breathing troubles begain 2 winters ago when we went across the country to iowa and she caught a cold from her half brother, a cold that didnt go away for 2 or 3 months. she then became fantastically healthy for summer. then she started daycare in the fall and it was all downhill from there, cold after cold after cold, wheezing coughing etc until flovent. her other symptoms have been around for for around the same time, now that i think about it. before all this she was very healthy.

my friends 10 year old son has many of the same symptoms: breathing/asthmatic difficulty, gi trouble, plus occasional unexplained vomiting. his lips dont turn blue and he doesnt have pets.

my daughters half brother has alot of the same symptoms too. except blue lips.

thats all the other children i know well except i see alot of kids with the dark circles these days

i want her healthy desperatly. i would love to see a holistic pediatrician or naturopath but we are both on medicaid, and this is impossible. (is it?)  maybe i should get rid of the pets. (oh no!)  they stay out of our bedroom and we have a air filter. to expose or not expose? should i bring her more often to my third world country of origin and "allow" her to maybe get parasites. (risky!). feingold? i vaccinated, i didnt want to but i had to to be able to work and go to school and have her in daycare.

the truth is these other kids i see all live different lives, have different variables and all are subject to what seems to be the same thing. whats wrong with the world today that all these kids are sick? the same kind of sick.

i would love to know if anyone elses child had all these things, these allergic symptoms, and they got better. how so, please tell! what i wouldnt give to look at my daughter and her not look like she hasnt slept in days (i know she sleeps fine!)

thank you for listening

[SweetSilver]

I have no answers to your biggest, most urgent questions, but just wanted to let you know that tantrums, rages, these can definitely be allergy symptoms (or a symptom of something else bothering her).  My oldest daughter developed a wheat allergy around 3yo and I didn't notice this but I did notice that "Wow!  She has been really angry and violent these last few months."  I was tearing my hair out because I felt this was not right, even though most folks were telling me this was "age appropriate."  Once the wheat allergy was diagnosed (she had a severe dairy allergy since forever) and wheat eliminated, the rages went away.  Yeah, she got angry and tried biting her little sister, but I could see that the raging, rumbling VOLCANO within her had cooled off.

So don't dismiss her tantrums.  Something is up, she feels like crap and we would do the same if we hadn't accumulate so many filters that prevent us from kid-sized outbursts.

[Rosebud1]

 

I don't have a lot of insight but will be watching this thread avidly, as we are in similar boats!

I have a 3.5 y.o. DD who had the cough that would not go away (for three months) this winter.  She also had purple rings under her eyes.   Now, in June, she has developed a cough again unaccompanied by a cold.  So I don't know if it is allergies, asthma, or what.  She has also been very ill-tempered and subject to explosive tantrums.

My hesitation in terms of treatment is I fear my doctor will simply refer her to an allergist who will administer a blood test to determine allergy.  Numerous friends have shared with me that their children received inaccurate results with these tests, which some say have around a 50% accuracy rate.  To me a 50% accuracy rate is no better than guessing!  Also, my daughter has had blood draws is the past and has found them to be pretty traumatizing. 

Does anyone know what test to request for allergy testing?  Am I better off doing a thorough elimination diet with maybe the top ten or five allergens first?

Also, isn't it crazy how many children today have asthma, allergies or eczema! : (

[SweetSilver]

Scratch or "skin-prick" tests can be very accurate.  Some kids will not respond to the test, but the controls will show it.  DD's test at 2 did fail to show an almond allergy, but nuts were tested as a mix.  Otherwise, it seemed to reflect her known allergies and indicated a couple of others.  At 4, almond, tested separately, did show positive.  But by then she had added pecan, corn, rice, egg, and a severe wheat allergy.  The test was larger (the first tested 16, second one 32).  Compared to blood test?  No idea, but it could be less traumatic, depending on the child.  Personally I don't put much stock in muscle testing or other tests that natural-medicine fans seem to love.  I'm a raging skeptic, but I will admit I have no actual argument against these.  You might want to learn more about these from someone who isn't rolling their eyes at the very mention of it!

[scsigrl]

Originally Posted by Rosebud1 Numerous friends have shared with me that their children received inaccurate results with these tests, which some say have around a 50% accuracy rate.  To me a 50% accuracy rate is no better than guessing!  

If you are at a total loss and don't know where to start, 50/50 can give you a jumping off point.

It is true that a positive test result is about 50/50 on accuracy.  A negative however is something like 90% accurate.  The control doesn't tell you anything except that your child reacts to pure histamine just as the size of the mark it leaves means nothing as to how bad a reaction would be.

Have you kept a really detailed food log?  

[avantgauze]

sweet silver. thanks for responding. although i know that feeling aweful can make children(anyone) act aweful, blaming behavioral problems on anything other my own parenting sometimes feels like i am displacing. but sometimes i wonder wether alot of children arent acting, well, not right. the thing is she is like jeckyl and hyde. its totally "age appropriate", as you said, but makes me wonder.

Rosebud. i have no idea as to the accuracy of these allergy tests truthfully. but as scsigrl said, it may be a good jumping off point at the least. but as i said my dd has never shown any noticeable reaction to the eggs or dogs. her eyes do itch around the cats. however, maybe thats the problem, maybe what she's experiencing is exacerbated by the cats, dogs, eggs. the pulmonologist explained it to me this way (i hope i am saying this correctly)...asthma is an overreactive airway, an asthmatic has a lower threashold, the airway will overproduce mucus, over-inflame, overconstrict in response to an antigen. it reacts in the same way most peoples airways react except MORE EXTREME. he said my daughter can probably deal with the dog and cat when she is fine, but add viral infection (cold) to the mix and it overwhelms the system.

but the truth is i still totally feed her eggs when she is ok.

"Also, isn't it crazy how many children today have asthma, allergies or eczema! " thats exactly what i'm getting at!

i never had allergies ever nor others in my family! she's 3.5 and still breastfeeding! she eats far less less pesticides and chemicals than i did growing up (i ate chef boyardi and ramen for breakfast  and sometimes lunch and dinner my entire childhood, nuff said). this is silly to say but... where did i go wrong? should i not had given birth to and raised her in new jersey?? is it the daycare? (seriously) . should i go around rid myself of anything she may be allergic to only to find it spreading, becoming allergic to more and more things, because thats what seems to happen. i just want to stop it all. i want fix her immmune system. it was slightly damaged by the modern world and i want to fix it, but how?

please dont anyone take offense, i'm just venting. but not venting entirely.. this is a real question:

has anyone fixed their or their childs haywire immmune system?

if so how was this done?

thanks for listening!

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by avantgauze 

sweet silver. thanks for responding. although i know that feeling aweful can make children(anyone) act aweful, blaming behavioral problems on anything other my own parenting sometimes feels like i am displacing. but sometimes i wonder wether alot of children arent acting, well, not right. the thing is she is like jeckyl and hyde. its totally "age appropriate", as you said, but makes me wonder.

"Age appropriateness" was exactly why I kept brushing this issue aside, despite my persistent feelings that SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT!  Same with judging my own parenting skills.  This issue went on for a year.  I was in tears on the phone in the bathroom talking with her NP that something was not right.  She took me seriously, but we couldn't figure out why this could be so, and ended by saying, well it could be age appropriate.     I tried many different attachment-parenting-inspired ideas.  None was a wasted effort, but still the main problem persisted and even seemed to get worse.  Luckily, ridding her of wheat (after a new round of allergy testing) just happened to clear up this problem, and only then did I realize that I was right all along; I just couldn't pinpoint what it could be, and I was thankful for this happenstance that led me to the solution.  This is why I say something when people mention rages and outbursts that seem above and beyond the explanation of age appropriateness.  Somehow, parents know that all is not how it should be.

      this is silly to say but... where did i go wrong? should i not had given birth to and raised her in new jersey?? is it the daycare? (seriously) . should i go around rid myself of anything she may be allergic to only to find it spreading, becoming allergic to more and more things, because thats what seems to happen. i just want to stop it all. i want fix her immmune system. it was slightly damaged by the modern world and i want to fix it, but how?

please dont anyone take offense, i'm just venting. but not venting entirely.. this is a real question:

has anyone fixed their or their childs haywire immmune system?

if so how was this done?

thanks for listening!

I have been kicking myself about this for years.  "What if?"  I have heard theories about allergies, but I have tons of allergies and my upbringing was different, so my case it was mostly genetics, I think.  I nursed her, I thought I did what I was supposed to do, but here we are.  I don't think it's necessarily anything you have control over as far as preventing it, but "curing" it?  I am curious to hear those stories, if they are out there.  

[Rosebud1]

Ah, the whole "age appropriate" thing......  In my opinion, my DD's behavior and temperment are worse than what one could expect for her age.  I feel like there can be the attitude of, "well she's three.  You should expect her to be a nightmare".   Somehow I don't want to subscribe to this theory.  I think she doesn't feel well, and people are generally more irritable and short tempered when they don't feel well.

The ironic thing is we were visiting relatives for two weeks and eating uber-unhealthy awful food the whole time, and..... her cough went away.  She had less temper tantrums.  Now maybe she is more comfortable having a meltdown in her own home, but now I am wondering if it is soy or the family cat, both of which we did not experience on the trip.  Maybe it is something in my healthy cooking that is causing the problem!  Twinkies are fine, but my stir fry tofu isn't, wouldn't that be something!

As for examining what we did wrong, there are things out of our control.  I had a really hard time nursing but I pressed on thinking "this will help us avoid asthma or allergies".  We usually don't give her any foods with food dyes or weird chemicals to help her behavior.  We get tons of fresh air, sleep, and live by the ocean.  And we are really struggling with this problem!

OP, I notice that both our children had extended illnesses over the winter.  My doc says that she may have a post-viral infection at this point.  It seems weird that in June three months later she is still dealing with something that started in February.  Anyway, after going through antibiotics (which made no sense with a virus, changed doctors after that), puffers (useless) and oral steroids, I have started her on a natural remedy called RespiraCleanse.  Here's hoping! : )

Hope I didn't hijack this thread! ; )

[scsigrl]

Kicking yourself about the "what if' stuff isn't helpful.  All us Mom's do it and it isn't healthy for ANY of us.  I prefer to think "Gosh, I wonder WHAT ELSE could have been wrong with DS if I hadn't BF forever!"

Cats and soy very well could be the issue for your DD.  Soy is a bog one for many FA kids and I know our DS was way better off after we rehomed our cats.  It isn't fun to think about but sometimes these are the things we have to do.  

Also, the testing isn't great but it is better than wondering in "What the heck is going on".  FWIW, my 2 yo DD did awesome with the SPT. Didn't even look up to see what they were doing.  Just played with the iPhone ;)  DS at 4 had a harder time.  Now part of that could be that she reacted to nothing and he to everything but this was the ACTUAL administration of the test.

[wombato]

Originally Posted by Rosebud1 

Ah, the whole "age appropriate" thing......  In my opinion, my DD's behavior and temperment are worse than what one could expect for her age.  I feel like there can be the attitude of, "well she's three.  You should expect her to be a nightmare".   Somehow I don't want to subscribe to this theory.  I think she doesn't feel well, and people are generally more irritable and short tempered when they don't feel well.

The ironic thing is we were visiting relatives for two weeks and eating uber-unhealthy awful food the whole time, and..... her cough went away.  She had less temper tantrums.  Now maybe she is more comfortable having a meltdown in her own home, but now I am wondering if it is soy or the family cat, both of which we did not experience on the trip.  Maybe it is something in my healthy cooking that is causing the problem!  Twinkies are fine, but my stir fry tofu isn't, wouldn't that be something!

As for examining what we did wrong, there are things out of our control.  I had a really hard time nursing but I pressed on thinking "this will help us avoid asthma or allergies".  We usually don't give her any foods with food dyes or weird chemicals to help her behavior.  We get tons of fresh air, sleep, and live by the ocean.  And we are really struggling with this problem!

OP, I notice that both our children had extended illnesses over the winter.  My doc says that she may have a post-viral infection at this point.  It seems weird that in June three months later she is still dealing with something that started in February.  Anyway, after going through antibiotics (which made no sense with a virus, changed doctors after that), puffers (useless) and oral steroids, I have started her on a natural remedy called RespiraCleanse.  Here's hoping! : )

Hope I didn't hijack this thread! ; )

I think it could be the soy!  Please don't feel that I am criticizing you - you are doing the best that you know how, and we have all been misled by the voices around us about soy.

It is excellent that you live by the ocean and don't give her any foods with "food dyes or weird chemicals"!  Thank you for being so concerned about your child's health.

Here is some information about soy and children:

http://www.nourishingourchildren.org/Soy.html

I know some people, especially vegetarians, have an extremely close-minded attitude toward the Weston A. Price Foundation, and yes, some of this information comes from them.  However, it has everything to do with testability.  Try going soy-free with your child for a good enough period (say, 2 weeks) at home and see what happens.

As the information above tells you, yes, soy can be consumed properly, but it takes heavy fermentation and careful preparation methods.  In truly healthy societies, it was never a staple food, never a replacement for meat.  These industrial forms of soy that do not involve careful preparation are nothing more than a profit vehicle for large corporations.

Years ago, I was on the "I need to eat primarily plant foods / soy" bandwagon.  I ate tofu, soy milk, etc.  My menstrual cycles were so out of whack.  My hormones were nutty.  I would never go back to that.  The only soy I eat now is the occasional wheat-free tamari sauce (I found that going gluten-free helped me too).  However, I think ultimately wheat is OK to eat prepared properly.  Soy is, too, but it needs to be heavily fermented, and even then, that doesn't cancel out all the anti-nutrient effects on children.  And yes, my 2 year old son eats the occasional tamari and I don't see any real problem.

Good luck!