So how/why did I "outgrow" my allergies

[LoisLane]

I've been reading this forum a ton as my DS has asthma and probably a milk and maybe a gluten intolerance. It's gotten me thinking about my own childhood (and family allergies/asthma history) and trying to piece it all together. As a child (starting at about age 10) I had a TON of environmental allergies (had twice weekly allergy shots for weeds, trees, pollen, etc. 4-5 years, and terrible eczema) and TONS of antibiotics for recurring bronchitis (my mom being a big smoker probably didn't help a ton).

The allergies seemed to get better sometime in high school -- I stopped shots around age 15. The bronchitis went away shortly after I left home and went to university. I understand why I probably outgrew the lung infections, but why the allergies? Did the shots "work"? I occasionally react to a thing (smoke, our Christmas tree one year), and I get little patches of eczema a few times a year, but on the whole I am pretty good.

Why? What went "right" in a body where, for a long time, things were going wrong?

I guess I am asking this in the hopes that my son will "outgrow" his (virus-induced) asthma. My DP had terrible childhood asthma and also "outgrew" that... and doesn't have many illnesses with his lungs as an adult (maybe a half dozen in the 18 years I've known him).

Any thoughts? Thanks so much for all of you on this forum. I have learned so much.

[mntnmom]

:

I am wondering as well. What can I do to give DS the best chance to "outgrow" his allergies?

[kjbrown92]

Well 5 years of allergy shots is the standard, I believe. That's how long I had them. And I didn't "outgrow" my allergies. The allergy shots did what they were supposed to. The bronchitis getting better sounds like it was because you left the smoky environment. If you and your DP both had asthma, it's not surprising that your child has asthma as well. Food allergies (except peanuts and shellfish) are more likely to be "outgrown" than intolerances, from my experience. Not sure if any of that helps or not.

[wednesday2004]

In my experience I find that when I'm being inundated with one allergen, usually cigarette smoke, the rest of my allergies get much worse. It's like my systems overloaded fighting one that it doesn't have enough power to fight off the rest.

Maybe when you moved away from home and the constant cigarette smoke your body had a chance to recover and therefore hasn't been so reactive to other things.

[tanyalynn]

My environmental allergies are related to toxic load, and living in a smoky environment is a big daily burden to deal with. Getting out of that situation, if your body is able to catch up with the toxic load you've accumulated (at least to some extent) should help with the allergies.

[WuWei]

Years ago, it was explained to us as a "bucket" effect. As the "bucket" of allergies becomes "too full", you have symptoms and reactions. So, if your environmental allergen exposure was decreased, you may have fewer allergic symptoms exhibited.

Pat

[LoisLane]

That makes sense, thanks.

And I guess there is no way to know whether DS will outgrow his asthma. It's just something I tend to dwell on in the winter as we hear him bark and wheeze all night.

Thanks again.

[joybird]

Most kids do outgrow allergies, asthma, eczema etc. There's theories here that make sense. It could be so many things, the immune system adjusting and accommodating, more exposure to different things, etc. I think a healthy way to look at is that a person's body, when supported nutritionally, will strive to heal and balance itself. Who knows how much of our thoughts and emotions are involved as well? It's very complicated. I know so many people who had allergies/asthma as kids and are better now.

[LoisLane]

When I get discouraged about it (as I do every winter), I do balance that with thoughts of "at least he is eating whole foods and lots of fruits and veggies and getting CLO and probiotics and a few other supplements that are *maybe* making it not as bad as it could be, given the genetic hand he was dealt." And I try to be encouraged that it hasn't been as serious the last year and a half (as far as ER and hospital visits go... I say as I knock on wood and fear that I will send the gods and goddesses with quirky senses of humor into action...PLEASE don't send us to the hospital in Japan!)

Anyway.

I do wonder if those awful years for me would have been less awful with fewer twinkies, hotdogs, cola and chips (as well as no one smoking... although I saw how hard my mom struggled to quit, so I can't get too upset about that).

Thanks for understanding mamas!