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Lisbet
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| Posted: April 10 2007 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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I know many of you have children that suffer from various food allergies, and until now, it was something I have never had to consider, and I really don't know much about food allergies at all.
Molly is 11 months old now. For the past 2 months or so she has been eating what we do sans the spicey or blatently not appropriete foods. In those 2 months she's developed dry blotchy spots on her chest and arms. Almost sandpaper-y at times. I suspected the generic baby soap I was using on her (someone gave us a case of it) One of my older children is very senstive to soaps and thing, so I assumed the same for Molly.
I switched soaps but it didn't really clear up. Sometimes it gets better, but it never goes away.
So, fast forward to today. Lunch consisted of half a bagel and a chopped hard boiled egg.
This evening when I took her clothes off, her chest and arms are flamming red, very splotchy, and warm to the touch. At first I thought it was from her clothing, but it was something she'd worn many times before and washed in the same detergent as always. There is a distinct 'ring' at her neck where the top touched her skin. The outfit was also one piece, but her legs are clear, it's just her chest and arms.
I called the ped and she said she suspects hives and just to keep and eye on her.
The more I think about it, the more I am suspecting an egg allergy. This was the first time she's had an egg on it's own. She's had things made with eggs before. She's also had various nut butters, berries, a few bites of cheese and an accidental ingestion of her brothers sippy of milk. I'm begining to think I should have been much more careful.
How do I proceed from here? Of course I will eliminate all known common allergens from her diet. That leaves me wondering what I can feed her? Should I be more concerned about the hives? Should I take her to the ped and discuss all of this? I feel so bad that I could have prevented this. I just take if for granted that one child will be like the next when it comes to this.
Thanks for any advice you can offer.
P.S. I am also still nursing her quite a bit. I eat alot of eggs and milk. I've only noticed these things in her though, since she's been eating more and more from the table.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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amyable
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| Posted: April 10 2007 at 8:00pm | IP Logged
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If it's possible, I'd take her to a good pediatric allergist to have her tested ... then you don't have to do so much guessing. I think you have enough grounds to make an appointment! If she does test positive to certain foods, you are supposed to eliminate them from your diet if you are breastfeeding. It gives her the best chance of outgrowing the allergies, and just being healthy in general. You may not be seeing a big reaction, say, when you eat eggs, but if she's allergic, it adds to a general "overload" of her system which can show up in other ways... sickness, eczema, seeming to be allergic to more things, etc.
I would really suspect eggs after what you said, but don't just assume she is milk allergic too unless you've seen problems. If you suspect anything, take all forms out of her diet (and yours, if you can stand it) for a week or two, then give her a *bit* of the offending food, and watch for reactions. They could be immediate or a day or two later. If nothing happens, give her a little more two days later, and repeat, growing to a larger serving. Since you really seem to think eggs was a problem, I'd keep it out of her diet for a few months.
If you go to an allergist, ignore what I say and just do what he says, LOL!
Jenn may be better at explaining all this, I've had a long, crazy day! Feel free to ask more questions of me or PM me, though, I seem to do better with direct questions...otherwise I'll just ramble on forever. 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Angi
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| Posted: April 10 2007 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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I have 3 children with food allergies. It does sound a lot like an egg allergy. Eggs are the most common source of eczema. Here is what I would do. Treat the skin with Vanicream (OTC) or WalMart's generic Eucerin cream. With a wee one, I do not use hydracortizone.
Eliminate egg from your diet and hers. I would not eliminate the top 8. I have never had to do that. Give it at least 2 weeks to watch for a change. Does she have any other symptoms? Ring around her anus, consistant diaper rash, spitting up, reflux, vomitting, loose stools, congestion, chronic ear infections, etc?
During those 2 weeks, keep a food diary of everything you and she eat. (You could make it a "nututional evaluation" project for an older child ;)). Record any reactions that occur that way you can see if there is something else she is reacting to.
Lastly, allergy testing under the age of 2 is notoriously inaccuate, but we all still do it. Try to get an appt with an allergist. Also, ask for an epi-pen jr. Any allergy can become anaphyactic with the very next exposute.
HTH some.
Angi
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Lisbet
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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Thank you all SO much! I feel like such an awful mother because I have become so careless about these things at this young age.
I am a little worried about cutting eggs from my diet, since it is one of the foundations foods of the Brewer diet. I will just have find a different protien boost I suppose.
In retrospect, I can see where she may have been having minor reactions to eggs in the past. I will call the ped again today to discuss this further.
Thanks again.
I would love to hear from anyone else dealing with food allergies in their children.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Angi
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 7:00am | IP Logged
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A great source of protein is Red Star Nutrional Yeast. My kids and dh love it. We put it on popcorn, baked potatoes, pizza, pasta, rice, well everything
Nutrtional Yeast
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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All the advice is great here. I'll just add my two cents.
My son is allergic to eggs, milk, and wheat. But he wasn't diagnosed until 1 year old. I suspected something was wrong, because he had eczema, and he would occasionally have hives on his face (later I figured out the hives were from my touching or kissing him after I had eggs).
Egg allergies are doable, but I know what you mean about the Brewer's Diet and source of protein. I rely heavily on eggs for protein sources....probably why he got the allergy in the first place. I had to add meats to my diet, cooking extra hamburger and chicken (and ham) and eat them for protein sources (because I couldn't have the dairy either).
I was thinking that perhaps the flare-ups of hives or eczema is worse now because you are eating more eggs since you got pregnant. Could be something to think about....
I got pregnant when ds was 18 months old, and I couldn't handle the stress of the allergy free nursing diet and getting that extra protein (my blood sugar goes haywire when I'm pregnant). So I had to wean him...but your daughter is much younger.
I would watch the hives...have some liquid Benadryl (I think 1/2 tsp at this age, but call your doctor first) on hand in case she has another reaction. Not to scare you, but sometimes reactions can get worse each time, and sometimes jump to really bad anaphylaxis. Learn to recognize what analphylaxis can be.
For peace of mind I would make an appointment with an allergist -- pediatric allergist would be the best. Skin and blood tests are what I like to do, to eliminate false positives. At this age a blood test (I forget the name) is more reliable.
It takes 2 weeks to get all traces of allergens from your diet. You have to learn to read labels:
Tips for Managing an Egg Allergy
Egg Allergy Diet
If her eczema isn't better, I would then start eliminating something for a trial. Milk, eggs, soy, and wheat are very typical allergens for young ones.
It's hard to start restricting yourself in the EASTER OCTAVE and the 50 days of rejoicing. A cookbook that has some yummy recipes Bakin' Without Eggs.
Some old forum posts here and here where I ramble on...
Jennifer at "As Cozy As Spring" has an egg allergic son and might be able to provide some hints.
For the eczema we would nightly bathe and then put Aquaphor ("goop") all over our son. That keeps the skin moist and keeping him more comfortable and less itchy.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 9:31am | IP Logged
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Hi Lisa, I don't have much time right now, but you've gotten lots of good advice here. If this progresses I would strongly suggest an allergy-test, one of those where they culture the blood and give you the results after 3 weeks or so. It's the most thorough and has helped us the most, showing us a long list of things that are instant triggers and delayed triggers.
Praying for you! It is difficult, but we moms are specially equipped to handle these things! Love is #1. And you are doing so great in that dept. Everything else will fall into place. Do feel free to PM anytime, been dealing with varied food allergies in the family for several years now.
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stef
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
Hi Lisa, I don't have much time right now, but you've gotten lots of good advice here. If this progresses I would strongly suggest an allergy-test, one of those where they culture the blood and give you the results after 3 weeks or so. It's the most thorough and has helped us the most, showing us a long list of things that are instant triggers and delayed triggers.
Praying for you! It is difficult, but we moms are specially equipped to handle these things! Love is #1. And you are doing so great in that dept. Everything else will fall into place. Do feel free to PM anytime, been dealing with varied food allergies in the family for several years now. |
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Well said, Stef. I second that! And PM me if you want more advice, too.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Lisbet
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 10:33am | IP Logged
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THANK YOU so much mamas. I feel so much better about it this morning. I'm almost certain it was the eggs. I've been doing some reading on it, and lots of praying. The hives are almost completely gone this morning, and she's in good spirits. I am going to focus more on fresh veggies and fruits in her diet, and I will look to other sources of protien for myself. I still have a call in to the ped, she knows I want to discuss this further.
Again, I cannot thank you all enough. You've leveled my head about it all.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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mary theresa
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 11:31am | IP Logged
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I haven't read everyone's posts, so maybe someone already said this, but I just wanted to say Lisa, that my 1-yr old , though allergic to egg WHITE, can eat the YOLK. The white is supposed to be the allergenic part of the egg and the yolk is usually fine. So I have heard and read.
Maybe you could try just scrambling the yolk for her and see how she does?
And if that worked, than at least you could eat the yolks too.  I know what you mean about the eggs being such a protein staple for you. Me too!
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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amyable
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| Posted: April 11 2007 at 2:18pm | IP Logged
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We have a different opinion from our (reportedly very good) allergist - you can't TOTALLY separate the yolks from the whites, so he said avoid both. Just my $.02, not trying to be argumentative or anything.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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mary theresa
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| Posted: April 12 2007 at 10:58am | IP Logged
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Yeah you probably can't totally separate it, Amy. I guess if there is a really bad allergy even a teeny bit matters. It works for my daughter though. I try to rinse off all the white in a tiny stream of water from the faucet, then I actually puncture the sac or membrane around the egg yolk and only let the insides go into the bowl. So, that way (theoretically anyways ) the thin sac and any white left on it should still be in my hand. Does that make sense? 
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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4 lads mom
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| Posted: April 15 2007 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
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Hi All,
I have three boys who all have significant, anaphlaxsis food allergies. Lisa, don't beat yourself up...I did the same thing with mine..couldn't figure out why my little guy kept getting MORE colicky as he got older, not less...the only breastfed baby that was constantly constipated....never wanted to be put down, constantly irritable...and wouldn't eat any food other than nursing. So, when I was desperate for him to "eat" something, I gave him some mac and cheese his brothers were eating...and he was completely covered in hives and coughing. Once I got off of milk completely, he quit being "colicky" His milk allergy is now so bad, you can't touch him after touching milk..
The blood test you are referring to is "RAST" testing, I think that is how they spell it. It checks blood levels of IgE, antibodies produced when you are allergic to something..
Someone said that hives can turn to anaphylaxsis...I have seen that happen before my eyes...take it seriously, but talk to a ped allergest, they will hopefully be a big help as you sort it all out.
Peace!
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Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Food Allergies??
