food allergies
By kristenc
@kristenc (107)
United States
November 19, 2010 8:30pm CST
My son has severe food alalergies. We disovered them when he was a baby, he had an anaphylactic reaction at 10 months old, and several more not as serious reactions after that, but he wasn't officialy diagnosed until he was almost 2. Since then we have done the yearly allergy test, and they were getting better, and his allergist just knew that this year he would outgrow them, because he turned 5 in September and most children who have food allergies that young outgrow them by 5.
Well, they were the worst ever this year. He got an overall 4 out of 5. We hve never had to have an epipen before (an epinephrine injector, that opens up the airways, slowing the reaction until you can get to an hostpital) but the doctor said it wa mandatory we carry one now.
He is allergic to beef, milk and eggs. Holidays are always the hardest because there is so much he can't eat, and going to visit family, and church dinners and such. He has never had dressing, he can't eat pies and cakes. I do makae stuff special for him, substituting milk and eggs...........but the biggest nightmare is cross- contamination. What if he picks up someone else's spooon and takes a bite? Did they use butter in this? If so was it milk-free?
Some days I just sont know what to do. He is in school now, so I can't monitor everything he does and doesn't do. I send his lucnh and just pray he doesn't decide to swipe something off of someone else's plate.
Has anyone else dealt with food allergies? Any tips, or advice???
6 responses
@his0yir (258)
•
20 Nov 10
I am sorry to hear this. The best thing I can think of is to wait until one day he grows out of them. But he is going to miss a lot of fun throughout his childhood, which just sounds sad to me.
Have you tried alternative treatment? Such as acupuncture or herbal remedy?
I am allergic to soya product myself. 9.99 out of 10 processed food contains soya. The way I deal with it is cook virtually everything I want to eat from raw material. I use only salt, pepper, and herbs as extra flavour, and never touch paste or pre-made sauce. I have to be very careful when I go to chinese restaurants. Even if the dish doesn't contain bean curd or soy sauce, the chef may mingle used kitchen tools for next cooking. I have to avoid chocolate too (which is a pain!). But luckily my allergy only causes my nose itchy, running or sneeze; worst situation is I feel very sick for half an hour, but no life threat.
@kristenc (107)
• United States
23 Nov 10
He has only had one severe reaction where his face started swelling. Since then, if he is exposed to the allergen, he just breaks out in hives. But since his allergies have worsened we are not sure how bad the reaction could be and how he would react, whether it be hives or an anaphylactic reaction. And frankly, I don't want to playa russiaan roulette with my child's life.
@PSTordilla (88)
• Philippines
20 Nov 10
As for me I am allergic to crab and shrimp. But in the past that has not stopped me from eating some.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
20 Nov 10
My son, who is 30 now, had food allergies when he was a baby and a toddler. He was allergic to tomatoes and several other things, but he grew out of it and now he can eat anything without a reaction. He is allergic to cats, however! Food allergies are the worst, though. As know, it's hard for them to eat anywhere except at home. Have you talked to him about it? About how dangerous it would be for him to try someone else's food? At 5 years old, he should be able to understand that.
@kristenc (107)
• United States
20 Nov 10
I hae talked to him. Since he was old enough to understand, he has known what he can and can't havea, and he will even say sometimes " I can't have that." He is old enough to understand, but at the same time he is still a kid!! If he wants something bad enough, he just may give into that temptation. Just like a diabetic, they konw they can't have sugar and they know it will make them sick, but sometimes they give in. And I am scared he might, because we have caught him about to do it before. He does understand more now, and I have explained to him he can get very sick and I have showed him his epipen. So now I just worry, because with food allergies, you never which bite is going to be the one to do it.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
21 Nov 10
i work with children before... so i know what you mean with anaphylaxis... it is very dangerous and life threatening as it got to do with the respiratory system and also cardiac... that's why i have to be anaphylaxis trained before i can work with the children in the past... and also, i know how hard it is to deal with food contamination... that is the hardest part as you can't allow your child to share food or utensils with anybody... as in school, the teacher has to be responsible for your child's well-being and making sure that he eats his own lunch box that you prepare for him... do you have to leave the epipen with the teacher as well??? here you have to... take care and have a nice day...
@kristenc (107)
• United States
21 Nov 10
That is amy biggest worry, the contamination while he is at school. I can't go to school with him nd watch him all day. But his teacher is wonderul. She sits him beside her at lunch and she looks out for him at parties and stuff. And the school nurse has his epipen and benadryl.
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
20 Nov 10
Hi,
It is a big headache to handle those kids who has
food allergies problem.
So you have to pay extra attention to his food intake and the best is
to let your son eat more vegetables and fruits.
Of course, your son can't enjoy eating cakes as cake contains of egg and milk.
No choice, you can try to cook different kind of
vegetables for him everyday and serve him with some fruits.
I know it will be a hard day for him,but for his own goodness sakes, he has
to bear with it.
As for his school food, you can always inform the teacher not to give him
any food contain of those allergies content to your son. Or else, you can always
get ready some ready-packed food for your son to eat at school,it is safer for him too.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
20 Nov 10
Double check the vitamins and medications he might be taking. For some they can cause allergies. My daughter was on a heavy duty antibiotic when she was born and she cannot eat eggs. She out grew severe reaction around the age of 7 but they do upset her stomach in anything more eggy then french toast. She has more of an intolerance now so don't give up hope. Mine also had sever reactions (epipen needed) to mosquitoes. It got much better when I stopped giving them the vitamins. Some people who have too much of certain vitamins can obtain allergies to foods that are high in that mineral or vitamin. We stopped them (they eat fine they don't really need them) and the mosquitoes allergy stopped completely.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 10
I consider myself to be lucky that I've never had to deal with food allergies with my children. However, I have several friends that have children with food allergies and I remember having to give them a list of all ingredients that were in the things that I cooked for potlucks and such. I can only begin to imagine the struggle that you have to be going through when it comes to ensuring your son's safety.
