Finally, the Right Diagnosis
- Community
- Food Allergies Don't Stop Me
- A Terrifying Moment - His First Reaction
- Smiling Through the Challenges
- Changing Schools
- My Son's Last Reaction
- Our Family's Mission of Awareness
- Finding the Positive
- Creating Compromises
- Managing Food Allergies During Pregnancy
Jodi L.
By Jodi L.
My third child and first boy was born in July 2008. When he was about 2 months old, he got terrible eczema all over his body. Our pediatrician sent us to a dermatologist and after several very frustrating months, we seemed to get it under control. My son gained fine motors skills very early by learning to scratch his skin. We felt awful for him!
Then, when I first began trying to wean him at age 1, I gave him a little bit of milk. He only took a few sips. When he later woke up from his nap, he had hives all over his body. I called the doctor’s office and explained to a nurse what had happened. She told me it was very rare for babies to have a milk allergy and to try giving him yogurt. Only about 10 minutes into the feeding of yogurt, we noticed huge hives popping up all over his head. I gave him some antihistamine. He began to wheeze and have trouble breathing. We ended up taking a very scary ambulance ride that still brings tears to my eyes anytime I think of it.
We now know that my son is anaphylactic to milk protein of any kind. After another frustrating six months of him not growing, getting very sick, and spending a week in the hospital, we also found out he is allergic to wheat, eggs, peanuts, and dogs. I now believe that his eczema was also caused by the milk and other common allergy-causing foods I was eating while nursing him. Looking back, I wish I had asked that he be tested for other allergies as well when we had him in the allergist's office after his first episode with milk – I just didn't know to ask.
I've learned a lot in the past year and a half. I know how to read labels and I've made modifications to my favorite recipes. I also feel more confident in my intuition as a mother. Now my little guy is happy and healthy, and I'm so thankful for that!
We are especially grateful for our pediatrician and our allergist who both went the extra mile in trying to figure out what was wrong with our little guy. They were instrumental in getting him back on track and healthy again.
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