New Allergies

Hi lizziepv,

I read your post on the Main Discussion Board inquiring about how to read the results of a CAP RAST test. Sorry I can't help you there as my son has had a rast and a skin test. Although you could do a search on these boards for the cap rast and I bet you'll have some answers to your question.

Since your son is young I thought I'd include a link that I found helpful from the Main Discussion Board on "What To Teach Toddlers".
[url="http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum1/HTML/002619.html"]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum1/HTML/002619.html[/url]

Another helpful link is to "Living With Anaphylaxis: Handling the Stress" which I need to review from time to time myself [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

[url="http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/handlingstress.htm"]http://www.calgaryallergy.ca/Articles/handlingstress.htm[/url]

You'll probably just want to take some time to read up on this website as well as FAAN:
[url="http://www.foodallergy.org"]www.foodallergy.org[/url]

I know what you mean about other people thinking we overreact abut peanut allergy. Some will think that, some won't. Mostly it's out of ignorance about the allergy.
You do what you need to do for your son. Trust your instincts!

Hi -
My son has multiple food allergies, too. I know just how you feel. It can be very overwhelming, however, you did not do this to him. My two older children do not have any food allergies!
FAAN, mentioned above is a great resource for materials and they will answer questions, too. They pointed me in the direction of Dr. Robert Wood after my son's second CAP RAST results. After losing many sleepless nights about the worsening test results (and blaming myself), I've resigned myself to accepting the results are positive, keeping my son safe, cooking alot, and praying for resolution of some allergies at an older age.
I still value test results in the sense that they are a tool, but after Dr. Wood explained the "natural history" of peanut and milk allergies - it is not surprising to see them change (likened to a bell curve for milk; the immune system response to peanut is unique and replicates the imprint without exposure). Don't be disappointed to see them change in the future even if your son hasn't had a reaction. The bottom line from Dr. Wood is to manage by reactions/lack of reactions.
For milk and peanut allergies, I could be of some help, if you'd like. Egg allergy is difficult, I understand. Perhaps someone else can contribute on that one.
It's alot to handle all at once....you're definitely not alone!
Cathy

P.S. As I understand it, the IGE (along with eos and basos for the CBC) are general indicators of allergy. Ben's was 109.7U/ml. His doctor said if it were really high, it can inflate some results. That's why I leave it to the doctor - too many nuances!

[This message has been edited by B'sMom (edited July 17, 2002).]

Thank you for sharing information with me. I have already joined FAAN.
I found the link you sent very helpful. It gave me some ideas for how to talk to him. I have ordered a pre-schoolers guide to peanut allergies. I hope this helps him understand.
I know that all of this will become second nature to me eventually, but right now it is emotionally exhausting. We went grocery shopping last night for the first time since we found out about the milk and egg allergies, and it took twice as long as normal.
I have found a local support group that is starting up, and I think that will help.
Now, I just have to hang in there, even though everyone around me thinks I am obsessing over this.

Thank you for sharing this information with me. I have found someone locally who is starting a support group. I think this will help me. It will be nice to be around people who don't think I am psycho!!
I have already joined FAAN.
I have talked to his teachers at school, and my family about not feeding him something unless I give it to them, or unless they check it out with me first, but I always have this uneasy feeling that he is going to get ahold of something by accident when he is not with me.
I have found this site very helpful.
We are taking this one day at a time. It is just emotionally exhausting. Grocery shopping takes twice as long, and the constant telling him "You can't have this, you can't have that" is tiring. The link that was given to me about Toddlers was very helpful. I am going to buy him a lunchbox so he can have his "special" food in it.
Thanks for listening to me, it feels good to get it out.

OOPS. I got an error with the last post, so I did this one. Looks like they both posted.

[This message has been edited by lizziepv (edited July 17, 2002).]