Well, today was the ped appt to see about getting a prescription for an Epipen and a referral to an allergist. I had printed some info out to take with me, since I didn't know if this new dr would be PA aware or not. I know our last one sure wasn't! =( Anyway, it turns out I never even opened my folder!! The dr was PA aware, and wrote us a prescription for an Epipen Jr after just a few questions about previous reaction history. Also, "peanut allergy, give referral to allergist" was written on the office visit receipt, so I guess now we're officially PA. At least until Matt tests negative (I am still hoping!!).
We also talked a little about Matt's FTT problems last year. She wondered if maybe he had been allergic to the milk in the formula he was on. I don't think so, but then, I am not real knowledgeable on allergies just yet. He has been drinking cow's milk for the last year and hasn't had any problems with it, so I wouldn't think it was a milk allergy. *shrug* Anyway, we all (dh, myself, and dr) figured there must have been something in the formula that was aggravating the FTT. I can't say caused, because his first weight loss was when he was still breastfeeding.
We went to Wal-Mart to get diapers after dropping off the prescription and decided to check the formula he had been using. It didn't list any peanut products, but it DID list coconut oil. Didn't someone mention before that peanut and coconut allergies are cross-reactive or something???
Matt now weighs 23.5 lbs and is 32" tall. So he is right at 5% in height and 10% in weight. A VAST improvement from this time last year when he was just barely on the charts in weight, and nowhere near the charts in height. So even this part of the visit was good! =)
We have an appt with the allergist on Jan 8th, so we won't have to wait terribly long for that. All in all, this dr visit was the most productive, and best office visit we've had with Matt to date. The dr showed us how to use the Epipen with a trainer, but did not go over what signs to look for, what foods to avoid, etc. I guess she figured we were pretty informed since we came in ASKING for an Epipen Jr by name! lol She did make sure we understood that even after using an Epipen, we needed to go to the ER, and that it only bought us 15min to get there, though.
Hi I read one of youyr other posts on another thread. I'm glad to hear that you got a good Dr. and that he willingly gave you a EPI-pen and a referrral to an allergist. From the sound of some of the posts that is half the battle.
When I went with my son (4yrs old ) to have his test done I kept thinking that it was going to be negative and then I'd have a flashback to his first and only reaction and think well it could be .. Anyway he tested postive but I still think maybe it was a false positive but at the same time we avoid all nuts and NOW we read all labels. It's a very good thing you have the EPI especially with family who don't "get it" and during the holiday season there are so many things with nuts in them. By the way what does FTT stand for and how old is your son? (I obviously didn't read all of your posts!)
care- This was the first time we'd met the ped, but ust judging by today, I think we made the right decision in changing drs!! =) She is really good with the kids, too. She was actually talking to Matt a bit of the time, instead of just ignoring him like most drs have. FTT stands for Failure To Thrive. Not a nice term to have stuck on your sweet little baby, but we've gained ground since then, and he actually looks chunky now! =) Matt will be 2 at the end of next month, 12 days after his big sister turns 3. LOL
Matt's Mom, you know how pleased I am you got the Epi-pen! As I posted to you in another thread, I'm not wishing PA on Matt, and hope that he does test negative. But, for now, at least you have the Epi-pen to get you safely through the holidays. You already know what to look for in symptoms, you're so PA aware.
Now, here's just hoping you don't have to use it! And, of course, you have to post what happens at the allergist's in the New Year!
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
------------------
Hi! Great news about the ped. I think I remember you posting to my thread about finding an allergist and I think you are in my area. Who is your new ped? My son is 19 mos. and is also very small. We have been through the mill trying to determine if he was OK (and they have decided he is). We are still not on the chart for weight but our ped says everything is OK and he is just small. (I was a small baby and so was my husband). Did your ped refer you to an allergist?
Hi hbsmom! I'm glad the drs think everything is ok with your son. I know when we were trying to figure out why Matt had fallen off the charts it was a constant worry that he had some horrible genetic disease. I was so scared! But the tests all came back negative, thank goodness, and that alone took a bunch of stress off me. Matt's new ped is Dr. Hollis. She's young, and hasn't been in practice very long, so I had been hoping that she was in med school recently enough that she was PA aware, and she was. =) She referred us to Dr. Wynn (ped allergist) over at Cook Children's in Ft. Worth. I don't know what she's like yet, but I guess we'll find out in January! lol Good luck with your son, and feel free to email me if you want. =)
Mattmom - glad to hear you had a good, productive meeting with the dr. You must feel somewhat relieved to have an epipen and a dr. who seems to understand. Good luck with the allergist appointment.
Regarding the question about COCONUT in first posting:
To ease your mind, COCONUT is technically a FRUIT. Lots of good discussion about coconut in the board threads earlier this year -- do a search on coconut when you have some time.
We too were initially concerned about coconut since it is the base for many infant formulas & were relieved to learn more. (It's so NICE to be relieved once in awhile rather than MORE WORRIED!!) [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/redface.gif[/img]) Cheers!