Stressed and Worried over allergies

flirtycuddle wrote: My 8 month old has been dx with allergies to the top 8+ corn, apple, mango, legumes, and carrorts. He has reactions at just the slightest amount of any of the food and it scares me to think he could have an anna reaction at any one of these accidental expoures. I have cleaned everything from top to bottom, vaccume daily, only eat at the table and yet he still manages to react to something daily. We pulled all food and now he screams at us to eat when ever we are. I mean he tries his hardest to get our food and then sits there and cries. I am still trying to find safe food for him but with corn it's in everything I have found. I actually worry myself beyond belife over him daily and it makes me feel bad that I can't give him anything but the elemental formula and water. We see an allergist but since he tested so low to some stuff he thinks I'm going over board even though the reactions are there.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Man, I can't even imagine multiple allergies. Peanut is bad enough. I feel for you. Have you considered consulting a nutritionist? Maybe one can give you ideas for foods your son can try. Also, your allergist shouldn't be poohpooh-ing your fears. Maybe you can find another one. You are the one who sees your child on a daily basis. Your doctor should show more trust in your instincts, IMO.

hoosier momma replied: I think a nutritionist would be a great idea. You might try making your own baby food from only fresh vegetables and meats. A food chopper will chop it into whatever consistency you need. It will even make a puree. I know it is a lot of work, but it was my first thought.

gr33n3y3z replied: I would agree to the nutritionist
she can give you a list of safe foods and foods to advoid also.
Please keep us updated

amymom replied: Kelly's recommendation is right on! Remember the doctor works for you. And you are with your son. Remind me how old he is. You may need to distract him at the other family members snack times. And offer the homemade baby foods.

I know and understand how difficult it is, but there is some good information out there on eliminating foods from a diet. It does take some time to weed through it all tho.

Good Luck! I am sending prayers for calmness and less stress to you.

flirtycuddle replied: We've talked to a nutrisionist and she was no help at all. She didn't even know asorbic acid is derived from corn. The allergist we go to is the only one our insurance will cover for Will's age and I have told them what a pain this guy is about the allergies. We are getting a GI consult at his next appointment to have a scope for EOS since he has so many allergies. As for eating with lunch and such we eat around his nap times which can be hard but that way he's not so upset. It's the snack times for my older dd that prove trying really. Now we have gotten to where we have a tray for her room and she goes and shuts her door to her room to snack while playing so he doesn't see cuz if we try it at teh table he just crawls over and starts tugging on her. I've thought about just makng baby food but he's at the point where he hates baby food lol....I guess I could try just a semi smooshed bannanna or what not.

boyohboyohboy replied: I know exactly how you feel. My son is allergic to peanuts severly, but has also reacted to milk, eggs, and soy.and peas and probably others...he is reacting to foods we are not sure whats causing it yet. but he seems to tolerate some of the foods better as he is growing.
I dont know if you noticed the day I posted about a book i got at the library that really helped me calm some of my fears...
its called the peanut allergy answer book. I cant remember who wrote it, but if you want me to check at the library I will just PM me.
It talked about all the food allergies too, and it made me feel better about using my epi pen. do you have one of those?
also do you use benadryl if your son is reacting? to help with the symptoms?

I also felt alot better to see that some of these food allergies kids do out grow by the age of 2 and others at age 4.

I agree a nutritionist will help. but we also only see a PEDIATRIC allergiest, at first we saw a regular one, and she was of no help, and like you she kinda down played the allergies, once we saw a lady who deals with kids it made all the difference. now we travel an hour to see her, but it was so worth it...

I also know how hard it is when the child wants what you have, so we all have to act like we have the allergy, i know its hard but maybe at your table right now you could only make foods that are acceptable for all of you to eat...

Just hand in there, its frustrating I know, but it does get easier the more research you do. tracy and annie maried have helped me a great deal also learn more about these allergies..they are gret resources...

hoosier momma replied: I'm not trying to push you do feed him other stuff, but you might find if you make your own he might like. It tastes completely different from jarred baby food. I used to make my own vegetable from either fresh or frozen and the stuff actually had some flavor. Good luck and I hope things improve soon. Don't be so hard on yourself. It sounds like you are trying to find different solutions.

DansMom replied: I can't imagine what you're going through with not having wheat, corn and soy as options. It can be helpful to hook up to others in your situation, either in a food allergy support group on line (i-Village has a good one), or better yet, if there's something in your area. Try calling the allergist's office to see if they have any info on support groups. Hopefully, some of these allergies will be outgrown within a year or two.

flirtycuddle replied: The allergist actually told me not to expect him to outgrow anything before the age of 3 and prolly not till 5. I am apart of the POFAK board already and they have helped tons. I need to find a health food store near us and do some shopping for some of the stuff that has been suggested for him. I also thought about cooking only safe food but with so much out it just seems impossible. Granted when he gets older I am going to have to make him "safe" food but that will be a thing that I make just for him but similar to us. I know to make the whole house safe I would have to throw out just about everything we have now and start all over and even then some things like condiments don't really have a safe alternative. Not only that but to make the whole house safe with only his food would cost an arm and a leg.....we are still figuring out everything he is reacting to so that is why he is on formula only still. I am going to try bannannas today once I get some since they seem to have never really bothered him before. Oh yea I can't even give him jared food cuz most of it has asboric acid (at least the fruits) to help preserve it. I know he can handle squash and bannanas liek I siad but everything else he seems to react to. He is on a dialy dose of antihistimen to help lessen reactions if they do happen but the stuff makes his so cranky so the allergist is trying to find a safer form for him.
I know it also doesn't help since he is up 2x a night ot eat cuz of the formula only not sustianing him all night. That and df works so much right now I am home with them all day without any help and never get a break. Df's parents have taken dd for a night last week but are still to scared to take ds cuz of his unknown allergies and reactions.

DansMom replied: Daniel is still actively allergic to 5 foods and won't outgrow anything by age 5---it's depressing, but I can't imagine adding wheat, soy and corn to what's forbidden. I can't say we have an allergen-free home, either---DH and I eat cheese and drink milk. You are doing all the right things, it sounds like---and it's exhausting you. When you have to eliminate the top 8 plus some, it's probably not the best diet for other kids in the home... I can totally see the difficulty of that being overwhelming. As a child gets older, there are more solid-food options. In the first two years we relied a lot on potatos and olive oil, chicken broth (ingredients in broth though---it's exhausting to check everything), and avocado

amymom replied:

Thanks Stacy but you give me more credit than I deserve.

I know Tracy has been dealt with alot that you are dealing with. I also remember talking to a nutritionist that recommended my dd have yogurt to boost her calcium intake. I know some people that are lactose intollerant can tolerate yogurt but my dd was on a complete elimination diet. But I diverge..... sorry.

I understand how frustrating it is to talk to the so called experts and get different answers.

All I can recommend is you read, read and read somemore. Learn everything you can and be your child's best advocate. Good Luck.