- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Pennsylvania Babies
MrsPaBlondie
Hi! After talking with you all on Tues I decided to call the office back. I stated my concern about how we've been dealing with this undetermined allergy for 7 weeks and they have not had us come in to be seen by a doctor. [Yes, a nurse always calls back but often times my questions are not answered]. I told them that I didn't apprecite being told to wait until Friday to hear what they thought could be causing his diarrhea. I asked that either a doctor be available for our appt Friday or that we have a doctor appt before Friday. They had me bring Ethan in on Tues to be seen by Dr. S. I've heard all these wonderful things about him but we did not have that experience. He brushed off my concerns, didn't really answer my questions, and pretty much just threw Alimentum at me to try. I'd rather figure out WHAT Ethan is having an allergic reaction to and trying Alimentum isn't going to tell us that. It seems that Ethan can't tolerate dairy and soy but there's got to be something else b/c I've been dairy free for more than a month. It's possible that I've accidentally consumed hidden soy or that he's having a reaction to something else.
After talking with a LC and nurse who have both dealt with food allergies, I decided to try an elimination diet first. For 2 weeks I'll cut out dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and shell fish. If we see improvements after these are eliminated then we know it's an allergy and I can introduce one at a time to figure out which one it is. I should have done this weeks ago!
If we don't see an improvement in those 2 weeks then I'll try Alimentum b/c it could be that he can't tolerate breastmilk at all. If he still doesn't improve on the Alimentum then we have to see a pedi GI specialist b/c that would mean there is something more going on.
I'm hoping it doesn't go that far. He had a almost normal looking bowel movement at the doctor's office today, according to the nurse who saw it!! I'm REALLY hopeful that we're on the right track with this elimination diet.
They scheduled our next appt with a nurse practioner again. While I feel that she is qualified, I think I'd rather see a doctor. I'm still considering switching practices.
Oh and either the nurse misinformed me or they changed their immunization policy in a matter of a week. Remember how I told you that she told me we could do 2 shots then come back in for a nurse's visit for the rest? Well, today I was told the same thing you were ... that it's too difficult to keep track of and they won't split up the immunizations.
Other than the allergy he's doing really well. 75 percentile for weight and height!
Anyway, thanks for asking & sorry this is so long! I appreciate your encouragement to follow up with it. I'm glad that I did.
Hope you and Conner are having a great day!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: MrsPaBlondie
TTC since Jan 07. Dx with PCOS Jan 08
I am so sorry that you are going through all this. I just read Saras post to you and I 100% agree with her, we have been seeing Dr. Deschene for all our visits and have been so happy with her. She really got me through Connors allergies, she's been through the same with her twins and she 100% understands how hard it can be.
I will say I had a similar experience with Dr. Schriff. I refuse to see him again. One time I took Connor in for a possible ear infection - he spent like 2 minutes in the room and made me feel like I bothered him and wasted his time.
I will also give you a lot of credit for sticking with it, I dont know if I could've handled cutting all that out of my diet, however- knowing how expensive that hypoallergenic formula is, maybe I would've!
Keep in mind that whatever it might be, there is a good chance he will outgrow it, Connor had a really severe milk allergy up until about 9 months and then all of the sudden he grew out of it and now can eat anything (not that he does).
75th percentile is awesome !!! That actually makes me think that he doesnt actually have a milk allergy, because Connor didnt gain any weight for a few weeks before I cut out the dairy.
Anyway, i think I wrote a novel also lol Good Luck with everything and keep me posted - if you have any questions I'm here
and BTW, I have to agree.. that siggy pic is one of the cutest things I have ever seen
Ooh, good to know Dr. Deschene has personally dealt with allergies too. I think we'll request her. We've been considering switching to Carlisle Peds b/c we LOVED Dr. Lynn Hoffman (who we saw in the hospital when Ethan was born) but I'm hesitant b/c he's tough to get in with and it would be a 30min drive every time we have to go to the doctor. I think trying Dr. Deschene first is a better option.
I felt the same way about Dr. Shriff ... he made me feel like I was wasting his time!
You're right, the cost of that formula is a driving force. I hope we can get whatever is going on figured out. I'm thinking there's something else besides the milk allergy going on too. All of his other symptoms cleared up when I eliminated dairy. I really hope whatever it is, that Ethan grows out of it like Conner did. It's one thing to watch what I eat but a whole other to worry about food allergies when other people are feeding him (friends houses, school, etc).
Thanks again for your support. I appreciate it!
TTC since Jan 07. Dx with PCOS Jan 08