2m Appt: Good news/Bad news

TJ1979 · July 2014

P had her 2 month appt today. I know, right? How is she POSSIBLY 2 months??

The good news is that she is 12 lbs, and just above the 50th percentile for everything. With all the trouble I had with E and BFing and supply, I never imagined it could go this well this time!

The bad news is that we are pretty sure she is intolerant to peanuts and tree nuts. It's no big deal for me to avoid nuts for her while BFing. It's really hard to do paleo with no nuts, but I'm figuring it out. But... The ped said that nut intolerances are the least likely food intolerance to grow out of. So we will likely have a nut allergy kid. This breaks my heart for her... She may never know the joy of a PB&J or a Reese's. But it also terrifies me. My mom was once explaining to someone that E couldn't tolerate dairy... As she was putting shredded cheese on E's plate. Food allergies are so scary to me, and so easy to mess up.

Sigh. I know it'll be fine either way. And I'll keep praying she grows out of it, or that I'm wrong and it's something else she's intolerant of that I quit at the same time. The ped is doing tests on her diapers, but of course we can't really do food allergy testing until she's 1.

Anyone out there with nut allergies? Any specific advice? Like hidden stuff to be aware of?

TJ1979 · July 2014

Also, can I just say... 2m shots can kiss my behind. Poor P is just heartbroken over them. It is SO sad!

Ruthie04 · July 2014

Yay for a great appointment, but so sorry for the nut news. One of my boys is allergic to oats, which is such a strange allergy. While it is nothing in terms of a peanut allergy, I do find it challenging to keep him away from oats all the time. For example, we went to a zoo and while he was feeding the goats/pigs/cows, he broke out in a rash. I got the ingredients of the animal feed- oats. It's in lotions, cereals, baked goods...especially eith the healthier sweets. Ugh. I imagine there are some amazing blogs and books on nut allergies these days.

I am allergic to pecans and find I struggle with baked goods in particular. Sometimes, I'll be fine with a pastry out of a case, but sometimes I'll have a reaction. For me, the biggest challenge is exposure and shared prep space- not avoiding the actual nut. Fortunately, my reaction has never required emergency care, but I do find the severity of my reaction increases with every exposure.

Hoping the nut allergy theory proves to be wrong and that LO recovers from her vaccinations ASAP!

mnj05 · July 2014

I'm sorry TJ. I have no experience with family, just students I've taught over the years. I will say that in my (short) 5 years of teaching (and my colleague's long 22 years), I've only seen one really bad case, to the point she is used to ambulance rides from school, which never happened last school year while she was in my grade level!! Most kids will end up at the nurse if they come in contact with nut products, but it's usually nothing serious. Kids really do watch out for each other and with allergies being fairly common these days, it's something they're prepared for. Hopefully she will grow out of whatever intolerance this is and you won't have to worry at all! Also, stinkin' iPad, sorry for the formatting.

imoverit · July 2014

Yay for 12 pounds!!! Sorry about the nut intolerence. How did you know about that?

mdiblasi10 · July 2014

Yay for a great appointment! I'm so sorry to hear she might have an allergy though. Fingers crossed it's not long term, but if it is, you will adjust. My cousin has a severe nut allergy and has done really well. They learn quick!

TJ1979 · July 2014

imoverit said:
Yay for 12 pounds!!! Sorry about the nut intolerence. How did you know about that?

@imoverit‌ She has had green mucousy poops for a while. First I cut dairy and soy like I did with E, but no luck. Then I cut wheat and corn. Nothing. Then I cut nuts, and boom, huge improvement. I was keeping a food log and eliminating what seemed to coincide with her really bad days.

kmc84 · July 2014

Yay for being big and strong P!!!

FX that the nut issue is in fact a non issue for you guys and she grows out of it!!

pinkmickey24 · July 2014

Two months already?!? Crazy! Congratulations on BF success and being 12 pounds already. Fingers crossed that P outgrows the peanut and but intolerance.

Jenny935 · July 2014

Oh no, that is sad!

Out of curiosity, did you leave out the other things you had already cut? Maybe it could be something you previously cut out and just took awhile to get over. I know you're bummed.

jmorta04 · July 2014

Yay for a healthy and growing P!

Sorry about the nut allergy. I don't have any advice but just wanted to say GL!

TJ1979 · July 2014

Jenny935 said:
Oh no, that is sad! Out of curiosity, did you leave out the other things you had already cut? Maybe it could be something you previously cut out and just took awhile to get over. I know you're bummed.

@Jenny935‌ Yes, I'm still avoiding dairy, soy, wheat, corn, and nuts. Once we get a little more settled in the routine I'll try introducing things one at a time to see if she actually is tolerant of some of them. But nuts will probably be the last I try. From the food log and her temperament, my gut really says it was nuts.

JBDamonM · July 2014

No advice TJ, but sympathy for sure. My LO had a slight reaction to peanuts a few months ago. I have not given them to her since and will be getting her tested. Like you, I was SO upset. Especially because I adore peanut butter, but I know well figure it out if we need to. When I asked my sister if her kids ever had issues she told me then have never had peanut butter. She gives them sunflower seed butter because that's what her daycare does.......I figured, if she can go without and not even notice, I too can deal. That being said I'm still holding out hope it was a fluke and/or that she will grow out of it.

pb_bride · July 2014

FX she will outgrow the allergy! Yay for 2 months!

luvboston · July 2014

I am allergic to walnuts as well as corn strawberries and have celiac. For the nuts I only trust certain manufacturers trader joes does the best job in the industry for all allergies so even though on the label it says may contain it never does they sanitize to the highest levels.

Whole foods does not do a good job I don't trust their stuff.

Basically having food allergies is a breeze if you incorporate it into your daily life and at home should always be your safe zone meaning no allergens live there or if they do they are hidden in one special cabinet away from everything and whoever uses them washes after. Also educate everyone around you that helps a lot. Good luck.

TJ1979 · July 2014

Thanks for the tips ladies. Especially @chiwifey‌ and @luvboston‌. I really hope she grows out of it, but I'm glad I have you ladies to help me out if needed.

MoFree · July 2014

pb_bride said:
FX she will outgrow the allergy! Yay for 2 months!

I don't mean to be Debbie Downer but I wouldn't count on her outgrowing. PA/TA. More promising is immunotherapy.

I would make an appointment with a pediatric allergic for further testing when P is old enough.

I have two friends whose children have severe food allergies. While both are very vigilant, one mother is defined by the restrictions of her child's allergies while the other is less hysterical. I suggest joining one of the many parent support / advocacy groups.

Robeano · July 2014

So glad to hear that P is growing so well. I remember your stress with E so what a relief! (Also it gives me hope for my next baby!)

As for the nuts, that super sucks. But being intolerant and allergic are so different. FX it's just an intolerance and not a serious allergy. I know a lot of kids with peanut allergies and it's not fun. Also consider trying Wowbutter (made from soy, but tastes like PB) or almond butter.

TJ1979 · July 2014

Thank @MoFree‌. Mh is in denial, while I'm being a bit more realistic. I'm still hoping, but not expecting, KWIM? We will definitely go to a pediatric allergist once she is old enough. And thanks for telling me about the support/advocacy groups. I'm sure I'll be looking into that.

mcgeeva · July 2014

I'm sorry that is tough about the peanuts! Was she having major blowouts and diaper rash that made you think it was peanuts?? If you posted about this and im missed it sorry for making you repeat yourself!

That's great about the bfding though!! Two months and flying by!

RoseHQ12 · July 2014

Wow TJ can't believe Baby P is 2 months already these months go by too fast

DD1 is on a gluten & casein free diet & I am amazed at the items that I think are free of both & are not, sometimes the products don't contain these items but are manufactured in an area where cross contamination can occur. I hope P grows out of this & the issue will be short lived.

TJ1979 · July 2014

@mcgeeva‌ Not just peanuts, but all nuts. She was having green mucousy poo, gas and crying fits. I used a food log to try to find correlations between food and her temperament. I started with dairy and soy, then wheat and corn, then finally nuts before we had any improvement. I accidentally had corn last night and she didn't get worse so I guess I can eat corn again!

laura1 · July 2014

Yay on the good weight gain and eating! Boo on the potential allergy. My DS is allergic to peanuts. He was diagnosed at age 2.5 after a very nearly anaphylactic reaction to a bite of a pb and j sandwich (which he had had before but didn't like). When we had him tested, he was also allergic to eggs. We just had him retested and he has outgrown the egg allergy, but still has the peanut. Bummer!

Like a prior response, we have the biggest issues with bakeries - cookies and cakes are all in the same display case, peanut butter cookies next to chocolate chip. So my DS knows that we don't get bakery stuff for him (unless it says peanut free), and we usually get his treats at the peanut free cupcake place in town. At birthday parties, I usually bring him his own cupcake (although at the last party I forgot and looked over and he was eating a piece of cake - I almost freaked, but managed to stay calm, just watched him and he was fine. I reminded him to always ask about peanuts before eating something! I also tell him when he goes to school/camp/etc, that he shouldn't share snacks with other kids and if they are eating some treat that he wants, to just tell me when he gets home and I will give him his own treat. I don't want him eating some sort of candy because he is afraid I won't let him have a safe treat.

Anyway, I hope it is not an issue for you guys. I have a few friends whose kids outgrew their peanut allergies (they had more mild reactions and at a younger age than my DS), so I hope your DD does too! But the allergist did tell us that peanut allergies are less likely to be grown out of. GL!

JBDamonM · July 2014

@chiwifey‌ - how old was C when you went to the allergist? Did they do the scratch tests or blood test? I have totally been putting this appt off

TJ1979 · July 2014

I was going to ask the same thing chi.

mcgeeva · July 2014

Wow that is tough TJ1979! But glad you figured out what was triggering it. I have a neighbors son who is allergic to peanuts and milk and yet I feed him all the time. He isn't allowed to eat really anything besides what his mom cooks but always shows up at dinner time at my place and I always have to read everything and ask him a couple more times to make sure I don't ever accidentally give him something. I can't imagine with multiple kids how tough it is to always cook different meals and worry about things touching, spatulas etc.

JBDamonM · July 2014

chiwifey said:

@JBDamonM we went just after he turned 1 because I kept noticing an eczema type rash around his mouth but felt like it was something more than that. We did a scratch in office that day and then they sent us for a blood test. We've since changed to a new allergist who actually knows what he's doing and had to do another blood test that was more comprehensive as far as testing for particular proteins etc in peanuts/eggs that the scratch test showed he was allergic too. Good luck when you go and be sure to see a pediatric allergist. It makes all the difference!

Is your LO showing signs of an allergy? Am I totally forgetting if you've already shared this? Sorry if so!

Thanks @chiwifey‌. My LO had a mild reaction to peanuts a few months back

we need to go for the tests. Was the scratch test traumatic?

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