Off to the Allergist

[Mehita]

Finally have an allergy appt today for DS! This is the same allergist my younger son sees and people are starting to realize how good she is. She's booked solid for months, so we're quite happy we got in. Bonus = she also has Crohn's.

Hoping to do a blood allergy test today to find out what DS is allergic to. There is no way he'd tolerate a skin test with his needle issues. Allergies started after the small bowel resection that kick started puberty. The thing that bothers me most is itchy, swollen eyes are his biggest symptom and I always freak out when I see them thinking it's Crohn's related.

Hoping also to get answers to why he has a consistently high IgA. Not sure she's going to know, but between her having Crohn's and her medical training, I'm hoping she'll have some idea.

Please wish us luck today! DS said he's willing to do the blood draw and this will be his first time in five years of doing blood draws without "assistance" (a j-tip or numbing cream). I'm very nervous that he's going to panic and not cooperate at the last minute... but he said he'd try, so I'm holding him to it.

 

[Tesscorm]

Good luck! FWIW, my allergies (hayfever) started just before puberty kicked in... I think I've read that it's a common time for allergies to start.

Also, try the trick I used with S when he had to have a painful needle procedure... have him count backwards in multiples of something difficult, ie start counting backwards from 68 in multiples of 7... it's just tough enough that he'll have to think about it and will distract him... if he starts to lose focus, prompt him with the next number (will keep you on your toes as well! ).

 

[Sascot]

Good luck, hope you get some answers. I'm dreading the day we have to try blood tests without numbing cream.

 

[DanceMom]

A has had several skin tests with wonky results (her immune system is easily confused, lol). When she met her new Pulmo a few months ago she suggested repeating the allergy testing. A's response: "We won't be doing that again. You'll need to come up with a Plan B." HaHaHa!

Good luck with testing today!

 

[Mehita]

Oh my, oh my, oh my! She talked him into the skin prick test and he said ok! Sitting here waiting out his 20 minutes. Of the twenty only two are reacting, but they're kind of big reactions.

I am SO proud of him!

 

[Sascot]

Very brave!!

 

[Mehita]

And she said the high IgA isn't super concerning because the double whammy of Crohn's and Celiac could explain it. She said IgA alone doesn't mean much and isn't a super reliable test. The only thing of interest and that should continue to be watched is that his IgA has been increasing over the years. Interesting, but unexplainable.

 

[my little penguin]

Glad he did the skin tests
Honestly my kiddos started those tests at 14 months
No needles just płastic (think a brush )
That rubs the skin and slightly scratches it.

There will be a control and histamine spot one should be tiny and the other huge

Blood tests can show extra stuff and skin different stuff
Good luck

 

[Mehita]

Okay, that was almost too easy.

Just allergic to grass, nothing else. He'll manage with Zyrtec during our grass season. She said it was a fairly high reaction though and was surprised he doesn't break out in hives and rashes when walking around or touching grass. Doctors orders that he's not allowed to mow. Little brother was not happy to hear that.

She'd also like to see him take Zyrtec on infusion days instead of Benadryl. I thought that was interesting. I have a call in to the GI nurse.

Last bit of news for those of you with allergy kiddos, there is a new immunotherapy coming out. It's a pill that is placed under the tongue. Works the same way as allergy shots, but sublingually instead. She did say DS might not be the best candidate because of how it works with EoE and his Crohn's though. Something about drawing the xxx-phils to the esophagus area might not be a good thing. I got lost in the jargon, but I'm sure MLP knows all about this and can answer questions.

 

[my little penguin]

We did Zyrtec on infusion days ( ok everyday as well ) then add benadryl on top of that at the infusion clinic
Zyrtec lasts longer but doesn't act as quickly as benadryl

More on sub lingual drops later

 

[Maya142]

Good for him:dance:! So brave!!
I hope the allergy meds help.