Need Help Understanding Allergy Symptoms

Updated on March 28, 2008
L.A. asks from Sterling Heights, MI
10 answers

My three year old seems to be developing some sevier allergies all of a sudden. She has developed MANY intolerances as well. We took her in to figure out why she throws up 4 to 8 times a day. The Dr. did a blood test to check for the top ten allergens. He told us she was allergic to milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, and Eggs. The only thing that we had noticed her having a problem with was the peanuts. Her toungue swelled up once. But none of these other things have seemed to effect her in a big way. Additionaly, when she eats fresh fruits and veggies, she enjoys the first three bites, then starts screaming, and starts to vomit a clear, thick liquid. I am afraid to have the Dr. do a back scratch test, because I don't know how accurate they are, and it seems like it would hurt a lot. The Dr. told us that her allergy to eggs is at anaphlactic level, yet she has never said a word about it, and does not spit it out of her mouth. She has just never really eaten them, just tastes them, then does not eat more. So, I am confused as to what allergy symptoms are. If she screams and grabs her throught, OK, I won't make you eat it. If her toungue and throught swell, OK, your not eating it. But, the little things, like, coughing, face getting a blue tinge around her nose and eyes, not the lips... her cheeks flushing, becoming wheepy when it is no where near nap time, getting a stuffy nose, but no other symptoms of a cold... Are these things that I should be writing down in the "food journal" as possable allergic reactions? My Dr. said that I should be taking notes of things she is "reacting" to, so we will know what to test on her back.
It seems that the more we take from her diet of the original allergies, and compensate for them with other things, the more things she is "reacting to". Like, we took out wheat. It was a slight allergy, and we gave her corn chips instead. She starts coughing a lot with them, then throws up, and get really tired. She refuses to eat oats, even oatmeal cookies. She refuses to eat any kind of rice. I am afraid to push it with her. I don't know how much of this is just being 3 yrs. old, or if she senses she is allergic to it?
We were told she is allergic to peanuts. We eat a lot of PB and J sandwiches around here. She has never taken more than a bite. I thought she just didn't like them. So we got some sunflower butter instead. She put it to her lips and started to scream histarikly. Her lips imediatly swelled over an inch size bubble each. (We were told that is a HIVE?) Thank goodness she didn't get it inside her mouth! Later that night, I slept with her, because I didn't have a good feeling. Her heart stopped beating! So now, I am really freaked out. I am afraid to make her eat anything that she says she doesn't like. I don't know what else can make her heart stop beating.
We have called 9 of the pediatric Dr. on our insurance "in network" list. We actually got answering machines saying to leave our info, and they would call us when we could get an apointment! Is that normal?! We are having such a hard time getting through the phone service of the Henry Ford Doctors too. Do they only work on certain days of the week? I am freaking out. Is there anyone who has "done this dance" and can walk me through the steps?
Also, my husband is so overwhelmed. He is afraid to be left home alone with her, for fear of feeding her something that she has reacted to. There are so many names on the labels for eggs, wheat, etc. He says that I am overdoing it, since there seems to be so little that she can eat without reacting. She doesn't understand why she can't eat the normal things that she was able to eat a couple of months ago, but the rest of the family can. My husband is so freaked out, he is accusing me of "making up the allergies" to get attention! He was there when her lips swelled, and as we are cleaning up her bed from her waking up vomiting... I feel so alone, on such a serious situation. We have no family here, and none of my siblings have allergies themselves, or with their kids. How super vigulant do I really need to be? Is there a name of a type of Dr. that I am missing?
My husband ask if we can go back to feeding here the things that only make her throw up, but not swell up, so that at least she is eating something. I really don't know what we can do. I am overwhelmed. Any understanding of this process would be really appreciated. Thanks. -L.

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B.G.

answers from Detroit on

L.
It sounds like there are a lot of things going on with your daughter. First off, a food allergy is an abnormal response to food triggered by the body’s immune system. The symptoms of a food allergy can range from a runny nose, coughing to hives or anaphylactic shock. The best way to determine if there is a food allergy is to keep a food journal and modify her diet. Keep track of what she eats, how soon does the reaction occur, what is the reaction, how much did she eat before the reaction, and how was the food prepared. You may also try an elimination diet, this constitutes removing all food and drink that you suspect she is allergic to as well as possible related foods (if you suspect peanuts then eliminate foods such as certain food additives, vegetable proteins, ethnic foods and artificial flavorings (all of which may include nuts).
Another thing that I would do is take her to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are not neck and back pain doctors, we are nervous system doctors. Our bodies are self healing and self organizing. The central nervous system (our brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that branch out of the spinal cord and go to the cells, tissues, and organs in our bodies) control how our bodies heal and organize itself. If there is any interference in the communication of our nervous system with the body, then there will either be increased activity or decreased activity, either way the body is no longer functioning at it’s highest potential. Chiropractors call this interference a subluxation (sub-lux-a-tion). This interference/subluxation is caused by three major life stresses- Physical stress (trauma, repetitive motions, poor posture); Biochemical stress (preservatives in food, drugs- prescription and over the counter, alcohol, smoking); and Mental or Emotional stress.
The fact that your daughter’s body is reacting adversely to certain foods means that there is some kind of interference in her system. If this interference is due to a subluxation, then a chiropractor is able to remove these subluxations and let your daughter’s body heal itself and accommodate to outside factors easier.
I am a Chiropractor at Khalil Family Chiropractic and Wellness, in Eastpointe, MI. Feel free to contact our office for any questions. Our office number is ###-###-#### and our email is www.kahlilwellness.com

Yours in health and wellness
Dr. B.

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

L., welcome to MI and the world of allergies. One I can assure you, that it is of importance to have a very good asthma/allergist to help you figure out what the bottom line is with your daughters allergies...my son who is 15mnths started developing allergies at just 4months so just imagine, and now that he is walking and talking it is imperative that we watch what he eats and how he reacts to what he consumes...my pediatric allergist is DR. Savaliwala he is located in bloomfield off of square lake and woodward, if you can get in there to see him, and two my sister is a scrap booker so if you are looking for someone who loves that she is one she has done several beautiful books for me...cuz i am definitely too busy to do that kindof thing...well just giving you a open response and for drinking milk before bed, try organic juice slightly warm, and with the colds see an allergist talk to you soon

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

I had a similar situation with my 10 year old. When he was three he diagnosed with asthma on a routine dr. visit. I thought he had a cold. Then with the asthma came one allergy after another. I am not trying to scare you, but make an appointment with a doctor who will really work to find out what's going on with her, or ask the doctor to refer you to an allergist. My son had an allergy test (I'm not sure what age they start with the skin test on the back), but he was allergic to trees, grass, ragweed, mold, dust mites, eggs, tree nuts, cats, and dogs.

With eggs he would vomit almost immediately. With tree nuts, he develops hives and swelling in his face and throat. I drank lots of milk when I was pregnant, and my son was born with eczema. During the stage when he drank the most cow's milk, his eczema was to the point where his skin was as thick and dark as leather because he scratched it so much. NO doctors ever told me to keep him away from dairy, but I noticed that as he backed off of milk, his eczema got much better. Now I give him soy milk as well and he's doing much better than before as far as his skin goes. He also gets the allergy shot Xolair because of the extent of his allergies and their effect on his asthma.

Make sure you have her tested so you know how to deal with her healthwise. And be diligent!!! Nowadays doctors can be so overwhelmed with patient loads that they don't get in depth with each patient until someone makes a fuss. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!! Hope she gets better, soon!!!

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C.E.

answers from Detroit on

Having to deal with regular allergies is one thing and then you can sometimes prolong those nasty allergy tests, but coming from someone who has family members and friends with food allergies; PLEASE PLEASE contact your doctor and talk to them to help you find an allergist. Food allergies are not necessarly along the same lines of tests and talking to a few people I have been told their are not tests that are done with a simple blood draw. Food allergies are not something to blow off. Some children are so allergic to peanut butter all they have to do is smell it and they go into shock.

A friend of mine if she eats the wrong thing her blood thins out and she will bleed internally. Yes I know it sounds like an exageration, but I did see her get very sick onetime when she ate MSG without realizing it. My cousin has a couple food allergies and they will put her in the hospital for a week if she isn't careful.

Keep a food journal, and no turning blue in the lips or face is never ok. If you really are having a problem finding a doctor who can help, try Childrens Hospital of Detroit, the new specialist center here in Macomb is opening soon so they may be able to help with referrals.

Good luck and please becareful with what you feed your child!

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B.B.

answers from Detroit on

Are her other allergies food related? If so, you really should keep a food log, and find out what is causing her problems. Reactions to food allergies come on quickly, within a few minutes. If she seems to have problems tolerating several different kinds of food, you may want to make sure she does not have a gluten allergy, which can cause problems digesting milk,and can severly affect the digestive tract. Once you figure out what is triggering her reactions, with the help of your doctor, you can avoid the triggers, and be less stressed.

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S.R.

answers from Detroit on

You need to have her tested for allergies to determine if she is having a true allergic reaction or not. If she is not having a true allergic reaction, I would still advise you to stop giving her milk if this is something you suspect is causing her to have adverse reactions of any type. Why expose your child to something that is doing her harm?

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B.M.

answers from Detroit on

With the intollerances, I would ask your doctor, because you haven't mentioned what they are or the reactions, but with the milk, I don't know if I would jump to the conclusion of an allergy. Because of the phlem, which drains in her little stomach because she doesn't cough it up, it could just be upsetting her stomach, causing her to throw it up. I honestly don't think the milk problem is allergies, but I'm no doctor. I would first do a thorough cleaning (being cooped up in the house all winter with the dust from the furnace) and consider an air cleaner maybe for the room she sleeps in. From what you say, she has a lot of phlem, which children will get because they don't blow their nose like adults will; I honestly think this may be a case of sinuses, which even little ones can get. My grandson (just turned six weeks) even had a case of sinuses, and we're still "fighting" it, to a degree. (I think his came from the winter dust and debri; I'll be glad when we can open up the house)If all she has is the stuffy nose, and phlem without the rest of the cold symptoms (cough, fever, etc) then I would consider the environment, and change your furnace filter, and if you have older children, they're always coming home carrying viruses from being with school children. I would keep a can of Clorox Spray handy and spray down all the fixtures, door handles, etc. Again, I'm no doctor, but before I would put my little one through all those allergy tests (I went through them... they aren't fun! Even as an adult!) I would look into that, first. But first and formost, call your doctor, tell him/her what is going on.

Hope she feels better soon, and The warm weather will be here soon, and we can ALL let the dust out! I'm ready to spring clean and get the stink out from this cold winter!!

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H.W.

answers from Detroit on

Michigan is h*** o* allergies. I know people who never had a problem until they moved to Michigan. My son has extreme allergies and after finding a great allergist he has almost no problems. The congestion needs to be dealt with. Contact your Dr. and go to an allergist. I was so against doing this and medication until I saw the difference in my child. He is almost normal with only one or two allergy attacks a year now. And the good part is he only takes an allergy pill in the morning. He use to take several meds and it was awful. Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Detroit on

Diary is had to tolerate when kids are congested. I would eliminate it if she has a severe cold.

My brother and Mom had bad milk allegeries. They had diarehea and vomiting every time they had milk or milk products. If your daughter is only getting sick at night- I think it may be more related to the flem than an actual allergy.

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A.H.

answers from Detroit on

Lactose is a common allergy, but there could also be other factors involved...

My son has a small lactose allergy I think, but we limit how much milk and dairy he is allowed.

Diet is very important and has a HUGE impact on our health. (more than many can realize or will sometimes admit to.).
Try talking to your doctor, or even seeking out a Nutritionist. Don't worry... It will work out! :)

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