Allergic to the World
Finally catching my breath after a crazy day yesterday. Took my daughter in for food allergy testing in the morning and we found out she has TEN(!) additional food allergies! Not just sensitivities or intolerances but actual allergies.
Blah. So in addition to the other things we already knew about (peanuts, gluten, mushrooms, etc.) she is now officially allergic to the world. The woman doing the tests said she’d never seen anyone test positively to so many items. Special, huh?
My daughter also had a reaction to the testing itself and ended up sick and wiped out all day yesterday — thought for a bit we were going to go visit the ER. That’s enough excitement for one day, me thinks.
Now to figure out what on earth she can still eat! :-/
The newest items on her allergy list are:
1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Apples
4. Peaches
5. Pork
6. Shrimp
7. Soy
8. Strawberries
9. Tomatoes
10. Tuna
She’s allergic to basically our regular shopping list. :-(
My daughter (2.5) has multiple severe food allergies, as well. Its difficult to work around but we’re getting there and so far she’s quite content with a limited diet and understands that certain things will give her an “owie tummy” among other reactions. Many blessings to you as you find new things to feed her! I think we’d be in a world of hurt if she couldn’t have sunbutter…its one of her main proteins! (And the only safe seed she can have!)
BooksAndBairns is going through a similar process with one of their children–just so you know you and your daughter are not totally alone! http://booksandbairns.blogspot.ca/#!/2012/10/sabbatical-part-2.html
If you suffer from allergies, it is important to keep your home clean and vacuumed to remove allergens from carpets and floors. But, did you know that your vacuum not only sucks up allergens, it blows some of them right back out! Let someone without allergies do the vacuuming, or at least wear a dust mask if you have to do it yourself.
Reminds me of a girl I taught in preschool several years back.
She had a long list too, and trying to navigate breakfast and lunch options for her was a nightmare.
Good luck figuring out what will work for your daughter! I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to figure out what’s safe.
Debbie, I’ve read your books & appreciated the tips you’ve shared. They helped me adjust with chronic illness in 2006. So sorry to hear of your daughter’s food allergies. With food allergies in our family, too, I can relate to the extra time, energy & expense it takes to create healthy meals that everyone can safely eat. It no longer comes out of a can or ready to eat unless we’ve prepared it ourselves. The Sue Gregg cookbooks were already in our home and helped us adapt as well as continue to adapt as new allergies surface. Wish you the best!