Speaking of Food Allergies…

Even though E has tested negative for it up until now, it turns out that he is also allergic to shrimp. We found this out when we um, had shrimp for dinner last night. He threw up several times and got hives but after some Benadryl his reaction calmed down.

Finding out that he has another food allergy in addition to milk, eggs, peanuts, and nuts hit me kind of hard. Not because a shrimp allergy is especially difficult to manage (it’s a cake walk compared to milk and eggs) but because it made me despair that E’s food allergies are ever going to be getter. It seems like the odds of him outgrowing them are getting worse and worse.

I try to keep things in perspective–I’ll take food allergies over the host of ailments other kids and families struggle with (bone cancer anyone?), but I have to admit that despite all that sometimes I get a bit discouraged.

6 thoughts on “Speaking of Food Allergies…”

  1. Yeah, there certainly are worse things he could have, but that one has a huge impact on your daily life and I don't blame you at all for being bummed about it. so lame.
    🙁

  2. I am a true believer in the idea that true creative successes and satisfaction come from working with limitations. It's even more satisfying when that creative energy is driven by love. You are one of the most creative persons I know and I think you're going to find that this heartbreak is going to test your creativity and through it you're going to have many successes you never knew you were capable of. I know how much you love food (I can relate) and it would totally stink for me too. But you're going to do great.

    Love + Creativity + Faith (you) = Happy Elliott

    Fighting!

  3. So discouraging, Faithie! It is hard to feel like the fates are conspiring against your children. Luckily E has super awesome parents that make a fairly difficult trial easier to shoulder.

  4. Hi there. My 7 month old is going down the same path your "E" has gone down (2008 Rash Watch). He has identical eczema and a secondary infection all over his face. He was also prescribed Cephalexin and Desonide. How long did it take for E to show improvement, and how did you keep it under control? Thank you . KJ

  5. Kooge,

    E started to improve within a few days. I keep his his eczema managed by applying Aquaphor or Cetaphil (depending how dry his skin is) after every bath. I also avoid using scented laundry products and dress him in cotton pjs instead of fleece when possible.

    It took us a while to find a doctor that knew how to handle eczema–if your child is still struggling with it I would recommend seeing a dermatologist.

    It's not fun to think about but you might want to also keep in mind the possibilities of food allergies. Of course not everyone with eczema has food allergies but eczema, food allergies, and asthma often go together (E has the first too but not asthma).

    Good luck!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *