[eggplant43]

So how about finger painting, then?

[valley]

well Luke had another allergic reaction to yogurt this morning. He is fine eating it, but he cant get it on his body, for some reason. I thought it was only peach yogurt. The last time he had peach, he broke out in this rash after getting it on his chest and arms:



He has since eaten other kinds of yogurt with no problems, until this morning. He took a huge pile in his hands and rubbed it onto his face like he was washing with it. I saw him do it and immediately grabbed a paper towel and wiped it off, then rushed him to the tub where we rinsed it all off (I was worried about the reaction he had before) Its a good thing I got it of him right off...here is a pic of the initial reaction. His eyes swelled within 5 minutes or so:



Then here is about 15 minutes later:



The swelling went down considerably and as of right now, he is back to normal. I almost panicked and took him to the ER but by the time I's have gotten there, the reaction would have been over with...the same as with the peach. I took pictures to document it incase the Dr ever wants to see it. He was not fazed in the least..no crying or anything. He was just a little confused as to why mommy was so frantic, I think.

Has anyone ever heard of a reaction like this? I googled around a bit but didnt find anything. Its scary when it happens but it goes away quickly. I just worry of what might happen if I didnt get it off of his skin right away. I asked the dr about the peach allergy and he said not to worry as long as it went away. But eye swelling? How can I be sure it wont affect his respiratory system at some point? (I have Asthma so I get a bit paranoid about stuff like that!)

anyhow..just need to vent my worries about it so thanks for listening.

[eggplant43]

Look up contact dermatitis, I believe that is what it is. I have a similar skin reaction to Dial Gold, but not the eye swelling. I believe that is reason to be concerned. Allergy causes parts of the body to swell, thus nasal passages, trachea, eyes, internal organs. I would be concerned too. I would do some experimenting to identify exactly what it is. Milk, yogurt, peach, fruit, or preservatives/additives. I would be suspicious of preservatives/additives. For example, I cannot drink domestic beer as it has preservatives and additives in it, but I can drink micro brewed beers with no problem, as they do not.

Wouldn't it be lovely if switching to organic yogurt solved the problem?

[valley]

Originally Posted by eggplant43

Look up contact dermatitis, I believe that is what it is. I have a similar skin reaction to Dial Gold, but not the eye swelling. I believe that is reason to be concerned. Allergy causes parts of the body to swell, thus nasal passages, trachea, eyes, internal organs. I would be concerned too. I would do some experimenting to identify exactly what it is. Milk, yogurt, peach, fruit, or preservatives/additives. I would be suspicious of preservatives/additives. For example, I cannot drink domestic beer as it has preservatives and additives in it, but I can drink micro brewed beers with no problem, as they do not.

Wouldn't it be lovely if switching to organic yogurt solved the problem?

Thanks Bruce. I forgot to say that it was vanilla yogurt this time. I figured that I would bring the pictures with me to his next dr appt so the Dr can see just what happened. Yes....I would love to try organic yogurt and see if maybe the ingredients wont bother his skin as much although I am leery of any testing on him though after this last reaction he has had, ya know?

[eggplant43]

If you lightly swab with a Q-tip in order to control the exposure, and do it in the bathroom it should be safe, I'd think. But I can understand your concern, and know you'll intuitively know how to proceed.

[twinofangelize56]

Wow, Val! That reaction is awful! I'd keep Benedryl on hand all the time just in case, since you live so far from the hospital! Maybe no more yogurt until you can figure this out! Hard to believe he can eat the stuff with no reaction.... yet just to touch his skin causes this reaction!

I am allergic to chocolate..... yes bummer for sure..... But I do have small amounts now and then anyway! Usually my face will develop a short term rash. That makes me shy away from chocolate for another few weeks until I break down and do it all over again!

I also noticed that when I eat a peanut butter type granola bar.... If it just happens to touch around my lips... not on the lips... I get a hive for a bit! No other problems though from ingesting the bar!

Weird stuff, allergies! But they can be deadly! Just be cautious and prepared for anything... especially with children!

[valley]

Originally Posted by eggplant43

If you lightly swab with a Q-tip in order to control the exposure, and do it in the bathroom it should be safe, I'd think. But I can understand your concern, and know you'll intuitively know how to proceed.

LOL...yeah, I threw out the rest of the yogurt for starters! Maybe I should dig it out of the garbage test him again. A tiny dime-sized amount probably wont hurt as long as I wash it right off afterwards.

Originally Posted by twinofangelize56

Wow, Val! That reaction is awful! I'd keep Benedryl on hand all the time just in case, since you live so far from the hospital! Maybe no more yogurt until you can figure this out! Hard to believe he can eat the stuff with no reaction.... yet just to touch his skin causes this reaction!

Yes, I always have Benedryl on hand due to his shellfish allergy. If it didnt get any worse then I wouldnt worry but food allergies are famous for closing airways so its tricky. I will keep a close eye on it!

I am allergic to chocolate..... yes bummer for sure....

oh you poor poor girl!

. But I do have small amounts now and then anyway! Usually my face will develop a short term rash. That makes me shy away from chocolate for another few weeks until I break down and do it all over again!

I also noticed that when I eat a peanut butter type granola bar.... If it just happens to touch around my lips... not on the lips... I get a hive for a bit! No other problems though from ingesting the bar!

That is odd too.

Weird stuff, allergies! But they can be deadly! Just be cautious and prepared for anything... especially with children!

Yes, ma'am!

[valley]

well, we went a whole month without a reaction to anything until today. He was playing in his bedroom and I noticed that he felt warm but before I could take his temp, I happened to catch sight of his feet...the bottoms were covered in hives. I gave him a dose of Benedryl right off and they spots went away within about 2 hours.

We had shrimp last week and I did a skin test on him and he turned out ok. I wanted to see if we could start having it in the house again without him reacting. The Dr told us long ago that we could test him after 6 months and its been like 18 now so i figured it was time. Since he didnt break out, I made scampi last night but of course, wasnt quite ready to let him taste it. I am wondering if maybe some drippings fell on the floor that I didnt notice and he stepped on it? He also ate yogurt today but he has never gotten hives from ingesting yogurt...the reaction comes from skin contact so i dont know why he would get hives on his feet and nowhere else from eating it. I'm thinking it has to be from shrimp. The carpets are clean...we just took his crib out of our room and put him in with Jake over the weekend and the carpets were cleaned and he's never reacted to carpet shampoo before so I know its not that. Gotta be the shrimp. I took pics again to document it for his Dr....these outbreaks are really worrisome! Then theres the fever that showed up out of nowhere...its 101. Just weird! I dont know what to make of it...I know its hives or the Benedryl wouldnt have taken them away, right?

[twinofangelize56]

Oh my, Val! How strange indeed! A temp too!

Has Luke ever been through the allergy tests through an Allergist? My son went when he was about Luke's age and they found out he was allergic to mold, mildew, and every living plant that pollinates!!! As an infant he had to be on a special formula too! The doctor did say that he may outgrow most of the things he was allergic to.... or develop a better tolerance to them and not have such severe reactions! Spring time is just awful for him even now! He usually gets relief with over the counter products though!

[valley]

Originally Posted by twinofangelize56

Oh my, Val! How strange indeed! A temp too!

Has Luke ever been through the allergy tests through an Allergist? My son went when he was about Luke's age and they found out he was allergic to mold, mildew, and every living plant that pollinates!!! As an infant he had to be on a special formula too! The doctor did say that he may outgrow most of the things he was allergic to.... or develop a better tolerance to them and not have such severe reactions! Spring time is just awful for him even now! He usually gets relief with over the counter products though!

Hey Dar. No, he hasnt been to an allergist. My older son had problems with allergies when he was a toddler too but he outgrew most of them. We took him to a specialist but they did not want to do testing on him because he was so young and the testing involved many many little needle picks of allergins into his skin so the Dr felt that we should wait until he was older because he said that there were just too many environmental allergins to try to figure out which ones were the triggers. As he grew, the allergies got better. Nowadays, he has environmental allergies...dust, mold, pollen...and he gets migraines but its nothing like when he was a toddler.

So thats kinda why i'm trying not to go that route with Luke. I will say that Jakes allergies caused sinus problems but he only had one reaction of hives to antibiotics so I know that Luke's problems are different and maybe he is going to have to be treated differently.

I dont feel right dragging him to the Dr every time he has a reaction because by the time we get him there, the meds work and there's not much to see. Thats why I keep taking these pictures...next time I go, I can show the dr whats happening and see what he says. I really hope he doesnt have to be put through testing.

I'm so grateful that his breathing has not been compromised. Thats my biggest fear!

[twinofangelize56]

Originally Posted by valley

the testing involved many many little needle picks of allergins into his skin

I remember how the doctor explained the patterns and the various little needles that he intended to use on my son! He only did select ones to begin with based on the symptoms we gave him. Like you said.... there is no way you would want to put a child through that many picks! It was actually strange to see some spots get red and bumpy, while some spots did nothing at all! Based on the diagram the doctor used.... He knew right away what my son was allergic to! Once we controlled those with medicines and/or avoidance (ha ha! Nearly impossible unless you live in a closet!).... We made the decision NOT to continue with other tests. The first set seemed to hit the nail on the head..... so to speak!

Originally Posted by valley

I'm so grateful that his breathing has not been compromised. Thats my biggest fear!

I hear you there! When we moved from the city to the country... the first year wasn't bad for him. It was a new home and all the vegetation was gone with all the backfilling, etc. The second year was horrible! He was outside for maybe 1/2 an hour in the spring.... came in wheezing, eyes swollen! Luckily I keep things on hand for such things! His doctor suggested he wear a mask when he ventured outside on our acreage due to the various amounts of plants and trees and shrubs, etc.! Tell a kid to wear a mask and it isn't even Halloween! Yeah.... right! He still has trouble..... but takes OTC products to help!

Good luck, Val! I sure hope your doctor can help based on your observations and the pictures!

[grandma77]

Val, I don't know how close you live to your hospital and doctor but you might want to consider keeping asking your doctor about keeping an epinephrine shot kit around. If an allergic reaction ever does compromise his breathing, this shot would be a temporary solution and give you time to get to the hospital.

[valley]

Originally Posted by twinofangelize56

I remember how the doctor explained the patterns and the various little needles that he intended to use on my son! He only did select ones to begin with based on the symptoms we gave him. Like you said.... there is no way you would want to put a child through that many picks! It was actually strange to see some spots get red and bumpy, while some spots did nothing at all! Based on the diagram the doctor used.... He knew right away what my son was allergic to! Once we controlled those with medicines and/or avoidance (ha ha! Nearly impossible unless you live in a closet!).... We made the decision NOT to continue with other tests. The first set seemed to hit the nail on the head..... so to speak!

I still shudder to think of those picks! Poor lil duffer..glad they figured out what was bothering him!

Good luck, Val! I sure hope your doctor can help based on your observations and the pictures!

Thanks. I hope so too!

Originally Posted by grandma77

Val, I don't know how close you live to your hospital and doctor but you might want to consider keeping asking your doctor about keeping an epinephrine shot kit around. If an allergic reaction ever does compromise his breathing, this shot would be a temporary solution and give you time to get to the hospital.

Hi Pat. I hadnt thought of that. I do have an EpiPen for myself because I'm allergic to bee stings (I havent been stung in 10 years! ). I dont know if its the same kind that they use on kids but I will ask the Dr. They are pretty cheap..only 10 bucks with insurance and they come in a 2-pack. I would feel better if I had one in the car and in the house...it would it would give me a lot more peace of mind. Thanks for mentioning it.

[grandma77]

One of my grandson's had to go through the allergy tests at 3 years old. His asthma was so bad that they wanted to find out if allergies were making it worse. And they were. Once they we able to take care of the allergy problem he did a lot better. He is 11 now and able to be on regular allergy meds.

The EpiPen is what I was talking about only I think the dose for children is less. I carry one too. Do you get a new prescription every year for yours. They should be changed every year.

[valley]

Originally Posted by grandma77

One of my grandson's had to go through the allergy tests at 3 years old. His asthma was so bad that they wanted to find out if allergies were making it worse. And they were. Once they we able to take care of the allergy problem he did a lot better. He is 11 now and able to be on regular allergy meds.

Thats good. Yo hate to see kids suffer through allergies.

The EpiPen is what I was talking about only I think the dose for children is less. I carry one too. Do you get a new prescription every year for yours. They should be changed every year.

I'm on a reminder program and get a postcard in the mail once a year telling me to go get a prescription for a new one but I skip some years. Its been so long since i've been stung that i've gotten lazy about it.