just diagnosed today and need advice

Wendy - posted on 01/28/2009

I just joined this network and I was thrilled that we have a community for kids with allergies.  I have a 19 month old (feels like he's going onto 19 years old  sometimes...) and he was diagnosed with a wheat, egg, and peanut allergy.  I've had a very difficult time coming up with different variety of foods to make him.  Any tips to share? 

Gina - posted on 01/27/2009

For the eczema - use aquaphor when he is right out of the tub and coat him in it.  My son is now 3 and only has flare ups associated w/his seasonal allergies (oak is the worst).

For the food allergies, I highly recommend open discussions w/him to help him to understand his limits and how this makes him special.  Allergies teach tolerance, not only for your son but the other kids who may have to make choices when they want to sit next to him in school.  My son will not eat anything without asking, even if someone else says its safe (he even made me check what my husband said was safe!)

FAAN is the best resource I found!  Good luck!

Karen - posted on 01/25/2009

You have come to the right place!! Welcome!!!



My son has the exact some allergies as yours. Eggs are life threatening to my son.



First all you need to check on our home page for links to the food & allergy network, and medic alert bracelets.



Don't fear, there are so many foods your son can still eat. Birthday cake is no problem at all-you make your own. Buy a Duncan Hines, Jiffy or any cake mix and substitute eggs(1 1/2 tbsp. oil, 1 1/2 tbsp. water, 1 tsp. baking powder PER egg(most mixes call for 3 eggs so triple the above), also you can make your own pancakes. I use Bisquick or Jiffy and omit the egg and just add milk and a little cinammon, also pillsbury cinnamon rolls don't contain eggs either, but always double check the ingredients. Oreo's don't have eggs, nor do chips ahoy. You would be so surprised what they can have. Oh and plain Hershey bars or Hershey plain kisses.



My son is now 5 and the eczema is so much better and we do just fine.

Check around for Allergy Drops(it's called SLIT therapy) Sublingual Immunotherapy. Most insurance won't cover but you can get drops for food, where as allergy shots won't protect them from food allergies. Check out this site: http://www.allergychoices.com/

Most people don't know you can get drops instead of painful shots that only help for environmental allergies. The downside is it is not FDA approved. It is totally safe or it was for my son. We had to stop using the drops bcz the closest place was 6 hours away, and getting to all those follow ups was a night mare. Now he is doing just fine and we know what he can and can't have.



Epi-pens are a MUST!!!!!!!!!! I keep one in my purse, one in my son's bookbag and one at my Mom's. When you get it filled always check the expiration date and ask the pharmacist if you can get one with as late a date as possible, bcz hopefully you won't need to use it, but they get expensive and you want to get your money's worth, too. They once gave me one with an expiration 3 months away and I exchanged it. You need it to last a least a year.

Tiffany - posted on 01/24/2009

I agree with Cathy about the Naturopath.  My pediatrician just kept prescribing steroid cream from my sons extreme eczema.   The Naturopath addressed the over reaction of the  immune system not just the symptoms.  He prescribed a medication called Carc LM5, within 3 months the eczema  was virtually gone and his food allergies had resolved to a point that he could tolerate eggs and dairy in limited amounts.  Definitely worth exploring.

Tina - posted on 01/21/2009

my son is allergic to nuts and fish. we keep these things away from him but he has an epipen and has yet to need it. for the eczema he has that too use hydrocordizone cream 1% you can get this anywhere. that should work. As for as the nut allergy just try to keep any foods with nuts or nut products out of the house and and away from him and he should be fine.

Karen - posted on 01/21/2009

My son sounds exactly like your son!! He anaphalaxis to eggs, but I have found that we can make cupcakes, cookies and all kinds of treats by using an egg substitute.

Substitution per egg: 1 1/2 tbsp. Water, 1 1/2 tbsp. Oil, 1 tsp. baking powder(not BAKING SODA)

I buy regular cake mixes like Duncan Hines and the cakes or cupcakes taste the exact same!!! Just make sure if it calls for 3 eggs, please triple the substitution.

Also, most pillsbury cinamon rolls don't have eggs, check the ingredients. There are so many things you can do.



Just know you are not alone and your son want miss a thing!

Cindy - posted on 01/20/2009

Hi my 2 1/2 year old also has severe allergies and eczema, avoidance is key, and I'm a big fan of eucerin cream and dove sensitive skin body wash , I also use hydrocortisone 1 % to 2.5% depending on the severity of the flair up, of the eczema, Also stick with creams and not lotions they tend to work better, but remember you may have to play around with different products to find the one that works for your baby, also as you avoid his allergy foods, the eczema will also get better :)Good luck

Patty - posted on 01/20/2009

I know it seems overwhelming right now, but it does get easier as you learn to read labels. It really will become second nature. Good luck and hang in there.

Christine - posted on 01/18/2009

I have a 12 year old who has the same allergies (and more). You ABSOLUTELY need an EpiPen (more than one would be good). I had one for me, my mom (who babysat) and his nursery school when he started there.  You should check into the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (they have a web site) since this is new to you.  They have cards that help you read lables, which is a big deal and gives all new meaning to food shopping.  I also recently found a cookie company that you can order egg/nut free cookies from and they taste GREAT (I eat them). They are called HOME FREE. You should see an allergist (if you have not already) and establish a relationship with them.  As you start to avoid the foods he is allergic to the eczema may clear up.  Allergy shots do not work with foods, only avoidance and allowing their immune systems to mature. The eggs he may outgrow but the nuts is less likely.

Amy - posted on 01/18/2009

great website for peanut and tree nut free products.  www.Sunbutter.com  Has recipes on the website and the products are made from sunflower seeds.  The sunbuuter actually tastes better than peanut butter and is better for you.  It's the best "peanut & nut free" peanut butter we have found and I've tried lots!  Try your organic or health food section of your local grocery also for good products.  It's tricky but possible!

Carly - posted on 01/15/2009

Egg is really hard - but after a few months reading labels and being cautious will be like breathing.  The hardest thing we had to deal with is cakes for birthday parties. There are so many recipes online and companies that are nut-free.  FAAN is a great network - you should check out their website.  My son was 15 months when we found about his allergies and since that time, he has been great and getting on just like any other baby.

Michelle - posted on 01/13/2009

My son was just over a year and was diagnosed with a peanut allergy.  He to had horrible eczema (so frustraing, one minute we would think it was clearing up and then it would go full blown again).   We went to a dermatoligist before we new of his peanut allergy and they recommended some lotions, come to find out one of the lotions had almond oil in it, which we think caused some of the flare ups.  So double check the ingredients in everything not just food as we came to find out.  I carry epi pens with me every where we go and we have luckily never used them.   If you haven't already I would recomend you join:

http://www.foodallergy.org/

You can have it set up to have emails sent to you on foods that have been recalled with allergiens that were not disclosed. 

Best regards,

Michelle

Trisha - posted on 01/09/2009

Check out my food allergy blog for my favorite recipes:

http://funkyfoodallergies.blogspot.com/

I love California Babies bath products, you can find them at Target.  That really helped my son's ecszema.  Also I still use Dreft on his clothes and bedding and I only use half the suggested amount.  And no dryer sheets, instead fill up the place for fabric softener in your washing machine with white vinegar.

How is he doing?  How are you doing?

Cari - posted on 12/19/2008

Hi! My son just turned 2 and has had diagnosed food allergies since around 10 months old. we carry an epi pen but luckily have not had to use it. He has had a few incidents but they didn't require medication.the best advice I can give is to read labels very closely. alot of things will be off limits. my son has the same allergies as yours as well as milk so it's very hard to find things he can and will eat. The health food stores in our area are a great place to get allergy free items. Me son also has eczema but since I started reading labels closely and cutting out all his allergic foods it has almost completely gone away.good luck.