We went to Duke again this week. It was our 7th visit. Abigail has experienced some tingling in her ears and/or throat after most of her drops over the last 2 weeks, even Tuesday before we went to Duke on Wednesday. In the past, the tingling would stop just a few days after a dosage increase. So, this last dosage increase was different, and I was anxious to see what would happen at this visit to Duke after another increase. Surely a hive this time?
No hive. However, instead of the tingling lasting only a minute at most, it lasted almost 10 minutes. It started in her throat, then one ear and then the other. That was really positive. Yesterday, Thursday, we were back to ear tingling for half a minute or so.
Today, though, was a turning point in answering the question of whether or not we are on the placebo or the real stuff. I gave Abigail her drop, and she went out to the garage to jump rope until her 2 minutes were over (remember, she has to hold the drop under her tongue). She came running in before time was up for two reasons. The first, and most important in my book was that her tongue was burning! To the point she was really upset and smacking at her face to make the burning stop. That itself was disturbing, but she was obviously upset and her tongue was really burning. So, after calming her down, I gave her some ice chips which was recommended at Wednesday's visit to Duke to help with the tingling. Actually, they suggested giving her a Popsicle. A Popsicle... really.... for some tingling? That's taking the "making the kids happy" to another level! We then concluded that while jumping rope, some of the drop must have hit the top of her tongue and caused the burning. The ice chips worked, and the burning stopped. Her ears started tingling and again lasted just a minute.
The second reason that Abigail came running into the house and most important to her, she jumped rope 11 times in a row!
Time to offer up thanks!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
To Chick-fil-A or Not To Chick-fil-A?
When Abigail was first diagnosed with a peanut allergy it was recommended by the Allergist that we also eliminate all nuts from her diet and to not eat anything cooked in peanut oil. Our pediatrician also confirmed that it was best to not take the risk of eating foods cooked in peanut oil in case a small portion of peanut would make it through the refining process and end up in the oil. That eliminated one of our favorite fast food restaurants, Chick-fil-A. For my readers not familiar with Chick-fil-A, you guys are really missing out. Next trip south, you should make a point of finding a restaurant and stopping for a meal. For several years it was a place where I would occasionally treat myself to a chicken biscuit or sandwich only when I was by myself. We hated to not have it as an option for Abigail because as far as fast food was concerned, it's relatively healthy, and back in 2004 when she was diagnosed, it was one of the few fast food chains that served trans fat free food.
We avoided all restaurants that used peanut oil to cook with for years until I started asking around. More and more moms with children that had peanut allergies were letting their kids eat at Chick-fil-A and stating that their doctors had okay'd it. I even researched Chick-fil-A's website and they only use a heat processed, fully refined peanut oil. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, commercial oils are highly refined which removes the protein from the product. Further, it states that "research has shown that individuals with severe peanut allergy have not had reactions to heat processed oils. However, people with a food allergy should avoid “gourmet” or cold-pressed oils because they may contain allergenic proteins, which provide the flavor to the oil. For the same reason, allergic individuals should avoid oils that have been used to fry potentially allergenic foods."
When we started the clinical trial, one of my questions was whether we were going to have to stop eating at Chick-fil-A again because of the peanut oil. Dr. Bird confirmed that hot pressed peanut oils were safe and that we could continue eating at our favorite fast-food restaurant.
Recently, a post was made on an allergic kids group of which I'm a member warning of a friend that had a reaction requiring a visit to the ER after eating at Chick-fil-A. The follow up posts came fast with all types of dire warnings like playing Russian Roulette every time you eat there (this coming from a patient's Allergist).
We just happened to have an appointment at Duke that next day so I again asked the question to our new doctor, Doctor Kim. He also agreed that it was 100% safe (I got the impression it was the entire department's stance). He said from a scientific perspective it was not possible to react to highly refined peanut oil. His reason (if I can reiterate this correctly) is that peanut protein is a lot of amino acids linked together. A person with a peanut allergy reacts to this group of amino acid. With high heat and pressure, those amino acids are broken into so many pieces that the body can't recognize them and therefore doesn't react. Was it possible to have a small particle escape the refining process? He said not from a very large oil producer with huge vats and a tremendous heat source. He did recommend staying away from gourmet restaurants and higher end grocery stores that use peanut oil saying that it may not be as refined or could even be cold pressed oil.
As far as the person that did have a reaction he said you really had to look at other causes, i.e. wheat or milk which would be much more likely or even something consumed several hours prior. I also asked that very telling question...if your daughter had a peanut allergy would you eat there...he responded absolutely.
As I'm doing more and more research, I'm finding it very confusing and at times very difficult to know what to believe. There is so much contradicting information all from very credible sources. Our Allergist and Pediatrician recommended against it, Duke says it's fine. And, it is my daughter's life at stake. Bottom line, I believe you totally have to go with your gut, what you are comfortable with. You have to be your family's own advocate. If you are at all hesitant, don't eat at Chick-fil-A. If you have a great trust in the doctor that's saying it's not worth the risk, don't take it. For us, Chick-fil-A is still a family favorite!
We avoided all restaurants that used peanut oil to cook with for years until I started asking around. More and more moms with children that had peanut allergies were letting their kids eat at Chick-fil-A and stating that their doctors had okay'd it. I even researched Chick-fil-A's website and they only use a heat processed, fully refined peanut oil. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, commercial oils are highly refined which removes the protein from the product. Further, it states that "research has shown that individuals with severe peanut allergy have not had reactions to heat processed oils. However, people with a food allergy should avoid “gourmet” or cold-pressed oils because they may contain allergenic proteins, which provide the flavor to the oil. For the same reason, allergic individuals should avoid oils that have been used to fry potentially allergenic foods."
When we started the clinical trial, one of my questions was whether we were going to have to stop eating at Chick-fil-A again because of the peanut oil. Dr. Bird confirmed that hot pressed peanut oils were safe and that we could continue eating at our favorite fast-food restaurant.
Recently, a post was made on an allergic kids group of which I'm a member warning of a friend that had a reaction requiring a visit to the ER after eating at Chick-fil-A. The follow up posts came fast with all types of dire warnings like playing Russian Roulette every time you eat there (this coming from a patient's Allergist).
We just happened to have an appointment at Duke that next day so I again asked the question to our new doctor, Doctor Kim. He also agreed that it was 100% safe (I got the impression it was the entire department's stance). He said from a scientific perspective it was not possible to react to highly refined peanut oil. His reason (if I can reiterate this correctly) is that peanut protein is a lot of amino acids linked together. A person with a peanut allergy reacts to this group of amino acid. With high heat and pressure, those amino acids are broken into so many pieces that the body can't recognize them and therefore doesn't react. Was it possible to have a small particle escape the refining process? He said not from a very large oil producer with huge vats and a tremendous heat source. He did recommend staying away from gourmet restaurants and higher end grocery stores that use peanut oil saying that it may not be as refined or could even be cold pressed oil.
As far as the person that did have a reaction he said you really had to look at other causes, i.e. wheat or milk which would be much more likely or even something consumed several hours prior. I also asked that very telling question...if your daughter had a peanut allergy would you eat there...he responded absolutely.
As I'm doing more and more research, I'm finding it very confusing and at times very difficult to know what to believe. There is so much contradicting information all from very credible sources. Our Allergist and Pediatrician recommended against it, Duke says it's fine. And, it is my daughter's life at stake. Bottom line, I believe you totally have to go with your gut, what you are comfortable with. You have to be your family's own advocate. If you are at all hesitant, don't eat at Chick-fil-A. If you have a great trust in the doctor that's saying it's not worth the risk, don't take it. For us, Chick-fil-A is still a family favorite!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sixth Trip to Duke
We went to Duke again this last week. It was our 6th trip. We got there earlier than normal so Abigail got to take her customary trip on the escalator...not once, but twice. I'm always amazed at how the little things can thrill my kids. Riding the escalator up and then down again happens to be one of those little thrills. I'm not sure Abigail fully appreciates or even understands the full extent of our participation in this trial. All she's focused on is that it's a really long drive, she gets poked and prodded (and occasionally pricked) and she has to daily be inconvenienced to take her drops. Little treats like warm bagels with cream cheese from the cafeteria and escalator rides make it tolerable. That, and the surprise books and small games that I pack in our "Duke trip" bag which, by the way, has a large Wake Forest Demon Deacon embroidered on the side. Dad, that one's for you!At this visit, her dosage increased from 4 drops to 8 drops. Again, she had tingling in her ears and throat. Dr. Kim said that it was a frequently reported sensation for other participants. It sounds silly now, but I asked if there was any possibility that it could be a result of holding up your tongue for 2 minutes or if he felt that it was definitely a result of the drops. Definitely the drops. Again, no sign of hives.
Three other girls came in while we were there. They had all started the trial about the same time as Abigail. I'm always proud of her when she initiates a conversation and tries to make a new friend. There's only been one time though when we've seen a little boy at two different visits. Mostly, it's all new faces every time we go. It would be nice if another treat was seeing a special friend at each visit. Dr. Kim's new schedule is going to mean that we can only schedule appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays so we might start to recognize a few other participants.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Kudos for Kashi
Kashi is one of our favorite brands. It's healthy and natural, two requirements at our house. I'm also extremely impressed with their proactive stance on allergen research and labeling.
When I recently found out that just because a food company puts on a "may contain" statement (which is required by law for the top 8 allergens) on their label it doesn't mean that they are also stepping up and labeling their products as to whether they're "made on shared equipment with peanuts" or "made in a facility that also processes peanuts". Which, by the way, is not required by law.
After just reading a horrifying story of a child having a reaction after ingesting a common pantry staple manufactured by a very large, reputable company, I decided it was time to start contacting manufacturers that do not include a "made" statement for items in our pantry. Here is the link to the account of a child reacting to cake batter. This is particularly unsettling because we've used this cake mix on many occasions at our house.
I start with the manufacturer's website. Instead of calling, I e-mail. That way I have a response from the manufacturer in writing. I was very impressed with Kashi's information on peanut allergies, but still contacted them just to clarify. Here's the information from their site:
Our production lines are thoroughly cleaned between allergen containing products and we follow good manufacturing practices. We have validated (through testing) our allergen cleaning processes in all of our facilities. We are very concerned about food allergies and want to ensure that our products are safe for food allergic consumers to eat. Scientific evidence has shown that consumers with peanut and tree nut allergies can have a severe reaction to amounts that are below the current detectable limits based on existing technology. For this reason, we have chosen to warn consumers allergic to peanuts and tree nuts of the potential for extremely low levels by using a may contain statement.
Additionally for all other top 8 allergens, if the product contains the allergen, it will be listed below the ingredient statement. If it is not listed below the ingredient statement, we are confident that the product is safe for consumption. Please trust the labeling and continue to check it for any changes.
I wanted to verify that I read that statement correctly and that Kashi's labels would include peanuts and/or tree nuts if that product was manufactured on shared equipment. Here is portion of their e-mailed response:
First of all you are correct, if there is nothing labeled under the "may contain" line it is safe to eat.
We understand and share the concerns expressed by consumers who are affected by food allergies. We have been one of the leaders in the food industry in devising manufacturing processes to reduce the risk of allergens from contaminating allergen-free products. We have worked extensively with allergy organizations and research groups so that we understand the seriousness and complexities of food allergies.
All of our product packages have labeled the top eight potentially allergenic ingredients (i.e. peanut, tree nut, cow's milk, egg, soybean, wheat, fish and shellfish) in a separate box directly below the ingredient list on the Nutrition Facts side panel. Because product formulations can change at any time, we encourage our consumers to check the ingredient statement on each package they purchase for the most up-to-date information on the ingredients contained in that product.
So, Kashi will continue to be a favorite!
P.S. I didn't write this blog as a request from Kashi. I wrote it because I feel that companies have a responsibility to their consumers, and I think Kashi is living up to that responsibility and should be commended.
When I recently found out that just because a food company puts on a "may contain" statement (which is required by law for the top 8 allergens) on their label it doesn't mean that they are also stepping up and labeling their products as to whether they're "made on shared equipment with peanuts" or "made in a facility that also processes peanuts". Which, by the way, is not required by law.
After just reading a horrifying story of a child having a reaction after ingesting a common pantry staple manufactured by a very large, reputable company, I decided it was time to start contacting manufacturers that do not include a "made" statement for items in our pantry. Here is the link to the account of a child reacting to cake batter. This is particularly unsettling because we've used this cake mix on many occasions at our house.
I start with the manufacturer's website. Instead of calling, I e-mail. That way I have a response from the manufacturer in writing. I was very impressed with Kashi's information on peanut allergies, but still contacted them just to clarify. Here's the information from their site:
Our production lines are thoroughly cleaned between allergen containing products and we follow good manufacturing practices. We have validated (through testing) our allergen cleaning processes in all of our facilities. We are very concerned about food allergies and want to ensure that our products are safe for food allergic consumers to eat. Scientific evidence has shown that consumers with peanut and tree nut allergies can have a severe reaction to amounts that are below the current detectable limits based on existing technology. For this reason, we have chosen to warn consumers allergic to peanuts and tree nuts of the potential for extremely low levels by using a may contain statement.
Additionally for all other top 8 allergens, if the product contains the allergen, it will be listed below the ingredient statement. If it is not listed below the ingredient statement, we are confident that the product is safe for consumption. Please trust the labeling and continue to check it for any changes.
I wanted to verify that I read that statement correctly and that Kashi's labels would include peanuts and/or tree nuts if that product was manufactured on shared equipment. Here is portion of their e-mailed response:
First of all you are correct, if there is nothing labeled under the "may contain" line it is safe to eat.
We understand and share the concerns expressed by consumers who are affected by food allergies. We have been one of the leaders in the food industry in devising manufacturing processes to reduce the risk of allergens from contaminating allergen-free products. We have worked extensively with allergy organizations and research groups so that we understand the seriousness and complexities of food allergies.
All of our product packages have labeled the top eight potentially allergenic ingredients (i.e. peanut, tree nut, cow's milk, egg, soybean, wheat, fish and shellfish) in a separate box directly below the ingredient list on the Nutrition Facts side panel. Because product formulations can change at any time, we encourage our consumers to check the ingredient statement on each package they purchase for the most up-to-date information on the ingredients contained in that product.
So, Kashi will continue to be a favorite!
P.S. I didn't write this blog as a request from Kashi. I wrote it because I feel that companies have a responsibility to their consumers, and I think Kashi is living up to that responsibility and should be commended.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Another trip to Duke
We went to Duke this week for our 5th visit. It was very much like our last couple of trips with the exception that we got to meet our new Doctor. Our last doctor finished his Fellowship in June and accepted a position in Texas where he will be conducting his own clinical trial.
We met Dr. Kim who is very personable and has great bedside manner. He'll be Abigail's doctor for the next 2 years so I was glad she liked him. I liked him because he readily answered all of my questions, and I took a whole page of notes.
I was really hoping to see a concrete sign of a reaction. On a previous visit Abigail had some itching in her ears when they increased her dosage. This time she had some tingling in her throat, but it only lasted a minute or so. You can't refute a hive or rash. When a 6 year old complains about her ears itching or her throat tingling you question if it's psychological. Each day at home between visits, Abigail gets the increased dosage. After this visit, she had some throat sensation the first day at home, but not today. If we end up in the placebo group, we get to start the trial over with the peanut slit, but it adds an entire year to the process. At an earlier visit it was mentioned that most visible reactions occur after the 4th or 5th dosage increase. I was really pleased to find at this visit that that's not always the case.
There was an issue with the peanut slit given to the first group of children. It was a problem on the lab's end, not Duke's. Late last year, these children had to restart the trial, and were all given the real deal. Some of those children getting the peanut slit have had only mild to no reactions. So, there is hope. Bottom line though is if we are on the placebo, we deal and start over. Our family is committed to this study. If it takes 42 months instead of 30, then that's what we'll do. It's too important to Abigail's future and the future of millions of other children to not see it through to the end.
As mentioned, I took a whole page of notes. I'll share most of that information in future posts, but I did want to address a question from a previous post. I've been asked what the drop dosage equivalent is in milligrams. I still don't know, and neither did Dr. Kim. Because it's a liquid dosed in drops under the tongue, it's difficult to compare it to an ingested peanut powder measured in milligrams. I do know that we'll work up to drops containing 2 mg of peanut extract in the next 8 months and will maintain that dosage until the end of the study. Abigail will be challenged to 5 mg of peanut flour at her 1st food challenge and up to 10 mg at her 2nd food challenge. It was my understanding that the theory is that your body doesn't have to be exposed to a large quantity of peanut to build up tolerance.
I've included a picture of Abigail in the trial room. It's where we go after we've checked in at the desk and been to the lab for vitals, height and weight. It's in this room that we meet with the doctor, take the increased dosage and sit out the hour and a half while we wait to check for reactions. In this picture, she's enjoying the highlight of the visit, the food. Let's see, today's spread includes bagel, pretzels, ice cream and juice.
We met Dr. Kim who is very personable and has great bedside manner. He'll be Abigail's doctor for the next 2 years so I was glad she liked him. I liked him because he readily answered all of my questions, and I took a whole page of notes.
I was really hoping to see a concrete sign of a reaction. On a previous visit Abigail had some itching in her ears when they increased her dosage. This time she had some tingling in her throat, but it only lasted a minute or so. You can't refute a hive or rash. When a 6 year old complains about her ears itching or her throat tingling you question if it's psychological. Each day at home between visits, Abigail gets the increased dosage. After this visit, she had some throat sensation the first day at home, but not today. If we end up in the placebo group, we get to start the trial over with the peanut slit, but it adds an entire year to the process. At an earlier visit it was mentioned that most visible reactions occur after the 4th or 5th dosage increase. I was really pleased to find at this visit that that's not always the case.
There was an issue with the peanut slit given to the first group of children. It was a problem on the lab's end, not Duke's. Late last year, these children had to restart the trial, and were all given the real deal. Some of those children getting the peanut slit have had only mild to no reactions. So, there is hope. Bottom line though is if we are on the placebo, we deal and start over. Our family is committed to this study. If it takes 42 months instead of 30, then that's what we'll do. It's too important to Abigail's future and the future of millions of other children to not see it through to the end.
As mentioned, I took a whole page of notes. I'll share most of that information in future posts, but I did want to address a question from a previous post. I've been asked what the drop dosage equivalent is in milligrams. I still don't know, and neither did Dr. Kim. Because it's a liquid dosed in drops under the tongue, it's difficult to compare it to an ingested peanut powder measured in milligrams. I do know that we'll work up to drops containing 2 mg of peanut extract in the next 8 months and will maintain that dosage until the end of the study. Abigail will be challenged to 5 mg of peanut flour at her 1st food challenge and up to 10 mg at her 2nd food challenge. It was my understanding that the theory is that your body doesn't have to be exposed to a large quantity of peanut to build up tolerance.
I've included a picture of Abigail in the trial room. It's where we go after we've checked in at the desk and been to the lab for vitals, height and weight. It's in this room that we meet with the doctor, take the increased dosage and sit out the hour and a half while we wait to check for reactions. In this picture, she's enjoying the highlight of the visit, the food. Let's see, today's spread includes bagel, pretzels, ice cream and juice.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
EpiPen Practice
You may have already heard of or even done this, and I just might be behind the times, but when a parent at a recent PAK meeting made this suggestion, I couldn't believe that it isn't something recommended by doctors and educators everywhere. It was suggested that parents and allergic children carefully, and with full adult supervision, practice administering a shot of epinephrine using an expired EpiPen and an orange. I thought this was a fabulous idea and had 3 expired pens in the top of my pantry. They've been there for some time waiting to be taken to the pediatricians office for disposal. What a great use for them!This last Sunday afternoon, Abigail, her daddy and I all got to practice. That poor orange was full of holes by the time we got finished. We recorded Abigail's experience to share with our readers. I should note that prior to recording, we sat down with Abigail and discussed in detail each of the steps and explained how careful she should be with the needle. We also made sure that she understood that epinephrine is not something to mess with and should only be injected when she could not breathe (like she would anyway...it's a needle right?). When she finished her practice shot, she made the comment that she liked doing it and that she wanted to do it again. I guess that's better than being freaked out by the whole experience and wanting nothing to do with her EpiPens. Of course, after seeing the needle, we all developed a slightly better appreciation of the seriousness of what she so casually carries around.
Right now, she carries 2 EpiPen Jr. Auto-Injectors, 3 antihistamine tablets, an instruction sheet and medical release form in a cute monogrammed bag. It goes with us every time we head out the door. That bag has been handed to more people than I can count: Sunday School teachers, coaches, camp directors, friends' moms on play dates, grandparents, etc. After 4 years, it's now just second nature. I keep another set of EpiPen Jrs. at home in the kitchen and during the school year, a set are kept in her classroom and go with her teacher to lunch, to Specials, to the playground and on field trips. There is also antihistamine medicine (liquid and chewable) in the pantry and upstairs in the medicine cabinet. And, until I know with 100% certainty that my 2 year old son is not also allergic, I keep one of those new, very convenient, single dosage Benadryl spoons in his diaper bag. Wish those had been available when Abigail was a toddler. Back then I had to carry a sticky bottle and a dosage cup.
At a recent visit to Duke, we got a new prescription for the adult EpiPens. At 47 pounds, Abigail is right on the edge for the weight requirements. It's still recommended that she carry two pens. Evidently, 35% of reactions require a second injection. It's even possible to have a secondary reaction an hour or so after the first. The Center for Anaphylactic Support provides some other good information as well as offers a free EpiPen expiration date reminder service and a $5.00 EpiPen rebate.
I ran into a mom the other day at church whose daughter recently finished the clinical trial at Duke using peanut flour. The daughter is now eating peanuts daily to maintain her tolerance. How exciting! Anyway, the mom didn't have EpiPens in her purse and she said it felt really weird. I just pray that I have that problem too!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Early Signs?
Were there any early signs that Abigail would have an allergy to peanuts? I referenced Dr. Burks in my last blog. He's the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke and oversees all of the clinical trials as well as sees patients (I hear it takes about 6 months or more to get an appointment). We haven't met him on any of our trips to Duke yet. He's been in the news so much lately, that I feel like when I do meet him, I should ask for an autograph or something. Anyway, in a 2006 article, he stated that about 20 percent of babies with eczema or milk and egg allergies will develop an allergy to peanuts by age five.
As an infant Abigail had eczema, and although she was never diagnosed with a milk allergy, she was definitely "intole
rant". Just look at this picture taken of her at one month. A lot of newborns have red cheeks and acne. She had both. The majority of that cleared up after the first week or so. Then her cheeks got rashy and inflamed. Our pediatrician (at the time) didn't appear overly concerned. I didn't like it because it looked raw and painful. A friend happened to mention that her son's cheeks also looked like Abigail's until they eliminated milk products from his diet. I was breast-feeding so that meant if I wanted to try that, I had to eliminate dairy from my diet. I did, and in a just a matter of days, her cheeks were clear a
nd baby-soft. Just look at my sweet baby at two months. Assuming that was the culprit, we continued the milk elimination diet when Abigail started formula. We put her on a soy-based formula, and at a year old, switched her to soy milk. She didn't drink cow's milk until around 2 years of age when I started reading that soy was a natural estrogen booster, and we weened her off. At that point, she appeared to have out-grown her sensitivity to milk. She later tested negative to a milk allergy.
In researching for this post, I came across an article published by the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders entitled Interesting Causes for Peanut Allergy Identified. The article sites a study done in southwest England that followed almost 14,000 preschool children for a year. It would take too long to post all of their findings, but here's one of interest:
Notably, there was a strong and statistically significant association between consumption of soy milk or soy formula in the first two years of life and the development of peanut allergy. This consumption typically preceded development of peanut allergy. The association with soy protein exposure and peanut allergy could arise from cross sensitization through common episodes that may prime T cell responses. It goes on to say that, In contrast, milk allergy was not associated with peanut allergy.
Okay, so now I'm confused as so many other parents are. One source says there is a link between milk and peanut allergies and another source states that it's soy that is linked to peanut allergies. But just to further muddy the water....read this.
Sydney, June 19, 2008. Parents need not worry about giving their children soy milk or soy-based formula. It is not likely to trigger peanut allergy, according to a new study. “Our results show that their risk of becoming allergic to peanuts … is a myth,” said epidemiologist Jennifer Koplin of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, who led the research. The article goes on to say that "the new study, however, suggested that the association between soy consumption and peanut allergy is coincidental. It occurs because parents whose children are already at higher risk of peanut allergy - due to a family or personal history of cow’s milk allergy - are more likely to give their children soy." For the record, neither Dave or myself is allergic to cow's milk.
So, maybe I didn't answer my question, but did I absolve myself of guilt? I'm not really sure that I did. But, I did it again anyway. Our second child (who is now 2) also showed a sensitivity to cow's milk. Not wanting to make the same mistake, we tried a Lactose free formula instead of a soy formula which seemed to work for him. However, when it was time to change him to milk, we compared a Lactose-free milk and Silk Soy milk with DHA Omega-3 and calcium and couldn't get over the difference in nutritional value in the Silk. So, yes, we did it again. Nathaniel drank the soy milk for a year before we changed him to the Lactose-free milk. He still is a little sensitive to just straight cow's milk. We've had him allergy tested also. At this point, he tested negative to both peanuts and dairy.
So, if not the soy milk, maybe my daughter's allergy is related to all of the peanut butter I ate when I was pregnant?? That's a topic for another blog.
One other note, we're actually waiting 3 weeks between visits to Duke this time because Abigail has music camp next week. Duke is pretty flexible when scheduling visits. I don't think they'd let us go longer than 21 days though. Until later.
As an infant Abigail had eczema, and although she was never diagnosed with a milk allergy, she was definitely "intole
rant". Just look at this picture taken of her at one month. A lot of newborns have red cheeks and acne. She had both. The majority of that cleared up after the first week or so. Then her cheeks got rashy and inflamed. Our pediatrician (at the time) didn't appear overly concerned. I didn't like it because it looked raw and painful. A friend happened to mention that her son's cheeks also looked like Abigail's until they eliminated milk products from his diet. I was breast-feeding so that meant if I wanted to try that, I had to eliminate dairy from my diet. I did, and in a just a matter of days, her cheeks were clear a
nd baby-soft. Just look at my sweet baby at two months. Assuming that was the culprit, we continued the milk elimination diet when Abigail started formula. We put her on a soy-based formula, and at a year old, switched her to soy milk. She didn't drink cow's milk until around 2 years of age when I started reading that soy was a natural estrogen booster, and we weened her off. At that point, she appeared to have out-grown her sensitivity to milk. She later tested negative to a milk allergy.In researching for this post, I came across an article published by the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders entitled Interesting Causes for Peanut Allergy Identified. The article sites a study done in southwest England that followed almost 14,000 preschool children for a year. It would take too long to post all of their findings, but here's one of interest:
Notably, there was a strong and statistically significant association between consumption of soy milk or soy formula in the first two years of life and the development of peanut allergy. This consumption typically preceded development of peanut allergy. The association with soy protein exposure and peanut allergy could arise from cross sensitization through common episodes that may prime T cell responses. It goes on to say that, In contrast, milk allergy was not associated with peanut allergy.
Okay, so now I'm confused as so many other parents are. One source says there is a link between milk and peanut allergies and another source states that it's soy that is linked to peanut allergies. But just to further muddy the water....read this.
Sydney, June 19, 2008. Parents need not worry about giving their children soy milk or soy-based formula. It is not likely to trigger peanut allergy, according to a new study. “Our results show that their risk of becoming allergic to peanuts … is a myth,” said epidemiologist Jennifer Koplin of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, who led the research. The article goes on to say that "the new study, however, suggested that the association between soy consumption and peanut allergy is coincidental. It occurs because parents whose children are already at higher risk of peanut allergy - due to a family or personal history of cow’s milk allergy - are more likely to give their children soy." For the record, neither Dave or myself is allergic to cow's milk.
So, maybe I didn't answer my question, but did I absolve myself of guilt? I'm not really sure that I did. But, I did it again anyway. Our second child (who is now 2) also showed a sensitivity to cow's milk. Not wanting to make the same mistake, we tried a Lactose free formula instead of a soy formula which seemed to work for him. However, when it was time to change him to milk, we compared a Lactose-free milk and Silk Soy milk with DHA Omega-3 and calcium and couldn't get over the difference in nutritional value in the Silk. So, yes, we did it again. Nathaniel drank the soy milk for a year before we changed him to the Lactose-free milk. He still is a little sensitive to just straight cow's milk. We've had him allergy tested also. At this point, he tested negative to both peanuts and dairy.
So, if not the soy milk, maybe my daughter's allergy is related to all of the peanut butter I ate when I was pregnant?? That's a topic for another blog.
One other note, we're actually waiting 3 weeks between visits to Duke this time because Abigail has music camp next week. Duke is pretty flexible when scheduling visits. I don't think they'd let us go longer than 21 days though. Until later.
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