Arse. DD has made no progress in 'growing out' of her allergies, and it seems there are more to add to the list. Possibly.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

We dont know for sure, because the pathology dept apparently cocked up the tests and "didnt have enough blood to use". Which is a crock of shit, but, what can you do?

Therefore, the test was far less detailed this time and, instead of knowing which nuts she is allergic, it just says "mixed nuts". Also she has a reaction to Cats and Dogs - again - no specifics - not enough blood.

As for cows milk - levels are the same, well, slightly higher - this is the most disappointing one.

The Consultant said that all her reaction levels had gone up, in fact . He did say that this could be because there was 'more of her' too, which sounds logical, but its still disappointing and the tests arent that accurate either. He suggested that they could be done again, but, I dont really want to put DD through it - clearly she is still reacting .

Her asthma is more under control now though, although the 3 inhalers are making sure of that.

Found out today that Piriton syrup is not recommended for very frequent use.

Apparently you can get other antihisthamines in syrup form.....you learn something new everyday, dont you!!!!

Hello VVV, I haven't followed the history with your DD, as I don't use Mumsnet as much as I used to, but couldn't not reply to your thread. How old is your DD then?

Have you done all of the "natural" things yet? The hard things like modifying her diet? Pulled back everything in the environment? (animals, carpets....)

Has she been on tons of course of antibiotics?

Hi sunny! Long time no see

Clearly you have been busy with your duster

She is 3.9yrs. We had completely excluded milk at one point but have slowly started to reintroduce it. We thought it may be aggravating her eczma, however, the consultant said that whilst it is a possibility, we have her eczma under such good control that allowing some dairy products into her diet to expand what she eats and to make life generally 'easier' is a perfectly acceptable decision to make.

He also said that since we already have cats, and other family members have cats and dogs, its so difficult to exclude this from her life. Even if we got rid of our cats, it could be months or even years before we were rid of every trace.

So, stalemate really. Plus more steroids for up her nose too for her glue ear.

So..have your tried anything alternative yet? I am a huge proponent of Cranio Osteo and I have also seen amazing progress using probiotic therapy and eliminating DAIRY, WHEAT, SUGAR and CORN (just for 30 days and then slow introduction back). It takes amazing strength and courage to do the alternative stuff, but I have seen it work. If she has been on and off antibiotics, she is deficient in the bacteria that helps to break down our foods into tiny digestible molecules--the system starts to develop allergies to things we are not allergic to if they are passed though the stomach wall before they are fully processed. So...even if she is having allergic reactions to things now, once he stomach lining has healed and been repopulated with the good bacteria, the reactions might stop. Anything she eats that does not increase her stamina only works against her immune system. This alternative stuff is really hard to do and I understand it you think it is too difficult or too "progressive and wierd", no offense taken. Worried about you and DD.

No, she hasnt had a huge amount of antibiotics....

Thanks sunny - i will look into that. We are used to excluding things from her diet so not so much of a big deal. Its just externally that is the issue - what she has a pre-school etc.

Just about grown out of most of mine at 23.....you probably didn't really want to know that......

Just be a bit careful at all the steroids and antihistamines you get given for her. Often the allergy can be controlled just as well without. For example I was allergic to dustmites, cats and dogs (plus a few odd bits and pieces) and yes we had pets including a cat. I was on daily zirtec and a steroid nasal spray which kept getting put up in dosage as it had no effect which just resulted in lots and lots of nosebleeds, worse than any positive effect it might have had.

Well, its just that all along they have said she would grow out of it, and the signs show she isnt at all

They also said today, which they havent said before, that it is most unusual for a child to grow out of a nut allergy

The next milestone is by age 5 I think with allergies?

If a child hasn't grown out of them by 3 I think the stats are still quite favourable for growing out of them by age 5. Forget the figures.

That's what we are clinging to anyway with dd1 who at 3 appears no less allergic than before according to latest tests.

Cow's milk is a pain isn't it.

It sure is. Its in bloody EVERYTHING it seems.

We were told that you have until your twenties to grow out of things. Sucks though.

Thanks Indith. I wasnt aware of that.

I would find this unacceptable and get a second opinion pronto.

(No rogue "un"s in there VVV! )

Sending you my sympathies. We are in similiar position. Ds hasn't grown out of his allergies atall - now is 4. Last consultants appointment we came back feeling a bit like you.

I have been told that 7 is an important age for growth.

I've given up hope he grows out of his allergies by 5 in time for school, so am hoping on 7.

Ds has to be milk free which is hard when out, also eggs. Has hives/redness from any skin cotnact with any milk product - ie splash of milk not wiped properly on table then he oputs his hand on that place - - this happens a lot at his pre school.

Also on more asthma medication now.

oh yes - we also ahve been told piriton is not recommended for frequent use.

Also told the same about the blood tests - higher IGE levels due to the fact DS is growing older and is to be expected.

Why second opinion rhubarb?

Thanks Krabiner

Why is piriton not suitable for frequent use? Ds is just 2 and been on this for the past 18 months.

sorry to hear that - and cow's milk is such a main one

dd's egg allergy was still rampant at 3 and we think she outgrew it when she was around 5/6 - so there is some hope (still have the asthma/eczema though unfortunately)

oh bugger fox

chlo - the consultant paediatrician (an allergy specialist apparently) told me that piriton has side effects that affect behaviour, and make them sleepy.

All the other newer types, like loratidine, and cetirizine dont do this and so should be used if using often.

chlo - we also were told that piriton has a sedative effect on the child (avoid in day time especially) and that actually is no use once there is a serious reaction.

Can't believe i have never been told this by DS consultant it doesn't seem to make him sleepy but he does suffer with serious allergies resulting in anaphylatic reactions so may be i should be asking for a different one.

You have got an epipen, right?

yeah got quite a few. Thanks

chlo - we hear different things almost every time we go to clinic.

we dont use piriton any longer but i haven't seen any difference in DS since we stopped - ie he seems no more / no less tired than when we used it. seems jsut the same.

DS doesnt seem any more bothered by his reactions since we stopped using it either.

We have used Lortradine for every day use, son has chronic rhinitis which causes sinus problems.
However piriton is far better if you have an allergic reaction ie to nuts (son is also allergic to nuts, peanuts and several seeds) as it works far more quickly than the like of Lortradine.

Everything I have read it is fairly unusual for anyone to grow out of nut allergy.

The cranial osteopath said he would never make claims that this will cure things like allergies as through his experience he has found any success is usually a coincidence.

Piriton is a first generation anti -histamine.
Apart from tiredness, head aches and drop in appitite can happen with daily doses.

Piriton works well for allergic reactions, in fact for many children the quicker they are given it, the better. It seems to work well to stop most reactions going in to full blown anaphylaxis.

Second generation anti-histamines are non drowsy which is better.

Thankfully there is a big range of these more modern anti-histamines, as we have had problems with reactions to two of them over the years!

FYI 20% of children do go out of nut allergies, but this stops after 7 yrs.
then its considered life long.

I'm lactose intolerant if you need any hints on what to buy just give me a shout, after 3 years of having to avoid it totally I'm getting pretty good at it now (10 years of avoiding cow's milk)