Went to the hospital today and had h tested for allergies. He is allergic to wheat, cats, peanuts, other cereals not rice (it was a mix), cat and egg white. They do it with allergen put on the skin then the skin is pricked and you wait to see which ones swell up. They have a negative Ctrol (poss anti-histamine, or water) and a postive Ctrol (prob histamine). h is more reactive to egg white than he is to pure histamine. I eat quite a bit of egg what with biscuits (eaten to keep calories high for breast milk production) and with eating eggs in omlettes, baking and just scrambled. I am poisoning my son with my breast milk.
Technically, if I stopped eating peanuts (easy), all cereal except rice, and eggs, he might be better. But wait - we have to go back to test for cow's milk, potato and dog. Trust me, if he is allergic to cow's milk and potato I will not be able to Csume enough to make him any milk. Assuming the stress of the change in diet doesn't actually shut down production completely. So it may be I have to put him onto formula, to make him healthier. So much for breast is best.
On top of that there is the issue of our two cats and the dog. Will we have to re-home them? I'd miss my cat something dreadful even though she is so annoying at times. In point of fact, there's a fair to outstanding chance we are all allergic to cats, but there is an absolute certainty that all of the family love them.
The dog could be even harder - she is ten, and is pretty old to be re-homed.
Its come at a bad time too, when I am feeling like I don't want to be at home with h any more. The daily routine of bath, solids, singing, stories, taking the dog for a walk, garden time and three naps is wearing rather thin. Plus the Cstant pressure of thesis every time he has a nap. I'm a person that lives largely in my mind and in the interactions I have with people, and the stimulation just isn't there in this routine. Stuffed if I know how intelligent women can do this for years - I've just realised today that c had been going to care part-time for a month by this age.
So, martyr martyr, I am feeling that I may be asked by the specialist tomorrow to give up my diet, I am giving up my income for a year, and I am Csidering giving up an easy job for a hard one for the sake of my child. Its a hell of an ask, even when you do love him.
Don't worry, everything will be sunnier by tomorrow! I hope...
Posted by Toni at November 1, 2004 07:18 PMOuch! Thinking of you. (And fingers crossed about the milk and dog test.)
Posted by: iona at November 1, 2004 08:49 PMGeez. Hang in there - I know where to get some great allergy-free recipies. I'll hunt out the link for you.
Posted by: cal at November 2, 2004 07:29 AM