Hello all,
I haven't posted in a while. I have a 5 year old daughter allergic to milk protein, peanuts, nuts, some fruits from diagnosis age 6 mos and we've been on a milk and nut free diet ever since. I am diligent about avoiding any all dairy/casein/whey in any shape or possible form when buying her foods and am a speed label reader like most of you.
Yesterday, my very conscientous babysitter ACCIDENTALLY gave her a whole cup of whole milk (it was my son's since he cannot have her soy milk - he reacts w/exzema to soy). I came home rushing and panicked, calling her allergist, the urgent care peds thinking she will react, while having the epiPen et all ready. She didn't. She actully has never had any hives or breathing obstruction from even having accidentally having a cookie w/some milk ingredient. Reaction to peanuts is a completely different situation - she swells up. When we assumed about 3 years ago that the cookie caused her to have an allergic reaction, it manifested in severe diarrhea - for about a week and we ended up spending the following week there for her dehydration which ensued after the acute diarrhea which occurred w/in hours. Last winter we assumed some trace of milk got into her diet while traveling, which triggered another spate of prolonged diarrhea (no hospitalization for dehydation this time, thankfully). Now I'm wondering if it was rotavirus...?
So, yesterday, when she consumed a whole cup of cow's milk - I just kept waiting for the absolute worst. (My hope has always been that at age 5 w/a pretty finicky palatte, she would KNOW if she was consuming something OTHER than her soymilk, as it would taste bad to her...UNBELIEVABLY so, she didn't once mention that something seemed/tasted different - a scary prospect!) Her doctors said if she does develop loose stools, to just bring her in and prepare for possible dehydration. Since there were no hives or swelling 12, then 24 hours after ingestion, we felt a bit relieved. It's been over a day now and her tummy seemed fine when she went today...last night, however, she did have a lot of mucusy coughing (she is also asthmatic), so upon giving her he albuterol inhaler, she was able to breathe a bit better for a several hours stretch at a time. My fear was that the breathing may get worse and had a bag ready for the ER if we needed to head out. She woke up in the morning ready to go to school and is fine this afternoon so far.
My question to those of you out there who have either yourselves gone through this or your children, that if this is a sign of her having OUTGROWN (the miracle we've been hoping for) her milk allergy? She recently tested POS (a #4 rash) on her skin test on her back) for milk, peanuts, tree pollen and coconuts....So then why no reaction? Or is there still a chance that she will have vomiting or diarrhea in the coming days? Of course as parents we hope this may be a sign that she has outgrown it, which will mean a completey new lifestyle for her (an us)....I would greatly appreciate any insight, experiences, or other knowledge any of you may have on this.
Thanks for the time and any responses in advance.
Aisha
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