The 24 hour stomach flu has made its rounds in our home starting with Max last Saturday, ending with Hal today. What a week!
In other but not so new, news…
I am slowly unraveling and falling into a mild state of depression over my inability to really help with Bella’s skin. I feel like I need to regroup, come up with a plan that I can stick with, and see it through. My problem is I lack discipline and I’m naturally cynical – huge obstacles to overcome. When I figure out what I need to do and stick to it, I’ll let you know. I just have to get past this next week of testing and doctor’s appointments (for Bella) before I can take the mental space to think about this.
Well… we have gotten the first round of blood work back and this is what is up…
The list is in order from least allergic (1), to most allergic (4). We will be getting more tests done when we get to the allergist. The RAST test isn’t a very reliable one from what we have read, nor does it cover many foods.
#1
rice
lemon
corn
#2
grapefruit
oat
coconut
#3
almond
white bean
potato
#4
egg white
milk
wheat
soy bean
peanut
sesame seed
pea
and #0 means she is not allergic and those few items are:
orange
pecan nut
carrot
lime
See, this test is pretty lame. I mean, at least we know “for certain” that she has allergies, but damn… I need to know about so many more foods. This coming week is filled with appointments.
Hal and I keep reminding one another that it could be worse.
I am struggling with the idea that it may be beneficial to Bella for me to give her the formula. I’m scared because I don’t want to make things worse for her but I’m also exhausted and feel it might be good for her and me. I eliminated from my diet so many foods. On one hand, I’ve gotten used to the restrictions, on the other, its a bit depressing – and the restrictions could get greater with the next batch of testing. I’m working on networking with other moms who have children with eczema like Bella’s. I need their wisdom and support.
So, this has been what has been going on. Hal and I are dealing well most days with me having mini-meltdowns once in a while. Overall, we are still moving forward and keeping focused on all the wonderful parts of our lives – which is many. And fortunately, Bella is a good natured, happy, and lovely little girl. She is taking all this way better than her mommy. I do need to take some steps back and regain a perspective that is healthier for both her and me. Always easier said than done. And always so worth the effort.
hmmm, we have alot of allergies in our family. dare i share? a big one for us is CITRIC ACID… it’s known more as an intolerance, it wrecks havoc on river’s skin and like most of his allergies, it gives him crazy gas and diarrhea (sorry, TMI) not sure if there is a test for citric acid? i narrowed it down from gut instinct and taking note of how he reacted when ingesting it. it’s in f**cking everything, from soaps to shampoos to spaghetti sauce and bruschetta veggie chips. (my hubby and son both have mold/fungii allergies and this citric acid is a preservative derived from mold… go figure) we do mostly all organic and i’ve removed it from our diet (along with almonds, pears, lemons, oranges, milk, avocados, mushrooms, pistachios, hummus, to name a few..)
good luck to you and bella. i know it’s been a long rough road for you both, but you are almost there! i’ve been thinking of you.
Wow! Thank you, Meredith. I took Bella to the dermatologist today and feel like there is hope for her skin. He is the first doctor who has said to me that most babies who are “put” on formula for allergies never needed to be. I’ll write more about the visit later!
I had no idea that you have also gone through the allergy thing with River. It is amazing how many kids have allergies. Makes me suspicious – of what, I don’t know. Just suspicious.
Thank you for being so supportive of this journey I’m sharing. Sometimes I think my blog is so negative and that makes it a huge put-off for folks and consider not writing in it anymore. Then, I get a really nice comment (one is all it takes!), and feel like sharing again.
hey, just checking back in. i say keep on blogging!! you are not negative, you are just processing, just like all other mothers out there. we just find ourselves through our words.
oh and i dug up this old allergy post of mine when i first starting putting two and two together, granted it’s nothing in comparison to poor bella’s eczema pain, but wanted to share anyway. you are not alone!!
http://grigarfamily.blogspot.com/2007/07/krebs-cycle.html
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hey michelle. i’ve read this blog post a couple of weeks ago but just hit the comment link to tell you how much i miss your posts. was surprised to find a comment already there telling you to keep up the blogging.
just know that for me over here it’s such a pleasure to read about your life. keeping updated is extra bonus. just reading about someone working on thing and figuring them out and them not always being perfect is awesome for me. it’s easy to feel, from talking to foreigners here, that everything is just freaking peachy all the time and things work out magically. it can be really depressing when i feel like i have so many obstacles in my way (real or imagined!) and that nothing seems to work out magically. one step forward two steps back and sometimes the other way around. you know?
anyway, hope you are doing well.
nicole