Diary of Isabella’s Food Allergies – Part 2

After Bella was diagnosed with food allergies, my diet was adjusted so that I was no longer eating her trigger foods (I was still breastfeeding). Initially she reacted to Egg White, Wheat and Milk. That made my life “fun” food wise, but boy it made a difference to her excema. Within days it improved looking far less angry, and within weeks it was scarcely noticeable. I was amazed that something so simple could make such a difference!

We were cruising! We gradually introduced solids, each time with enormous care, and each time with no ill effects. She scoffed the fruit and vegies.

At her next series of skin prick tests (about six months later) her Wheat welt was down significantly and Doctor suggested a Wheat challenge. At the Food Challenge, the child is fed the allergen in a controlled manner, under medical supervision. They begin with touching the food to the child’s inner lip, then feeding 1/8 teaspoon; 1/2 teaspoon and increasing intervals until it is determined that there is no life threatening reaction or other ill effects. We breezed through the challenge and Wheat was able to be added to her diet – and mine! (I actually find I feel much better in myself and look “well” when I exclude wheat from my diet… but I’m a sucker for Brown’s bread and puddings )

Life was pretty uneventful from an allergy perspective. We had to watch her in social situations. Obviously, Isabella did not understand she couldn’t share food with the other kids. This had the most impact as she grew older and realised that other kids were getting treats she couldn’t have.

Our next misadventure (and my timing on these events is a little hazy these days - but I would say 8 or 9 months old) was during her regular morning nap. To say Bella was a poor sleeper would be an understatement. Even today she resists going to sleep, often awake after me - a real night owl.

As usual, she played up, carrying on and refusing to go to sleep. However, there was something different about her cry, more urgency?? I’m not sure, but I decided to check in on her and ignore the “controlled crying”. This is what I found. 

 

I grabbed her and ran straight to the Dr. The drive took forever. I can no longer recall what we did, probably phenergan? 

The eyes gradually unpuffed. We never discovered what caused the problem, it didn’t seem to be any food she had come in contact with. I suspect it may have been the cat. She had been playing with Pippi before going for her nap. Without rubbing cat spit in her eyes to test, (and of course we don’t do that!!) I guess we’ll never know.