This week has been an emotionally exhausting week and quite honestly, I’m just feeling a little numb right now. My troubles started on Tuesday when Jake had a bit of an allergic reaction to either the hot dog or new sweet potato chips he ate and then yesterday, I trekked an hour across town to get his yearly food allergy test done.
I have been praying with all my heart and soul for his food allergies to be eliminated or for them to lose their severity. I was hopeful that all the work I’ve done with the diet and supplements this past year would heal his system and make his body stop attacking false enemies. Also, for the past 2 1/2 months, behind the blog scenes, Jake has been getting acupressure/acupuncture in an effort to improve them.
The bottom line is this … If ever a child should be healed of food allergies, it is Jake. I have done everything right and I was beyond hopeful. I know there is no cure for this life-threatening cloud that hangs over my head, but he outgrew his egg allergy, and I thought with enough faith and hard work, I could beat this thing.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
In regards to Jake’s existing allergies, nothing changed. His allergy test revealed that he is still off-the-charts allergic to fish (catfish, salmon, codfish, flounder, trout) and the allergist said his allergy is so severe, he will probably never outgrow it. This is bad news because we live in an omega-3 obsessed country right now. He also still has a moderate allergy to peanut, but dropped the almond allergy. The bad news is, he picked up a brazil nut allergy and the allergist said since his tree nut allergy is all over the place, I should avoid all nuts.
Jake added the following anaphylactic (life-threatening) food allergies: shrimp, oyster, tuna, pork, cow’s milk, casein, and pineapple. I’m still trying to process that my child now has 14 items that could kill him. This scares me to death with all the hidden ingredients in food and the products that farmers are feeding animals these days. For example, if a farmer decided to get creative and feed his chickens algae to boost the omega in the meat and I missed the fine print or if it wasn’t labeled at all, Jake would react if he ate the chicken. Yes, I know this tid-bit from personal experience, not because I like to overanalyze every single bite that goes into my child’s mouth.
How will I ever get through this?
Jake's Journey with Apraxia 
I’m so sorry Tori! I know that is disappointing for you and so scary! I can’t imagine! Praying for God’s grace for you and for Jake.
Thank you, Amy! I know you are a prayer warrior, so I appreciate it. Just got back from Dr. Bhatia today and I’m feeling much more at ease. We are still going to try and beat this. You gotta be my cheerleader in Pre-K 4 this year if people start thinking I’m a crazy, food allergy mama! 🙂
Aww, I’m so sorry to hear the report. Jake is one lucky little guy to have such a protective mama bear looking out for him and his nutritional needs. Keep on keeping on.
And as for snacks, keep going with the berries, they are so good for the kiddos! I like to make my little man a little fruit salad that he snacks on throughout the day–straw/blueberries, grapes, mandarin and apple slices. 🙂
Thank you, Jenn! I am feeling much more sane today and ready to keep fighting the fight. Yes, we are still having organic berries each day. Jake is sensitive to the pesticides on the regular ones. Fruit salad is the best. Haven’t made it in a while though. Hope you’re enjoying last day at camp and that it was a healing journey for you and your little one. 🙂
I’ve started to use organic berries too, as my kiddo was having a reaction to the pesticides as well.
Yes, camp was great. I’ll have the post for you for next week, if that’s ok. Been busy getting back into the swing of things at home again…
Yes, Jenn. That is perfect! Thank you for contributing to my site.
Have you looked into SLIT, NAET, or the GAPS diet? The first two are not diet, they work on the immune system.
Candace, Didn’t know you had a blog! I just saw it last night when I was checking email from the iPad, which I usually don’t do. A different view of the screen showed me your address. I will have to read your past posts. I have looked into NAET … heard about it from The Thinking Moms. That’s why I decided to do acupuncture to begin with. But, NAET sounds a little scary for me right now since Jake’s allergies are so off the charts. I read that a person can go into anaphylactic during a session. Yikes! I haven’t heard of SLIT, but I will google. GAPS I have heard of. Weren’t you the one that recommended I read that book? I never did read it, but I’m ordering it today. I don’t think I can do full-blown GAPS with Jake, but I am going to apply some of the concepts to heal the gut (broths & fermented foods). Thanks for the ideas!
At my next biomed appointment, I will ask about SLIT. I would do that before NAET. I have heard better outcomes from SLIT, anecdotally, from parents.
I don’t recall recommending a GAPS book. I only recommend stuff I’d have the energy to try. 😉 There is a great GAPS kids group on FB that I’m a member of, should I change my mind.
You might something out of this http://regardingcaroline.com/camp.html
She’s doing a lot of the treatments we talked about. Her daughter has autism and apraxia and some other things.
I’m so sorry to hear an updated list of allergies. I could imagine how scary it is … I made 2 trips to the ER due to severe allergic reactions in the past. (and yes, I carry epi-pen) I was getting allergen immunotherapy for a little while for my allergy. I’m wondering if there is something that’s safe and available for children with food allergy. Still, I really hope Jake will outgrow them.
Please update us on the follow up appointment with Dr.Taz! We will finally get to see her at the end of the month. My son got diagnosed with Autism in addition to CAS, Dyspraxia, Hypotonia over the summer, so I’m really looking forward to it.
Naomi, I was thinking of you today when I was at Dr. Taz’s office for our follow-up. I remember you saying you were going in July and wondered if you had already been. I am feeling much more at ease now and we are entering into Phase 2 – healing the gut & reducing the food allergies. Cognitively, one year later, we are where we need to be, which is beyond positive news. You will love Dr. Taz’s approach. Keep me posted on how your appointment goes.
The biggest hugs to you and your family …. Jake is SO lucky to have such an incredible mother who is literally going to the ends of the earth to help him in every way possible ……..
Thank you, Tara! I need the encouragement! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope you’ve settled into your new home and that things are going well for you and your little one in MN.