Allergies in children- WWMMD?

[hrp22]

My son keeps breaking out in hives and excema.  He's 2.  We thought it was strawberries for the last 6 months, as his hives lessoned for the most part after our cruise trip where he was eating A LOT of strawberries, and then didn't eat them at all when we returned home since it was winter.  He's been breaking out more again, and his eyes are always poofy.  Anyhow, we had him tested and he tested negative for strawberry.  The doctor also did his total IGE.  This test isn't specific to anything but it does show whether a person is having an allergic reaction to SOMETHING.  

His levels were really high (814 was his total with normal range 20-97 for his age.)  

As a child, I had really bad hay fever, and animal allergies.  I still do, but now I have food allergies too.  The pedi said that kids' allergies don't always follow the parents.  However, there are the most common allergies, and pets are at the top of the list as well as pollen, mold etc.

The doc said he would allow for us to keep doing specific allergy tests (via blood draw) but because his total IGE is so high, he'll likely react to many things that he wouldn't normally react to right now throwing false-positive results at us.  (which i get, because when my allergies are really bothering me, then i too start getting allergic reactions to things that normally mildly bother me or not at all)

We have a dog (we did have two until last month when our oldest dog passed away), and we have a cat.  The dog is extremely furry and lays everywhere we are.  She also licks herself and things constantly.  The cat hides from my son, but does sleep in our room, as does our son when he wakes up and walks into our bedroom in the middle of the night.  For my own sanity, I use hepa filter vacuum and I constantly change out sheets or anything else that the dog/cat sleep or lay on. I also shave the dog to keep hair at a minimum.  I brush them both outside.   

So, I'm just wondering what your next steps should be.  I've lived with allergies all my life and I've told my husband I'm done with pets once they pass.  That could be years though.  Should I look into re-homing the animals?  What if that's not even what he's allergc to?  Maybe it's food.  I've done food journaling with him in the past and that's where I came up with strawberries.  Maybe it's something else entirely, or maybe it's both.  If I do re-home the animals, how on earth should I go about this?  I mean, the animals are both roughly 10 years old, and the dog is a 100lb  st benard for christs sakes.  Then I feel guilty for allowing my son to suffer while i just do nothing because I don't want to get rid of our animals.   

My immediate next step is to get rid of the couch in our living room.  The only thing that uses it is our dog because it's so fur covered.  I vacuum it all the time but I'm done with that and it's silly because only the dog(s) use it.  That will make our living room un-dog friendly, which will hopefully create one room in the house that's pet free.  

I was thinking after that I could get rid of the rug in our dining room and at least make the first floor all hardwood, and an animal unfriendly zone (since there will be no dog bed).  

[frlcb]

They can't just specifically test for dog allergies?

[hrp22]

Yes, we can get a specific blood test for anything we want to test him for. Doc said it could throw false-postives right now because his levels are so high, he's likely to react to anything. (read above)

[frlcb]

I did read above but I don't understand how it all works since I have not gone through it. I would try the dog test first and see what the results are before I would rehome my pets or throw away furniture.

[thatgirl2478]

As a loooong time allergy sufferer, I don't think I'd re home the animals just yet.

Would it be possible to make at least your room and your son's room animal free zones? Then you can do all your anti allergen cleaning in those rooms (air purifiers, anti allergen bedding, removing carpets in favor of hardwood, cleaning any draperies/stuffed toys etc).

While it's certainly possible he's allergic to the animals, he could also be allergic to so many other things - dust mites, molds, and just regular dust. Also, it could be out door allergens like weed pollen or molds.

Can you use allergen filters in your HVAC system to see if that helps? Change them more frequently than you might think (ie monthly vs quarterly). Having air purifiers in the areas that your son spends a lot of time can help as well.

[lizlemon19]

It sucks for the kid, but what about a scratch test?

We found out my kid is sensitive to food dye, including in body washes, soaps, etc.

[thatgirl2478]

Sept 16, 2014 19:34:20 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I did read above but I don't understand how it all works since I have not gone through it. I would try the dog test first and see what the results are before I would rehome my pets or throw away furniture.

The problem is that the blood tests for specific allergens has to be done at a time when he's not reacting to much of anything.

So right now his allergic reaction is sky high, so they could test him for dogs, cats, pollens, molds, dust mites, strawberries, peanut butter, etc and he'd come back allergic to them all - even though maybe he's not really allergic to ANY of those.

[thatgirl2478]

Sept 16, 2014 19:35:49 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Can you have someone take the dogs for a couple weeks to see if that helps?

Animal dander gets in everything, so unless she's planning to completely sanitize her house (and all their belongings) from top to bottom (including air ducts) it probably won't help.

[imojoebunny]

I am allergic to dogs and cats, but was able to have a dog growing up because:
1. We had hardwood floors
2. Dog was not allowed in my room ever
3. Dog slept in one room two floors below, not in the family room where I spent most of my time outside of bed.
4. My mom vacuumed 1x per week
5. I had an allergy cover on my mattress and wasn't allowed to sleep with stuffed animals or keep them in my room (I could choose 3 to keep in my room). I am also allergic to dust mites, so keeping my "bucket" less full at night really helped during the day. I also take medication (mostly benydril, since it is cheap and easy and I have found expensive and prescription isn't any better. I only take at night)

[lolo]

Could he be reacting to the pesticides or wax that is on many types of produce?

[frlcb]

Sept 16, 2014 19:39:02 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

Sept 16, 2014 19:34:20 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I did read above but I don't understand how it all works since I have not gone through it. I would try the dog test first and see what the results are before I would rehome my pets or throw away furniture.

The problem is that the blood tests for specific allergens has to be done at a time when he's not reacting to much of anything.

So right now his allergic reaction is sky high, so they could test him for dogs, cats, pollens, molds, dust mites, strawberries, peanut butter, etc and he'd come back allergic to them all - even though maybe he's not really allergic to ANY of those.

But there is also a chance if he isn't allergic that the results will come back negative, so if they do then they can rule out the dog. I don't know, I would try it before I would give up my pets.

[hrp22]

Some answers to above questions as I read them :

I was told the blood tests would be more definitive than the scratch tests? Not sure why. I will ask the doc at our scheduled followup.

I don't know of anyone to take the pets temporarily or permanently. I would love to test it out for a couple weeks. I'd probably have better luck with the cat. People just laugh at me when I say I need a dog sitter (did i mention she's a slobbery 100lb st. bernard). It could just be the cat though. I think more people are allergic to cats than dogs. I could see if my mom could take her for a couple weeks.

Our house is small, so I have to choose between making upstairs the pet-free zone or downstairs. We "live" downstairs all day long since I SAH. That's why I was thinking about removing the couch and the only the fabric down there (the rug). I was thinking since I can wash all the bed linens, but cannot wash the couch regularly, that'd be the first thing to go.

We do have the fancy smancy hepa filters for our HVAC unit. Those things are like $60 too, so there's no way we could afford to replace them more often than we do already.

No stuffed toys, I always donate those. We do have carpets in our bedrooms which I know must hold a lot even with the expensive vacuum cleaner and hepa bags etc. That's something I'm trying to convince husband of getting rid of. It will be a big project though, since we will have to refinish the floors so I get his hesitation. I don't know what we'd do to undertake that task while we live in the house. (i'm pregnant too, so normally I can help, but right now I"m useless basically) I removed all the curtains from upstairs a while back. Right now we have wood or plastic blinds up to reduce allergies. I've also removed the window coverings completely from rooms that we don't need privacy.

Do you think a carpet cleaner would help? My neighbor owns one and we could borrow it. Even if it's just using it once a week until his levels come down so we could do specific testing?

From my understanding, and maybe I"m wrong, but the doc made it sound like we need to get his total IGE levels down first and then we can start testing again. It's basically guessing what's causing his levels to be so high and then pinpointing to exact allergens from there?? (because each time a blood draw would be necessary, so it could be months of testing, and then he's showing positive to everything we test for)

[bowies]

Are you keeping a journal of his symptoms and what possible allergens he came in contact with that day? It could help narrow the focus.

I used to break out in hives as a young child. I was allergic to our grass.

[hrp22]

Sept 16, 2014 19:53:02 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Sept 16, 2014 19:39:02 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

The problem is that the blood tests for specific allergens has to be done at a time when he's not reacting to much of anything.

So right now his allergic reaction is sky high, so they could test him for dogs, cats, pollens, molds, dust mites, strawberries, peanut butter, etc and he'd come back allergic to them all - even though maybe he's not really allergic to ANY of those.

But there is also a chance if he isn't allergic that the results will come back negative, so if they do then they can rule out the dog. I don't know, I would try it before I would give up my pets.

I'm with you here. That would be a definite specific test I'd have done before I'd take that step in getting rid of pets permanently.  

We did just get him a new mattress and pillow a couple months before test.  Animals aren't allowed on his bed (and I never see them up there.  

[thatgirl2478]

Sept 16, 2014 19:53:02 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Sept 16, 2014 19:39:02 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

The problem is that the blood tests for specific allergens has to be done at a time when he's not reacting to much of anything.

So right now his allergic reaction is sky high, so they could test him for dogs, cats, pollens, molds, dust mites, strawberries, peanut butter, etc and he'd come back allergic to them all - even though maybe he's not really allergic to ANY of those.

But there is also a chance if he isn't allergic that the results will come back negative, so if they do then they can rule out the dog. I don't know, I would try it before I would give up my pets.

pretty unlikely since his numbers are currently SO elevated. 

I never suggested giving up pets, there are ways to work around the pets.

[hrp22]

Sept 16, 2014 20:06:50 GMT -5 bowies said:

Are you keeping a journal of his symptoms and what possible allergens he came in contact with that day? It could help narrow the focus.

I used to break out in hives as a young child. I was allergic to our grass.

I have kept a food journal.  He also has symptoms all seasons including this last long arse winter where we didn't see the grass for a month.

For all high allergen foods, and any foods I'm allergic to, we've literally tested while both my husband and I are at home, non-rush hour times, with his medicine in front of us and keys out and ready.  

I use Rockin green on all of his clothes and anything he sleeps on (our sheets/his sheets etc.)  I didn't use bubbles in his bath until recently and I watched him for a week or so after I "tested" them in his bath.  I use california baby soaps on him.  I rarely put lotion on him, but when I do, it's Cali baby too.  We used to cloth diaper and cloth wipe, but have stopped and didn't see symptoms increase with disposables.

Hmm, that made me think about something.  I recently started using a softener in his laundry where I never have in the past.  It's an expensive no dyes, natural blah blah that I bought specifically to put on his clothes.  His newest break-outs have been on his face though.  (I'm rambling) maybe it's baby wipes that his grandmother uses to wipe him down after eating.  (she has him once a week).  

[polarbearfans]

I am having a bad reaction to the water in our new house. I think it is the water softner, but who knows. I am an itchy broken out mess since moving here.

Even the all natural items are not always good. It is very possible to have reactions using "hypoallergenic" products if one of those ingredients is a problem.

[hrp22]

Would taking the cat to the groomer to get a bath be possible? Can you do that or would that even help?

I'm hesitant to pinpoint it to the cat since she already pretty much hides all day. She "lives" in basically three spots in the house, and my son is too big to fit in two of those spaces. The other spot is a at the end of our bed which my son doesn't go near. Other people with cat allergies have been in my house and have no symptoms and I always get the surprised " you have a cat?" Fur floats though. So, maybe I'm just fooling myself.

How often can you wash a dog? Would that even help? Why does she lick herself so often? I've asked the vet before and he basically said "she is a dog". It just seems like she does it a lot. Isn't that where the allergy is, their saliva?

[hrp22]

Sept 16, 2014 20:32:30 GMT -5 polarbearfans said:

I am having a bad reaction to the water in our new house. I think it is the water softner, but who knows. I am an itchy broken out mess since moving here.

Even the all natural items are not always good. It is very possible to have reactions using "hypoallergenic" products if one of those ingredients is a problem.

Yeah, I'm going to pull that step out of laundry for a while.  He'll just have to live with crunchy clothes again.

[hrp22]

I like your plan of attack firedogs. Thanks. I think sometimes I get so upset and I just get overwhelmed with my thoughts that I cannot think clearly. Definitely not concisely, that's for damn sure ;-)