<\/p>On March 8, 2016 I took both of my kiddos for their retest for peanut allergy. They are to be retested yearly. I had high hopes that now that I got their eczema under control that their peanut allergy would have lessened or disappeared altogether.\u00a0\u00a0 I know, call me crazy, but I was hopeful. My husband came with me this time for the skin prick testing. The idea was that if both kiddos passed the skin prick they would later do a peanut challenge where they are introduced tiny bits of peanuts in increments to see how they would react. I was hoping to get an all clear before the Fall school year started. I was very confused, frustrated and overwhelmed to see my kiddos peanut allergies both went up on the test and both to a 4+ on a 0-4 scale. While Andrew\u2019s hives enlarged on his back he sat playing happily with his trucks while Adalyn cried and screamed, \u201cIt hurt\u201d while her hives appeared.\n

March 16, 2016 \u2013 Letter to Allergist<\/div>\n

I hope you are well and enjoyed your vacation. \u00a0I received your message last Monday after we visited your office and I greatly appreciated you taking the time to follow up with us. \u00a0I left you a message back but thought I would follow up with an email so I could be more clear on my questions. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

Your message indicated that you were recommending we think about doing a follow up blood test for Adalyn X\u00a0after she tested 4+ on her skin test on 3\/8\/2016 \u00a0after testing 0 on her blood work on 6\/30\/2015. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

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My husband and I are considering doing the repeat blood test for Adalyn but I have some questions. \u00a0What are your thoughts on any of the theories that help to desensitize peanut allergy? \u00a0Since last June I have been reading a bit on peanut allergy but after both kids have tested so high it has made me think about what else I should be doing. \u00a0Andrew X\u00a0also tested a 4+ on his skin prick test on 3\/8\/16. \u00a0While I completely agree with the recommendation of retesting and avoidance of peanuts what can we do to help lessen the allergy?<\/span><\/div>\n

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I have read about OIT (Oral Immunotherapy), GAPS diet, and NAET theories\/techniques for allergy elimination. \u00a0In your experience have you seen anyone truly have success in at least somewhat desensitizing or lessening the allergy?<\/span><\/div>\n

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Another thing I am curious on is the effect Staph has on any of this? \u00a0My children suffered from eczema and no doubt scratched and clawed at their skin for some time. \u00a0It is not far fetched in my opinion that staph could be present on their skin. I had asked a dermatologist once if she could swab my kids eczema for staph and I was told it was not necessary. \u00a0I recently came across an article talking about the National Jewish Health Organization\u2019s findings on the correlation between Staph and Peanut Allergy. \u00a0It talks abut how Staph breaks down the skin and can allow for food proteins to enter the skin. \u00a0They found that 59% of patients with Staph tested positive on a skin prick test to peanut allergy. \u00a0The article is attached here (<\/span>http:\/\/allergicliving.com\/2016\/03\/15\/staph-infections-on-the-eczema-patients-skin-linked-to-peanut-allergy\/).<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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The reason I bring this up is because I am curious if it would explain why Adalyn shows high on her skin prick testing but 0 on her bloodwork? \u00a0Is it due to the presence of Staph? \u00a0Would it be out of the question to swab her skin, do bleach baths (have never considered before), swab her skin again for staph and if negative for staph, repeat the skin prick test? \u00a0What are your thoughts on this?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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I know this is a ton of information and questions that I am throwing out to you. \u00a0I thought it was easier to write it out than to try to take up your time over the phone. \u00a0I am just a mom with 2 kids with high peanut allergies wondering where I can go from here? \u00a0I remember you telling me when I met you that you would love to see a \u201ccure\u201d for peanut allergy in your lifetime. \u00a0I can\u2019t say that I am necessarily thinking this would \u201ccure\u201d it but is this possibly an option to at least get my kids somewhat desensitized enough to the point I don\u2019t need to be worried if they ingest it?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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Please let me know your thoughts. \u00a0I welcome any opinions and greatly appreciate any advice you have for us. \u00a0I am completely open to ideas or techniques to try to lessen this allergy. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

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I was pleasantly surprised to have the doctor call me to discuss and I was even more grateful for the in depth conversation we had and how she took the time to actually explain things to me. She told me everything from her experience and what her thoughts were. She explained that she has never read any scientific data that proves acupressure works and warned that I may waste my money heading down that path. She didn\u2019t discourage my path if I decided to find a private practice that did OIT. She simply said that they were not set up for it. She said they were not equipped with the 24 hour on call nursing staff needed to help parents experiencing reactions at home while doing OIT. She had no concern with staph being an issue relating to my kids allergy because I had gotten the eczema under control. She also explained that she had seen plenty of cases where children had the peanut allergy but did not have eczema. She assured me that my diet while pregnant and diet in general had no barring on their allergies. She told me that the only thing to blame is our genes.\u00a0\u00a0 Where she provided hope was that she has read very exciting things about Allergy Patch Therapy which is showing promise and is in final stages of testing and may be available within a couple of years. Our plan meanwhile would be to keep my kiddos peanut free (Andrew also cashew and pistachio) and continue to carry an epi pen and Benadryl on hand in case.\u00a0\u00a0 We would also schedule Adalyn for blood work to see what a repeat blood work test showed. If it still said 0 or read very low she may consider going through with a peanut challenge for her.<\/p>\n

I planned on taking Adalyn for her blood-work the following Thursday when we had some time in her schedule. She was off of school that week and we had a jam-packed week planned for her. The Wednesday before we were out having lunch at one of our usual places and we ordered the same meal and items we frequently get. I have checked all labels and ingredients of these items. I looked at Adalyn after she ate and she had a hive above her lip and it was getting bigger.\u00a0\u00a0 She then started to claw at her throat. With her hive continuing to increase in size we headed for the door and she was given a dose of Benadryl. Within a few minutes the hive and itching disappeared. I was ready though. I was prepared to give her the epi. I had always wondered how I would truly feel if I saw Ady react and if I would be strong enough to give her that epi pen. I can now tell you I would have been because I was ready. I watched her like a hawk and I would have done about anything in the world in that instance if her symptoms got worse. I would have injected her and not thought another thing of it. It really scared me. It was the first reaction I had ever witnessed Adalyn to have had.<\/p>\n

I followed up with our Dr that afternoon. She suggested Adalyn came in contact with cross contamination was her best guess with peanut. It was decided at that time Adalyn was no longer a candidate for the peanut challenge and we should repeat the blood test in one year. Testing her now would only be putting her through it for more of a curiosity standpoint. I was to call again if I were to suspect any other allergies and keep her posted if anything like this happens again.<\/p>\n

Adalyn slept all afternoon from the Benadryl and Andrew took his usual nap. I researched. I started googling about alternative allergy treatment near me. I came across a doctor nearby that practices\u00a0something called LZR7\u00a0Laser Allergy Treatment. I read about it on the website and called to get a bit more information. The lady I spoke with told me I called the right place. I was extremely skeptical. She asked me to bring the kiddos in for a consult and just check it out. I scheduled it for the next day.<\/p>\n

I went in skeptical. The person I met surprised me. He explained to me how his son had a severe allergy to milk as a child and how he was on a mission to help him when he was young. \u00a0He came across this treatment and his allergy was treated. He described car rides and how he would have to pull over frequently when his son would get sick after eating dairy. \u00a0As I told him Andrew\u2019s story it was all too familiar to him. He wasn\u2019t a salesey kind of guy at all but more like a dad talking to a mom about something that might help her kid like it helped his. I was intrigued but suspicious. I also knew when I learned about the cost that my husband would never in a million years go for it. I considered not telling him and taking the money from my savings account and just going through with the 12 treatments. But, I have to take a step back. I have tried so many things and we have spent so much money. I have scheduled to have my husband meet Doc on Tuesday. If he convinces him and we go through with this I will write about our journey. \u00a0If it flops it will save other families from the same mistake. Oh but if it works\u2026 If my kids no longer have to deal with food allergies and eczema I will share that with every parent I can find.<\/p>\n

Update: \u00a0We started our 1st of 12 treatments on 4\/14\/2016. \u00a0We will complete treatments in June and I will update the results and our journey at that time.<\/p>\n

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