Having a baby and trying to figure all of its needs is SOOOO hard. Especially before he/she can carry on a conversation with you. Even then it can sometimes be a guessing game.
I have suspected for a long time that Ben has some allergies to something he is eating/drinking. We are going to start seeing a pediatric allergist. I think he's allergic to milk/dairy. I thought he might be sensitive to milk while I was nursing him...so much so that I wrote it in his baby book over a year ago. Things that I have read about dairy allergies really seem to apply to Ben. I read a checklist of eight symptoms yesterday and Ben has six of them. The ones that really stood out are: abnormally red cheeks, bouts of constipation/diarrhea and constantly clears throat. Those of you who have seen Ben a lot or who have seen pictures have no doubt noticed his bright red cheeks. He goes through times of constipation followed almost immediately by diarrhea and vice versa. He has always (from day one) cleared his throat...he used to sound like a little bear growling.
A couple of other things I read said that kids with dairy allergies love and crave dairy almost like an addiction. This is definitely the case with Ben. He asks for milk a thousand times a day. If he sees me take a piece of cheese out of the refrigerator, he runs around excitedly screaming, "Cheese...yay"! And, when I give him even one piece of cheese, honest to God, he becomes constipated despite all the wonderful fruits and vegetables he eats.
I also suspect peanuts and peanut butter. His cheeks have cleared up considerably since I stopped giving him peanut butter a few weeks ago. Originally I was annoyed by the peanut butter scare, but now I see it as a blessing.
I think these allergies are what make him susceptible to so many colds, infections, and viruses. What I read said that immune systems are weakened when the body is fighting off allergies.
I am praying that we will figure this out. Ben is such an angel...I can't bear to have him suffer with this stuff anymore. I have just been thinking that as he grew up a little he would grow out of some of these problems he has, but it's just not happening.
I was relieved to find out that they do a scratch test, not shots or pin pricks for dairy. I will keep everyone posted after we have the allergy testing done. Please pray for Ben.
2 comments:
I will add him to my prayers!
My little guy has allergies along with asthma. Before he was 2 he was always sick too. He got put on singular which helped with both the asthma and allergies and it has really improved his world! We haven't had any ear infections and very few colds that are severe. When Alex had the allergy testing done, I cried because they didn't prepare me for what they do. He had a huge panel of needles pressed into his back very quickly, but he was in such pain. He really cried hard! I hope your allergy testing goes a little better and they are able to help him. I know it can be frustrating when you don't know what to give them. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers!
I hate that you all have been so sick this winter!
Celia struggled terribly with allergies for her first two years. Hers were all environmental (except for shrimp, which is easy to avoid) and caused the night time coughing, constant runny nose thing. That led to ear infections and asthma. And...she caught ever bug coming and going...which was always a big deal because she didn't just get a little sick...she got a LOT sick.
We had the scratch test done too...and she didn't seem to mind the needles in the back thing. Just glared over her shoulder like "What are you doing back there" and went about her business. Once we got things figured out and made some changed in the house...and got her on Singular and Zyrtec for flair ups...she was SO much healthier and happier. Now she's outgrown all of them
I hope you all get over all these bugs that have been plaguing you...and you get Ben's allergies figured out quickly and painlessly.
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