It started off well. We got to the office, got Jared weighed. He is up to 34 pounds! WOO HOO! He got everything checked and listened too, and then we moved into the procedure room. That is when his face changed. It wasn't until he saw the plates of testing "batteries" that he got concerned and decided that he was now done. The testers themselves felt and looked like 8 little round hard toothbrush heads all connected in a rectangle with live, pure allergens on them. He got to touch them to see that they weren't too sharp and that they wouldn't hurt (too very much), but he still wasn't very happy about it.
We were told the risks of having this done, severe itching, redness, anaphalactic shock, and death. GREAT!
Jared did not want to lay on his tummy and have those pushed onto him, so Aaron and I had to hold him on his tummy while the nurse then took those 8 sets of 8 different allergens and slowly pressed them into his back, and rocked them back and forth. During that time he was crying and saying "Please, no more! I don't like this!" It was sad to hear and watch, but we had to get it done.
After everything was on him she marked what cards were where, and then we waited for 9 minutes, for a reaction.
(photo taken with phone, so it may look a bit grainy)
Dr. J came in and took a look, and then we waited 9 more minutes and got our results. The larger welts are more severe allergies, then the others. You can see a few welts in this picture.
Allergy severity is rated 1 - 4+ with 4+ being most severe. Jared has 14 in the 3 and 4+ level.
1. Cat Pelt 4+
2. Timothy Grass 4+
3. House Dust 4+
4. Western Ragweed 3+
5. English Plantain 3+
6. June (Kentucky Blue) Grass 4+
7. Birch 4+
8. Positive Control 3+
9. Orchard Grass 4+
10. Sagebrush 3+
11. Western Juniper 3+
12. Cocklebur 4+
13. Careless Weed 3+
14. Mixed Shell fish 4+
There were others but less severe than these.
In other words the boy is allergic to outside, cats, Plantains (RANDOM!) and the shocker of the day SHELL FISH! Good thing I don't cook or like seafood. I haven't really thought about it, seeing that it's been only 5 hours since the test, but I have read a few things and we are going to have to watch or ask how some things are cooked or prepared in restaurants or at other places. A lot of places will use the same surfaces, oils or whatnot, and cross contamination with shrimp, crab, lobster, prawns, muscles, oysters, clams, etc, can be bad for him. I need to still wrap my head around this one.
So with these findings we now know that the most likely do-er of his misery while in Tacoma is the Cat, and the outside triggers. So now we are trying to decide the best way the manage this. Dr. J said that since he has asthma as well, the best way to control this would be shots. They would make up a specific serum with just his triggers monthly. He doesn't just want to give him meds to mask the symptoms. The shots are expensive and he won't like it, but it is the best for him.
We are just glad that we were able to get some answers, and now hopefully we can start treating him.
5 comments:
Poor Pea. But so glad this is done and now you know what you can do. He won't like the shots at first but he'll get used to them, especially if he gets a treat afterwards!!!
Wow. Poor kid. But like your ma said at least you know now how to help him. I would have cried right along with him while doing the testing. It was hard to watch L go under anesthesia before his surgery at 2 years old. When Jared gets older he'll thank you.
That is an insane amount of allergies . . . especially ones that severe. Poor kid! I'm glad you know what the problems are though and can move forward.
Poor guy! That really stinks to have so many allergies.
Oh, his poor back! Wow. So glad you know the culprits though... See you next week! :)
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