Allergic X 2

I took both the boys to the allergist yesterday for scratch tests.  Little Guy had already been scratch tested last year, but we had some confusing results recently from his blood draw {horrible experience!}, so he was scratched again.  I learned yesterday that there are six proteins one can be allergic to as a peanut allergic.  Almost all peanut allergics are allergic to one of two of these proteins.  The blood tests only test for an allergy to these two proteins, and there are no clinical tests for the other proteins, although testing is sometimes done in the course of research.  Little Guy seems to be allergic to one of those other four proteins.  Our allergist is looking into the possibility of having him tested by Johns Hopkins, where they have done some of that testing in the past.  Good news is his reaction to the scratch test was smaller than last year, so it is possible he is beginning to outgrow his allergy. That would be awesome.

This was Buddy Boy's first scratch test, and the positive result was no particular surprise after the hives ordeal he went through in December, but still upsetting.  Our allergist was concerned, as we all have been, by Buddy Boy's very strong reaction to peanut only received through breastmilk.  The last time that he broke out in hives, I had only had ice cream that had previously had peanuts on it (one of those Drumsticks, with the chocolate and peanuts all taken off).  Any peanut proteins were then broken down in digestion and diluted in the milk, and he still reacted violently.  So, as our allergist said, it's clear that he is "exquisitely sensitive to even the tiniest amounts" of peanut.  We will have to be extremely vigilant, especially once he begins eating solid foods.

I am so thankful for modern medicine.  If we lived in decades past, my boys may never have been dignosed and I couldn't have been the Epi-Pen-totin' mama that I am.  And I am even more thankful for their overall good health.  So many parents are faced with so very, very much worse.  We have been blessed.