My goal is to provide, on one website, the type of information that I was looking for after my boys got their allergies diagnosed. I am not a trained professional nurse, doctor, writer, allergist, nutritionist, or chef. I am a stay at home mother of two boys with multiple food allergies. I have a BA in History, and will use my research, knowledge and experiences to the best of my abilities to provide guidance. Everything here is solely my opinion, and you should always seek and follow professional medical advice.
My purpose in starting this was to offer help to families struggling with the daunting task of finding safe food for our children; to provide links to sites, organizations and support groups; to share recipes, reviews and products that we love. Life now is definitely more complicated because of the food allergies, but it is Manageable, Livable, and Rewarding!
Thanksgiving 2010
My oldest son, Caleb was diagnosed at 12 mos old with severe allergies to Dairy, Peanuts, ALL Tree Nuts, and nutmeg. He also has allergies to Canola, Beef, Pork, Egg, Yeast, which were just diagnosed in 2011. His latest allergy tests make us hopeful he is outgrowing all but the peanut. He will get retested, and if reactions are low-none on his next test, he will do a food challenge at the Allergist’s office. My youngest son Jacob started showing allergic reactions from about 5-7 months old. He first tested allergic to Dairy, Eggs, Peanuts, and Green Peas; then a few months later we added Wheat and Soy to the list. At 18 months old he had a RAST test done for 19 things-and had reactions to 15 of them! His allergic reactions were ~Severe to: Eggs, Peanuts, Dairy ~less severe to: Almond, Cashew, Soy, Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oat, Green Pea, Lentils, RapeSeed/Canola, and Strawberries. His latest allergy test shows reactions also to: Cat, Dog, Dust mites, Sunflower, Safflower, Flax, Sesame, and cotton seeds, Corn, Beef, Pork, Beans, [black/kidney/lima/etc]. Jacob has since been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. He also was diagnosed 9/2011 with bilateral Wilm’s tumors, [kidney cancer];(he has finished chemotherapy and is doing well).
IF you suspect your child is allergic to a food, please, make an appointment with an allergist! [If you need a referral from a physician, that can usually be handled with a phone call]. It is far better to have the facts of what you are dealing with than guessing. The best, and easiest way to know for sure -is to have an allergist do the scratch test!
Please do not hesitate to contact me with your stories, any allergens you want to see on this website, or if you’ve found allergens in surprising products. The more input from you, the better I can make this site for everyone! Thank you for visiting!~ and for your input! 
As I have stated this website is a work in progress~ If you don’t see the allergens you are interested in PLEASE let me know and I will get it added! Please come and “Like” us on Facebook, that way you can get links to great articles, products, updates, and stories; as well as updates on new posts here! You can also feel free to email us your questions or comments @ multiplefoodallergyhelp@maine.rr.com. We are also on Twitter @xFoodAllrgyhelp. Many thanks! and Best wishes!~Jenny
Great, Jenny! I wish you the best of luck, and make sure you use a lot of tags at the end of your posts so others with those issues can find your blog too.
Jenny I’m so proud of you! What a GREAT site! I imagine you will help many, many parents!!!
xoxo sarah
It was you who encouraged me and pointed me in the right direction, so THANK YOU!! ~j
Jenny, I am a mama of a one year old and we have been challenged by the introduction of foods to our little one’s diet with flare-up results of eczema. No matter what we do it seems never ending. It’s encouraging to hear your accounts and know that others are going through these same challenges. We have one confirmed “egg” allergy from a blood test when she was 4 months. But I look forward to more answers at impending Dr. visits. Thank you for your informative site.
Jessica, Have you made an appointment with an allergist? They can do a scratch test even on young children, Jacob had his first ones done at 7-8 mos old, and you will get results right away~without having to wait for the 2 weeks +/- for the blood RAST test results. Feel free to check out our FB page too, I try to put useful links and such on there as well. Good Luck at the allergists! I would love to hear back how you make out! ~Jenny
PS, I would try to have her tested for dairy too, as that is a common ingredient in infant foods, [puffs, baby foods, etc], as well as soy. Your allergist will know best; but for some reason, dairy and egg allergies seem to really aggravate eczema. ~again, Good Luck! ~Jenny
Thanks Jenny. She’s actually been on a organic dairy based formula since she was 3 days old, along with nursing (as she lost a little weight in the first days and I wasn’t producing a substantial amount). We stopped nursing at 11months – to try and help rule out anything I was eating (I had given up so much and still no difference). The formula has a little bit of soy oil in it too. Her skin is definitely better than it was, but she has good days and bad days with the eczema it leads us to believe it’s not dairy related. I’ve heard the scratch tests can be a little less accurate than the blood tests since baby skin is already so reactionary….and you can get false positives. Have you read anything about that? No allergist appointment yet, but hope to set something up at our next ped visit a few weeks from now.
I had not heard that about skin tests, I know my allergist prefers them to blood tests. The difference is that the blood test gives you the actual “numbers” of HOW allergic the reaction is by counting the antibodies I believe. While the skin test will just show if there is a reaction, and then by measuring the ‘welt’ they determine the severity of the reaction- but basically, if you are allergic to a food, you will be told to avoid it- no matter how minor or severe the reaction- Avoidance is the only prescribed “treatment”. You may be able to just call your pediatrician and request a referral to an allergist to get the appointment set up. Best of Luck!~Jenny
thanks jenny for all of your replies with helpful info. i misspoke in the previous post, according to my ped on the contrary of infant skin being too reactive, it’s not reactive enough. she said scratch tests are preferred for children 2 and up. we went through our second round of blood work. so hard to watch baby go through it, although i think it stays with me longer than it does her. thanks for your helpful site.
LOL! I agree that it is harder on us to witness it, than for them to go through it! Luckily our babies are usually quick to forgive us! I know for Jacob they had to take multiple vials of blood to test him for the 19 things we RAST tested him on! You are welcome! I am glad you found us and wish you luck!~Jenny
Hi jenny
I am so glad to have found this website some where i can read on and find out how you and other parents deal with their child’s allergies. My 5 year old son recently tested positive for tree nuts and sesame seeds and tested negative for peanuts. Although the Allergist said to completely avoid peanuts because there is a 20% chance he may develop an allergy.
My Nathaniel Has never ingested a nut nor peanut due to his Pickyness (which I am NOW EXTREMELY grateful for). We found out by my eating habits of Pecans and hazelnuts, etc and then kissing him. It took me about 3-4 months to put it all together. After couple of visits to my now Ex-Pedo and explaining to her his reactions to my nut eating habits she said to me “we may never know why he gets hives and swelling around the lips and eyes, I’ll order a Child profile allergy test” After an agonizing almost 2 weeks The test ended up being for cat dander, ragweed etc.. without my knowing(I HAVE no cats and if im not mistaken ragweed season is in the fall it was the beginning of spring 2011). She NEVER ordered the nuts test. Naturally I was furious and Fired (switched Pedos) her, after getting no info especially after I strongly requested he get tested for peanuts (at that time not knowing there was a difference between peanuts and tree nut allergies). I called my current allergist (coworker- referral) and made an appointment immediately. He was tested immediately, and as you now know it was positive. He said the numbers were high so it is severe. He was prescribed the Epi-Pen.
It has been almost 1 week and I am the Tree nut/peanut police… I have so many questions and worries and that is why Id like any input from you. I dont care if people (including my very calm husband) think Im crazy or over reacting or over thinking this, I will do anything to keep my child safe as you and your readers do.
Thank you again for putting this website.
Lauralina
You are SO welcome! I am glad you found us too! I hear from so many people, and even my own experiences, who have had their concerns regarding their children’s allergies cavalierly dismissed~ it is SO frustrating! You certainly did the right thing by taking it seriously and taking action!~not impassively going along with it assuming the doctor knew best. Good for you! My youngest has so many more allergies than Caleb, that his seem easy to manage now! Be assured you are not over reacting OR being crazy! You will have to educate and advocate for your son- luckily there is a lot of help available for that! Read through what is here, and feel free to email me if you have other questions, concerns, or allergens you don’t find addressed, and I will try to help! ~Jenny
Jenny,
I came across your site today and was shocked that another parent was going through what I have been for the past 8 years. My son is allergic to almost everything , foods and outdoors.
Thank you for taking the time to post this, I am sure it will be a huge help to a lot of first time parents dealing with this.
Wendi
We sound so similar! I have two boys with multiple food allergies as well. The only difference is we have been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Which we found out they inherited from daddy. I’ve only read this page so far but I can’t wait to read more! I think I see a possible mom I can lean on!
Thank you so much for your comments! Be sure to come “Like” our Facebook page as well, I try to put current articles and interesting tidbits there! I agree, that having the support from other FA families really helps in dealing with the same issues and problems we all face. Best to you! I am glad you found us! Sincerely, Jenny
This is a GREAT site! Whether you realize it or not- you will be helping many people with multiple allergies- including adults! Thank you for putting the time and effort into it and sharing what you have learned.
That was my hope! I am glad you like the information I have here! I really appreciate the feedback! Best to you! ~Jenny
Hi.
just though i would add my story. we have four children and our third child, is the one who draw the short straw and got the allergies. He is now 15, and has multiple food and environmental allergies.
He is a allergic march child and showed the common 3 symptoms of food allergy in a breastfed baby under three months old. So far we have only used the epi pen three times.
his allergy list at 2 -4 yrs was,
peanut
tree nut
beans
egg
dog
cat
kiwi fruit
dustmite
tree pollen
hay fever.
7-10yrs
peanut
outgrew tree nut
outgrew cooked egg at 7
outgrew raw egg at 10
beans
kiwi
yeast extract
cat
dog
outgrew hay fever
tree pollen
dustmite
12yrs to date.
peanut
beans
re-developed raw egg allergy 12
re-developed cooked egg at 15
yeast extract
kiwi fruit
redeveloped hay fever.
mold
tree pollen
dog, cat, dustmite.
unknown allergen still being investigated.
you never stop learning about allergies.
Dear Jenny,
My daughter is now 13 years old and is finding her allergy to nuts and seeds, esp seseme seeds a real burden. She’s finding the whole thing emotionally draining. Recently, on a school trip out her school classmates mocked for not getting off the school bus to get ice cream. This place has seseme seed buns so I could understand her point of view. The girls went on to say that they wondered what it would be like if they put a seseme seed bun in my daughters blazer pocket to see what would happen.
My daughters allergy problems are stopping her for wanting to go out with her friends and family. She needs to speak to other children with the same difficulties. Also, how can I make her classmates and school more aware of the seriousness of this issue.
I want to commend your daughter for taking her allergies seriously, and not giving into peer pressure! I would be arranging to speak to the principal about this issue, and what happened on the field trip. What those girls were doing is bullying, and threatening; and it is inexcusable! I would like to post your comment onto our Facebook page, so some other food allergy moms can lend their thoughts to this as well. You bring up some important issues. Some comments from there include: “From a legal standpoint, what they’re doing could be assault (yes, even just threats). I would retain an attorney or ask for your district’s legal department. The supervising adults have responsibility too.” “1. Does your daughter have a comprehensive IHCP and 504 plan? Field trips must accommodate her disability. Therefore, no visiting ice cream unless she can partake in it too. This has to be planned prior to the permission slips sent home.
2. I would report the incident to the school (girls saying they want to put sesame buns in her pocket). At this age group, I think it’s ok to remind them that this is considered assault and can be punishable by law. Refer the school to the Wash. case where a teen in school smeared peanut butter on the forehead of a known peanut allergic student and was arrested and jailed.
3. Request that the counselor does disability sensitivity classes for the students. It’s obvious it’s needed.
All these measures (and there can be more but all I can think of off top of my head) can reduce the incidents of disability harassment and bullying by peers when she can equally access activities as those w/out disabilities. They will then look at her as no different than them. It’s when our kids are socially isolated, they become targets of bullying and this can result in risk taking behaviors like not carrying an Epipen or even trying to eat foods containing allergens just to fit in.” Please visit our Facebook page to see some other great tips and advice!~ Sincerely, Jenny
Hi
I have just come across your site as I was looking up allergy to oil. My son Jacob is my 4th child. Three out of four children have allergies but Jacob has more than 40 diagnosed. His allergies to date include all nuts, coconut, seasame, chickpea, wheat, buckwheat, rye, barley. oats, corn, soy, rice, potato, milk, egg, most seafood, beef, lamb, chicken, pork, latex and all the environmental ones. The eczema is a constant battle. He has been prescribed antibiotics for 30 weeks (he is 26 months old.) already! I have to bake everything for him using millet, tapioca, amaranth and quinoa. He eats rabbit, venison, ostrich and kangaroo. We are looking at restricting his diet further as RAST tests are not available for his unusual diet. I am however optimistic that my son will have a normal life and one day he will sleep through the night in his own bed. I look forward to reading the information on your site.
Kind Regards
Ann
My heart breaks for your son and what you are trying to cope with! I can definitely relate as my Jacob and I are facing a similar situation- it is maddening! It seems every time we adjust his diet- he develops an allergy to it- I just pray that we outgrow some of these- any of them would greatly increase dietary options! Best to you and your family!~Jenny
Your site is wonderful. I’ve had atopic conditions (eczema, asthma, rhinitis) and multiple allergies (eggs, dairy, shellfish, nuts) since I was young and I admire the support that you’ve created for your family and others with allergies. My only comment is that I have certainly lived a “normal”-ish life with multiple allergies and more; so, I’m certain your children will. I’ve successfully lived with a non-food allergic family and various roommates, too. That said, your health is just as important as your childrens’; so, when if you’re comfortable, I hope you resume your dates (ice cream or other) with your husband.
I’m 17 with multiple food allergies and very glad to hear that you successfully livved with roommates; one less college worry.
Dear Jenny,
I found your site thanks to circle of moms. My 13 month old was diginosed with food allergies shortely before his first birthday. He is allergic to peanuts, tree nute, peas, sweet potatos, dairy, and eggs. We found out about his allergies beause he has had eczema since 6 weeks of age and I breast feed him. It wasent till I switched dermatoligest that we were refered to an allergist. I have never delt with food allergies before and have been a bit lost and overwelmed. I was recommended to the FAAN web sight by my allergist and have been serching for information. I just finished reading “The Parent’s Guide to Food Allergies” By Marianne S. Barber. I found this book at my local libary and look forward to reading some of the other that are avaible their. Because he has only gotten these foods through breast feeding the only reaction I have seen is the eczema and Have no Idea how he will react to them espeacely the peanuts and am a bit fearful to ever find out. The allergest did perscribe an Epi-pen though. Thanks for all your hard work and I look forward to reading more of your sight.
Charity
I am glad you found us too! Another great book is called ‘Managing your Childs Life Threatening Allergies by Linda Coss- It is a GREAT resource! It is recommended that you do NOT feed your child peanuts until the age of 3- but I would recommend having an annual allergy test done, and when the tests indicate- do a food challenge at the allergists office- Never try one at home! I am very happy you found us and hope the information here helps you navigate finding safe foods for your baby! Best of luck to you both! ~Jenny
where can I find the book? my libary dosen’t carry it an neither does books a million?
Go here, she also has 2 cookbooks written!~ Hope they help you! ~Jenny http://www.foodallergybooks.com/order.htm
jenny, im glad i found this, but it is very overwhelming… my 12month old is battleing servere eczema and just got allergy test back, was wondering: should i avoid everything that came back, even if the score was”low” according to the doc, and should i request a prescribed pen for him since he tested high for eggs…also should i request more foods to be tested, i mean did they only do the 8 they gave results for… im so at a loss for what to feed him, do u have any suggestions or resources i could get on baby food and snacks…. he just suffers and cries and itches all night and day, hes hungry all the time, not sure what to do, but i do think if i can get the food under control it will help the eczema….. and where would i get info on what to substitute the egg,wheat,soy…. would really appreciate any advice….
You can check my links for the suggestions for eggs, soy, wheat substitutions and safe products. You can try the gluten-free rice chex, or corn chex for finger foods, We did some of the Happy Baby foil packs of baby food. There was little in the baby/toddler finger foods that was safe. It sounds like maybe a broader food allergen test may be needed. Be sure to write down a list of foods you suspect. Don’t try giving a new food at night- in case of a reaction. I hope that by removing the egg from his diet that his eczema will improve. You can also try bleach baths to help soothe eczema~ http://pediatrics.about.com/od/dermatologytopics/ht/109_bleach_bath.htm or check out http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eczema-bleach-bath/AN02003 I hope this helps a bit! ~Jenny
Hi Jenny
I came across your site while when I was searching for answers to my son’s food sensitivities which, he has TONS! He had and op last month to remove mucous build up in his ears and nasal and till today, he’s still not completely cured. We did a food test and discovered that he is allergic to almost everything. Its a long story but to cut the chase, I want to ask if there’s a possibility that he may also be allergic to foods that showed up as negative during the test.
I have been giving him all the ‘safe’ food but he still has stuffy nose after that. Any help here will be most appreciated.
It depends on what kind of test he had done- it is my understanding that IF he had a negative reaction on a skin test- that that is 95% accurate that he won’t have a reaction- bear in mind that I am NOT a medical professional- so this my interpretation from my meeting with my allergist yesterday- If it was a negative on a RAST test- that could be a false-negative~meaning he could still be allergic. Have you talked to your doctor about the possibility of EE/ or some other diagnosis -just wondering about the mucus and inflammation you are trying to sort out too- might be a symptom- along with the multiple food reactions. I hope you get some answers! it is SO frustrating NOT knowing! ~good luck! Jenny
My son has had food allergies since infancy and is now 22. Outgrew dairy, but at 5 developed
tree nut allergy and at 20 developed a sesame allergy. At 22 allergic to cat too. RAST tests are fine if they are negative, but they can go positive in the blink of an eye. Skin tests are more accurate but sometimes he managed to have a positive test to saline (the control, that nobody is supposed to react to). He has had numerous double blind challenges over the years. Has been cleared to eat sesame and then went into anaphylaxsis eating hummus after years of eating sesame. The bottom line is allergy is still a science in it’s infancy. Though allergists try ( and I confess I am a pediatrician) they just don’t have all the science down. The immune system is very complicated and though research is progressing they are just not there yet to explain all that goes on. Take heart I know many kids outgrow some food allergies. It probably won’t
always be such a long list. Just be aware that what’s gone today, may still come back….
Hey I’m looking for a letter or input on a letter to the nursury workers at my church. I printed your letter to school and clasmates just dind’t know if you had any suggestions for a church and it’s nursury. Any input would be apperichated. Just a review my son is 14 months old is allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. Thanks again. Sincerly Charity
Your website is very helpful. I am allergic to corn too.
My 17 year old daughter is severely allergic to all animal milk. She’s also allergic to gluten and has sensitivities to eggs, soy and beef. She is a wonderful young woman despite or because of her “disability.” I’ve decided to classify her severe allergy as disability because she is prevented from eating, an act that is necessary in order to live.
Anyway… I was wondering if you considered the idea that the vitamins (D, Niacin, Riboflavin, etc) that our food and drug administration require to be added to our flour and milk very likely are derived from corn. As with many things corn, it’s sort of murky. But I think it’s important that people who are trying to avoid corn be aware of this possibility.
Take care of your little ones.
Rachel
Hi there!
I love your blog! You’ve got a lot of really good information. Solid stuff!
So, I was wondering… I didn’t see any amine allergy resources on your blogroll.
That’s what I’ve been diagnosed with, and in the process of learning what it is and how to eat on a low amine diet, I have worked hard to create a network of helpful sites to connect allergy sites to other allergy sites. It seems like a lot of people that have one allergy also have one or more other allergies.
I love what you’ve put together here – there are some helpful tools here. I’ve got a few of my own on my blog, too.
Low Amine Recipes
http://aminerecipes.com
I wonder if you would mind linking to my blog? I’m hoping that by connecting allergy blogs to one another, we’ll be able to help our readership even more in the long run.
Keep up the great work (good luck in the contest)!
- Michelle Ferris
Low Amine Recipes
http://aminerecipes.com
We love your site! We are mostly gluten- and diary-free, but we also make an effort to provide for those with multiple and “uncommon” allergies. Your blog is a great resource for many of our customers with multiple and severe food allergies–may I post a link to it from our blog? Please keep up with all the great advice!
Thank you! Yes it would be fine to share my site with those who can find it useful! I appreciate your support and input!- Sincerely, Jenny
I came across your site purely by accident. I was looking for information on the ingredients of Garam Masala to see if it had seeds in it like sesame. My son has peanut, tree nut and sesame allergies. It is hard when trying to make new recipes when it includes an ingredient that you never heard of. Research, research, research. I did not find what I was looking for on your site but you do seem to have good information, thank you.
As far as I know it shouldn’t have sesame. But you can make your own Garam masala, which is only clove, cinnamon and bay leaf, I think. You will be safer.
Thank you for posting this information! It is astounding to hear about all of these cases of children with allergies! It helps to know that there are so many resources now.
My son, Benjamin, is newly 17months and just this past Monday found out that he has an allergy to peas. Back in September, we had a scratch test done & found out that he had an allergy to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts & poultry. We were referred to an allergist after Ben having problems eating solid foods. It seemed that almost every time we would give him anything he would reject it, spit it out or just spit up. It was so frustrating as a new mom seeing your child go through this. They of course don’t know what is going on nor can they communicate with you. But we had a swallow study done & he was diagnosed with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) & we began seeing a speech therapist & a nutritionist.
We are still struggling to get our little guy to eat larger quantities of food & drink. He hasn’t gained weight in a while just has maintained. He is meeting his milestones but the nutritionist is concerned now without him gaining any weight recently. Any suggestions on how to get my little one to eat more? Thank goodness I am still breastfeeding because that is his main source of nutrition. I too have eliminated all offending foods from my diet.
Thank you!!
You are welcome! I am glad you found us!~ I am glad you have been actively seeking medical professionals to help you with your baby boy; and that you are still nursing as well!~ I had planned to stop nursing Jacob when he turned 1- but ended up nursing him until he was about 21 months!~ He was going through surgeries and other issues, so I didn’t want to take that away from him. Are they having you use any prescription formulas like Ele-Care? I think in your case- well first- continue to follow the medical professionals involved with your son; then perhaps trying to make sure what you do offer is nutrient dense. Smoothies may be a good option to try. We like to use the little tinfoil babyfood packets- HappyTot Organic Babyfood, for an easy to-go food. They are nice because he can self feed- [just suck out the food, especially convenient in the car!], and you can just throw a few in your purse etc. I feel rather inadequately prepared to answer your questions as I am not medically trained. I really wish you good luck Christina, it sounds like you are doing a great job already!~ Best Wishes, Jenny
Thank you so much for your response! Yes, we did try Ele-care but unfortunately Ben refused to drink that as well. Now we are trying a Neocate supplement drink but it hasn’t been too successful so far. The nutritionist was hoping to get him to drink up to 8 oz per day which would be fantastic but he barely was drinking 4 oz of rice milk on a daily basis so I thought it was a little too ambitious to hope for that.
I will definitely look into those items you suggested I am willing to try any safe option at this point. Are those items found in any grocery store?
I don’t mind him breastfeeding at all. It has been a lifesaver to say the least. I wonder if he almost prefers to breastfeed more often because he knows it is safe and doesn’t bother his stomach or anything else? I have heard that nothing is more superior than breastmilk & as long as he is meeting his milestones he should be ok. I am hoping that is true.
Thank you again for your help.
Just a thought- if you can get some of the Ele-Care that is the unflavored variety- I used to mix it with juice- which my son was more eager to drink- or you could possible try pumping and mixing some with breast milk? Even if you start only mixing a small amount in at first then slowly increasing it.~Just a thought! You be able to mix a bit in with babyfood too- bananas or one of the sweet ones? I find those foil babyfoods at BJs, the grocery stores, and at Walmart- Do check the ingredients to make sure they are safe-[I know a couple had peas-so they were out]. Best~ Jenny
Thanks again! I will definitely give those ideas a try! It helps to speak with other moms who are dealing with similar issues
take care!
Hi Jenny. I almost died from an anaphylactic attack 35 months ago and the cause was salicylates. I would like to share my story with you:
http://therighttobealive.blogspot.com/2011/09/day-i-met-death.html
I wish you all the best!
Evelyn
Hi Jenny,
I just found your site because I am researching mustard allergy. My 20 month old daughter Lucy is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and mustard. We are also pretty sure she is allergic to canola oil even though my allergist said he did not think that was possible since it is so refined. We are due for more testing but because she is so young and her veins are so small they couldn’t get much blood. It has been a huge lifestyle change and now that she has multiple food allergies I feel even more isolated. People understand peanut allergies but when you start to mention canola oil they glaze over with a look of disbelief. I am wondering if you have found any good products that are canola oil free? Is Caleb allergic to mustard too? I would love to find a mustard free ketchup and mayo. Thanks for your site it is really helpful.
Emmy
Sorry it took me a bit to respond Emmy, I love spectrum shortening for baking, and I find sunflower oil at Walmart, but there are very few processed foods that are not made with canola or something else we are allergic to! You can check my canola oil page http://multiplefoodallergyhelp.com/less-common-allergens/canola-allergy-2/ for some other suggestions! Neither of my boys are allergic to mustard [that I am aware of] but I had a friend & her father who were- that was why I included it here~ You can have a scratch test done to test your daughters allergies, they can be done on young children, and really are not awful [it looks worse than it is!] and you can bring some canola oil if they don’t have any there to use in the test- they can just use what you bring in~ [I have had to do this]. Good luck!~ Jenny
Have you ever had one of your children react to something that they have already had numerous times before that they have not reacted from previously?
My son has only had skin prick testing and the things that he had strong reactions from in the test he has already eaten before with no reactions. He was on soy milk from 9 months old after I finished breast feeding and then when he turned two I changed him to normal cows milk as he was having little portions of cows milk when eating from our bowls of cereal and things like that. He wasnt getting any reaction from it until today, 2 months later. And his reaction from it is by far the worst he has ever had from anything before. After his first morning milk, he got massive welts on his face and two huge bumps on his scalp on either side, and within an hour there were welts on his neck and a few on his legs arms and chest. After a dose of his antihistamine it settled and went red and al the big welts sort of blended together. Then in the afternoon he had another milk and broke out with welts that almost covered his whole back n half his chest. No extra ones developed on his arms face or legs. Before today, his usual reactions were only little welts near his mouth and chin and a swollen mouth.
It definitely sounds like your child has developed a severe dairy allergy! At this time please stop feeding any form of dairy and book an appointment as soon as you can with your allergist! Allergies can form at any time, and each subsequent exposure can trigger more severe reactions. Good luck at the appointment! I would love to hear how you make out! Sincerely, Jenny
Thank you Jenny. Yes I have definately stopped giving him dairy products for now. I took him to the GP today as his face is still abit swollen and he has red blotches all over his body from where the welts were. The doctor then advised me to take him straight to the emergency deparent at the hospital. They did a thorough examination, but as his airways were all clear, we were sent home. I am happy to leave it at that for now, but will definately be booking him in to get a more extensive allergy test done very soon. Thank you for your response
Finding this website is a true blessing! Just knowing that I can go somewhere to talk to other parents that experience life the way we do is such a relief. Being able to share stories and possibly help one another is wonderful! My son was diagnosed with severe food allergies at the age of 9 months after being in and out of the ER weekly, sometimes daily from the ripe old age of 5 months and on! He has anaphylactic reactions to beef,pork, milk, eggs, whey, casein, white potatoes, green peas, watermelon, apricots, peanuts and all tree nuts (cashews, pecans, almonds, etc). As you all know very well, life is already scary enough, add something like this into the mix and you stay on pins and needles day in and day out! My son is now 4 and nothing has changed, he hasnt lost any allergies, although we hold onto the hope every Oct at his yearly allergy testing that he will. Let me just point out, that with Paxten’s very first reaction it was runny nose, watery itchy eyes and we did take him to the Dr. We were told it was a cold and this went on and on for months, until he finally had that first anaphylactic reaction and was rushed to the ER. Being allergic to so many things, and never really even hearing much about food allergies back then we had no idea what was going on, and apparently neither did our local ER’s, Pediatricians and Specialty Drs. Once, Food Allergies were pinpointed, our local Allergist insisted that testing could not be done until the child was at least 1 years old…however, he could not wait this long so we struck out and went out of town to a pediactric allergist who tested that day. Since then his reactions have been few and far between (Thank God), but every now and then (we think) due to cross contamination at factories, etc he will have one. May God be with Paxten and all of your kids as well as they grow and try to figure this allergy thing out!
This is a great site!! Thank you! My son has recently been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and is allergic to milk, eggs, wheat, soy, beef, pork, chicken, rice, oats, apple, and coconut. We’ve known about his milk and egg allergies for more than a year (he’s anaphylactic to those) but it seems like every 3 months or so we add something new to the list. It gets difficult sometimes trying to work around so many allergies. I have a blog (livingwhilelivingwithout.blogspot.com) with lots of recipes free of his allergies and most are also free of nuts, fish, fruits, etc.
Hi Abby! I was reading your comment & I have to say that I am sorry that you too have to struggle with a child & their multiple food allergies. My son has a lot of the same allergies that your son has as well as a few others…it can be frustrating.
I was wondering how your son was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis? Were there signs & symptoms that lead your dr to that conclusion or did you have to ask for him to be tested? I ask because the nutritionist we see brought up the posibility of my son having it but wasn’t sure & I kind of shrugged it off since neither our allergist or pediatrician said anything about it. My son hasn’t gained weight (just has maintained) for the last 6-7 months…was just wondering some insight if possible. Thank you!
Hi Christina! Well to jump right in to how we got the diagnosis, my son since about 8 months old has hard a hard time eating solids. He would take a few bites, look like he wanted more, but then start crying and throw himself back, then he would come right back for more. It was very strange and we were told by his occupational therapist (my son is also developmentally delayed) that he just didn’t like textures, told by friends and family that he was just being picky and a brat (!), and told by a speech therpaist that his problem was that he didn’t know how to chew properly. But it got to the point that it was obvious he was in pain, so I finally asked the pediatrician about it and he ordered a barium swallow to see if reflux was a problem. That showed nothing but I continued to push him to help find an answer and he referred us to a GI. The GI suspected EoE because it’s a common issue with kiddos who are known to have lots of allergies, so he ordered an endoscopy and at that point he was able to see the tell tale furrows and the biopsies revealed 25 eosinophils (more than 15 and the exclusion of reflux is a possitive EoE diagnosis). Even with treatment and a restricted diet, his eosniophil count last time was over 200 and his esophagus is now damaged so he’s classified as “extreme”. Not gaining weight and having lots of food allergies are I think reasons enough to ask for a GI referral. Some kids feel pain, others do not. Also depending on age, the symptoms can be different. Infants and toddlers usually throw up alot, children often have chest and stomach pain and have difficulty gaining or maintaining weight, and older kids and adults often choke or have trouble swallowing. My son is almost 3 and his only real symptoms have been pain while eating and trouble gaining weight. But anyone can have any of those or other symptoms (i’ve even heard some have migraines!), and some have none. If it is left untreated for too long it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus, so it’s worth looking into even just to rule it out!
Wow! That sounds like such a traumatic experience for you & your son! It unfortunately also sounds familiar to what we have been going through these last few months. Thank you for sharing your story.
We started my son on solids later than usual due to extreme case of eczema so at about 8 months is when we started. Ever since that time he struggled with eating anything crying, tight lipped, throwing up, gagging you name it. Other family members also said oh he is just a picky eater he will grow out of it but I knew something was not right. So my pediatrician ordered a swallow study where they detected dysphagia & gave us a thickener. He refused that also. Then we were referred to a speech therapist also to help retrain his swallowing-the thought was since he started solids so late that is why he was having a hard time swallowing now. We also had a nutritionist/dietician in on our visits. They suggested getting a food allergy test. So we had a scratch test done & found out that he was allergic to dairy, eggs, poultry, peanuts & tree nuts. About 4 months later we found out that he was also allergic to peas, durum wheat & semolina wheat found in pasta & some breads. He still does not eat large quantities of food & the nutritionist is pushing a supplement even though he refuses that also. I am still breastfeeding as it is his safe haven. It is also his nutrition. The nutritionist thought that he may not be eating a lot because I was breastfeeding but I don’t think that is necessarily the problem. I will bring up what the possibility is that my son may have eosinophilic esophagitis. I just don’t want to be complacent thinking that it is just food allergies that is preventing him from eating larger quantities of food. Thank you again for your time. Thoughts are with you & your family.
@Christina, here’s a video I took to show the doctor. This was before we knew he was allergic to wheat, and he’s eating whole wheat pasta. This was it at it’s very worst before I finally decided this was a medical issue I needed to pursue and not just a case of picky eating. I feel horrible I let it get this bad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75lMxGwqWdE&feature=g-upl&context=G234173dAUAAAAAAAAAA
I also pumped breastmilk for my son after our youngest was born (they are 18 months apart) to help him with extra nutrition. It was a struggle to switch him over but he eventually started to take amino acid based formulas (Elecare Jr. and Neocate Jr.) and is finally gaining weight. Please feel free to email me machinfamily318@yahoo.com anytime!
@Jenny, thank you so much for those links!! I’m so glad you were able to find out about Jacob’s condition before it did any damage!
It is really heartbreaking seeing the video- but very smart to have in order to show the Doctors!~ I started taking pictures of my boys with every reaction to be able to show what exactly I was seeing- it’s one thing to say- he got a rash after eating peas, its quite another when you SEE it!
Thank you very much for sharing!~ Jenny
That video was heart breaking to see. I am so sorry that you & your son have to go through that.
I wanted to let you know that from your testimony it encouraged me to talk with my pediatrician & we got an appt with a GI dr to get some more answers. Thank you for your bravery! If we aren’t advocates for our children who will?
Hope that things will get easier as time goes on.
Thanks again!
So glad you are searching for more answers for your son!! Good luck!!! *hugs*
Hi ladies, My son Jacob had very few symptoms, aside from the multiple food allergies. He did have a few instances of regurgitating small [tbsn amts] of food; but really had no other obvious signs. I pushed for him to get a GI scope, and it was our oncologist who was able to really insist it be done. I definitely would talk to your Pediatrician and get the test ordered. If nothing else to rule it out~ My doctors were all stunned that Jacob DID have it- Trust your instincts! My older son is getting a GI scope done next month, and Jacob will be rechecked on the same day!~ I am looking forward to the results! I will be posting on that as soon as I get the results!
You both may also like to check out these two other blogs, by moms of EoE/Food Allergic children~ Living the Allergy Life: http://livingtheallergylife.wordpress.com/, and Frugal Food Allergies: http://frugalfoodallergies.com/
I’m very excited to have stumbled across this site in my quest for solutions for multiple allergy kids. Most sites only focus on one or two allergies and not multiple. My son was diagnosed at an early age of 4 months with a few allergies including peanut, but began to significantly grow in number as he got older…now at 16months we’ve just had a repeat RAST test to discover he’s allergic to dairy, soy, peanuts, wheat, corn, peas, Lima beans, coconut, rice, banana, walnuts, cats and dogs. We’ll need to go back and test for even more now…how did you know to test for things like white potato/nutmeg, etc…was it more extensive testing or you suspected it in their diet? My head is spinning now that his diet is limited even further by the addition of wheat and corn to his list of known allergies. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone though and will figure a way through it!
Gina
Hi,
Your website is very helpful. I have been nursing my daughter and she had eczema since she was 3 months old. We did not find out that she was allergic to soy until I ate tofu one day and her entire face swelled up. Just today I gave her a small spoon of peas and she turned red again. I was not aware that peas can also be allergic. thank you so much for your information
Sorry that you & your little one are experiencing food allergies too! Yes, to our surprise too peas are in the same family with peanuts along with soy & other legumes. So be very cautious with those food items or at least until you get some allergy tests done. My son suffers with several food allergies as well & peas are definitely one of the culprits. Good luck to you!
Hi
I have found your website very helpful but was wondering if you could help me a liitle more! Last year we found out my son has a severe pea allergy, also has mild-moderate allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, soya beans, cod and almonds. 4 weeks ago he was at nursery and the staff had to use epipen as he had picked a lentil up and had a major reaction, iv taken him back for more blood tests to see if any of the listed above have changed severity and to be tested for lentils (which i still await the results) today we went to a health food shop and spent absolutely ages looking at every label to ensure i wasnt buying anything he has allergies too. when i got home and gave him malt loaf and some seasame sticks which i thought would be fine!!! he started crying telling me he couldnt swallow it which then resulted in his lip swelling dramatically, luckily piriton worked and i didnt have to use epipen! do you know if there is any known relation in legumes and seasame? im 99.9% sure the lentils test will come back positive so im thinking perhaps im best to stay away from all legumes? it just seems never ending and im worried he wont get the nutritional intake that he needs. Im waiting now for an appointment with paediatrition to come through but dont know what i can feed him in the meantime!!!
The doctor today said to give him piriton everyday to de-sensitise him to things but i dont want to give him med every day, is this just a cop out on the doctors half because he didnt know what to say??
many thanks for listening to me go on
Billie xx
Hi Billie,
I know that the peas, lentils, soy, peanuts, beans, peas, and licorice are all in the Legume family. There are reports of sesame cross reacting with “hazelnut, kiwi, cashew, poppyseed, walnut and peanut*” so you may want to expand the scratch testing to include these foods. Sesame is not an uncommon allergen, it is referred to as the “peanut allergy of the Middle East*”. It is in the top 8 allergens of Israel and Australia according to Paul Hannaway’s Nature of Food Allergy** book. It is what makes Tahini, used in hummus, also very common in bakeries, and restaurants, [think the McDonald's hamburger buns]; so be very cautious about cross contamination! Be careful with pea and lentil allergies because many allergen friendly foods use pea flour in them, such as: Bob’s Red Mill baking mix, OrGran products, Daiya cheese. I don’t know about Piriton, as I am not a doctor; but never heard of taking medicine to de-sensitize to an allergen like that. Was that your regular pediatrician or your allergist? Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion or switch doctors if you really are not happy with your current ones. Remember any allergic reaction can become serious!~ A mild reaction can be a preview that a more serious one can happen, as the body is already reacting! Also, a scratch test is going to be more accurate than a blood [RAST] test; as the blood tests can give false positives. Always carry your Epi-pens, and please be careful of cross contamination! I wish you luck! Sincerely, Jenny
Hi Jenny
Thank you so much for replying so quick!
It was G.P who recommended piriton on a daily basis, I refused to go ahead with it and said I wanted to be referred back to the hospital, which i am waiting an appointment for.
Yesterday i received Dylan’s results back for Peanuts, tree nuts and cod all which seem to have gone down from original tests Jan 2011, he is now only grade 1 in all of these, Do you think I should still avoid these in his diet?
I don’t mean to come across thick but could you just explain to me the cross contamination and cross reacting you speak about.
Many thanks
Billie xx
Hi Billie, As they they say “There are no dumb questions!” Definitely still avoid the foods that he has shown reactions too~ You should not attempt to have him eat them unless it is at an allergists office on a food trial, after a scratch test confirms no reaction. Cross contamination happens when foods or surfaces have residue of the allergen food on them. Example would be making sandwiches, if you use peanut butter, then the jelly, your container of jelly now has PB residue in it. If you then make toast and use the jelly for your peanut allergic child, there is a a likely chance he will have a reaction from the contaminated jelly. Another example is a tray of mixed donuts at a bakery, they all end up with colored sprinkles on them. Cross reactivity refers to the close relationship of some foods and pollen, all in the same family. Our immune system can react to like foods, such as tree nuts, bananas and latex; or nightshade plants [tomato, potato,eggplant, peppers]; or the Legume family, [peanuts, peas, beans, soy, lentil, licorice]; because of their similar structure. That is why It is a good idea to have scratch testing done to include those foods that are related to known allergies, to make sure you have a complete picture of the allergens to avoid; so you don’t have a reaction. Your body can show high or low reactions to foods, especially confusing when the offending foods have been removed from the diet~ but any reaction to a food equals the medical advice to avoid said food. That is the only way to avoid a potentially deadly reaction. Even if only mild reactions have been noted, that is actually a warning that you can be at higher risk for a severe reaction to the offending food; since your body already identifies it as ‘bad’. I know a girl who showed no reaction on the RAST test, passed a scratch test; but reacted when she had her food trial. That is why it is best to do these at a Drs office, under medical supervision. I hope that helps clarify things! ~Jenny
Jenny,
your story has brought tears to my eyes. I want to support you in every way possible,
please join my linkedin allergies page:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4383107&trk=hb_side_g
and please send your postal address (shop@premaeskincare.com) so I can post your sons samples our Award nominated Cemensy Range from my 100% Allergy-free brand, Premae Skincare http://www.premaeskincare.com
I have been a survivor for 8yrs : wheat, dairy, gluten and yeast (candida albican) which is why i created the brand. The world has no idea what daily trauma’s allergy sufferers face. We are often seen as ‘fussy’ and ‘attention seekers’. It is real and we must educate each other and share information. You humbily state that you are not a medical practitioner. YOU ARE! Yes, you may not have went to university and studied it, but LIFE is the biggest teacher, and you have graduated through your sons expriences.
Lots of irritation-free hugs,
Clare Eluka
Owner
Premae Skincare
@premae_clare
@premaeskincare
I have begun treatment for food allergies as an older adult. The doctor is starting to give me shots called Sequenced Amino Acid Modulators. It may be something you can try out for your children. I seem to be allergic to almost all foods, but didn’t have the allergy problems until my teens or twenties. The allergies have kept getting worse.. It is sad to read about all the problems your young children have. My children developed some problems, but not so much as babies. And my grandchildren have some food problems, too.
I have never heard of “Sequenced Amino Acid Modulator” shots to treat allergies! I don’t think it would be something for our particular case. Most research shows that food avoidance is the only option, along with use of Epi-pen or Benedryl in case of exposure. I will have to research this more before I can form an opinion! From what I can see this is an Holistic medicinal approach to treating autoimmune diseases. I am a bit skeptical of that, only because if the treatments work, it would be called ‘medicine’~ and everyone would be receiving it. If it is working for you then that is great!~ as I said, I have never heard of this before. They say we learn something new everyday! Thanks for sharing! ~Jenny
I stumbled upon this website in my desperate search for help. I am the mother of a 17 month old sweet little boy who loves to eat. His skin test results came back with allergies to egg, soy, wheat, milk, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts. He has tolerated wheat and milk in the past, So the Dr said ok to continue those. He has a long history of daily hives, Some times very random. I had such a scary experience 2 weeks ago. After I fed him lunch, of which all labels were read and approved, he experience stridor immediately after eating. I am a nurse, but apparently I panick when it comes to my child. I feel desolate. I feel like I can’t give my child anything to eat without fear. I am constantly looking at him, checking him, listening to his breathing. Every second on edge that he is a little raspy. I know if it came down to him not being able to breathe I could administer his epipen. It breaks my heart though. I know it sounds obsessive, but I think anyone who has a child who has the potential to have such a severe reaction wouldn’t even want to let them out of their sight. The nurse at the allergist office didn’t really understand why I felt so upset with this diagnosis. Just feed him meats and fresh fruits and vegetables. Its true, it sounds so easy and I will have to find a way to do it…. I need ideas…I am an awful cook and on top of that I am the kind of person who cannot think of food until they are hungry. It doesn’t even occur to me that I would need to do hours of preparation for a meal. And of course by the time we are hungry you don’t want to spend hours preparing something. As I write this I realize it is so ridiculous, but sadly its true. Any suggestions or comments or personal experiences are appreciated. Thanks Brandy
Hi Brandy, I am puzzled why your Dr would allow you to continue Dairy and wheat, when your child is having reactions to those and most other of the top 8 allergens!~ was this a pediatric allergist or a regular Dr.? If it was my child, I would eliminate those from his diet as well. I know it seems overwhelming, but there are so many products available that will help you through this!~ Off the top brands to try- So Delicious Vanilla Coconut milk, Gluten Free Rice Chex & Rice Crispies; Absolutely order the Cybele Pascal Bakers Handbook, as you can make cookies, cakes, breads, [I make double batches of her 'dinner rolls' and freeze to use for Jacob]. Enjoy Life brand cereals, cookies, and chocolate are all safe for your allergen list; Tinkyada brand rice pastas, Sunbutter. You will be able to do this, you will adapt to the new lifestyle of pre-making allergen safe foods, for the health and well being of your child. The peace of mind it will bring knowing you made food that is safe and won’t cause a reaction- is the BEST reward! You CAN do this! Read through what I have here on the site, and feel free to email me if you need more help. multiplefoodallergyhelp@maine.rr.com Also if you use Facebook, we have a page there, where I post a lot of news bits, articles, links etc. Good Luck Brandy! Sincerely, Jenny
Thanks Jenny and everyone else who commented. I really appreciate the encouragement and advice. I was feeling overwhelmed and scared and it makes me feel much better to hear I will get through this. I will look into the products you all have recommended. Its nice to know that they have been safe options for your children as well.
In response to your question Jenny, it was a peds allergist, although I have to say we did only meet with the PA at our appointment. I believe the reasoning she gave us for allowing us to continue wheat and dairy was because he wasn’t in particular developing hives after eating these products, in fact one thing he ate regularly had egg in it and he didn’t seem to have any visible reaction at all. (we did cut that out, however) The PA said if he wasn’t developing hives, vomiting or having diarrhea that stopping those may increase his risk for a severe allergy to those things if reintroduced. To a novice, it seemed logical. I should clarify that my son hasn’t been having hives or any reaction really after having dairy, he did develop eczema after eating wheat toast for 3 days. This persists 3 weeks later. I have never had an allergy to anything….my husband was diagnosed with celiacs about 2 years after we got married and that was a difficult transition for us as well. We are very familar with and love the tinkyada pastas, we have never found a bread, nor have i been able to make one that even our dogs would eat. I did immediately research the pb alternatives…I simply wanted to let my baby try a pb and jelly! I got the I.M. Healthy soybutter (which I should also mention that the PA said even tho his test came back + for soy allergy, not to avoid it cause he had been tolerating it in the past) So I thought great! I just gave him a little on toast. It was a disaster, violent green liquid stool and immediate welts and bleeding on his poor little butt. Not a single hive tho. (hives are his trademark it seems). I think one of my biggest issues is when I think I find something he can eat….such as gerber apple cinn wagon wheels…he loved them, then after a week of having them for a snack…BAM hives all over his face. The only thing in them different compared to the puffs he would eat and have no reaction to is soy. After reading labels, soy is in almost everything and he has had it since this reaction and had no reaction at all! This is where I get so frustrated that I think its ok to give him, but I am so wrong. When he had the reaction that caused throat swelling I was in contact with an allergist on the phone immediately. He said since that baby didn’t have 2 bodily systems involved he didn’t feel it was anaphalictic, but clearly his airway was affected. And there was not anything in the product he hasn’t tolerated before or since then.
I do think my son eats rather healthy, his favorites are yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, sweet potatoes, bananas, peaches, pears, and he will occassionaly eat pasta with sauce and meatballs. It does seem like I am feeding him the same thing everyday though. Also I feel like he isn’t ever eating anything solid, maybe trying that rye bread is an option here. I feel badly that he can’t just enjoy something without me having such anxiety. I’m sure he doesn’t know any different. I just want to find a way to be comfortable in everyday. I feel better getting this off my chest and getting feedback. I know it really just comes down to me making sure the allergens are completely eliminated from his diet and the only way to be certain is to make all of his food.
Hi Brandy,
It really is heartbreaking to watch your child go through this because they can’t fully communicate with you. I have felt how you are feeling now-my son was newly 12 months when he had the scratch test done showing his allergies were to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, poultry, peas, & some wheats not all.
He is now around 20 months & it has gotten a little easier but I am still very over protective when it comes to who if anyone watches him & what he eats. I check everything before I or he eat something. I ask whoever made food hundreds of questions before consuming anything. It is just what you have to do for your child.
Jenny is absolutely right! I would not give your child anything that he is allergic to…sunbutter is a great substitute for peanut butter!! & they make breads made out of rice for people with gluten allergies. & yes, the tinkyada pastas are wonderful! My son loves it with meat sauce. That is something that you can make a lot of & store as leftovers. My son also enjoys refried beans with Daiya cheese( non dairy cheese). Rice milk has been a favorite as well. Also, if you cut up avocados they are soft & good on calories. Earth balance non dairy butter is also great.
If you need anything, let any of us know
Good luck! & rest knowing you are doing the right thing!
Brandy, I’d also like to share with you that the gluten free breads can be sort of hard to get used to if you are used to ‘regular’ bread, but Food For Life makes a wheat free (and vegan so no eggs, milk, etc) white rye bread that tastes just like regular bread. It makes great bread crumbs, stuffing, grilled cheese, toast, sandwhiches, vegan french toast (which is omg tasty!), etc without a strange texture. The only difference between it and ‘regular’ bread is it’s not quite as soft and has to be kept in the fridge. It is not gluten free but if you’re not gluten intolerant, I would totally give this a try! We buy 5 loaves at a time and keep them in the freezer till we need them!
Hi have just found this site after being in dispair with my older son he is 3 years old, he is due to get skin checked in two weeks but in the meantime he is eating little more than rice products we think he is allergic to wheat dairy corn sugar e numbers bananas grapes watermelon etc it is a nightmare I am struggling to feed him anything, it seems he is more sensitive since we cut out the foods and the tinest amount causes reactions in his case naughty behaviour increase thirst diahorrea or constipation puffy eyes swollen lips and asthma! i have no support around my husband and I are dealing with this on our own and its exhausting we also have a 10 mnth old baby who we are keeping away from most foods as we are scared he will react. We live in Australia and do not have the range of products that you seem to have in the us alot of the gluten free stuff here is full of e number or corn. Any words of advise much appreciated. Naomi
Hi Naomi, I am glad your Allergist appt is coming soon, that will really help you focus on what your child can eat safely, without having to go through the ‘crazy-making’ guessing game!~ Some food dyes [RED] also cause naughty behavior as a side effect. Perhaps for the next week or too, stick to what your son can safely eat, and know that after your son’s food triggers are diagnosed we can look at finding some options for you. Often times it is helpful to compose a list of safe foods to help meal plan around. I also recommend having a list of foods you suspect allergic reactions to, and check with your allergist prior to the appointment to see if you need to bring any foods in for the testing too. I am tweeting to some of my Australian connections about food allergy shopping options for you as well. You CAN have your 10 month tested with scratch tests to rule out allergies now as well!~ Please let me know what the test revels, and we can find some options to help you! ~Jenny PS~ I am told Coles has a good selection of food allergy friendly groceries in Australia.
Ok where to start. My 5 year old daughter just got her results back. She is allergic to 21 of the 35 they tested for. The reason for testing her was a reaction she had to the medicine amoxicillin. Hives first all over, then swelling mostly in the face area. We live in Eastern Oklahoma. We were told by our Dr. that we live in one of the worst places for people with outside allergies! Plus right now for the next few weeks is over lapping grass and tree allergies! So now we wait until the 11th to see an allergist with very little instruction on what target things to avoid. These are class two food, tomatoe, corn, peanut, soy, wheat, oat, orange, potatoe, cashew, pecan, strawberry, rice!!!!!!!! WHAT do we feed her? The Dr. said 2 class 1 reactions = class 4 reaction! We are trying fresh fruits, veggies, eggs, meats, but we are worried about seasonings, dressings, and oils. Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated. The worst part is she is a picky eater and most of what she will eat and has eaten for a long time she is allergic to! Thanks in advance.
Sleep deprived father
Hi Clayton!~ Oh MY!~ Where to start? I think the corn and rice are going to be the hardest to adjust to-as corn is in ‘everything’!~ and Rice is so often used as a alternative in most food allergy friendly foods. Your daughter is very lucky that she still can have eggs and dairy available, as this greatly expands what is left on the menu!~ The best place to start is to write a list of foods that she can eat, then try to meal plan around it. I have a few here to share. Then I would like to send you over to our Facebook page, as I will post your situation, and see if some of our readers have some more suggestions and ideas to help ok? So, foods that are ok: beans, eggs, dairy: cheese sticks, yogurt-depending on flavor and sweetener-be careful of the corn- perhaps buy unsweetened, then flavor with honey!, unsweetened applesauce-my son dips chicken in it as he cant have ketchup!; Baking substitutes: maple syrup, agave, [we love Oh-Gave blueberry syrup] for sugar substitutes, tapioca starch, coconut flour, sorgum flour, Quino-[for a grain], palm shortening, Spaghetti squash, sunflower butter, Beans-[flour, pastes, spreads, etc], melons, lemon-for flavoring, oil & vinegar salad dressing- make your own-and add herbs, seasalt- [ionized often has corn]~ Your meals will be untraditional- without the cereals, breads, etc. but you do have some options available! I will think about this some more, and share this on the Facebook page, so be sure to check there for reader responses!~ Jenny PS~ They had a lot of good suggestions there for you! Hope it helps!
What a wonderful resource here. We too have kids with multiple allergies/intolerance to certain foods. Our oldest was diagnosed with celiac and the gluten free diet actually helped alleviate a lot of the other allergies he was originally diagnosed with. I agree that total avoidance is the way to go.
Hi my baby got red little red spots everywhere I’m not sure what gave it to him but I don’t know what to do…help please!!!
Sorry I am only getting back to you now!~ I was away for the weekend- I hope you called your Doctor. It is helpful to take pictures of your child when they have reactions to show doctors later. You probably should be scheduling an allergist appointment for your child to have a food panel scratch test done to see what is triggering the reaction. It could possibly be something environmental as well- like a reaction to sunscreen? ~ Hope you get some answers. ~Jenny
Hi, my name is miranda and 2days ago i just found out my son is allergic to everything he loves to eat !!! Milk(all dairy), Wheat, Eggs, Soy,and Peanuts… Very Allergic to peanuts. I am new at this so i just wanted help, to find out what he could eat.. so far i got all fruits and veggies.. all meats if they are not breaded.. but that is all i have down.
By checking the different pages [Allergens, Less Common Allergens], you should get some good suggestions for foods you can use. Both my sons have these allergens and some additional ones- There are many products available to you, such as Sunbutter, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, So Delicious coconut milk, etc. I recommend you order Cybele Pascals Baker’s Handbook, as all of her recipes will be safe for you to use!~ Good Luck!~ Jenny
I’m so new at all of this but thanks for your reply very helpful <33
Hi Miranda! I know that it is very frustrating trying to find safe foods for your son to eat & like. My son also has those food allergies & a few others-some that we found out after his first initial scratch test.
Jenny mentioned sunbutter which I delicious! Some other products that we use & enjoy are earth balance non dairy butter spread, enjoy life products (for snacks), rice milk ( tastes better than soy milk), Silk yogurts (so far one of the only non dairy yogurts that I have found where even the cultures are non dairy), tinkyada rice pasta, ener-g egg replacer, Daiya non dairy shredded cheese. Those are just some products that have really helped. Also I know that everyone is different, but of your son is allergic to tree nuts/peanuts, as my son is, please be cautious of peas. Never thought that peas would cause such a reaction but my son loved peas & ate them often & then after eating peas one time he brought him to the e.r.
Good luck to you! There is great information here & a lot of support
Hi,
I am a 46 year old with multiple food allergies. I have known about my food allergies since I was 3 years old and have had several severe reactions throughout my life so far. I am allergic to Tree nuts, Fish and Shellfish and I still have a reaction to egg whites if they are in high content. (angelfood cake, etc)
My latest allergy reaction was when my husband was barbecuing and ran out of barbecue sauce. He ran to the store and grabbed a bottle off the shelf and then came home and finished cooking. I took one bite and the inside of my mouth began to swell up. Thankfully, we had a plan in place and I was treated immediately.
Although my husband knows all about my allergies, he didn’t take the time to read the fine print on the label to see that they had anchovies in the sauce. This is the hardest part about having food allergies – when you put your trust in others who prepare your food, you could have an allergic reaction because you are not in control.The food labels on packaged products can only go as far as the person reading the label…..
I know most of you on this site are dealing with small children and haven’t experienced dining out or away from home yet, but please know that you can live with multiple food allergies outside your home. Just use as much caution as possible and SPEAK OUT about the food allergies. Make the staff aware of your specific needs. If they don’t treat it as important – LEAVE. Your health is not worth the risk.
PS. I am working on an awareness program about food allergies – called Reduction of Allergic Reactions (ROAR). Keep your eyes out for it at your local restaurant / service provider (beauty salons, etc). It deals with identifying clearly the 8 common food allergens when dining out or using products and services of salons. Would love any feedback on this idea.
Almost all info is on children what about an adult allergic to apple, carrot, celery, cherries, peaches, pears, sweet potato, kiwi, tree nuts, peanuts, soy & corn. Also IgE & tryptase are high well out of normal range. Seems that the list keeps growing & its very frustrating.
You can look to see what products I suggest here, and you may want to check out the FB page for more current articles and issues, or to post to the Food Allergy community for particular questions or advice~ Most of my suggestions would be the same for adult or child as far as websites and cookbooks I love~ Jenny
Hi Karen. Sorry to hear about your allergies! It seems like most of them are to fruits & veggies which I am sure is especially frustrating because they are supposed to be healthy & not your enemy. Have you ever looked into what is known as an oral allergy syndrome? It is an allergy to a lot of fresh or raw fruits & vegetables. Something dealing with chemicals on the fruits & veggies or a cross reactivity with other seeds when they are planted. The website suggested cooking all of the fruits & veggies as a possible solution. Of course that might not be your case but thought I could share some research I had done for my son. His pediatrician thought that he might have the oral allergy syndrome. Good luck to you. Again, sorry for your food allergies. Hope that you find some great alternatives.
HELLO JENNY, MY NAME IS BEVERLY I AM A CHILD CARE PROVIDER AND HAVE JUST TOOK A CHILD INTO CARE WITH MULTIPLE FOOD ALLERGIES SHE CAN’T HAVE BEEF,PORK,PEANUTS,DAIRY PRODUCTS.HER PAPERS SAY LIMITED WHEAT,SOY,AND CORN, AND NO RED DYE. I’M AT A LOSS FOR THINGS TO FEED THIS CHILD OR SHOULD I SAY SCARED TO DEATH TO FEED HER ANYTHING OTHER THEN WHAT HER MOTHER SAYS SHE CAN HAVE.CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A WAY TO INCLUDE HER IN MY FACILITY I HATE TO FEED THE OTHER KIDS HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS WITH BUNS WHEN SHE CAN’T HAVE THE BREAD I WOULD LIKE A WAY TO GIVE HER SPAGHETTI WITH TURKEY MEAT SAUCE AND A HOT DOG ON A BUN OR NOODLES SHE CAN’T HAVE MAC N CHEESE AS NO DAIRY FELL LIKE SHES TURNING INTO AN APPLE SINCE SHE CAN ONLY HAVE APPLESAUCE OR JUICE FOR SNACKS I NEED HELP WITH SOME FOOD A CHILD WOULD WANT TO EAT THANKS
Hi Beverly, I think it’s great that you are looking to find ways to include her!~ Look for Tinkyada Brand pastas- they are brown rice noodles- gluten/wheat/corn, etc. free. [I usually give them a rinse after cooking-]. For hot dogs- we use Applegate Farms uncured turkey hotdogs- [available at BJs, Whole Foods etc]; She may still have to go without the bread though- but my boys are always just happy with sliced hotdogs, ketchup, and a toothpick to eat them with; like grocery store samples!
So Delicious brand makes coconut milk, ice cream & yogurt that are dairy free. You may also look for Daiya cheese- which is dairy free-as a cheese substitute for Mac & cheese, etc. Rice chex are gluten free, Enjoy Life brand makes cookies, cereals, granola bars- all are safe of her allergens!~ What a lucky family to find child care with you!~ Thank you!~ for going beyond what many do!~ Jenny PS~ Once you buy the brands/products, invite her mom to inspect the packaging etc. to make sure it’s OK~ Nothing gives a food allergy parent more fear- than hearing their child ate “something” they haven’t OK’d!