Allergy Update

So, if life weren't complicated enough.....

After Evan's trip to the ER two weeks ago, I talked to the doctor and she recommended that Evan have a full ImmunoCAP Blood Test specific to Nut Group, Childhood Allergy Profile, and a specific Cashew test.  The ImmunoCAP tests your bodies antibody level to each allergen. Granted, these tests only check the top 90% of common allergens - so it is not 100%.  BTW, Evan did fabulous when we went to have his blood drawn.  You could tell the gal getting ready to draw his blood was preparing for this 2 year old to throw a gigantor fit in her lab.  But - he sat there on my lap, watched, flinched a little and made no sound or cry.  He was a super trooper!

We went in yesterday to go over the results with the doctor.  Here's what we found out....the ImmunoCAP gives a rating, 0-6 for each allergen.  Obviously, a 6 is scary allergic and a 0 means your body could care less.  They start getting really worried and concerned when things are a 4 and 5...but take notice when they are a 2 or 3.

Almond =0                                    Wheat=2

Coconut=0                                     Shrimp=0

Peanut=2                                        Walnut=1

Pecan=1                                          Other environmental things such as mold=1s and 2s

Sesame Seed=1                              Cashew=2

Milk= 2                                           Soybean=1

Codfish=3                                      Cat Dander=1

Dog Dander=2                              Egg White=2

So the good thing was that not one thing was at a scary level.  The questionable thing is that he had lots of 2s on there and codfish a 3 (what in the world).  But clinically - he had a major reaction that night.  Which seems to be stronger proof to the doctor that there is something going on.  She explained it that we all have a threshold of what we can tolerate - and maybe that day Evan may have been exposed to all these things on various levels and the cashew sent his body over the edge and into a reaction.  Of course, we did not test his environmental responses to pollen and such - which we are assuming he would show some responses.  And those could have definitely triggered his reaction as well.

Bottom line is this = he is a kid we will have to watch.  He will take Claritin every day to see if that helps with his allergy symptoms of runny nose and cough.  Which I had always assumed was the "daycare cold".  She did prescribe an Epi-Pen for us to use if he ever has a response/reaction again - so we are prepared.  He will stay away from cashews.  And he will have future allergy testing when he is older at an allergist.  His immune system is still developing and she said going through that right now would be unneccesary unless we see some more serious responses in the immediate future.

We will have 4 Pens - 1 at home, 1 at school, 1 at Grandma's and 1 that travels with us. Hopefully we will never have to use it - EVER.  But it is a relief to know we have something that could help him if he ever has an anaphylactic reaction again.  Basically, his life won't change much, at this point, except for staying away from cashews still.  We are glad to have all this behind us and have a plan for him.  I'm glad we are not going to have to go crazy, obsessive over checking labels and avoiding a whole slew of foods and restaurants.  Time will only tell how things develop from here...but I feel like our prayers have been answered.