This is a very interesting forum about corn allergies: http://allergicliving.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2799

I’m especially interested in corn-derived ingredients, such as citric acid or ascorbic acid. Technically, my daughter and I aren’t “allergic” to corn because we didn’t not have a positive result on the IgE test. However, I’ve been avoiding it anyway because when we have processed food that contains corn-derived ingredients, we react: diarrhea, bloating, upset stomach, rash, blisters, etc. I don’t understand why because there isn’t corn protein present. So, what is it?

Eldi on the forum states: “…corn, like any food, is a collection of proteins and the complete array of corn proteins that may be responsible for allergic responses, presumably including labile proteins, has not been established.”

I’m wondering if we’re truly reacting to corn or if we have an entirely different allergy. It’s so frustrating that when I finally an organic non-GMO food free of all 10 foods we’re avoiding, I still get sick. There must be a reason why.

Any ideas?

This is an interesting article: “Children Born Outside the US Less Likely to Have Allergies”

If this is true, I wonder why. Could it have something to do with GMOs, additives or preservatives? It’s interesting that other countries have banned GMOs. There are multiple websites that list which countries have, such as this website.

I found an interesting ad by McDonald’s that I disagree with. Many companies I’ve called say that their ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is derived from corn and say if we are allergic to corn we should avoid it. My daughter and I seem to react to most processed foods (even if they are free of all 10 foods we’re avoiding), and the only connection I can make it that they are derived from corn. I may be wrong, but that seems to be our experience.

 

 

Seed and Grain Milk Maker Machine

I know it sounds “crunchy,” but I’m going to make my own milk from seeds and gluten-free grains.

My naturopath recommended this SoyaJoy Soy Milk Maker machine. It grinds beans, nuts, seeds, and grains and also can be used to make soup. It sounds a bit time consuming, but I think we’ll save a lot of money after the initial investment of the machine. I opted for the newer G3 model that makes both raw and heated milks. It has received high ratings on Amazon and sounds pretty easy to use.

I plan on experimenting with different gluten-free grains like oats, quinoa, brown rice, and buckwheat, and seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, hemp, and sesame. My naturopath recommended adding flax oil, probiotics and water from steamed vegetables to make a nutritious milk supplement for Fussy Buns. He thinks that this will be much better than store bought rice milk because that is basically sugar water. I like that I’ll know exactly what is in the drink, and that should make identifying allergens easier if she shows any symptoms.

Managing Food Allergies at Daycare

I recently accepted a full-time position at a local university, so Fussy Buns is headed off to “school.” Fortunately, a registered child care center in town had just one space available. My mind has been racing with questions as I prepare for this new chapter in our lives, and I have been worrying a bit about how to manage her food allergies at daycare.  There are a couple of other children that have food allergies and also avoid gluten. The child care center typically provides snacks and lunch, and the owner is looking into offering gluten-free bread. It is great that they are aware of cross-contamination and reading labels, but I plan on providing all of her food, in addition to pumping breast milk, for my peace of mind.

Allergy Labels

I recently saw these allergy labels on another blog, It’s An Itchy Little World. I think this would be a great reminder at mealtimes for the child care providers. I haven’t ordered any yet. Maybe I will try making my own tag first to save money.

 

Food Storage

We just purchased the Blushing Monkey Dabbawalla lunch bag from Amazon. I really like that they are stain-resistant, machine washable, toxic free, and will keep contents cold for hours. It’s also a cute lightweight bag that Fussy Buns will enjoy carrying.

I also purchased the Gerber Graduates Mealtime Organizer from Amazon, but it will only fit on its side in the bag. I think I will use one or the other. I like that this box is spill-proof, leak resistant, and has a place to write a note or enclose a picture.

 

Milk

I plan on pumping on my breaks at work, so I can send Fussy Buns with some breast milk. She’s still nursing in the morning when she wakes up, before and after naps, and before bed! I was considering weaning her during the day and sending her with rice milk, but La Leche League warned that rice milk contains high levels of arsenic, in addition to not containing much protein or fat. My naturopath said it’s basically like drinking sugar water, so stayed tuned for more on making my own seed and gluten-free grain milk!

I have an Avent Double Electric Pump, and I use adapters to pump directly into storage cups which I can put a lid on. All Avent bottles and cups are interchangeable,  so I bought an extra set of adapters to use with her sippy cups.  I’ll send her to daycare with a  cup (spout or straw) of breast milk and extra milk in a storage cup. There will be no need to pour milk and potentially spill it. Just unscrew the top and screw it onto the storage cup. You won’t even see the adapter. We’ll see how it goes.

 

It’s going to be so hard to leave my sweet baby all day with someone else, but this is just a great opportunity that I can’t pass up. I know it’s going to benefit my family in a big way. It has truly been wonderful staying at home with her for the first year.

 

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding isn’t a guarantee that there won’t be any problems. I’ve been breastfeeding for over a year now, but unfortunately my baby showed symptoms of food allergies, such as diarrhea, starting at 2 weeks old. I suffered from postpartum depression for several months, I think in large part due to the stress caused by trying to manage our food allergies. I’m glad I’ve been able to breastfeed this long, but I’m sometimes frustrated with the claims people make about breastfeeding.

Fussy Buns turns one!

Happy Birthday!

Allergy-friendly birthday cake we purchased from our favorite gluten-free restaurant

I cannot believe that my sweet baby girl is already a year old! I’m so grateful that she is healthy, happy, and developing just right, but this milestone is a little bittersweet for me. She also started walking on her birthday, the 9^th, which just further demonstrates how independent she is becoming. I’ve been reflecting on this past year, remembering all of the challenges we were faced with as new parents and acknowledging how much we’ve all grown.

There are few things that stand out:

Diaper Rash

We saw our first case of diaper rash at 2 weeks old. I knew all babies got diaper rash at some point and that there were plenty of remedies available to treat it, but after a couple of weeks I knew something was wrong. I felt so frustrated that I could not get it to clear up and trust me, I tried every suggestion out there! Now that I know that her diaper rash is caused by food allergies, the solution is simple: avoid the foods she is allergic to! I am so relieved that it finally cleared up after 6 months of persistent diaper rash!

Food Allergies (Obviously)

I knew that I have food allergies, but I never really thought about my children having them. It has been such a challenge to pinpoint the offending foods and there were definitely times I felt at a loss for what to eat or what to do to help my baby, but I am so proud of myself for figuring it out! As hard as it was, it was worth it. I am also really grateful to my family members, friends, and doctors for supporting me during this process.

Breastfeeding

When I was pregnant, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed, and I had no idea how long it would go on. Despite having to eliminate ten foods and all their derivatives (gluten, dairy, soy, egg, corn, fish, strawberry, potato, peanuts, and tree nuts) for almost a year now, I am really pleased that I have been able to breastfeed my baby for a year, let alone at all. We’re in the process of weaning now as she begins to eat more solids and I know it will eventually end, but it has been such a sweet part of our relationship. I will miss it.

Mindfulness

Anyone who really knows me could probably say that I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Now that I’m a parent, I’m trying to let go for my need to control everything. I still do my best to be informed and prepared for whatever situation, but I acknowledge that there are many things out of my control. I remind myself often that at this moment, everything is just as it should be and I am grateful for that. The difficult times will eventually pass, and I just hope I can endure them with some grace. As a leader of a Mommy & Me class often told me, “Infancy doesn’t last forever.” She was right. How fast the time went! I never thought when I was in the thick of it that at one year we would not only be managing her food allergies, but she would be thriving! Life is good, and I am so grateful to have her be a part of ours.

Egg Allergy and Flu Shot: Update

I spoke with our allergist over Christmas break, and he reassured me that it is safe for Fussy Buns to get the flu shot. I’ve been so worried about her experiencing anaphylaxis if egg is injected into her body, but he pointed out that she has already been exposed to egg protein through my breast milk. She has many symptoms from food allergies, but trouble breathing has never been one of them.

I’m the type of person that likes to ask questions and research in order to feel more comfortable, so my husband and I spent a long time reading through the CDC’s website to learn about why the influenza vaccine is recommended, even for egg allergy patients. We read about several studies done on egg allergy patients, including children, receiving the flu shot and the statistics of it resulting in anaphylaxis or death. I recommend taking a look at this information if you are concerned.

Given the fact that the flu is more prevalent this year than in previous years, we decided to go ahead with it. The allergist told me there was no need for us to come to his office to administer the vaccine; we could go to the Nurse Treatment Room at Kaiser.

I marked “egg allergy” on the form we had to fill out and when we were called into the room, the nurse immediately told us she could not administer the flu shot to an egg allergy patient according to their policy.

I explained that the CDC updated their recommendations for vaccinating egg allergy patients in 2011, but she would not budge. I was so frustrated that I was once again receiving different information from different providers, but all I could do was ask that she communicate that with our pediatrician and allergist. I got my flu shot and left.

Right away, I contacted our allergist, and he told me again that is indeed safe for her to receive the vaccine. He said he had never had a problem with this before, but would arrange for us to come to the allergy department to receive it.

Now that I’ve done my research and advocated for my daughter to get vaccinated, I hope she won’t have a terrible reaction to it.

According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Report:

“Vaccination of all persons aged ≥6 months continues to be recommended. Information is presented in this report regarding vaccine strains for the 2011–12 influenza season, the vaccination schedule for children aged 6 months through 8 years, and considerations regarding vaccination of persons with egg allergy.”

Recommendations Regarding Persons with Egg Allergy

Each of the following recommendations applies when considering influenza vaccination of persons who have or report a history of egg allergy.

1. Persons who have experienced only hives following exposure to egg should receive influenza vaccine with the following additional measures (Figure 2):

a) Because studies published to date involved use of TIV, TIV rather than LAIV should be used.

b) Vaccine should be administered by a health-care provider who is familiar with the potential manifestations of egg allergy.

c) Vaccine recipients should be observed for at least 30 minutes for signs of a reaction following administration of each vaccine dose.

Other measures, such as dividing and administering the vaccine by a two-step approach and skin testing with vaccine, are not necessary.

2. Persons who report having had reactions to egg involving angioedema, respiratory distress, lightheadedness, or recurrent emesis, or persons who required epinephrine or other emergency medical intervention, particularly those that occurred immediately or within minutes to hours after egg exposure are more likely to have a serious systemic or anaphylactic reaction upon reexposure to egg proteins. Before receipt of vaccine, such persons should be referred to a physician with expertise in the management of allergic conditions for further risk assessment (Figure 2).

3. All vaccines should be administered in settings in which personnel and equipment for rapid recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are available. ACIP recommends that all vaccination providers be familiar with the office emergency plan (18).

4. Some persons who report allergy to egg might not be egg allergic. Those who are able to eat lightly cooked egg (e.g., scrambled eggs) without reaction are unlikely to be allergic. Conversely, egg-allergic persons might tolerate egg in baked products (e.g., bread or cake); tolerance to egg-containing foods does not exclude the possibility of egg allergy (35). Egg allergy can be confirmed by a consistent medical history of adverse reactions to eggs and egg-containing foods, plus skin and/or blood testing for immunoglobulin E antibodies to egg proteins.

5. A previous severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine, regardless of the component suspected to be responsible for the reaction, is a contraindication to receipt of influenza vaccine.

Nut Allergy

The holidays were an especially busy time this year. Not only were we getting ready for a trip out of state (with a baby), but we noticed our food pantry was infested with Indian Meal Moths and our dishwasher stopped working mid-cycle just as the dishes were really piling up in the kitchen. On top of all of that, I visited the allergist the day before we left.

I met with the same allergist who five years ago told me I wasn’t allergic to peanuts or tree nuts based on skin testing. I’ve eaten them on and off over the years, but within the past year I’ve noticed that I get blisters on my lips, gums and throat that last about a week when I eat them. I decided to do allergy testing again because I didn’t want to mess around with a potential nut allergy. I was really hopeful I could add nuts back into my diet because I’m still nursing and need the extra calories. The allergist didn’t think my symptoms sounded like a true allergic response, but proceeded with skin testing.

I found out that I’m allergic to milk, peanuts, tree nuts, and white potato!

I did have a reaction to soy and corn, but the allergist didn’t think it was big enough to be considered a true IgE allergy. He prescribed an Epi Pen and a nurse trained me how to administer it.

It seems to me that this allergist is pretty conservative, so if he says it’s serious I believe him. It’s unfortunate that I really am allergic to peanuts and tree nuts because there are so many products that I’ll have to be careful to avoid, like nut butters, flours and processed snack bars. I was also really surprised to discover that I am allergic to potato, but now that I think back I realize that potatoes make my hands itch and make my stomach really upset. I always thought it was the starch that was the problem. Regardless, I’m going to do my best to avoid the foods that are problematic for me, so I can start feeling better!

This was the first holiday I stayed away from all the treats I normally looked forward to because they all contained nuts. Fortunately, I was able to indulge by eating some pure maple syrup candy Santas!

I am having a hard time remembering everything I need to avoid because of Celiac and food allergies!

No gluten, dairy, soy, egg, corn, peanuts, tree nuts, potato , fish, or strawberry!

Whew!

Goat’s Milk Allergy

The child has yet another allergy. Sigh.

I’ve been considering weaning since I’m losing so much weight from nursing and Fussy Buns is nearly 1 year old. Since she’s allergic to cow’s milk, our doctor suggested we give her goat’s milk because many milk allergic people can tolerate it. I wasn’t sure this was a good idea given our family history with dairy. My husband can’t tolerate cow’s or goat’s milk and although I had never had goat’s milk before, my IgG/IgA allergy test showed I was highly allergic to both. However, I decided to give it a try.

Within minutes of drinking a tiny bit, Fussy Buns developed hives all over her face, predominately around her lips and chin. The hives cleared up after a few hours. I tried giving her a small amount of goat’s milk three separate times and each time she developed hives immediately. This seemed to make her quite uncomfortable, and she also developed a diaper rash. A day later, she seems to have recovered.

I feel bad for putting her through all that, but I’m glad to know about it. If a tiny bit affected her that quickly, I wonder what an entire glass of goat’s milk would do. She doesn’t really need milk anyway, but I thought it might be nice to have it as option.

I guess we’ll be leaving rice milk and some sort of allergen free “cookies” for Santa.

 

Healthy Snacks

I think I could quite possibly eat more than a teen-aged boy.

Supposedly, nursing a baby burns an extra 500 calories a day and helps women lose the baby weight. I’ve continued to breastfeed this long (11 months) simply because with all of Fussy Bun’s  food allergies, it seemed like the best choice for her. It’s also supposedly cheaper than formula, but I’m not sure that’s really the case because I am consuming A LOT of food to keep up milk production! I can eat way more than my husband at every single meal and he’s a tall guy! We eat primarily organic produce, very little grains, and a lot of protein (chicken, grass fed beef, etc.). I am happy to report that I’ve lost all the baby weight, but unfortunately the weight loss hasn’t slowed. I’m just a few pounds away from my high school weight, and I am not happy about this.

I’m not trying to be on a low-fat or low-carb diet. In fact, I can devour an entire avocado during a meal and thoroughly enjoy adding oils to my meals. The problem is that I’m on such a strict diet due to our food allergies (no gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, corn, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, and strawberries) that I don’t feel like my snacks are providing enough. I’m worried about losing muscle. I’m very thin and weak, so I can’t afford to keep losing.

I’m meeting with an allergist again next week to see if I really have a true allergy to all nuts. The blisters I get in my mouth, on my gums, tongue and throat, after eating nuts really scare me, but if I don’t have a true allergy, I hope to be able to incorporate those back into my diet. If it turns about I do in fact have a serious nut allergy, I plan to refill my EpiPen prescription and come up with other snack alternatives. Lately, I’ve been eating a lot of rice cakes with Sunbutter and fruit.

What do you like to snack on?

Please help out a hungry nursing mama and share your ideas!