Allergy - Please read! Desperate! Very long post. Sorry, but need advice!

Author

Please read! Desperate! Very long post. Sorry, but need advice!

Cindy

2004-10-29, 7:12 pm

Hello all. It's been awhile since I posted here. I posted a few months ago
about my 4 year old son's croup attacks and allergies. My husband fears it's
allergic asthma or something like that, and now demands that I give my three
cats away! I'm heartbroken over this. I've had one of my cats for almost
sixteen years. :-( I told him he's overreacting, but then do I really want
to risk my son's life? No, I don't. But I need advice. I'm posting this on
alt.support.asthma, too.

My son had what the ER called croup Jan. this year. I assume they were
correct in their diagnosis. He fit all the symptoms. Difficulty breathing,
stridor, blah, blah...

A few months later, our son started exhibiting signs of allergy. To what? We
don't know. But the pediatrician gave him Zyrtec (is that normal? for a ped.
to give allergy medicine to a child without testing?? very curious!). It
seemed to help, but you know how those things are; very sketchy. Still had
symptoms while on Z. Tried Claritin, same thing.

Then he had a severe allergic reaction at pre-school a couple months after
that. Couldn't breathe or swallow, broke out in hives, etc... Paramedics
were called. Another trip to the ER! Cause? They didn't know and didn't seem
to care. We couldn't determine anything at pre-school to be the cause,
simply because we don't know what our son is allergic to.

Now, before I get to the last ER visit, I will tell you we had an allergy
panel done in August of '03. They tested for the obvious things, animal
dander, mold, and some foods. All were negative. From what I've read, an
allergy can come on rather suddenly, so that test is useless, or is it?

We haven't had a chance to get him tested this year. The specialists in our
area are booked for a while. We are working on having him tested, but are
waiting for Medi-Cal to come through because my husband was unjustly fired
and there went our insurance...which didn't really matter anyway because it
didn't cover specialized testing (another thread for another group).

My husband was very allergic as a child (underwent shot therapy) and has
ocassional bouts of eczema and allergy to this day. I understand genetics
are a strong influence, but how strong?

Last ER trip was about two weeks ago. As in Jan., son woke up after an hour
of sleep gasping for breath, severe stridor, drooling, it was nasty! We were
terrified! Rushed him to the ER. He gets the misty treatment again. Took
forever for the symptoms to dissipate, or it seemed that way. Certainly
longer than the first time. Nurse gives him a steroid injection, he gets
well quickly. They x-ray his neck and chest, to rule out obstructions. They
say the x-ray confirmed it was croup.

Now, I guess I believe the doctor (who, btw, didn't do a damned thing! just
sat there looking at our son, touched him once and asked "So, what seems to
be the problem?") and x-ray and everything I've been reading about croup,
but I'm really upset and am at my wits end. Our son frequently seems to be
in a bad mood and not feeling well.

We just got a kitten. It was a feral cat, abandoned outside my son's school.
Being a sucker, I took the little guy in. Put a litter box in the bathroom
to house train him (won't keep it inside forever) and he sleeps in there at
night so he won't disturb anybody at night.

If he was allergic to cats wouldn't the symptoms and reactions be more
obvious? Just tonight, he complained of something in his throat and was
stuffy this morning. He hasn't had the watery eyes in a few months, not
since allergy season really kicked in. Aren't cat sensitive people sneezing
or coughing more? He gets right in the kitties' faces and nothing happens. I
can't help but think my husband is on a witch hunt. I understand he's
nervous, I mean our son could have died a few weeks ago, but I don't want to
overreact. But that was croup! Not allergic asthma, according the so-called
medical professionals.

How closely related are asthma, croup and allergies? Is there a connection?
What am I missing? What test options do we have? Skin test? I was told our
son isn't old enough! And that a blood panel isn't indicative of anything
and that allergies could develop over time with prolonged exposure to a
certain allergen!!!!!! But I also read tonight that early exposure to cats
and dogs may protect a child from developing pet allergies! He's been around
the same two cats all his life. Can it be them?

Please help! I don't want to lose my other babies. :-(

Cindy
bugabooman@nospam.cox.net
remove obvious to reply

Cindy

2004-10-29, 7:12 pm

"..." <...@...> wrote in message news:2u64dcF25jicjU1@uni-berlin.de...
> SORRY Cindy, didn't mean to sound like I was judging you. That's not my
> style. Just wanted
> to share the thoughts that hit me when I read your post. Hope you'll get
some
> good ideas here.

Yes, me, too. Sorry I'm just a little sad about all this. I love my son and
it hurts when people suggest I don't care enough to do everything in my
power to help him.

And, btw, the feral cat is a kitten. Very healthy, I might add. Having him
neutered soon.

Cindy

> ...
>
> "Cindy" <bugabooman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:F5dfd.74572$kz3.52483@fed1read02...
> | What's that supposed to mean? Thanks for the judgemental attitude. I ask
> for
> | advice and help and get this.
> |
> | Cindy
> |
> | "..." <...@...> wrote in message news:2u526fF273vg5U1@uni-berlin.de...
> | > I don't know, but you bring a feral cat into the home and who knows
what
> | else
> | > you bring in !!
> | > I'd have the cat checked out by a good vet, that's what I'd do for
sure.
> | I'd
> | > also keep my house super super clean. Again, I don't really know about
> | these
> | > things.
> | > ...
> | >
> | > "Cindy" <bugabooman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> | > news:XY0fd.72440$kz3.22983@fed1read02...
> | > | Hello all. It's been awhile since I posted here. I posted a few
months
> | ago
> | > | about my 4 year old son's croup attacks and allergies. My husband
fears
> | > it's
> | > | allergic asthma or something like that, and now demands that I give
my
> | > three
> | > | cats away! I'm heartbroken over this. I've had one of my cats for
> almost
> | > | sixteen years. :-( I told him he's overreacting, but then do I
really
> | want
> | > | to risk my son's life? No, I don't. But I need advice. I'm posting
this
> | on
> | > | alt.support.asthma, too.
> | > |
> | > | My son had what the ER called croup Jan. this year. I assume they
were
> | > | correct in their diagnosis. He fit all the symptoms. Difficulty
> | breathing,
> | > | stridor, blah, blah...
> | > |
> | > | A few months later, our son started exhibiting signs of allergy. To
> | what?
> | > We
> | > | don't know. But the pediatrician gave him Zyrtec (is that normal?
for a
> | > ped.
> | > | to give allergy medicine to a child without testing?? very
curious!).
> It
> | > | seemed to help, but you know how those things are; very sketchy.
Still
> | had
> | > | symptoms while on Z. Tried Claritin, same thing.
> | > |
> | > | Then he had a severe allergic reaction at pre-school a couple months
> | after
> | > | that. Couldn't breathe or swallow, broke out in hives, etc...
> Paramedics
> | > | were called. Another trip to the ER! Cause? They didn't know and
didn't
> | > seem
> | > | to care. We couldn't determine anything at pre-school to be the
cause,
> | > | simply because we don't know what our son is allergic to.
> | > |
> | > | Now, before I get to the last ER visit, I will tell you we had an
> | allergy
> | > | panel done in August of '03. They tested for the obvious things,
animal
> | > | dander, mold, and some foods. All were negative. From what I've
read,
> | an
> | > | allergy can come on rather suddenly, so that test is useless, or is
it?
> | > |
> | > | We haven't had a chance to get him tested this year. The specialists
in
> | our
> | > | area are booked for a while. We are working on having him tested,
but
> | are
> | > | waiting for Medi-Cal to come through because my husband was unjustly
> | fired
> | > | and there went our insurance...which didn't really matter anyway
> because
> | it
> | > | didn't cover specialized testing (another thread for another group).
> | > |
> | > | My husband was very allergic as a child (underwent shot therapy) and
> has
> | > | ocassional bouts of eczema and allergy to this day. I understand
> | genetics
> | > | are a strong influence, but how strong?
> | > |
> | > | Last ER trip was about two weeks ago. As in Jan., son woke up after
an
> | hour
> | > | of sleep gasping for breath, severe stridor, drooling, it was nasty!
We
> | > were
> | > | terrified! Rushed him to the ER. He gets the misty treatment again.
> Took
> | > | forever for the symptoms to dissipate, or it seemed that way.
Certainly
> | > | longer than the first time. Nurse gives him a steroid injection, he
> gets
> | > | well quickly. They x-ray his neck and chest, to rule out
obstructions.
> | They
> | > | say the x-ray confirmed it was croup.
> | > |
> | > | Now, I guess I believe the doctor (who, btw, didn't do a damned
thing!
> | just
> | > | sat there looking at our son, touched him once and asked "So, what
> seems
> | to
> | > | be the problem?") and x-ray and everything I've been reading about
> | croup,
> | > | but I'm really upset and am at my wits end. Our son frequently seems
to
> | be
> | > | in a bad mood and not feeling well.
> | > |
> | > | We just got a kitten. It was a feral cat, abandoned outside my son's
> | > school.
> | > | Being a sucker, I took the little guy in. Put a litter box in the
> | bathroom
> | > | to house train him (won't keep it inside forever) and he sleeps in
> there
> | at
> | > | night so he won't disturb anybody at night.
> | > |
> | > | If he was allergic to cats wouldn't the symptoms and reactions be
more
> | > | obvious? Just tonight, he complained of something in his throat and
was
> | > | stuffy this morning. He hasn't had the watery eyes in a few months,
not
> | > | since allergy season really kicked in. Aren't cat sensitive people
> | sneezing
> | > | or coughing more? He gets right in the kitties' faces and nothing
> | happens.
> | > I
> | > | can't help but think my husband is on a witch hunt. I understand
he's
> | > | nervous, I mean our son could have died a few weeks ago, but I don't
> | want
> | > to
> | > | overreact. But that was croup! Not allergic asthma, according the
> | so-called
> | > | medical professionals.
> | > |
> | > | How closely related are asthma, croup and allergies? Is there a
> | connection?
> | > | What am I missing? What test options do we have? Skin test? I was
told
> | our
> | > | son isn't old enough! And that a blood panel isn't indicative of
> | anything
> | > | and that allergies could develop over time with prolonged exposure
to a
> | > | certain allergen!!!!!! But I also read tonight that early exposure
to
> | cats
> | > | and dogs may protect a child from developing pet allergies! He's
been
> | > around
> | > | the same two cats all his life. Can it be them?
> | > |
> | > | Please help! I don't want to lose my other babies. :-(
> | > |
> | > | Cindy
> | > | bugabooman@nospam.cox.net
> | > | remove obvious to reply
> | > |
> | > |
> | >
> |
> |
>

Dandelion77

2004-10-29, 10:07 pm

"Cindy" <bugabooman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:XY0fd.72440$kz3.22983@fed1read02...
> Hello all. It's been awhile since I posted here. I posted a few months ago
> about my 4 year old son's croup attacks and allergies. My husband fears
it's
> allergic asthma or something like that, and now demands that I give my
three
> cats away! I'm heartbroken over this. I've had one of my cats for almost
> sixteen years. :-( I told him he's overreacting, but then do I really want
> to risk my son's life? No, I don't. But I need advice. I'm posting this on
> alt.support.asthma, too.
>
> My son had what the ER called croup Jan. this year. I assume they were
> correct in their diagnosis. He fit all the symptoms. Difficulty breathing,
> stridor, blah, blah...
>
> A few months later, our son started exhibiting signs of allergy. To what?
We
> don't know. But the pediatrician gave him Zyrtec (is that normal? for a
ped.
> to give allergy medicine to a child without testing?? very curious!). It
> seemed to help, but you know how those things are; very sketchy. Still had
> symptoms while on Z. Tried Claritin, same thing.

Zyrtec and Claritin are both antihistamines and probably work about the same
way. Dosage should be a pediatric dose based on your child's age/weight. My
kids, although older, have taken by of those antihistamines.

> breathe or swallow, broke out in hives, etc... Paramedics
> were called. Another trip to the ER! Cause? They didn't know and didn't
seem
> to care. We couldn't determine anything at pre-school to be the cause,
> simply because we don't know what our son is allergic to.

This is very bad. Not being able to breathe is called anaphalaxis
(spelling?), and your child could die in a matter of minutes. You should see
a doctor and get a child's Epi-pen so he has one whereever he is (in your
purse, at preschool, etc.). Look anaphalaxis up on the web and KNOW WHAT TO
DO. Also, knowing what your child was exposed to that day (food, etc.) would
be very good to know. Be a detective and figure out what it might be.

>
> Now, before I get to the last ER visit, I will tell you we had an allergy
> panel done in August of '03. They tested for the obvious things, animal
> dander, mold, and some foods. All were negative. From what I've read, an
> allergy can come on rather suddenly, so that test is useless, or is it?

I would see a proper allergiest. They can do RAST testing (called something
like that). Anyway, they take a bunch of blood samples and then do the
testing directly on the blood (not on your child). For me, they mostly
tested food groups - peanuts, soybeans etc. with RAST testing. I underwent
skin prick testing for dust mites, foods etc. , patch testing (patches on
skin over several days) for metal allergies and chemicals, and RAST testing.
Overall, I was tested for about fifty of the most common allergens.

Also, if your child was tested for animal dander and came out negative, the
cats should be okay??? (I think!)

You can be your own detective. As Wanda said, you should keep a diary of not
only his food but also his activities. I had also done this, but I would
have never thought that nickel, dust mites, fragrances etc. would be my
problem, so I think allergy testing is your best bet. On the other hand,
keeping a diary of foods would be a good thing to do. From what I have read
in severe cases, they put people on a lamb and rice diet. Another thing
would be to look up the most common food allergens on the web that cause
anaphlaxis and then just avoid them.

>
> We haven't had a chance to get him tested this year. The specialists in
our
> area are booked for a while. We are working on having him tested, but are
> waiting for Medi-Cal to come through because my husband was unjustly fired
> and there went our insurance...which didn't really matter anyway because
it
> didn't cover specialized testing (another thread for another group).

I don't know your financial situation, but you should get your child tested
for allergies, and not just the ten most common allergens. The not
breathing, hives situation is life threatening.
Dandelion

Dandelion77

2004-11-01, 2:08 am

Tim Kettring

2004-11-02, 2:07 am

"Dandelion77" <nonone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:MQBgd.43106$OD2.7789@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Zyrtec and Claritin are both antihistamines and probably work about the
same
> way. Dosage should be a pediatric dose based on your child's age/weight.
My
> kids, although older, have taken by of those antihistamines.

I have both. Bought many boxes of Claritin, and then my DR wrote me a
prescription for Zyrtec. Even though Zyrtec at first appeared more expensive
than on-sale 25% off generic Claratin, it really wasnt. The Zyrtec worked
magnitudes better at half dose ( 5mg) for me than generic Claratin did at
maximum PDR dose.

Your milage may very.

Dandelion77

2004-11-03, 7:07 am

Tim Kettring

2004-11-05, 2:08 am