It's Official!!

It's official, Tyler has a new allergist!! As my readers know, I had very mixed feelings about switching. When I heard this was the person to go to for a peanut allergy in our area, I couldn't "not" go. I am very happy with my decision. What I heard must be right, this doctor told me he has 500 patients with a peanut allergy!!

I was expecting one of the most positive doctor experiences in my life, based on what I had heard about this man. I was not let down. He came in, introduced himself, and told me he remembered our phone conversation last week. We went over some background information and talked more in detail about our June 30 experience with our last allergist that sent us to the ER. This man oozed competency and compassion. I can't think of anything more I could ask in an allergist.

Our former allergist based everything on blood work. In most situations, that is acceptable. But there is the rare case, like Tyler's, where blood work shows no allergy and there is one. He told me he always does a skin test in the case of a negative on blood work. In his 19 years of practice he has had 3 patients that had a serious reaction to peanuts at home, were brought in to see him, and had a negative for peanut allergy on the blood work. This, of course, did not mean there was no allergy. He did a skin test and in each instance the skin test was positive.

I have requested since the beginning of the year that Tyler be tested for tree nuts since he has two cousins that are allergic. Something has always prevented it. I avoid these but it would be nice to know. The new doctor wants to wait a little longer since Tyler had such a negative experience this year. He is very concerned about traumatizing him even more. I really appreciate his concern over Tyler's emotional health, as well. In the end, a positive on those tests will change very little of what we do anyway.

I have been concerned about my younger child, Dylan. I don't mention him much on this blog because I hope he does not have a peanut allergy. I don't plan to ever give him any nuts (even if he's not allergic) but it would be nice to know if he needs an EpiPen with him, as well. Since tree nuts also runs in our family, the doctor agreed we need to test him for all nuts to put all of our minds at ease. He wants to wait until he is 2 this fall. I'm glad he didn't think my "nervous mom" syndrome was misplaced. I hate to put Dylan through the blood work and skin tests but we will all be better off in the end.

As I sat in the waiting room, I was reminded that a peanut allergy is not the worst thing that could happen. A little boy Tyler's age sat by us. His mother had five pages of food he was allergic to (including peanuts). In fact, this poor little guy is allergic to nearly every food. Feeding him is a matter of determining what he is less allergic to. I gave her my sympathies and said a silent prayer of thankfulness that we are now only dealing with one allergy (we used to deal with milk and egg until early this year). I can't imagine dealing with 5 pages!!

In the end, I asked the doctor about possible treatments that I am hearing about for those allergic to peanuts. He gave me some very positive information. Since I have not written about what researchers are saying about this, I will save that (and what our doctor said) for tomorrow. There is a lot to say on this issue.

In the end, Tyler and I both feel better in the office of an allergist. He never questioned if he would be given peanuts, a shot, or a trip to the hospital (like he did with our former). I can't speak highly enough of this man that has really dedicated himself to helping moms like me keep their kids safe and healthy.


(**If you live in the metro-Detroit area and would like more information on our new doctor, please e-mail me and I will give you his name and the locations of his 2 offices.)