A New Allergist...A Fresh Start

If there is one thing I don't deal very well with, it's change. Particularly when it comes to Tyler's medical care. I'm loyal and its hard for me to turn my back on a doctor that I have trusted in the past.

Since our incident with our allergist on June 30 where she assured me Tyler had outgrown his peanut allergy only to find out he had not, I've had issues with her. What concerns me is that she only determined his lack of an allergy based on his RAST score. There was no skin test done. Instead she gave him a bite of peanut butter and a trip to the ER.

What bothers me the most (besides an apparent lack of competence) is that she wanted me to do the peanut food challenge at home. I did the milk and egg challenge at home (which turned out fine but I still question the wisdom in that). But peanut?? I can't let me my mind wander to what would have happened if I had. Sure I would have given him the EpiPen and called 911. But I am not equipped (mentally or emotionally) to handle a reaction like he had. Umm...isn't that what doctors are for?

That dreadful day we were in her her office, she was almost condescending about my fear of doing the challenge at home. I heard her tell a nurse right before that "Mom was too scared to do the challenge at home." Yes, guilty as charged!!

When she gave him the peanut butter, I immediately could tell something was wrong with Tyler. I told her so and she told me he was fine. We had this conversation several time in two or three minutes. Then I noticed his lips swelling. I didn't say anything because I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. She told me he was fine!

About a minute after that is when the coughing and vomiting started and proof that my mothering instincts were right. After that incident I had some anger directed partly at her. I think the reasons are obvious.

The next week I went back in to meet with her, I was still very upset. In fact, I refused to take Tyler back in. She spent 30 minutes with me and I felt a little more comfortable, but what happened on June 30 can never be undone.

For this reason, my husband and I started talking about changing allergists. Again, I hate change!! But sometimes it is necessary. Before the incident, a girl at church told me how wonderful her allergist was. Then my pediatrician told me she knew of a wonderful allergist if I wanted to change. Turns out it was the same guy.

Once the incident happened, I wondered if this might be the guy to change to. A few weeks later, I met another mom that has a child with PA. Guess who her doctor is. Same guy. In fact, she told me he is the guy to go to for a peanut allergy in our area. Hmm....God is trying to tell me something here, I think.

So, I called his office yesterday to see if I could set up a consultation between him and myself. I feel a great deal of protection in regards to Tyler's PA and I don't want to make another mistake on trusting a bad doctor. His office said they would have to get back to me if he would meet with me without Tyler present. Huh?? I explained my reason and left it at that.

Two hours later the phone rang. It was the doctor!! He wanted to tell me personally he would meet with me and do whatever it took to make me feel comfortable. I gave him our history and went into detail about June 30. He told me he would not have done a peanut challenge based only on a RAST score.

That was all I needed to hear. He acknowledged our former doctor (who he knows) made a bad judgment call. Although I have requested some other allergy testing, he wants Tyler to meet him and feel comfortable first. Seriously, could I ask for a better doctor? This guy has already completely won me over.

So, August 13 will be our "meet and greet." Tyler will go and the doctor will try to help him (and me) feel at ease in the office of an allergist. One where my baby doesn't have to leave on a stretcher.

Yes, sometimes change is good!!