We can’t set foot into CHOP and not have it be an adventure. This morning was Aaron’s yearly allergy testing, asthma check-up, hey I need a letter of medical need for medical assistance appointment. Aaron is supposed to have a food challenge for egg in April. I had concerns because since we have never had true winter here in Philly Aaron has not gotten his winter reprieve from asthma. He has had the worst winter and just last week woke up coughing till he threw up twice in the middle of the night. Of course now he also has a cold and runny nose on top of the asthma.
The doctor started by quizzing Aaron on what food he needs to avoid, if he had cats and dogs, and if anyone in the house smoked. She was impressed how he could rattle off his allergies and could advocate for himself when it came to foods. He answered her dog and cat question with, we don’t have anything furry, I’m allergic, frowny face. Then he had his asthma test. They thought his airways were in good enough shape for him to have his food allergy skin testing.
Aaron’s skin testing did not go well. Since he had a pretty severe reaction to milk earlier this year, they skipped skin testing that. They then tested egg, peanut, beef, and pork. The reaction to egg was a quarter of what it was last year. The rest of his reactions were double or more what they were last year. Yes, more, meaning worse. Poor Aaron was complaining his arm felt on fire and within ten minutes he was having an asthma attack and throwing up just from having his allergens on his arm. They gave him some benadryl and the reaction calmed down but that was really scary for a minute. If he reacts to his allergens like this on his arm what would happen if he ingested anything with an allergen? After the visit they also took his blood to do RAST testing. I am interested to see those results.
We have to get Aaron’s asthma under control to have the egg food challenge. Starting today for a month I am to give him Flovent inhaler,two puffs, twice a day for a month. Then in March go to one puff twice a day. We go back to the allergist in March to see if the asthma is under control enough to do the egg challenge. If it is not we will have to delay the challenge till it is controlled enough.
It sucks. His allergies are becoming scarier and I have to remember his epi pen at ALL times. I usually carry if he is going to eat or we go far from home, but sometimes if we are dashing out I don’t bring it. After today and seeing how sick he got from skin contact with his allergens that pen will be with us ALWAYS.
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