Need Help Understanding Allergy Symptoms

L.
It sounds like there are a lot of things going on with your daughter. First off, a food allergy is an abnormal response to food triggered by the body’s immune system. The symptoms of a food allergy can range from a runny nose, coughing to hives or anaphylactic shock. The best way to determine if there is a food allergy is to keep a food journal and modify her diet. Keep track of what she eats, how soon does the reaction occur, what is the reaction, how much did she eat before the reaction, and how was the food prepared. You may also try an elimination diet, this constitutes removing all food and drink that you suspect she is allergic to as well as possible related foods (if you suspect peanuts then eliminate foods such as certain food additives, vegetable proteins, ethnic foods and artificial flavorings (all of which may include nuts).
Another thing that I would do is take her to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are not neck and back pain doctors, we are nervous system doctors. Our bodies are self healing and self organizing. The central nervous system (our brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that branch out of the spinal cord and go to the cells, tissues, and organs in our bodies) control how our bodies heal and organize itself. If there is any interference in the communication of our nervous system with the body, then there will either be increased activity or decreased activity, either way the body is no longer functioning at it’s highest potential. Chiropractors call this interference a subluxation (sub-lux-a-tion). This interference/subluxation is caused by three major life stresses- Physical stress (trauma, repetitive motions, poor posture); Biochemical stress (preservatives in food, drugs- prescription and over the counter, alcohol, smoking); and Mental or Emotional stress.
The fact that your daughter’s body is reacting adversely to certain foods means that there is some kind of interference in her system. If this interference is due to a subluxation, then a chiropractor is able to remove these subluxations and let your daughter’s body heal itself and accommodate to outside factors easier.
I am a Chiropractor at Khalil Family Chiropractic and Wellness, in Eastpointe, MI. Feel free to contact our office for any questions. Our office number is ###-###-#### and our email is www.kahlilwellness.com

Yours in health and wellness
Dr. B.

L., welcome to MI and the world of allergies. One I can assure you, that it is of importance to have a very good asthma/allergist to help you figure out what the bottom line is with your daughters allergies...my son who is 15mnths started developing allergies at just 4months so just imagine, and now that he is walking and talking it is imperative that we watch what he eats and how he reacts to what he consumes...my pediatric allergist is DR. Savaliwala he is located in bloomfield off of square lake and woodward, if you can get in there to see him, and two my sister is a scrap booker so if you are looking for someone who loves that she is one she has done several beautiful books for me...cuz i am definitely too busy to do that kindof thing...well just giving you a open response and for drinking milk before bed, try organic juice slightly warm, and with the colds see an allergist talk to you soon

I had a similar situation with my 10 year old. When he was three he diagnosed with asthma on a routine dr. visit. I thought he had a cold. Then with the asthma came one allergy after another. I am not trying to scare you, but make an appointment with a doctor who will really work to find out what's going on with her, or ask the doctor to refer you to an allergist. My son had an allergy test (I'm not sure what age they start with the skin test on the back), but he was allergic to trees, grass, ragweed, mold, dust mites, eggs, tree nuts, cats, and dogs.

With eggs he would vomit almost immediately. With tree nuts, he develops hives and swelling in his face and throat. I drank lots of milk when I was pregnant, and my son was born with eczema. During the stage when he drank the most cow's milk, his eczema was to the point where his skin was as thick and dark as leather because he scratched it so much. NO doctors ever told me to keep him away from dairy, but I noticed that as he backed off of milk, his eczema got much better. Now I give him soy milk as well and he's doing much better than before as far as his skin goes. He also gets the allergy shot Xolair because of the extent of his allergies and their effect on his asthma.

Make sure you have her tested so you know how to deal with her healthwise. And be diligent!!! Nowadays doctors can be so overwhelmed with patient loads that they don't get in depth with each patient until someone makes a fuss. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!! Hope she gets better, soon!!!

Having to deal with regular allergies is one thing and then you can sometimes prolong those nasty allergy tests, but coming from someone who has family members and friends with food allergies; PLEASE PLEASE contact your doctor and talk to them to help you find an allergist. Food allergies are not necessarly along the same lines of tests and talking to a few people I have been told their are not tests that are done with a simple blood draw. Food allergies are not something to blow off. Some children are so allergic to peanut butter all they have to do is smell it and they go into shock.

A friend of mine if she eats the wrong thing her blood thins out and she will bleed internally. Yes I know it sounds like an exageration, but I did see her get very sick onetime when she ate MSG without realizing it. My cousin has a couple food allergies and they will put her in the hospital for a week if she isn't careful.

Keep a food journal, and no turning blue in the lips or face is never ok. If you really are having a problem finding a doctor who can help, try Childrens Hospital of Detroit, the new specialist center here in Macomb is opening soon so they may be able to help with referrals.

Good luck and please becareful with what you feed your child!

Are her other allergies food related? If so, you really should keep a food log, and find out what is causing her problems. Reactions to food allergies come on quickly, within a few minutes. If she seems to have problems tolerating several different kinds of food, you may want to make sure she does not have a gluten allergy, which can cause problems digesting milk,and can severly affect the digestive tract. Once you figure out what is triggering her reactions, with the help of your doctor, you can avoid the triggers, and be less stressed.

You need to have her tested for allergies to determine if she is having a true allergic reaction or not. If she is not having a true allergic reaction, I would still advise you to stop giving her milk if this is something you suspect is causing her to have adverse reactions of any type. Why expose your child to something that is doing her harm?

With the intollerances, I would ask your doctor, because you haven't mentioned what they are or the reactions, but with the milk, I don't know if I would jump to the conclusion of an allergy. Because of the phlem, which drains in her little stomach because she doesn't cough it up, it could just be upsetting her stomach, causing her to throw it up. I honestly don't think the milk problem is allergies, but I'm no doctor. I would first do a thorough cleaning (being cooped up in the house all winter with the dust from the furnace) and consider an air cleaner maybe for the room she sleeps in. From what you say, she has a lot of phlem, which children will get because they don't blow their nose like adults will; I honestly think this may be a case of sinuses, which even little ones can get. My grandson (just turned six weeks) even had a case of sinuses, and we're still "fighting" it, to a degree. (I think his came from the winter dust and debri; I'll be glad when we can open up the house)If all she has is the stuffy nose, and phlem without the rest of the cold symptoms (cough, fever, etc) then I would consider the environment, and change your furnace filter, and if you have older children, they're always coming home carrying viruses from being with school children. I would keep a can of Clorox Spray handy and spray down all the fixtures, door handles, etc. Again, I'm no doctor, but before I would put my little one through all those allergy tests (I went through them... they aren't fun! Even as an adult!) I would look into that, first. But first and formost, call your doctor, tell him/her what is going on.

Hope she feels better soon, and The warm weather will be here soon, and we can ALL let the dust out! I'm ready to spring clean and get the stink out from this cold winter!!

Michigan is hard on allergies. I know people who never had a problem until they moved to Michigan. My son has extreme allergies and after finding a great allergist he has almost no problems. The congestion needs to be dealt with. Contact your Dr. and go to an allergist. I was so against doing this and medication until I saw the difference in my child. He is almost normal with only one or two allergy attacks a year now. And the good part is he only takes an allergy pill in the morning. He use to take several meds and it was awful. Good luck!

Diary is had to tolerate when kids are congested. I would eliminate it if she has a severe cold.

My brother and Mom had bad milk allegeries. They had diarehea and vomiting every time they had milk or milk products. If your daughter is only getting sick at night- I think it may be more related to the flem than an actual allergy.

Lactose is a common allergy, but there could also be other factors involved...

My son has a small lactose allergy I think, but we limit how much milk and dairy he is allowed.

Diet is very important and has a HUGE impact on our health. (more than many can realize or will sometimes admit to.).
Try talking to your doctor, or even seeking out a Nutritionist. Don't worry... It will work out! :)