Sunday, March 27, 2011

Any advice?

I believe Miss M has a latex allergy. A bit of history:

When she got her 4 month immunisations, she had marks on her thighs for two weeks from the bandaid. Right around the time she started rolling over and sleeping on her stomach, she began waking up with puffy, red mouth, cheeks, and eyes. I didn't make any connections at the time, but instead thought that perhaps it was because I was eating a lot of nuts, so I cut all nuts out of my diet, but with no real improvement in her skin. She was happier and had much less wind/gas, but her skin seemed to be in a constant state of redness, peeling, and in some cases, weeping. I tried a new kind of nappy, and that night she woke up screaming, her whole body was bright red, her eyes were swollen, and I didn't know what to think. I went back to the old nappies, replaced her rubber sheet with a towel, and she improved dramatically. I began to notice that if she wears clothing with exposed elastic, she breaks out everywhere the elastic touches. When she started solids, she broke out after trying both avocado and banana, both recommended 'first foods' for infants. Yesterday, she played on a foam alphabet puzzle mat for a while, and last night her skin was angry, red, and splotchy all over her body. So it seems reasonable to deduce that she has a latex allergy. Except that given her age, there's no way to confirm it. Skin prick testing isn't done on children under two years of age. I can't use antihistamines in case of accidental exposure, because she's too young. I honestly am not sure of what to do here. I can to some degree control her environment, but there are so many products out there which contain latex, some of which I wouldn't even think twice about. Manufacturers aren't required by law to list latex as an allergen, so the only way to find out is to call the manufacturer directly. I'm making an appointment with our family doctor for some advice, but in the meantime, how do I control her external environment? I don't want to be over the top, but the reaction seems to be getting worse/more immediate each time. So do I start stocking up on latex-free bandaids and gloves, and create my own allergy management plan, for when she's in the care of others?
Do I tell the doctor when we visit that she's allergic to latex? When I took her for her 6 month immunisations, I requested no bandaids, and explained a bit - they were happy to comply with that. Because she's not crawling yet, I haven't been through the toys and evaluated them for safety, but I'm considering going through them and removing all toys that could contain latex, as well as separating out appropriate toys just for M, and putting them into a special container.

Gah. Allergies stink. If we're not managing nut allergies, it's dust. And now this.

Thanks for listening (reading).
XO,
Sarah

2 kind words:

Heather said...

Jack is sensitive too.

At the dr, ask for PAPER tape only. This doesn't contain latex. They can put a cotton ball on the shot site, and cover it with the paper tape...a ghetto sort of bandaid but it works.

I would keep the nappies that work.

Pack a towel to lay on top of whatever you lay her down on that is plastic. That way, she is "safe"...

And until you get some results, I will pray and send lots of love

xoxox

Krista said...

Oh man, I have no thoughts to add, but that's rough. Although good for you Mama, for figuring it out on your own! I probably wouldn't have. My boys both have what I assume is excema although it's mostly on fingers and feet. And the doctor has no ideas. :( We've got an appointment with a naturopath for June (maternity leave and all it's a ways out) so I'm hoping she might have some more suggestions.