We got the results back on Gwen allergy panel. As I believe I mentioned earlier (or maybe I have told enough people by now that I just think I included it in the BLOG), this allergy panel is different and less accurate than the "fifty pricks with a needle" test that most of you are familiar with. In this case, they expose a sample of blood to the supposed allergin, and if you get a positive response, you are probably allergic; if you don't, then you may not be. Still, this is the preferred approach for kids Gwen's age because it is less traumatic. The reason she had this test at all is that the doctor suspected her frequent vomiting is related to reflux, but it is easier to reliably diagnose allergies than reflux at her age, so if she had come back allergy-free, the doctor would have started treating her for reflux.
Have I lost you yet? It boggles my mind, too.
Anyway, the only thing she came back positive on was wheat. I had kind of suspected this; she doesn't become violently ill upon eating wheat, but wheaty foods to tend to make her cough, vomiting usually followed a macaroni supper, and when her skin comes in contact with wheaty foods, she breaks out. She only registered a two on a scale of zero to six, so although she is not profoundly allergic, she is allergic all the same.
Anyway, to see if it helps, we are trying a trial period of eliminating wheat from her diet (welcome to day 2.) At first, Gwen was very concerned about this ("But I love wheat!" "What foods have wheat in them, honey?" "I don't know, but I LOVE it!") but she is starting to become enamored with some of the rice-based substitutes. So is Xavier, though we have to watch it with him, because a lot of the rice-based substitutes are made with white rice flour. Still, I am glad she does not have a serious allergy; if she eats some wheat, it may make her cough (or throw up), but it isn't life threatening. Thank god she isn't allergic to peanuts!
Well, on a lighter note ...
Xav and Gwen were watching a movie Gwen's Nana gave her for Christmas (about a girl who ends up becoming a "mother" to a bunch of Canada Geese -- if I was really ambitious, I would go downstairs and read the title, but ... I'm too tired, so I'm not.) I had to work, so I was not watching it with them, but when Gwen came to get me for supper, she told me it was about a girl raising swans. Then, when I joined them for the end of the movie, I saw for myself that they were Canada geese, so I set them straight. Then one of the geese gets injured, and loses a few pin feathers, so it can't fly.
"So, now I guess it is a duck," Xavier piped up.
We reassured him that it was still a goose, but he was pretty persistent. By the end of the movie, even Adam was calling them "ducks."
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Wheat allergy! How fun, I scored a little higher on the same test but like Gwen will not turn into a pumpkin, but it is best to avoid it. Of course on the skin prick test I am apparently not allergic to anything but tell my runny nose and bowels that. Anyway Annie Kay's and Eats have a huge gluten-free section. Some gluten free is worthwhile, most noodles are ok but avoid them unless they are rice noodles or specifcially state they are "not mushy." I also use a pizza crust mix that is decent - not all are, but I had to order a case of it as they quit carrying it - I think it is Namaste brand. Rice crackers are the bomb (yum fsctor good), some other types of crakers are kind of like wallboard paste. So you will have to try stuff out but like you said if she has a piece of toast or an occasional mac and cheese not too much will happen, and the reactions she does have may not be so dramtic when she is older.
Still would not rule out the reflix as barf on command is worrisome past a certain age.
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