We had quite a long day today. It started out at a pediatrician appointment. All was well there. Max is gaining weight, and growing in length. The nutritionist bumped him up on calories again. He's at the 5th percentile in weight, and 70th percentile in height. I'm happy for him to chunk up a bit more before winter, but he doesn't need to get ginormous! We'll start him on a new formula that will have a higher calorie count in lesser volume.
After the peds appointment, we went over to get a bite to eat before his allergy appointment. we hurried down a bowl of noodles and got back in time for our allergy appointment, that went on for another 2 hours. They got all of his medical history, focusing of course, on the allergy side of life.
The nurse came in to do the allergy tests, and after 15 minutes we saw that he was allergic to beef, pork, dogs, and the flu vaccine.
Beef and pork, he's eaten before, but has not had a reaction to. The doctor told us it is likely the gelatin from these that causes problems in Max. When I asked why he didn't react to eating them, or Jello, he said, it wasn't injected into him. Point taken.
Dogs, the dr. said it is likely Max has grown so used to Olive that she doesn't bother him. She does not shed, and being that she is a comfort dog to Max, he saw no reason to get her into a new home. He did say that he would probably have issues with other dogs. We've seen that happen with a friend's dogs before, so now we know.
The flu vaccine was what we went in for. To see what he was allergic to, to hopefully get to the bottom of whether or not he could get the flu vaccine. This was the biggest reaction of them all. The biggest red dot and whelp. The dr. told us that when kids are allergic to eggs (which Max is not.), they do a course of shots, in small increments until the whole dose is given. They will admit him into the E.D. and place an IV before they will give him the vaccine. They will start with a very small dose. If he does okay with that, they will continue on. If he has any sort of reaction, they will quit it there.
There is a risk that he will have a reaction to the vaccine, but it is important to us for him to be protected as well as he can to the flu. But we leave it up to the doctors' discretion as to whether or not he should have it. If not, it's going to be a long winter! But if he can, we will just have to be very cautious, hence the dramatic ER scene. :)
He's back on his allergy meds, and even got another one added onto his list for his itchy eyes.
Days like this exhaust me. They drain all of the energy right out. Telling and re-telling his life story. Remembering the smallest details from 4 years ago. Convincing new doctors that you know what you are talking about, and making sure they are keeping all of it straight.
But, I am good at it. I'm really good at it. Steve and I both are. We're an incredible team.
