Allergy tests

Paige had her allergy appointment today and, as expected, she is allergic to milk (see the red spot on the lower left hand 'dot'). We won't know how severe the allergy is until her blood test comes back but you can see her reaction to the scratch test was pretty wicked....but not nearly as wicked as getting the blood drawn. When Paige has gotten her vaccines my very unmotherly reaction has been to laugh. I know it sounds cruel but its over in just a few seconds...I assure you its nervous laughter only. Holding her down for blood work though...really tough, not funny.

You can barely see the egg test but the doctor we saw today thinks she may be allergic to egg too. Do you know HOW MANY products contain milk and egg? The milk allergy we can handle, it will be a big change but...do-able. If her blood work comes back as positive for egg allergy too...could change a lot of things for us?

The doctor has told us that "complete avoidance of products containing milk" is crucial for at least the next two years (milk, yogurt, cheese, sour cream, cream-of-soups, ice cream, instant oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, most baked goods like pancakes, muffins, cake. Also foods like cool whip, deli meat cut on the same machines as cheese even canned tuna may contain casein, a milk protein....sigh) So, we've stared reading labels, have had to re-think restaurant eating, learned about kosher foods (specifically parve). We are eager to experiment with some things, get cooking with soy milk etc but....I have to be honest, I'm kind of sad and more than a little nervous that this could be a hard transition and a dangerous situation. I'm kind of unnerved that we have a prescription for an epipen. I'm worried that because other people who might be serving her food don't love her the way we do they could be careless or reckless.

Its been a lot to think about in a short amount of time and I'm sure this post was a bit on the rambly side. The food allergy and anaphalaxis network seems to have a helpful website and recipes for just about anything (not containing just about anything) are readily available on line I suppose. I could really go for a piece of egg/milk free chocolate cake right about now.....

-Jenny