(This is the final post in a three part series on food allergies by Molly Ridenhour.)
Six years into our journey, things began to change! At an annual allergy appointment, our beloved allergist suggested a food challenge! Mack’s number (annual blood work and skin tests) showed that he may be outgrowing his dairy allergy.
We scheduled challenges. Mack successfully passed a baked dairy challenge eating an entire muffin, baked with milk, over the course of several hours with no reaction. After several months of muffins, Mack successfully ate half of a cheese pizza in the doctor’s office. Another challenge passed and another childhood dream come true – he could eat real pizza!
After several months of tolerating pizza, our allergist decided he was ready to proceed with full dairy. We promptly scheduled an appointment and showed up bright and early one morning, with a half gallon of vanilla ice cream in hand.
I nervously sat as they gave him the first tiny bite. I was nervous but couldn’t stop selfishly daydreaming of the reintroduction of ALL dairy goodness back into our family’s meals. Cheese, milk, creams, ice cream, BUTTER! I was excited. But within the first few minutes, the reaction began. Luckily, it was minor and was able to be stopped before progressing beyond an itchy throat. While it was a devastating fail in that moment, it was progress.
Fast forward six months, and we were there again! This time, instead of ice cream, Mack challenged yogurt. And he passed!!! After now SEVEN long years, we had dairy back!!
New foods, new likes, new dislikes. It’s been really fun to watch an older child describe new foods for the first time. Not exotic foods, but the common foods kids typically indulge in before they can even speak. Macaroni and cheese (not a fan!), cheese sticks (nope!), go-gurt (never!), and more. Chocolate ice cream is by far his favorite.
Now, after eight years on this journey, Mack can tolerate baked egg. He is on track to fully outgrow his egg allergy within the next year. Our prayer is that this will happen.
Seafood is no longer off limits (after testing negative many times over). Peanuts and tree nuts are still off-limits, but the research and treatments on the horizon are exciting! We hope to be a part of desensitization treatment in the next few years.
As I’ve said time and time again. Allergies have been a challenge, but not a sentence. Because others have been so kind to share their experiences, their failures and their successes, we’ve been able to live more…and better! We’ve got this now. We know what to do and we often know what to expect. For others that are just starting on this ride, I only hope that I can be the same blessing that so many others were to us eight years ago.
Thank you for letting me share Mack’s story – our story – and for taking the time to see the experiences that have fueled my passion for helping others on an allergy journey. I’m looking forward to sharing recipes, products, tips and tricks regularly!
I want to hear from you! Have you been affected by allergies? Have questions or want me to share certain experiences? Let me know!
That is great news! He must be so excited has a freedom with the food choice! My little one is 5 years old, her blood test and IG test still very high for dairy and nuts, hoping she will outgrow her allergy like your son soon!
Hi Ina! You’re right — it is fun to see him taste and experience new foods that are so common to most of us!
I have huge hopes that your daughter grows out of her allergies soon too! My son was 7 before he fully grew out of his dairy allergy!
How interesting that different form of foods give him different/some reactions! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for taking the time to read! It is so interesting…and confusing!
We’re on the other end of the food allergy spectrum. My daughter’s allergies showed up during her late teen years as intolerances and have progressively worsened. Now, at 30 yrs. old, she can’t have dairy, wheat, most preservatives (boy is this one challenging), and some fruits. While she isn’t living with us, the whole family has embarked on a journey to learning to read labels, cook completely from scratch and educate extended family. I’m happy your son is outgrowing his allergies. It truly is life altering.
Thanks for sharing Kelli! A later in life diagnosis must be so challenging. I’ve often said that it was a blessing that Mack’s diagnosis came at age one.
I know how you feel. My daughter is on a round of antibiotics now, so the African Dust warning scared me.
Thanks for sharing!
Congrats, Mack! Enjoy all those yummy treats!
Yes!!
That’s great news! We had gluten and dairy allergies and it was terrible how careful you have to be.
Strict avoidance does require a lot of planning and effort. So sorry you deal with this as well!
Congratulations! I can’t imagine how hard it would be to have one food allergy, let alone so many. He’s a total trooper!
He’s amazing! 🙂
Wow, Mack must be so excited to finally be able to enjoy these new foods! I started developing some minor food allergies within the last 10 years or so myself and have been too much of a chicken to see a doctor about it; maybe I’ll finally do it soon!
Hi Noelle! So sorry you developed allergies as well. Getting checked is quite a pain, but worth it.
What a joy it must be for him to experience so many new things. And what a relief for you. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, it is! Thanks!
That is awesome that he is able to enjoy some great new foods. My daughter is on a strict diet from a rare metabolic disorder and I know she struggles with not being able to eat more than a bite of so many foods.
Hi Rosie! Food is such a struggle for so many. I’m sorry your daughter has to deal with restrictions too.
Food allergies are on the rise. Glad you are catching them early!
Yes, they are!
That’s fabulous!!! Great news!!!! We are egg, peanut and tree nut (all anaphylactic reactions), but not at the stage where an allergist is willing to do a challenge. We’ve been on this journey for over twelve years and are glad that we are down to these three. I’m REALLY glad to hear that things are going well for you and here’s praying that, in time, you will be able to introduce peanuts and nuts back into his diet again! Yay!!!!
Hi T.M.! It’s always good to know we are not on this journey alone. I am so sorry that you are still struggling with severe allergies even 12 years in. My hope is that you can outgrow at least some of them soon.
Not a mac and cheese fan??? I’m so sad 🙂
We’re working on it!!
That’s great news – he must be so excited! 🙂
yes!
I have several food intolerances; i can do limited dairy (raw and hard cheeses with lots of good bacteria; eggs, and butter) but no milk or ice cream. They affect my IBS and my breathing. Luckily, there are so many alternatives nowadays for those with food intolerances. But it is so much harder for a child to have to deal with allergies, especially if they are life threatening. Glad he has made it through!
Ahh, avoiding dairy is so hard! Thank you!
What great news! I had no idea the kids grew out of food allergies! Yay for more possibilities and less specialized shopping!
They can. But they don’t always. So thankful to have grown out of dairy and partially out of egg!
No food allergies over here, but one of my daughters had anxiety related to most foods, many therapies later and I’m finally seeing improvements… but I know the feeling of seeing her eat things she didn’t eat before!
How frustrating! I am so happy for you that she is seeing improvements!