I'm worried that you don't have an Epi-Pen, so consider taking steps to get one as soon as possible, even if it means bothering one of the doctors. With a reaction like what your son had, they could have even prescribed one for you in the ER. So you might call your doctor and make the request, and if that doesn't work, see if the allergist will do it before your appointment, or even the DAN doctor. This is a safety precaution you should have on hand - our allergist believes every household should have one regardless of allergy history - it's a lifesaving device.
But really, your experience with pediatricians is typical, unfortunately, it's what I've experienced and I've heard the same from hundreds of parents. You just have to persist through to find a good allergist (and this isn't so easy either). Food allergies can be hard to diagnose and treat, and many docs just don't want to bother with it.
Now, as for the allergy testing - it could be that your son had false negatives on the test, it could be that he has IgG mediated immune responses ("intolerances") instead of classic IgE-mediated responses (classic "allergies") which is what the allergists generally limit their testing to, or, your son could be reacting to something that wasn't tested for. Since your son is still symptomatic (itching), there's still work to do to identify the trigger. Let's narrow it down a bit. How old is your son? Does he have asthma, or any skin rashes? When did they start? When did his itching begin? Does he have any history of reflux, vomiting, GI problems, unexplained headaches or respiratory symptoms, earaches?
I want to focus especially on the itching. It's very likely to be eczema, and the majority of infant/child eczema is triggered by food allergies. Can you tell me the history of the itching and any rashes or skin problems he's had in his life? Does it ever flare, or get better or worse?
We can track this down. Just because the docs are ignorant doesn't mean your son's symptoms aren't real and can't be helped. Any well-educated doctor would do exactly the same thing I can do to help you identify the cause.
Suzanne
-------------- Original message from "tn21284" <tn21284@...>: --------------
Suzanne,
Thank you so much for your reply. I agree with you about the
pediatrician, I didn't think he took it as seriously as he should
have. When I asked him about the Epipen, he said he didn't need one.
Huh? The other pediatricians we saw were just as casual about it. We
have appts. with two other doctors coming up (the DAN doctor and an
immunologist/allergist), and I will ask them about it as well. As far
as the testing, he tested negative for 15 foods, including the
standard 8 (milk, wheat, soy, nuts, etc.) I'm wondering if it is MSG
or onion, since they are in the chips and dip he was allergic to.
Although, I cook with small amounts of onion and haven't noticed a
problem before. I'm reading the labels of everything now. The
pediatrician said that he had hives himself for a year and that some
kids just get them for no apparent reason, but I still think it is
worth looking for the reason, since this is a new
problem for my son.
Trista
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