[GingerR]

Hi everyone,

Awhile back I explained some behavior problems with our dd (adopted from foster care) that seemed to be bordering extreme for her age.

Someone suggested checking for allergies, because many times they go undiagnosed and behavior problems result.

Sure enough, this summer after a brief stomach virus, she started breaking out in hives, and waking up with her lips and face swollen so bad she was almost unrecognizable. I have taken her to her pediatrician 4 times on the matter, a gastroenterologist because the stomach problems have continued, and tomorrow I'll be taking her to see an allergist for the 2nd time. We've pretty much ruled out a food allergy via process of elimination.

Right now she takes Miralax daily for constipation, and Zyrtec daily to keep the hives and swelling under control. All well and good for treating the symptoms, but still it is not getting to the root of the cause.

I know with all the kids coming and going, some of you have probably dealt with a similar problem. Did you ever get an answer? This has been going on for months and we are no closer to an answer then we were in July. Very frustrating! And I know she can't possibly feel well, or at least as good as she should.

Thanks for any feedback,

GingerR

[MommyAlysia]

have they taken her for allergy testing yet?

[melissa_bear003]

Poor little one, and you too! Having your child so obviously unwell and not knowing why or how to fix it has got to be one of the harder parts of parenting! I hope they figure it out soon!

[mrstkg1]

I am an expert on this as I am the patient, please never put her on prednisone no matter how bad it gets. What finally worked for me is a Chinese herbalist, see if there is a good one in your town. I still take a Zyrtec every day, but this is usually an immune system problem that can be flared up by stress.

Of course, it can be a plain allergic reaction too, but if everything is ruled out that she might be allergic to, I'd bet my eye teeth that she needs her immune system revved up. Also know if you have never experienced it, hives and angioedema is very painful and energy sapping.

If I can help, please PM me, I have suffered on and off with this for 20 years and my mother before me.

Sounds like she is doing good, hopefully she can stay on track going forward.

[jllambert]

I want to agree with "mrstkg1" I thought right away that it sounds more like an immune system problem! You might mention this to all the other doctors, and research Immune system problems (autoimmune problems) that include chronic Hives. Have they done blood work on her?
Good luck! It is so stressful to have a sick child that you can't seem to get well!

[chevyjewel]

I'm dealing with a similar problem. My nearly one year old fd has been fighting with hives since she came to us in June. Nearly every time she eats she gets a rash around her mouth, sometimes all over her face. She scratches her body compulsively, gouging pretty hard at times so we have to be sure she's always got a onesie on and pants. I have to scrunchie washclothes over her hands while bathing her or she'll go so hard at her skin she'll bleed. I keep her in hoodies because lately she's also going for the back of her neck too. I have tried Dreft thinking it might be something in that direction, I recently had her doc do some bloodwork testing her for allergies, all of which came back negative, I've tried switching bath soaps for her (all kiddo products specifically for sensitive skin) still no cigar.

It's been awful and I'm out of ideas. After all that her doc now has an "oh well" attitude and it's so very frustrating. I'm on the verge of saying forget it with her and switching pediatricians all together.

She's been on Cetirizine (generic for Zyrtec) for awhile now but it's not helped at all. Frankly, I don't know why I have to keep giving it.

As far as behaviors she's angry and irritated nearly all the time. You know how usually when a baby drops a toy, wakes up from nap, is hungry or frustrated they'll start out vocalizing, then maybe whimpering and then thing's will escalate from there. Not her. She goes straight to ticked off, brows furrowed so hard you think they're going to stay that way forever, ready to rip your hair out, gouge your skin, slap or punch whatever is within in reach, fingernails on a chalkboard blood curdling SCREAMING in a second flat. There are seriously some days I'd like to jump out the window and run away forever.


I'm not sure exactly what behaviors you're dealing with (or even how old the child is you're talking about) but I do feel your pain!!!!!! If you do manage to figure anything out I'd sure appreciate an update from you for sure!!!

[aedems]

Just a suggestion, but try taking her off food groups one at a time, keep strict journaling on foods she eats, etc. Unfortunately allergy testing does not take into account all foods....try taking out gluten first, then dairy, fruits, nuts, etc. My sister was allergic to strawberries/strawberry flavoring found in certain candies and lip gloss.

Also do not use any inhalants (perfumes, hairsprays, air cleaners)....and then again add them one at a time.

Also keep latex in the back of your mind....google it, you would be amazed what it is in.

[GingerR]

Thanks for the replies... I am taking her back to the allergist tomorrow and hopefully this time he will do bloodwork, although I think they're going to start with skin tests to see if she has any dust, pollen, etc... type allergies. I'm sure she will, almost everyone does.

Everything I've read seems to point to an auto-immune reaction. I'm all-too familiar with AI disorders, having RA myself.

I've been journaling her food, but the doctor said if she were getting hives from a food allergy, they would appear almost immediately, and they usually don't appear until the middle of the night.

Thank you again for sharing your stories, and hang in there for those of you going through it yourselves or who have a child going through it. Argh, indeed!

[kxl164]

Could it be her mattress, bedding, stuffed animals?

I'm sure you have thought of all this. My sister had hives on and off as a child, my Mom couldn't figure out why and my sister was miserable for a while. Later it got worse, much worse, always at night.

Here, we had been given hand-me-down clothes off and on from a friend. Later they gave our family a stuffed chair. The family had cats. It took almost a year for my Mom to realize that my sister was allergic to cats, she never would have except for the chair, my Mom cleaned it of course, but there was cat hair in the chair itself.

My Mom brought it up the doctor, and they were right. We got rid of the chair and didn't accept bags from the family again, although my Mom did thank them of course.

My sister is allergic to cats, and she doesn't even have to be near them, a friend can have a cat and have cat hair/dander on their clothes and she will break out.

Since your daughter's is on and off, maybe it is something that she comes in contact with through someone else. My sister hardly spent anytime in our living room, we played in the basement and only watched TV with the family from 7-7:30 (Wheel of Fortune), she would get the hives either after she went to bed.

Just another thought to add to the many, many ones you are pondering already.

Best of luck!

[onhazier]

Is her allergist also an immunologist? If not, consider switching to one that is both.

My allergist is also an immunologist. I was sent to her to figure out why I was chronicly sick after my general practioner was out of ideas. She started by doing allergy tests to see what I was allergic to and then moved to several specialized blood tests. It was her work that led her to recommend I see a hematologist/oncologist because I really needed a doctor who specialized in blood disorders.

The immune system is an extremely complex system that we don't fully understand yet. Allergies are a symptom of immune system responses to foreign items such as pollen and dander. However, our immune system can turn against our own bodies. In my case, my immune system kills my neutrophils (bacteria fighting white blood cells). As others have suggested, your dd may be having a strong reaction to something other than food.

Honestly, the allergist/immunologist can be a critical component for getting the correct diagnosis and treatment approach. Good luck to you and your dd.

[marathonmom]

I suffered from chronic hives for years, sometimes getting them 5-6 times a day. After many visits to the doctor/allergist I was finally diagnosed with an allergy to all fragrances and artificial ingredients added soap, shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent ect. Once I started using natural, fragrance free products my hives got much better. I almost never get them anymore. I like Burt's Bees soaps and lotions and Tide Free laundry detergent. Hope this helps!