Food Allergies

[alt12867]

I am looking for someone out there who has a teenager who is suffering from major food allergies.

I have a 16 yr old daughter who, for the past 2 yrs, has been through hell on Earth. It all started when she began to experience abdominal and intestinal pain. She also had some pain under her right rib which seemed, to me, to be coming from her gallbladder. I first took her to her Pediatrician. That was a waste of time. I then tried GYN to see if it was female related.(yet another dead end) We took her to a GASTRO doc who performed a Colonscopy and EGD. All the test came back negative of Chrons or Celiac. Still no answers. I met a nurse who suggested we get a HIDA test done. So I took my daughter to a General surgeon who ordered the tests. The tests showed that her gallbladder wasn't

working and the doc recommended removal.Once removed things seemed better for a while. Then all the abdominal and intestinal issues came back. By this time we were at witts end. It was suggested we get another opinion from another Gastro doc. He suggested we see a shrink. I love it! When they can't find a diagnosis they suggest a shrink! So I took her. When I explained all she had been through, he said we needed to see an ENT/ Allergist. Apparently all the symptoms my daughter experienced were the same symptoms the Psychologist's son had experienced. So off we went to the allergist. She was tested and he found that she was allergic to soy, egg, wheat and chicken. All the tests that this doctor did are not covered by any health insurance's. He did provocation tests by giving her certain foods sublingually. You have do several days of eliminating the suspected foods then eat alot of them prior to testing. He was able to pin point the major allergies and symptoms of each allergy. Soy seems to be the worse one. She can feel the effects of soy as soon as it is swallowed. Egg gives her nasuea and some intestinal pain. Wheat gives her a headache and makes her fall asleep. The doctor was able to make drops from soy and wheat that neutralize the symptoms. It doesn't cure the allergy but at least she can try to have a normal teenage life. There aren't many docs out there who look at things holistically. We were forunate to find our doc. But now due to his retirement for some orthopedic problems, we are in search of another doc who actually gets this food allergy stuff. But however,

I can say just knowing what to avoid has made her life better.

I hope something I've said has helped some other mom or dad out there. You are not alone!

What's hard is reading all the labels. There are so many things not listed on them. I had no idea that MSG or mono and diglycerides were derived from soy.

[gfgypsyqueen]

Glad to hear you found the source of the problems. Your school system might be able to pass your contact info along to other parents whose kids have food allergies. Doubtful they will give you their names. Otherwise check with the hospital, local allergists, etc looking for support groups. R.O.C.K. is usually pretty strong. You may not find someone with the same allergies and issues, but it still might help. My kids appreciate the friends who have food allergies too. Makes them feel less alone.

[Guest Doll]

I'm not a teenager anymore (I wish! ) or a parent of a teenager but I DO have multiple food allergies in addition to Celiac. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.