Allergy Reaction?

Rey was on Elecare, a corn-based elemental formula that is used normally with feeding tubes; and I stopped giving him the formula for two reasons: a) his latest blood test showed that he was allergic to corn; b)corn syrup solids. Need to say more? I started giving him rice milk, but he wouldn't drink it. He loves soy milk, but in the latest blood test, it showed he was allergic to soy also! I was trying to find an alternative; and days passed, and I had no choice but to give him soy milk. He started having eczema again, and I was suspecting the soy. I tried again rice milk, with Living Fuel berry powder, and he was happy. But I noticed that his stools were too loose; which is not normal for him. I took away the Living Fuel powder, but he wouldn't drink the rice milk. So I had to go back to soy milk. His loose stools continued; that means that it was not the Living Fuel powder. It was the soy! The eczema, the rashes, the loose stool... he hadn't reacted like that before to soy. A year ago, a skin test showed that his allergy to soy was 0! Rey has an endoscopy soon, so I am more than curious to see how he is doing, and what has the soy have done to him.

Endoscopy

Two days ago, I had to take my son, Rey, to the hospital for an endoscopy procedure. It is his second time having this procedure; the first one was done in 2006, where he was diagnosed with Eosinophillic Esophagitis.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there had to be something that would be revealed with this procedure. Rey coughs a lot, and we thought it may be because of his pica; he eats carpet fibers, paper, anything he can get a hold of; even his plush blanket; which I had to switch for a comforter.

His GI doctor performed the procedure, and when he came to pick us up from the waiting room, I know it wouldn't be good. Dr. showed us the pictures of his esophagus, and there were the eosinophils, and the rings that indicate his Eosinophillic Esophagitis getting worse. He quickly suggested feeding tube, and I refused. My son loves to eat; he wouldn't say no to any fruit; he loves rice, beans, avocado, carrots, sweet potatoes. I know that feeding tubes in some cases are neccesary, but not for my son! He is way too hyperactive (and he only consumes sugar from fresh fruit) to have a feeding tube. Dr. was very understanding, but recommended the Elecare again.

I took the pictures to my family, who still feeds him fried food such as nuggets from time to time, and showed them how that food affects his esophagus. I think it was a wake up call for them. I removed soy completely from his diet, and for now, I am trying the rice milk again, although he doesn't seem to like it much. I also am giving him back the Living Fuel powder too.

Finally... a diagnosis?

I took Rey, my 3 year old son to the Neurodevelopmental doctor for a follow up. They did the routine development tests, and he is mentally and cognitively the age of 16 months (he is 3 years old now). I have been waiting for a diagnosis on his global developmental delay, white matter disease, etc. but still no words from the Doctor.

Days after the Dr's visit, I got in the mail a routine copy of a letter sent to my son's physician. I started reading... and there I saw the diagnosis. Or is it just a fancy name for my son's Global Developmental delays? Congenital Encephalopathy. Doesn't sound good. I am scared. What does this mean? I googled it, but it didn't make sense. When my son was born, he was perfect! The only issue was his feeding; he was not able to feed properly. Now, after researching on his disease, I know for a fact that his feeding issue was related to low tone in the muscles of his jaw area (which he still has) that may be caused to this Encephalopathy. But it doesn't end there. He has some type of seizure that is related to paroxysms, and myoclonic jerks. So maybe that Encephalopathy is a fancy name after all; because last time I was in the Dr. they didn't know what to do with my son; extensive genetic tests have been made, and everything came back negative, thank God. For now, I will just leave things to God, love my son and spend more time with him, and feed him as whole and natural as possible. Hopefully we can overcome all these delays, seizures one day with nutrition.

Visit to the Naturopath

My 3 year old son, Rey, has been seeing a naturopath for about 3 months now. He has so many issues; and we are taking it slowly. He has multiple food/seasonal allergies, ear infections, developmental delays, Eosinophillic Esophagitis, low muscle tone, white matter disease, etc.

I feed my son as best, natural and wholesome as possible. He eats brown rice cereal, rice, beans (all kinds), avocados, veggies ( his favorites are squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes), and all types of fruits, which he loves. Sometimes I give him some cubed or diced chicken in his rice, or prepare him nuggets with antibiotic free chicken breasts; and cut potatoes as fries, and bake them in the oven. I do not give him any candy, or anything he is allergic to: dairy, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, pork, wheat, oats.

We are trying a homeopathic remedy at a time. So far, it had improved some aspects like the constant gagging in the morning is gone. I addressed to the ND my concern for him being underweight; he is significantly below the lowest percentile in weight; and the doctor told me that because of his potential of grains to be allergenic for my son, try to give him more protein in chicken and turkey. As much as I don't want to give him meat, and him not caring for it, I may need to buy some antibiotic free chicken and turkey and give it to my son, and see if he gains a little. I made him yesterday rice pasta with turkey meatballs, and so far it was a success. I had to give him the meatballs since if I added it to his plate, he will not eat it.

I hope that Rey will be able to gain some weight, he is 3 years old and 24 pounds! He has an endoscopy soon, and an appointment with his developmental pediatrician. Last time, he was classified as a 10 month old baby, in terms of mental development. I hope that they find him to be more than 10 months in the next visit. He also has an endoscopy soon, and a follow up neurology appointment to address the results of the Video EEG he had back in November; which came back abnormal; something related to paroxysmal seizure, or something like that.

Also Janelys has an appointment with her GI doctor soon, we are planning to ask for a blood test to find out her allergies. She is now allergic to milk, but I am scared to give her nuts because of Rey's allergies.

Starting Table Foods

My 9 month old baby is ready to move from pureed foods to more solid foods. Currently, I give her for breakfast pureed fruit combination such as avocado/banana, banana mango peach, banana and berries, etc. with some Gerber Organic Brown Rice cereal. For lunch, usually it is sweet potatoes with apples, pureed; or carrots and apples, pureed. For dinner could be a rice and lentil, squash, or carrot baby food jar, since I almost have to prepare 3 separate dinners. And her Elecare formula, which I am not happy with it, since it has corn syrup solids, but I can't give her anything with milk at this point.

Now I am being told to give her more solid food, such as meat, NOT! I committed this mistake with my first son, he rejected it automatically, though. I want to raise vegetarian kids even if it raises eyebrows in the family. I want to give them a better nutrition, the one I lacked of, not because my parents didn't care, is that they didn't know better; plus I was an EXTREMELY picky eater. I ate lots of white bread and salami when I was a kid and other processed foods, and I don't want that for my kids.

I also want to change the rice cereal for something like amaranth, for breakfast. Any suggestions? I want something that is gluten/wheat/oat free, and is packed with protein. And I am scared of giving her nuts since her brother is severely allergic to nuts. Also, I want to start her with brown rice and lentils; but freshly made. I am now buying baby food jars just for EMERGENCY only.

In my opinion, babies don't need meat at all. There are many foods with quality protein such as beans, seeds, and nuts. My 3 year old son only eats antibiotic free chicken, about 2 times a week, and in very small amount (less than an ounce); and I allow it because he is super thin, and it is not my choice.