Getting ridiculous! Allergic to ANOTHER antibiotic!

[tantrums]

When it was shellfish it took about 3-4 days from the first bite, but he was eating it every day. Two weeks ago, Azithromiacin was quick - like 2 days for the hives but then swelling came later. This time it took longer, 4 days but was much more severe each of the last 3 days.

[kim]

From what I gather, they test for a protein in the muscle of the shell fish, for allergy. I wonder if he may have been reacting to the shell....the chitin. Is he allergic to dust mites?

Edited November 19, 2010 by kim

[kim]

tantrums,

 

found a copy of the article that I was thinking about

 

Chitin May Be Responsible for Allergies to Shellfish, Dust, and Mold

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/227891/chitin_may_be_responsible_for_allergies.html?cat=70

 

This suggests that AMCase, by quickly removing the stimulus from the system, dampens the body's acquired, and often allergic, response.

 

Did you have any thoughts on why you saw the reaction to shell fish that appeared the same as the antibiotic reaction?

Edited November 20, 2010 by kim

[tantrums]

that is interesting. Especially considering the chronic croup he always had prior to PANDAS. Luckily he never did develop asthma but his (what we thought were seasonal) allergies have gotten worse over time.

 

I have been racking my brain trying to connect these. Seriously - the shellfish reaction was the same as this antibiotic reaction yet he tested negative for all of them AND has eaten everything except lobster before.

[jjl]

Have you ever done a blood draw allergy test? I would think the IgG and IgE food combo is worth a try. It sounds like he may be IgE to shell fish. IgE is like the peanut allergy. IgG allergies are the type that do not have immediate reactions (like peanuts) but more delayed reactions like over days time. Metametrix labs has this test. Our son used to get hives when he ate eggs or anything that contained eggs. This test showed he was IgE to egg white and when we removed eggs he did not get hives anymore. The test also showed he was IgG reactive to several foods. Many things cleared up when wew removed those foods and started rotating other foods to prevent other allergies. An out of whack immune system can cause all these types of allergies. It is possible that his system is out of whack AND overloaded by hidden allergies. Test to find out, remove the offending items, treat to heal. Sometimes anti-inflammatories are needed during treatment to help the healing process. Years of Colazal really helped our sons. John L

 

Well today the hives increased once again to the point of swelling of his hands AND feet. This happened when we were in Maine and he had lobster for the first time. When that happened, we ended up in the ER two nights in a row with epi shots and steroids. That was our unplanned "steroid burst" that did NOT go well at all and started to convince me he had TS rather than PANDAS.

 

We happened to have an appt tonight with a dermatologist. It was there that I saw how swollen he was. The derm gave us 21 days of steroids! UGHHHHHHH!!! So now he is without ABX, I have raging strep and he is on steroids.

 

I told my husband I may just be moving out!

 

I am very concerned by this swelling with his hives. It doesnt seem right. all of the doctors we have discussed it with are alarmed as well, but none have any sort of answer for it.

[tantrums]

I had the strangest epiphany this morning while laying in bed before I got up. He was on Omnicef when we were on vacation. And we actually ended it during the trip because we'd decided to do the Cunningham test. I was really leaning towards TS at that point. Then he wasn't on ABX for a couple of months until recently. I wonder if he wasn't reacting to the shellfish at all, but to the OMnicef then?!

 

I will ask the immunologist though about the IgE blood test for shellfish. She did order blood testing and it was negative but not sure what type.

[LaraM]

We thought my son was allergic to penicillin and omnicef for years because he would break out in a rash not long after starting the medication. This summer we finally had an oral challenge with our immunologist, and it turns out he isn't allergic at all. Some viruses can interact with the abx. and produce a rash. I truly was convinced my son was allergic, but he has had penicillin and omnicef since his oral challenge and never ended up with a rash. It would be totally worth a try if it could put those meds back in your arsenal.

 

How do you do an oral challenge? We are "allergic" to penicilin, so Augmentin is off the table for us. Our immunologist talked about testing her in the office if we ever needed it - but I have no idea what that means. I have also had a doc tell us that sometimes kids that seem to be allergic to abx are actually shedding toxins. Not sure how you'd ever know which is which.

 

Tantrums, hope he does better soon. If I could not get abx, I would try the "natural abx". Thanks!

 

Sorry I am just getting back to you--crazy week! The immunologist wrote a prescription for the antibiotic we wanted to have tested (penicillin). We picked up the prescription the day before our appointment with the immunologist. On the day of our appointment, we were made comfortable in an examination room (note--take lots of stuff to occupy you as you will be there several hours) and the nurse mixed up an extremely diluted amount of penicillin. Honestly, I thought she was giving my son water because it didn't have a hint of the pink coloring of the penicillin. She would come back at timed intervals (every 20-30 minutes) to check him for any reaction at all, then she would give him a slightly less diluted dose of penicillin. We repeated that over and over until he finally got a full dose of penicillin about two and a half hours after we arrived. We stayed longer for them to continue to monitor him. He never displayed ANY signs of an allergic reaction. The immunologist came in and said, "he's not allergic", so that was that. We literally thought for five years he was allergic. Soooo nice to be able to access penicillin/amox./augmentin now! I hope you get the same result!!

[tantrums]

An oral challenge for ABX would do us no good. His reactions have varied from 2 - 7 days after exposure. I was supposed to do it for shellfish, but quite honestly with everything else we have been dealing with - it wasn't on the top of the list. Not like a lobster is going to accidentally get into a 7 year olds mouth

 

I'm getting increasingly concerned, he started doing the oddest thing today and I HOPE it's not a new tic. Simply because if it is - it's pretty severe. He clenches his whole body goes stiff as a board and kindof screams. Now, it started when we were trying to work on the 12 sheets of make up school work he has, so I took it as frustration. But then he continued it the rest of the night

 

We have an appointment with our immunologist on December 27th. I know from experience I won't get in there any sooner. She is WONDERFUL but crazy busy. I may get in with the PA but last time, she wasn't much help. The immuno totally "gets" this whole thing. As long as nothing gets terribly worse, I hope it can wait. We do have the new neuro next monday. I've heard she is very good. We shall see...