Allergies are back!!

so, all has been very quiet from us for quite a while now. Bear has been really well and hasn’t had any issues for months…..well over 12 to be more accurate. He turned 3 the other week and we seem to be having some unexplained allergic reaction in the form of hives and itching. We started a food diary, but there was no obvious food to coincide with the reactions. We also suspected rubber latex, following his birthday, we had a fair few balloons in the house, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing with in every way……some sneaky culling of the balloons after bed time until they all vanished seemed to see a huge reduction in the frequency of the reaction, although it has not solved the problem completely. He is kept comfortable with piriton when required and a calpol plug in vapouriser seems to make him more comfortable at night time when his reaction causes stuffy noses and itchy throats. It has been a while since we have had to deal with allergy related problems, but it all feels so familiar and there’s no panic this time….thinking we are now seasoned professionals now. Good job really,as we are soon to add another little man to our household…..and the same allergies are never far from mind after our experiences with bear.

 

So, arriving in June 2017 will be our little cub. Pregnancy has resurrected several allergies for myself. Lots of itchy skin related problems have seen me give up on all my usual shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, moisturisers and make up. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, until I discovered something wonderful……child’s farm! Now, I know I probably have mentioned them many a time when talking about bear as I have been a fan for quite some time, but I never thought to use it for myself! I now smell and feel amazing after using all their shower products as well as their moisturiser, even caught my hubby filling up his bath the other day with child farm smelling bubbles, so even he is loving their stuff.

 

this is just a quick update from me today,but hoping to update more regularly with all things bear and cub! Especially as I will soon get to bring our cloth nappies back out of storage since bear potty trained last summer!!!! Excited!

MOOvember!!!

Don’t forget everyone that November is MOOvember….CMPA awareness month! Although Bear is no longer CMPA we will continue to support the cause forever, we are grateful for 20 months of amazing support and care from CMPAsupport and other facebook pages, always somewhere to turn in our hour of need, for advice, or a rant or just some shoulders to cry on, and now in turn, I can offer some advice, a friendly pair of ears and possibly a glimmer of hope to new parents embarking on a CMPA journey! Awareness is vital for the cause…..people are all too aware of how serious nut allergies or other well known allergens can be, so why aren’t people taking CMPA as serious? Some children to suffer anaphylaxis, rash, swelling, and other obvious signs….other children (like Bear) may seem ‘fine’ after consuming some dairy, but hours, days, weeks of painful stomach ache, sickness, diarrhea/constipation, fatigue, etc. a little while after consumption would suggest that that ‘little bit’ that ‘wont harm’ in fact did harm, A LOT!!!! It isn’t those who are neglectful who have to see the results, its mum/dad/carer, who have to listen to the cries, screams and constant grunts…..a little bit of knowledge can go a long way!

If all you do today is tell one new person about CMPA then we are getting a little closer to getting noticed!

CMPA – The final stage has begun!!

So, last night we began the final stage of challenging Bear’s CMPA!

Although Bear has been having yoghurts and cheese for a few weeks now, he has been a little under the weather so we didnt want to give him the added stress of testing the most dairy-est of items….COWS MILK!!

Last night we started by adding 1 oz to 7oz of his formula and he seemed to drink it without a fuss (we were unsure of how he would cope with the taste as well as any possible reaction!) We will up it again slightly in a few days, thinking it may be up to 2 or 3 weeks to switch from his formula to totally cows milk!!

We are keeping everything crossed that Bear can complete this final stage so we can officially remove his CMPA from allergen lists (which will make life easier for his childminder, who has to still check everything and worry about him joining in with baking, etc as he has the allergy, even if I say not to worry!! Also, easier for us as he will be able to join in like ‘normal’ children!!)

Please also remember that November is CMPA awareness month, even if we are CMPA free by then, we will still be trying to spread the awareness to remember the 19 month battle we have faced and to make sure that more people are aware of it so people no longer say the dreaded ‘a little wont harm’ that so many CMPA mummies and daddies hear from people who do not understand the condition properly!!

CMPA Sadness!

Ever since Bears initial diagnosis, his allergies have not bothered me. He never missed out on anything, always having a bag of treats on hand if others had things that he couldn’t have…..it wasn’t until we kept creeping up the milk challenge ladder that I have started to feel sad about Bear spending 18 months dairy free. We had a special day out this week, and for lunch we had pizza….the look on Bears face was pure happiness, he loved it all. He also loves cheese on toast, cheesy leeks, chocolate and now we are on day 2 of stage 9, we have discovered he also loves yoghurt (could not have come at a better time after a rough few days with teething pain making eating a little painful!) Seeing how much he enjoys all these things makes me a little sad that he has been missing out on them. Maybe he likes it so much as it is new, and obviously, never having been allowed it before, means he hasn’t really been missing it. I am just really glad we are doing well on the ladder and that he can have a more varied lunch box, with cheesy snacks and a little chocolate treat and a yoghurt too. Will also make the shopping cheaper and taste better (still shuddering at the vile taste of ‘wot no dairy’ and the dent it made in my pocket!) Just a quick note today, feeling a little sorry for myself. Fingers crossed we will be writing a post about Bears first bottle of milk 🙂

Greg Wallace – opinions?

as many people may have read, Greg Wallace made some some-what asshole comments recently about allergy sufferers…..he said that they should ring up and give 2 days notice if they want to visit a restaurant, that they cannot expect to turn up and make the whole place change the way they do something just for them…..now, I am not one of these parents who jump down the throat of anything slightly anti-allergy, I don’t take offence to stupidity very easily and don’t feel ‘victimised’ if someone won’t change what they do it suit my child, but this has riled me greatly. With stupid comments coming from such a high profile person in the food industry allergy awareness doesn’t stand a chance….if he had his way I would have to plan every time I wanted to go out for food with my child days in advance, no chance of a last minute treat for him! And for what it is worth Greg, I don’t expect the restaurant to change their ways to suit me, I simply ask to switch mash for chips, or ask to check the ingredients before feeding my child, surely this would be preferred to feeding him incorrectly and have him vomit or have violent, horrendous poos in the middle of a busy restaurant. Think before you spout utter shite Mr Wallace, your actions, unfortunately carry weight….for unknown reasons, after all you got famous by eating food, not actually cooking it!!

Stage 6!!!!

we have made it to stage 6!!! Half way through the ladder. We can now enjoy cottage pie and the likes for dinner, it is so nice to not have to cook 2 separate meals. Bear is loving his daily pot of custard, it is very messy business. Being half way through the challenge means that I have started to think of life beyond CMPA, and what it would mean for us as a family…..no more hovering over bear at functions, no more sneaky ice creams for me and daddy during bears nap time, no more standing in the kitchen to enjoy a bar of chocolate, and the shopping will take me no time at all! We are excited x

The little things…..

Just a quick one, as this has had me smiling most the morning!

Went shopping today with bear and we were in a shop and he was getting hungry. II went over to the biscuit section and just picked up something that looked nice, rather than checking all the ingredients. It has been a long time coming but it felt good to be able to give him something yummy and fun, rather than safe and boring!!

Milk challenge update!!

WE HAVE REACHED STAGE 4!!!

malted milks…..passed

Garibaldi…..passed

Muffins…..passed!

Bear is now enjoying a daily croissant (he wouldnt touch the scotch pancake)

we are feeling very optimistic now, 6 months ago we never even dreamed we would make it passed stage 2, now bear is looking comfortable in stage 4!!!! we are so happy, and now not so nervous when out and about 🙂 bear can tolerate bits of cake, biscuits, etc with dairy (even had a few cheeky spoons of ice cream!!!) Dont think bear is ever going to be able to have a milkshake, followed by a cream cake and ice cream, but being able to have normal amounts of dairy is going to make a huge difference to our daily lives…..so excited!!!! Keep your eyes peeled for another update soon 🙂

Milk challenge – take 2!!

Apologies for the blog being ever so quiet just lately….we have had nothing new to report on the allergy front! But, over the last few weeks we have been a little more relaxed with Bears encounters with dairy! He has been allowed an occasional sip of our cup of tea, or a crisp out of our pack or even the tiniest nibble of a chocolate bar. The other evening he even had 2 sips of full fat cows milk…..after waiting patiently for a few days we have not seen a reaction at all so the time has come to try the challenge again! Off we go with a malted milk…..We will keep you posted!