Sometimes you feel like a nut

Lauren has been continuously sick since she was six months old. Constant vomiting, diarrhea, lack of weight gain, and hives. So after doing exclusion diets, we decided that she had an allergy/intolerance for dairy and soy products. Her pediatrician said to just keep those foods out of her diet, but I wanted to know for sure and asked for a reference to a pediatric allergist. He said that that probably wasn't necessary, and that since she was so young, they probably wouldn't get a definite allergy reading and it just puts the her through unnecessary stress. I agreed at first, but the thought kept nagging at me.So I emailed him again, this time with a little more motherly persuasion and asked for another referral . I was told it was a least a two month wait, and I was ok with that just as long as she got in. Then last Tuesday, I got a call from the allergist office saying that there had been a cancellation, Lauren was at the top of the list and there was an appointment available for this past Friday. So with much apprehension for my baby, on Friday, I watched her get held down by her dad and get poked quite a few times, testing for the top ten food allergies. The doctor said it would take about 15 minutes to get any results and left us by ourselves. After about 5 minutes, this welt began to form in the middle of her back. I said, to myself, "See I knew I wasn't crazy, she has a huge allergy to milk!! At least isn't something crazy like a nut allergy." The doctor comes back in and makes this face when he sees her back like "Holy Heck". He looks at me and says" Her peanut allergy is severe enough that there should be no PEANUT products in the home, and your other daughter shouldn't be allowed to have PEANUT products either , in case she comes in contact with her sister." At this point my brain goes to commercial break. I looked at Adam, and even he looked surprised. Peanuts weren't even something I had thought about. I asked what would have happened if I had given her a peanut and honey sandwich and the doctor looked horrified and said "Well it is a good thing that that didn't happen!"In the end, she walked out with the Peanut allergy being number one, milk, and soy coming in at two and three. She can touch them without much of a reaction, but as time goes on, her reactions will probably get worst. Never ignore that nagging feeling. I am grateful that I didn't allow the doctor to make me feel as if I was being overly dramatic, and listened to my internal alarm system. You never know what you have the power to prevent.