After the Baked Milk Challenge, 2 Weeks

We have made it two weeks with ZERO issues! It is all still very new to us. Starting tomorrow he can start to have cheese crackers. Even though he is still fighting me on trying new things. I bought the Annie's Cheddar Bunnies because Goldfish have a less baked cheese coating on the outside. I will also be avoiding Dorito's or any "flavor blasted coating". I think Cheese It's would probably be okay, as long as they are the regular kind. I did a lot of research and Annie's was recommended.

Exploring New Foods

We haven't gone crazy with exploring new food, just kept it basic. Jimmy Dean's Microwaveable Sausage Biscuits are a HUGE hit. They are egg free as well so it was the first thing we tried that wasn't home baked milk. Our allergist said as long as it was baked and milk was past the third ingredient we were a go. He had Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning. Cinnamon rolls are a tradition in our house for Christmas morning breakfast so it was nice to not have to make "special" ones for him. We have also tried Goldfish original and pretzel crackers. They are also taste approved.

Our goal is to eat something everyday that has milk in it to keep his immunity up so he can pass the second stage of the test in February which is the baked cheese pizza test. He still says he doesn't really care if he outgrows his milk allergy and doesn't share my enthusiasm, but I know when this is all over and done with he will be a lot happier. We talked about the things he would be able to eat next Christmas. I am hoping we will be doing the baked Egg challenge by next Christmas. His test results for Egg was not ideal for the baked challenge.

All I want for my son is some sort of normalcy. He is going into middle school next year and even if he is homeschooled he will be in Youth Group and that age is all about fitting in and making lifelong friends. Having food allergies doesn't help when you are trying to fit in, especially at the awkward time when things are changing in your body. He will always have his peanut allergy but things would be so much easier for him if his egg and milk allergy go away before High School.

More foods = More chance of Anaphylaxis?

Something that has been nagging me in the back of my mind is that as his foods lists increase, so does the chance for anaphylaxis. Baked items with Milk and Egg oftentimes have nuts or are processed on lines with products containing nuts so we will have to stay vigilant and continue to read ingredient lists. Unfortunately, even though it will be a blessing for him to have chocolate, chocolate is often processed in the same factories with nuts. So at the end of our Milk Challenge when he is allowed to have chocolate we will be doing some major research on dedicated lines.

Hershey fan? Check out this blog for info on Hershey Chocolate and Nuts http://nut-freemom.blogspot.com/2010/09/nut-free-lowdown-on-hersheys-chocolates.html 

Baked Milk Challenge Part 2

The day is finally here. In a few hours we will start the test at his Allergist's office. Yesterday I made the muffins for the test. I have to say it was strange making food for Drama with Milk in it, something we have diligently avoided for ten years.

We arrived at the Allergy Asthma and Sinus Center and was taken back at 8:30am. The nurse took his weight, height, and vitals. His peak flow meter score was better today than last visit.

The Allergist came in and did an exam. She cut his muffin that I baked into 4 quarters and gave him his first dose which was 1/8 of a quarter. He ate it after some persuasion on both our parts. She then set a timer for 15 minutes and told me if he started having any symptoms to come and get her.

He was very nervous and didn't like the taste either.

Every fifteen minutes the nurse took vitals and the Allergist gave him an increased dose the first two doses were an 1/8 of a quarter then he had 1/2 of a quarter, a whole quarter, then quarter and a half for the last dose.

I asked his Allergist if he could have his allergy shots today and she said No because if he had a reaction we wouldn't know if it was from the shots or the muffin. So we will get our shots in a couple of days.

HE PASSED THE TEST!!!

He made it through the test just fine. I brought books and his iPad to keep him occupied. For now he can have home baked goods. In two weeks we can try store items like cheese crackers, cinnamon rolls, etc. He is still allergic to milk, he can just tolerate baked milk and eating it will boost his immunity to where we can try cheese pizza in two months and after incorporating baked cheese for a while he can try drinking a glass of milk.

It will definitely open up some food options for him, but he will still be limited since most things that have milk in them also have eggs and he is still too allergic to egg to try the baked egg challenge.

Need more food allergy info and tips? Like my FB page www.facebook.com/elijahshope 

DO NOT TRY THIS FOOD CHALLENGE AT HOME AND ALWAYS CONSULT A BOARD CERTIFIED ALLERGIST

If you are looking for an Allergist, we absolutely love ours. www.allergyasc.com
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Helpful reading:

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/research/Pages/bakedMilk.aspx

http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/allergies-life-after-baked-milk-challenge/

http://www.healinghacker.com/baked-milk-challenge/