Sun Butter Allergic Reaction

I foolishly let me son try a small amount of sun butter for the first time tonight. I should have been more careful given his peanut allergy, and I should have made sure I had a vehicle in case there was an emergency. Soon after eating a small amount I noticed hives/eczema on his legs. I gave him his bedtime dose of Atarax, but an hour later his chest tightened up and he was having an asthma attack (he was saying 'my breathing's stuck.') The albuterol has helped, and I gave him a dose of benedryl as a precaution. I recall a similar experience with a blueberry when he was about a year old, except he vomited and then had an asthma attack. I'm a little worried that since he didn't get sick on the sun butter, and that the remnants are going to linger in his system for a couple of days.


In searching the internet for similar stories, I did find a couple of children with similar reactions. And I found this link describing peanut butter allergies vs. sunbutter allergies: http://doe.sd.gov/oess/cans/nbulletin/2005/april/bulletin.htm

More Sensitivities

We've gotten use to the beautiful baby skin around here, but unfortunately eczema has flared it's ugly head twice again.  The first time was after eating broccoli.  I know better, which is so frustrating!  Broccoli is my son's favorite food, and he has tested negative to it (RAST test.) But there must be something during the digestive breakdown that causes him to flare.  I mentioned before, but I was told broccoli turns into sulfur in the liver and causes a detox.  I have seen this with my own eyes.  All three times his sideburn area on his face and knees flare within 24 hours after eating it (not immediately like with the sunscreen.)

Then we had another chemical sensitivity.  This time it was to the smell of caulk from re-doing the bath tub.  Again, right before our eyes eczema and hives appeared all over his face, arms, and knees.  After conversing with two other moms whose children are on anti-fungal treatment, they both say their kids experienced heightened sensitivities to odd allergens during treatment.  The good news is it should get better.

A Year in Eczema Pictures

What a year it's been battling eczema, and the proof is in the pictures.  As of this very moment his skin looks great.  I pray it stays that way.  Here's a quick year-in-review:

Today (Nov 2009) all smiles!

August 2009, covered head

to toe in eczema.
Nov 2008, the day after

steroid treatments ended

for an asthma attack.
Oct 2008, a few days before

a major asthma attack. Broke

out in hives/eczema after 

eating soy sauce.

Baby Skin!

I can hardly believe it, baby skin has emerged from head to toe! My son's once gritty sandpaper-like skin is gone, and there is not one scratch or scab on him at this time. He has soft, silky baby skin. The kind I'm always so envious to see on other children. I'd say it's a miracle, which it is, but it's also due to a lot of hard work by both him and me. It's a combination of the antifungal treatment, supplements, avoiding food triggers, and diligent skin care regiment. But even though the skin is looking great, the itch is still present, although less persistent from what I can tell. He's mostly itchy now when it's time to sleep, and the itch is primarily on his forehead, scalp, and ankles. I wonder if he just notices it more when he's still with nothing else to focus on? I am hopeful that the itch will soon vanish. I know I mentioned it before, but another mom told me that her son's skin cleared after 6 weeks on the yeast treatment and the itch was the last to go at 8 weeks (we're at 7 weeks.) There's still lots of hope for us!

External Sensitivities

I'm wondering if the yeast treatment is causing my son to have greater sensitivities to his environment? Earlier I mentioned he reacted to smoke in a restaurant, and before that there was the crazy itching to some epoxy used when we had our windows replaced. Then this week he flared really bad to sunscreen, and it was the Neurtagena Baby that I've used successfully in the past. My understanding is that when yeast dies off, yeast gives off up to 75 toxins that need to be removed from the body. This is done through the bowels and skin. I'm just wondering if it's caused some excess, super sensitivity. Whatever it is, I hope it's temporary. Other than this, my son has been relatively stable and the itching seems to be decreasing.

Dr. Bock's Book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics. . .

...Autisim, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies." This is a must read if your kid has any of these issue along with Eczema. I'm only a few chapters in, but already so much is making sense. He practices Integrated Medicine--getting to the root of the issues while using every available tool out there. He has healed these diseases that have been labeled as 'incurable', and people seek his help from all over the world. I'll update later, but wanted to share as this book is a wealth of information.

Eczema Appearing Right Before My Eyes

My son has been looking awesome for about the last week. In addition he's back to sleeping though the night, and believe me it is most welcomed (it's only been 3 1/2 months!) His skin looks so clear that people can hardly believe it's the same kid. Well it was clear until last night (Halloween) when I let him have 2 Hershey Kisses. I knew better, but I feel so bad that he can't enjoy being a kid sometimes so I caved. Immediately right before my eyes his forehead and eyes became itchy, inflamed, and flakey. My guess is that it's the milk in the kisses, which is why I always get him dark chocolate on the rare occasion I allow him to have a treat. Lesson learned.

And then there was a second incident this afternoon while dining out at a coney island. As we were waiting to be served my son started itching uncontrollably, his face once again flared, and he was turning red & splotchy. He was demanding to get outside for some cold air. Once outside, it was like magic--back to normal. Our guess is it was cigarette smoke. It wasn't real smokey in there, but after we sat down we noticed it. Just amazing to watch this happen right before my eyes.