OIT update

Jaya – Updose #10

Jaya has been tolerating her daily dose of 0.5 mL whole milk these past two weeks.  I did notice she has been clearing her throat during the last few days. I mentioned it to Dr Mack today and he said it could be due to seasonal allergies and post nasal drip.  He recommends Reactine.  Dr Mack felt comfortable updosing Jaya to 1.0 mL today.  I was extremely anxious as this was the same amount that caused the anaphylactic reaction on July 27.  I measured out the 1 mL of milk and gave it to her.  As per Dr Mack’s protocol she held it under her tongue for about 30 seconds and then swallowed.

I carefully watched her for any signs of a reaction.  She was fine.  She tolerated the dose!

It feels like a victory but also a stark reminder of how far she has yet to go to get to the goal of one cup or 250 mL of milk.

Sahil – Updose #11

Sahil has been eating 3/4 peanut (0.75 gram) daily for most of the last month.  He has a technique to eat the peanut and mask it’s taste.  He first eats a chocolate pudding cup, then the peanut dose, then a 2nd pudding cup.  Sahil said he felt ready to updose to 1 peanut (1.0 gram) today and Dr Mack agreed.  I measured out the 1 gram of peanut and Sahil ate it – in between pudding cups.  After about 15 minutes he said he did not feel good.  He said his stomach felt queasy.  He drank some water and rested.  The discomfort did not progress and after about an hour he felt better.

Sahil will continue on 1 peanut daily for the next two weeks.

Jaya will continue taking 1.0 mL of whole milk daily for the next two weeks.

Before we headed to Burlington this morning I met with Sahil’s new teachers.  As I do each year, I reviewed the recommendations for school staff and his fellow students to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.  I also told them about oral immunotherapy and that he would be missing school every other Thursday.  His teacher asked if Sahil would go on the grade 8 trip to Montreal at the end of the school year.  She did not know this but I have been thinking about the grade 8 trip since he entered grade one…worrying that he would not be able to participate.   Wondering how my child would manage his food allergies on an out of town trip without me.  

As his OIT treatment progresses I am hopeful that he will be able to go.  

My child. My children.  My greatest achievement.  May they be living arrows.