I know I’ve mentioned it sporadically, but I’ve never really told the tale. Tess gets sick once or twice a year. Like a normal person. Unlike a normal person, Tess’ body rebels against being sick. She swells up like a water balloon & gets hives. Big, ugly red hives. Everywhere. Literally everywhere, including palms, soles & scalp.
Both the swelling & the hives happen on her face & neck too. It’s terrifying. All I can think is that it will close her windpipe. I panic. My heart races and I feel so helpless. There is nothing scarier than watching your child deteriorate in front of your eyes and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
This has been happening for 3 years. I’m now at the point that if she gets a hive, we start packing for the ER. We have a go bag, it takes seconds. The thing is, the ER is as clueless as we are to the Why. Why does her body react so violently to a simple cold? Because. So far it’s all been because of a cold. She hasn’t had the flu. She hasn’t had COVID. I’m terrified of what will happen when she does get either of those.
In December & January she got one cold. It took more than 4 weeks to return her body to normal. 4 weeks, 5 ER visits, 6 doctors. We are now the proud owners of 5 Epipens and a pharamacies worth of anti-hive, itch, swelling, anti-allergen medications. And 0 guarantees that any of it will work.
We did get a referral to get her tested for All The Things. Unfortunately it took us forever to get in, and then COVID hit. It got delayed. Finally, last week, we had our first appointment. On Monday we had our first round of basic testing. No real answers yet, but we are on our way. I see a glimmer of hope.
Until then I’ve got a firm grip on her epipens & praying with all my might COVID doesn’t get her.
Poor Tess! I didn’t realize how bad this has been for her. She’s seems from your posts to be such a cheerful young lady and from her pictures, a beautiful one too. I hope you’re taking care about itching so she doesn’t have scars. I TRULY hope someone fields a solution for you. I started allergy shots last December, caught a virus and was sick enough we had to stop them for a while. COVID hit and like Tess’s care, things were delayed. I finally got to start my shots again in April. Because of one of my heart medications, I have to go to my family doc’s office for my shots. My allergist is 1.5 hours away! Late 90s/early 2000s I gave them to myself at home. I’m a senior and was definitely relieved when told I would have to go to a medical facility for my shots this go round. time. But happily I’ve never had hives, cold type symptoms and ear problems. I really sympathize with Tess and hope this is solved SOON.
Oh my, Toiny!! I can so imagine all that you have been going through; a mother’s worry!! Hard enough when we ourselves aren’t feeling well, but when one of our children gets sick — it is so very worrisome! Praying that the doctors will figure out why Tess’ body reacts the way it does when she gets sick & that they will be able to “cure” it, or at the very least find a remedy to help her body fight through it! Praying for Tess!! & for you as well!!! {{hugs!!}}
Those are some serious hives on those poor arms. I know how scary it is to have serious allergies having flat-lined 3X from anaphylactic shock, so my epi-pens are always in my camera bag and purse. The allergies did get better as I got older and those allergy shots really helped me, so here’s hoping that will be the case with your daughter… Wishing all of you the best!
Just a little info to throw your way. My mother was allergic to ragweed, which included allergies to goldenrod and camomile. They’re in the same family. Do some more research about the ragweed family, it includes thing you wouldn’t expect! Hope this helps and hope you find some relief for her. This sounds miserable!
yikes! She was really brave getting tested for so many things at once. I would definitely be the terrified mom.
Now that cookie, that’s just plain hilarious.