Knock on Wood, Cross Your Fingers, and Throw that Salt!

So, a friend recently asked if I’d given up on this blog.  Apologies to all.  I haven’t given up.  I was trying not to jinx us.  However, I realized that the intent of the blog was to help others benefit from our journey.  So, I’m back.

I was worried about jinxing us because it has been going So. Unbelievably. Well.  Sydney has already updosed all the way to 100mg, which is about 1/3 of a peanut.  She’s had a few bumps in the road, but we’ve been very fortunate.

100mg of peanut flour.  This crap is getting real!

Shortly after my last post she had a reaction during her daily home dose (hence the “jinx” worry).  She took her dose, failed to eat breakfast, and within an hour felt nauseous and ended up vomiting.  Fortunately, she had no other symptoms and Dr. Nash said the dose was in her long enough that he felt comfortable she got enough of the peanut protein and we didn’t need to make the 9 hour drive back to him in order to down dose.  (Bless you, kind sir.)

The only other major issue was a week or two ago.  She again failed to eat breakfast* and again around the hour mark felt nauseous.  She didn’t throw up this time, but did have a bit of wheezing that was quickly resolved with just 2 puffs of Ventolin. 

For the most part, her daily doses have been uneventful.  She will have some excess saliva that goes away with a drink of water, and occasionally a bit of stomach discomfort.  You may read this wondering exactly what Kool-Aid I’ve drunk to think that this is all just rainbows and sunshine.  But, remember, OIT is the slow re-teaching of an immune system to tolerate an allergen.  As much as we would have liked all straight A’s during this “re-teaching,” we will accept the occasional B or C as long as the end result is a passing grade.

So, for now, knock on wood, cross your fingers, and throw some salt over your shoulder.

*Dr. Nash does not believe eating or not eating food around dose time affects the likelihood of a reaction.  He, of course, bases this on his experience in study and private practice, as well as other published studies.  All I know is that the only 2 times she’s had a reaction, she hasn’t eaten breakfast.  Whether it’s a sugar pill or not breakfast is now a requirement.