baked egg challenge

[hk]

After 10 years of multiple food allergies, dd is doing her first food challenge and it's to baked egg.  She had full-blown anaphylaxis to egg three times when she was much younger.  No reactions in about six years due to a very tight comfort zone.  We have reason to believe that she inadvertently (due to incorrect information from a restaurant manager) ate baked egg with no reaction so allergist is very optimistic that she will pass.

I'm wondering if anyone has had an epic fail to a food challenge and how bad it was.  I'd also love any advice you may have.

I know you all understand how inconceivable the idea of buying and cooking with eggs is at this point.  10 years of strict avoidance is a long time!

[GoingNuts]

No advice - DS passed his only challenge (almond), but I wanted to wish you luck!

[Macabre]

Yes--there have been some epic fails around here. But also passes!!  I certainly wish you the latter.

[CMdeux]

I sure thought that DD's first baked egg challenge was going to be an epic fail!!

I didn't have any real reason to think that it wouldn't be, in fact-- because DD has at that point absolutely no history supporting any tolerance at all. 

Just remember-- you DO have that kind of reason to hope for the best.   

[PurpleCat]

That was my DD's first challenge too!  I remember the feeling well of buying eggs and of actually using eggs to make cupcakes for her challenge.  It was surreal.

It is also surreal and stressful to watch your child put that food in their mouth.

Lots and lots of luck!

And bring things to do to pass the time.  Over different challenges we have brought board games, electronics, books, homework, played hang man and other paper games, etc.... The last challenge, we brought DD's stack of college info mail and opened and sorted them.

I also packed safe snacks for after.  Some challenges DD was starving after (cause she could not eat before)  and other challenges she was not ready for food.  She felt funky after eating a "danger" food.  After all of them she wanted a drink other than water.

My DD passed baked egg.  She passed an open egg challenge 6 months later.  Then a few months after that, starting reacting to direct egg again.  She continues to be able to eat baked egg and we no longer worry about may contains.

The challenge may or may not be stressful for your DD.  That is the one thing I suggest you focus on to be sure no matter what, your DD feels cared for and watched over carefully as she progressed through the challenge.  I have only heard once of a negative experience with the nurses during a challenge.  I know our allergy nurses are very attentive, our allergist pops in and out over the course of the hours we are there and other nurses who know DD pop in to say hello and see how she is doing and to ask her if she likes what she is eating. 

The only challenge my DD hated was coconut.  She passed but she struggled to eat the coconut as she and still to this day, hates the taste.  She had to wash it down with water and still had trouble.  But she was determined to pass and so she kept going.  When she challenged shrimp, she could not get enough of it to eat and to this day it is a favorite food of hers.  Ironically, she remains allergic other shellfish.

Wishing your kiddo success and an positive challenge experience!

[Linden]

Not an epic fail, but we did fail baked egg on the second bite. He got Zyrtec and Zantac (I think) and went home two hours later. His symptoms were ear batting, tongue pain, and maybe nausea and abdominal pain.  (Hard to say exactly because he was five at the time and couldn't quite articulate his symptoms).  He was completely fine all day like nothing ever happened once we got discharged.

It was very difficult for me as well to buy eggs and keep them in the house. I gave them away as soon as we got home from the failed challenge.

     

[krasota]

We had an egg challenge pass with no issues.  Well, he had diarrhea mid-way through, but no other symptoms and the allergist felt it might've been a "new food" or even anxiety symptom.  Entirely possible.  It was a short episode and didn't repeat.  He's eaten baked egg for the last year with no issues.

He refuses a plain egg challenge.  He also refuses mango/pistachio/cashew challenges.  And those aren't something easy to hide like baked egg.  *sigh*

The allergist will consider an egg challenge for DD if she goes a year without an accidental reaction.  We're at about 10 months right now since an accidental reaction (contact-only, so serious enough to be mopey about for now).

He absolutely loves being able to have cookies at friends' homes.  He tells all of his friends' parents that he can have the cake, but please make sure the frosting is egg-free.   

[Macabre]

Yea for that victory! Imagine--one  fewer allergy in your household!

[GoingNuts]

 

[hk]

She didn't pass.  She actually reacted to the first dose. 

On a positive note, our allergist is going to start a private practice multi-allergen SLIT/OIT program in about a year.  He's starting with peanut only next month.  I'm not sure if we will do the multi allergen one or not, but it was good that she could leave with some hope today.

Thanks for your well wishes.  Happy Thanksgiving!

[spacecanada]

  so sorry to hear the news.  Well, at least you know.  I hope everyone recovers quick: emotionally and physically.

[CMdeux]

Hopefully the long weekend will be a good time to relax and regroup.   

[PurpleCat]

   So sorry.