It has been awhile since I have updated about allergies. We have been experimenting with a new intervention and wanted to hold off a bit to see if it was maintaining its helpfulness. As I have talked about in the past we have tried a wide range of treatments in the past. We have used chiropractic adjustments, supplements I have read about, traditional medical testing resulting in allergy shots for inhalant allergies and elimination diets for food sensitivities, traditional medication, UA testing with a biochemist to learn what the body needs in order to better process out toxins (that resulted in more supplements and dietary changes), and the current, very non-mainstream, procedure.
BACKGROUND:
We have seen improvement with some kids with some interventions and some kids with other interventions.
Faith (inhalant allergies) improved at the beginning with allergy shots but about 2 -3 months into it she regressed back to terrible congestion. It affects her sleep and is affecting her concentration more and more.
Grace (food sensitivities with some inhalant along with ADHD) improved initially with DHA and probiotics but it was inconsistent. The elimination diet helped initially from the traditional allergy physician, but she was sensitive to so many things that we could not maintain it well. That told us, however, that food allergies definitely play a part in her ADHD issues. In sheer desperation we finally put her on an ADHD medication and we keep it as low of dosage as possible. That has been helpful but we worry about the long term effects of it. We then started the biochemist process and that has been very helpful. We have learned that her kidneys and liver were not processing toxins, and have worked to improve that. We are improving her digestive processes. This process, coupled with the ADHD medication, helped behavior noticeably. However, as her behavior lessened we discovered just how pervasive the concentration/focus issues were for her.
JJ's issues are inhalant allergies (although we are learning there are some food/digestive issues too) and they were not helped well by anything that we did. He developed RSV 12 months ago after battling congestion since he was born. He was hospitalized for for hydration. Since then he never went longer than 6 - 8 weeks before being on another antibiotic. His congestion doesn't drain well and then becomes a sinus infection. He has a minimal appetite when he feels this way (understandably) and gains weight one month just to lose it the next. The biochemist supplements were very difficult to get into him, but did increase his appetite some. We quit them for several months due to the fight of getting them into him. When we went to Mexico we found that he breathed NORMAL for the first time. We came home and bought a $900 air purifier that was very effective for in house allergens...until the hot temps made the pollen outside explode. At that time he got very congested when outside (how can one avoid being outside lol!). We started the supplements again (just 2 - Lymph and Soft Tissue) with a strong effect. He actually likes those mixed in cranberry juice as long as the other supplements aren't in it:)
THE PRESENT:
We were getting ready to pursue the traditional skin testing for JJ and weekly shots. A friend suggested this alternative. Then two other people from different "circles" for me suggested this alternative as well. To say that I was reluctant and skeptical was an understatement. It involves "technology" that also includes muscle testing. I really don't like muscle testing. I stay far away from muscle testing. I see absolutely zero science behind muscle testing. In fact, I am deeply concerned for spiritual issues related to muscle testing. However, very reluctantly, we thought that we would try it and see if we could make one last ditch attempt to avoid weekly shots. We prayed a lot...then we took the plunge.
We have had a total of 9 treatments for Grace and JJ, and 6 for Faith to date. Supposedly it is one treatment per sensitivity - forever. No going back for many treatments for the same thing, etc.
Grace: Wow. We are seeing huge improvement in her focus and concentration. Have we stopped the ADHD medication? No. Some days I try 1/2 to see how it goes. Her digestive process was also "treated" and we are seeing additional improvement with that.
Faith: Wow. Her constant congestion is improved. She is still congested and we can hear her breathing all of the time, but the sneezing "mess" is gone.
JJ: Wow, wow, wow. Inhalant allergies: Last year at this time if we took him outside in the stroller for a walk, etc he would not sleep that night due to the congestion. He now sleeps through the night at least 6 out of 7 nights. Last night was even 11 hours even after being outside for hours playing!!! He and Faith have not had any nebulizer treatments at all when last year they were daily treatments. No more sneezing/runny nose. No more constant coughing. I can still hear him breathing but it is about 50% of what it was. He has gained weight for 2 months in a row. He actually sleeps deeply for many consecutive hours rather than waking every couple of hours and needing to be held to fall back asleep. He has not been on an antibiotic since right before we left for Mexico in February.
Food issues: He is eating like a champ. That was almost instantaneous when his digestive issues were treated. His main source of nutrition has been raw milk since he will not give up the bottle and won't eat much. He will not eat a WHOLE banana whereas before he would spit out one bite. The foods he is eating is increasing. He will eat an actual portion of food rather than just a few bites. He actually gets "hungry" and asks to eat. One weird thing that makes no sense to us is that he will actually drink cold milk right from the fridge now. That was also instantaneous. We have been warming his bottles for 20 months or he just would not drink them. All in all we are very impressed with this. too.
Fear issues: While JJ has been with us since birth, he has a very heightened fear response similar to a person with PTSD. Hence the constantly clingyness, total fear of strangers, and our inability to leave him in church nursery or with babysitters. While we still cannot do those things, overall it is very, obvious to us that his fear response is significantly diminished. At the home school conference we thought since he afraid of strangers he would stay right with us like EVERY OTHER social event we have been to. Ha! He delighted in running off and checking out fun things his eye level as long as people did not engage him. Not fun lol! He will go into nursery and actually play with kids now (as long as we DON'T leave!) whereas before he would just cling to us in fear. He has actually even smiled at a couple of strangers! I have even stopped the supplements for the past 3 days to see if we can get him off of those altogether while maintaining the gains.
Time will tell if these improvements are long-term. However, we are very encouraged and excited about the current status of things. We understand that many of our kids' issues are due to prenatal insults and thus the neurology of their makeup cannot be changed. However, we also strive to help them be as healthy as they can be with the areas of their lives that can be changed. We are very thankful to God that He put people around us to step up and tell us of this option or we would probably be giving weekly shots by this time. So, I want to pass this option on to you in case you check it out and find it may be an alternative for you:) It is called AAT - Advanced Allergy Therapeutics. You will find articles that say it doesn't work. You will find testimonials that say it works great. We are tentatively watching and waiting to see if the improvements "hold." But for now, we are so thankful the we tried!
With this said, we also tried this "treatment" for some non allergy related things that she said it could help. We have not seen any improvement with those things. But...that is for another post:)
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