Well, today was Maddie's big day. She had her allergy test done. When I made the appointment, they had told me that Maddie could not have her normal allergy medicines for 72 hours prior. So, yesterday was one of the most gorgeous days of the year and we had our windows open and she played outside some, but by evening, between being a little anxious about the tests, and then not having allergy medicine for almost 3 days, we was dragging.
So today was the big day!
We got to Dr. Nair's office at Boys Town Pediatrics and the staff was very friendly. That always helps when you are anxious about things. The nurse named Shirley was very sweet and very informative. She explained the whole process to Maddie. We had heard how they used to do it, but the procedure she went through was different from what we had initially heard about. Shirley asked us questions about the symptoms Maddie has and then we waited on the doctor.
Dr. Nair was great. She talked to us some more about symptoms. (Mickey and I were both at the appointment with her...we helped answer questions) Maddie was quiet. She was very nervous about this appointment and all the possible needle sticks.
So this is how it all happened....
They cleaned the inside of her fore arms first, then put numbers up and down on the inside of her forearm. She got 30 pricks with 30 small needles concentrated with different allergen substances. We were left alone in the exam room to wait for 15 minutes while things developed. It was quite interesting to watch her these little spots appear on her arm. Some reacted very visibly and a few not at all. When the nurses came in they said, "WOW!" It was a good reaction as far as the test was working and providing the information they needed. They measured all the reactionary places on her arm and the ones that didn't react they called out negative. One nurse measured while the other wrote down all the information. Now, Maddie's arm was reacting during that 15 minutes from concentrated areas of things she is allergic to. Her arms were really itching, but she could do nothing about it. Poor girl. While we were waiting she said, "Am I going to get a treat for this?" Carmel coffee from Panera was then brought up in the conversation. (smile)
Well, next they have to retest the things that didn't react. This is where it got really interesting.
The nurse came back in and gave her some anti itch cream...not antihistamine cream because she still couldn't have that....more testing. But then she brought a tray in and there were real needles this time. I stood in front of Maddie holding her hand ...that upper arm got 12 more sticks with the needle under the skin. Maddie leaned into her Daddy and hid her face so she couldn't see. She was a trooper and didn't flinch, but held very still. (I'm so thankful that they didn't' do this when she was younger...it wouldn't have gone so smoothly) LOL Anyway, we did get some reaction out of those other marks.
I commented about wishing I had taken my camera to get pics of this. I could do a scrapbook page on this. Well, the nurse went a got a Polaroid camera and took one picture for me. (We took more when we got home)
So the result was that Dr. Nair came back into the office and Maddie is allergic to about everything that blooms. If it is a plant and grows she is allergic to these things. She recommended weekly shots. Mickey and I had already discussed this with Maddie and we knew this was the next step to try to give her some relief. Normally patients go with the shots for 3-5 years and their allergies go away. This also helps prevent allergy type asthma. So, we felt like we needed to go ahead. We called our insurance and everything is covered so the shots start next week.
Dr. Nair's office is on 88th and Center street, but she said she would mail Maddie's shots to her pediatrician's office in Bellevue so she could get her shots in town without the drive. She said Maddie just needs to see her about once a year.
In the consultation after the tests, Dr. Nair commented on the change in Maddie's personality after all the needle work was done. She said, "We would have made good friends over the years with you coming here getting your shots. You are smiling and happy now that all that needle stuff is over." She commented then about how quiet Maddie had been before the tests because of being nervous. She then told Maddie the shots are not as painful as the sticks she received today. The doctor said the needles were very small and not at all as uncomfortable as the testing. (Maddie loved hearing that!)
So this was a good experience. I'm so thankful for that. No one wants to see their children suffer and throughout it all Maddie was a trooper! Way to go, Mad!
