His first ever reaction I am 99% sure was triggered by food came thanks to a bit of pineapple he was fed this morning. More correctly, it was juice from a piece of pineapple we put in one of those Munchkin Mesh Feeders for him to gnaw. A little later, I was changing his clothes and his spot caught my eye. I didn't take a picture, but it was very puffy and the skin was lighter colored than usual. It looked very similar to this reaction he had when he was about 2 months old:
He didn't seem super bothered by it, except that the rest of the day he would periodicially shake his head side to side and when he was lying on my chest at naptime trying to fall asleep he kept making little mewing noises and kicking out his legs or pushing against me with his hands. I can only guess at this point since he's obviously not able to tell me, but I think he may have been feeling uncomfortable. I've heard some kids with Masto feel itchy as well when they have a reaction, so maybe that explains the head shaking? I really wish I knew.
We try not to medicate Rohan unless we have to, i.e. when he's clearly having a reaction based on the appearance of his spot. That thing's like a mood ring for us. Typically when he's not reacting it's flat and a darker color than the rest of his arm, close to the color of his lips. When he IS reacting it can get darker or lighter, puffy or bumpy like the skin of an orange. It can look like one BIG spot (as it did today) or it can be a dark circle with 1 or more (a few times as many as 5) little bumps in it. Usually when we do medicate it, we only give meds before bedtime because we've been told his Doxepin can cause drowsiness and dizziness, and I don't want him going through the day like that. VERY rarely, when the spot's looking really irritated, we also use the steroid cream on it. Tonight, we did both. Here's hoping tomorrow he's all better. And a fond farewell to pineapple as part of his diet.
If you're curious, below is a list I copied from http://www.urticaria.thunderworksinc.com/pages/lowhistamine.htm#foodsource, which lists the foods they recommend you cut out of your child's diet and introduce one at a time under close watch for reactions. I REALLY hope he does't react to many of these, or his diet's going to SUCK.
Histamine Restricted Diet for Control of Urticaria/Angioedema
Meat/Poultry/Fish
All seafood including shellfish or fin fish, fresh, frozen, smoked or canned
Egg (a small quantity in a baked product such as pancakes, muffins, cakes is usually tolerated)
Processed, smoked and fermented meats such as luncheon meat, sausage, weiner, bologna, salami, pepperoni
Leftover meat: eat freshly cooked meat ONLY (side note from Jackie—After meat is cooked, the histamine levels increase due to microbial action as the meat sits.)
Milk and Milk Products
All fermented milk products, including cheese (any milk product that is curdled rather than fermented is allowed, such as cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and panir)
Cheese products such as processed cheese, cheese slices, cheese spreads
Yogurt, buttermilk, kefir
Fruits and Vegetables
Orange
Grapefruit
Lemon
Lime
Cherries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cranberries
Loganberries
Apricot
Pineapple
Dates
Raisins
Prunes
Currants
Relishes
Pickles
Spinach
Tomatoes
Ketchup
Tomato sauces
Food Additives
Tartrazine and other artificial food colors
Preservatives, esp. benzoates, sulfites and BHA, BHT
Note: Many medications and vitamin pills contain these additives, especially colors. Ask the pharmacist to recommend additive-free supplements and medications.
Seasonings
Cinnamon
Chili powder
Cloves
Anise
Nutmeg
Curry powder
Hot paprika (cayenne)
Miscellaneous
Fermented soy products
Fermented food
Tea—herbal or regular
Chocolate, cocoa, and cola drinks
Alcohol
Vinegar and foods containing vinegar such as pickles, relishes, ketchup, and prepared mustard
7/30
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