Allergies. Hmph.

In pondering what sort of cake to make Ella for her birthday, I figured any dairy-free, wheat-free, soy-free, egg-free cake is likely to taste FOUL.  If you've tasted rice-flour in baking you'll know how gross it is!  Thing is, we know for sure that Ella's highly allergic to all things dairy.  Excluding wheat, soy, nuts, eggs, seafood (the usual suspects for severe food allergies) is what we've been told to to in case she's allergic to them, given that her reaction to the dairy was life-threatening.  I'm so bloody sick of not being able to offer her most foods (not that she's really eating her solids these days), given that most of it is 'just in case...'.  We were told she could have tests done at a year old to see what else she may be allergic to.  But I'm wondering how some babies get theirs done earlier?  It has been done... how'd you get it done earlier?  I guess this topic is mostly for Emma, Aimee and Kellz, but there's others out there who've also had the tests done and I'd love to hear from you all.  Honestly, I'm considering just rubbing a piece of (dairy-free) white bread on a patch of Ella's skin a few times, then just offering her some if she has no probs with the skin.  Sick of the public health system! 

Andie. Yeah Im finding the health system frustrating too. The Paed said he just wants us to wait 3 months to re-do the RAST blood test, and didnt see any value in doing a skin prick test,...how about the fact that it will make it a lot easier for us to feed her?
Because Isla's first RAST test at 5 months came back negative, the Paed said we were ok to slowing try her on some of the "high risk" food. So she has wheat stuff fine now. If u can call having eczema all over her "fine"
Sorry I cant be much help, but I do feel for you. Why cant babies be simple?!

Do you have a good GP who understands allergies? Ask them for a lab form to get a RAST (blood test) done. The RAST test is more expensive (not for us to pay tho!) but is more accurate than a skin prick in littlies. Plus you would prob need to have the skin prick done at the hospital cos Ella is high risk for anaphylaxis again.

Come over to our playgroup on Friday 7 September. Will probably just be at my house with 2 or 3 others. Laura should be able to help you out with the baking cakes and you can look through my cookbook.

I was going to PM you and say I'd make it to next month's meet too... count me in!  (yaaaayyyyyy for meeeeee).  I hadn't realised the GP could order a RAST - thanks, I'll ask (beg/demand) for that next time.  We were told that any skin prick ones and any food trials would have to be done in hospital .  To be honest, it just doesn't 'feel' right to keep her away from all things wheat - I just don't think she has an allergy to it (call it a gut instinct thing).  But then I'm cautious, because I never saw the milk allergy coming so had no hesitition in giving her that one bottle of formula.  So you just don't know.  But then - there is that piece of research that says that for parents with a child with anaphylaxis, the deterioration in their family's quality of life is more because of the perceived risk of the allergy and the steps that have to be taken to prevent the child becoming sick, rather than the health effects of the allergy itself.  Anyway, I'm thinking out loud so I'll stop now, and check out that link to Anna's recipe

Yay! Will pm you with the details a bit closer to the time And you are so right about the quality of life thing

Emma gave us a recipe for a everything free cake and we used it for his 1st b'day.

We are waiting to have the skin prick test done, had to delay it a week as my wee man is sick again! I stamped my feet to be referred to a paed as his blood test came back negative and gp said he is fine...so try mik etc and he had a huge reaction.

I now really believe in mother instinct! It pays off at the end of the day.

Sorry not much help, but I hope it all works out for you!

Thanks - no rush though, I'll grab em when I see you next .  I'll trial Ella on some bread some time before I launch into baking for her, because knowing whether or not she's wheat tolerant would make a BIG difference to pretty much every baking recipe out there!  ...not that the child eats much anyway!