Here we are just waiting for a few minutes...
It started out with Dr. Welch asking us a bunch of questions and then giving Raquel an exam. She was very cooperative - especially considering this was all taking place during her nap time and she was obviously tired. Dr. Welch soon thought that Raquel has been dealing with what is called a "hidden" sinus infection. Once we told him about her developing croup, a sinus infection & ear infection after the October 2007 fires, he seemed to think that she wasn't given a strong enough antibiotic or that it wasn't given to her for a long enough duration. He said that hidden sinus infections are only detectable by x-ray or CAT scan, but that her symptoms definitely were showing that this was going on. He also said they are very painful, which explains why she is constantly pushing on her nose. I thought it was because she was itching it, but he said "pushing", which he observed today, is something different.
After his evaluation, he ordered up some tests that the nurse came in to administer. She even tried them out on all of us before doing it so we would know how it was feeling to Raquel - although she didn't push nearly as hard on us as she did Raqi. I don't know if I would call it a scratch like sensation, more of just a weird prick - kind of if you took a bristle hair brush to your arm and pushed down a bit hard. But, of course, there were not nearly that many bristles.
Here how the testers looked...
To apply them, Mike had to hold her in a big hug, and I had to first put those curly locks up in a high ponytail so the hair wouldn't mess with the test, and then hold her arms across Mike's shoulders so she couldn't fidget too much. She did really great when the nurse applied them. Her eyes got real big a couple of times but she never cried once. Then the real challenge came: we had to keep her hands away from the test areas for 15 minutes - and we were told that the stuff was going to start really itching. Mike did great - took her outside and did the best to distract her. One smear and we were done and would have to come back to have her re-tested at another time. Obviously, not what I wanted to hear or have to do.
This was taken right after the test was administered and bumps were just starting to form. Can't see much - but check out the chub. She's REALLY growing! :-)
Once her successful 15 minutes was up, the nurse came back in to check and measure her skin reactions.
And then she rubbed her back down with some anti-itching cream to soothe the areas.
Then Dr. Welch came in to go over the results. It's a great thing we had this done - turns out that Raquel has a SEVERE allergic reaction to not only cashews but also peanuts! She'll need to have an EpiPen (shot device) with her at all times to prevent her from going into sudden analphylactic shock if she digests them. So not good, but atleast we know. She also tested negative to not only environmental allergens, but also wheat and dairy, so she technically doesn't need to be on the gfcf diet anymore. He did say to gradually introduce the foods if we decide to take her off of it so we can see how they are affecting her. We see Dr. Welch again in another 4 weeks.
I'm just really happy that all the tests are done for now and that we are fortunate to have some answers. I'm still waiting for the MRI & EEG appointment dates, so until then, I'm hoping for some much needed calmness in the house.
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