allergy testing update, mostly for my benefit!

Allergy testing is so stinking mysterious.

We did follow-up testing today. Sophie's skin tests were very positive for egg and peanut. The tree nut row only reacted a teensy bit at the almond test site, so that's mostly good. What we don't know is whether the skin tests are accurate (there's a 50% false positive rate) or how allergic she is if she is allergic (whether we're talking anaphylaxis or just exacerbating eczema or something).

So, now that we have been through the morning skin test ordeal (which Sophie handled like a champ), we have to go to the university health center this afternoon for a blood test. The blood test will give us a number, basically, indicating whether she is allergic and if so, whether it's a mild sensitivity or a full-blown killer allergy. And THEN, if the number is low or if she tests negative on the blood tests, the allergist will probably do a food challenge test in their office, where they feed her, for example, a muffin made with eggs and see what happens.

I am feeling badly about Sophie having to endure a blood test after being so great and patient about the skin tests this morning, but I guess I am vaguely hopeful that it will result in finding out something good. (What does a blood test look like for a 2 year old? Is it like the heel slice that they do to check lead levels? Or do they actually draw blood like they would for an adult? I feel faint considering that option, actually!)

So uh, wish us luck?

phlebotomist is a great word

The blood draw went well. We wandered through the health center for quite some time, and registering took forever, but then we met the phlebotomist. He was really nice and did a great job with Sophie. He did it all tourniquet-and-needle style, just like an adult! She was really brave and even watched him do the draw, and she only cried for a few seconds when he took the needle out. So, not traumatizing for either of us. We got ice cream after. :)

Now we wait two weeks for the results.