The day had finally come. We were meeting with the Pediatric Allergy Specialist. This had been a long road since our initial diagnosis of MSPI. We clearly had more going on than just MSPI given our extensive list of problematic “allergy” foods. I was so excited to know the results of the test, but dreaded the tests themselves. Our son on the other hand; he absolutely knew that his day was not going to be routine. Today, he decided that for his morning nap he would sleep for roughly 12 minutes. At this point in life, he is pretty much a 2 nap per day baby and his second nap was the time our appointment was scheduled for. So, I already knew that we were set up for a highly emotional appointment.

Our appointment began with reviewing the list of foods we were having difficulty with and the symptoms that he had experienced up to this point. After review, the doctor felt that he needed to be tested today. She confirmed that he was in fact a high risk baby. The testing would test all of his suspected allergies and determine whether the allergens would cause an anaphylactic reaction. I signed the consent knowing this was the best thing to do rather than to risk a life threatening emergency. Even so, I felt my hand slow as I was signing and reading the possible adverse reactions. My nurse brain told me “they have to say that, just sign it, he is going to be fine.” But that overprotective mom brain ran wild as the words “airway” and “death” jumped out of the page at me.

The Test

So, remember when I said we were going to be highly emotional!? Well, my little love could not hold back the tears as I stripped him down to his diaper. He was so distraught as I held him still for the nurse to write on his back to prep for the tests. He tried his hardest to get away from the pen and the nurse; I felt like I was wrestling an alligator doing the death roll! The nurse then apologized as she ordered him to be placed on his belly on the table. If I thought the emotions were high before… this proved me wrong. He cried and squirmed like I have never seen him do before.

As we held him down for the 20ish tests, I felt my nurse brain took over. I thought of all of the babies that I had held down for tests and their pitiful cries. Literally, I found myself not paying attention to the fact that this was my son. I had psychologically turned him into a patient. What a terrible mommy… How could I do that?! But, in all reality I did it because I love him so much, and there is no way I could have tolerated the testing without my nurse brain running the show. The mom brain is a strong and powerful thing but it is very easily hurt. The nurse brain has a little more armor and helped me to stay strong for my son.

Results

15 minutes later, after all that drama … all tests came back negative!! To the complete shock of the doctor, I might add, who brought in “reinforcement” because she thought for sure that he would react to a majority of the tests. I was still recovering from the trauma of the tests, but I was ecstatic!!! This means that we are in a much safer position than we thought. It also meant that we can try more foods, and that mom can’t be lazy in feeding the baby solids. The doctor advised us to slowly start introducing the foods on our allergy list into my diet and note any reaction. If there were no reactions after 2-3 days, introduce a new food and feel free to feed baby that new safe food.