... [Read More]
Welcome October!
Happy October Members! Before we get started, let's rejoice with celebrations and victories! One recent post by Gail Reynolds Frank was filled with funny stories of life transformation as her daughter moved through OIT treatment. Here are a few favorite quotes: "I don't even know where they went to eat! Who cares? Sarah was annoyed she had to wear a dress..." (Of OIT) "...we LIVE like it's a cure." "The Epi-pen becomes your Epi-friend and you know if, for some strange reason a reaction occurs it simply stops a reaction immediately and you text your doctor. Epi becomes the spare tire in your car, the fire extinguisher in the kitchen, the band aid in your purse. With it you are invincible and unafraid. Life is incredible when food is just ... [Read More]
The “Puzzle of Tree Nut Components”
Tree nut component testing. A few months ago, I asked Dr. Silver (Cleveland) about component testing for tree nuts. He referred to a brochure put out by Thermo Scientific (the makers of the ImmunoCAP and the Component Testing) for physicians. With permission, his response: "It lists the relevant tree nut components (cashew, walnut, hazelnut, and brazil nut) and tries to offer some kind of an interpretation for the results. It does not offer any info regarding how high a component sensitization ought to be in order to considered clinically significant. There are only a few studies available to guide doctors with the clinically-relevant IgE “cut off” values for a given component. Unlike the new tree nut components, the peanut ARA H2 component has been more extensively studied, ... [Read More]
Love and Devotion
ADMIN NOTICE: What is going on with the attitude people? Admins, myself included, dedicate every possible minute to providing a place for you to learn about OIT, connect you with OIT specialists, maintain documents, websites, posts, databases, various platforms, etc... 1. Our website might show a doctor's name who has been removed because it's over 400 pages with videos, blogs, maps, etc... We do not have a web development or IT department. It does not make us "irresponsible" or "disingenuous" if we miss something. It makes us BUSY!!! Busy working here and not there. Busy searching the names to remove them here and there and various other platforms. Names are embedded in links and documents that require reformatting, rewriting, re-something. It's not as simple as ... [Read More]
Who Trained Your OIT Allergist?
Some of the doctors on our List have been trained by each other. Some have created their own protocol after years of research interest, experience, and listening to presentations given at allergy conferences. They have studied the methods of other doctors on our List and well known research study locations, such as Duke (my favorite). Why it matters? Some studies were simply trying to find out if OIT could be "SAFE AND EFFECTIVE." Dr. Burks proved that in his cohort study. Other study locations wanted to see how many allergens they could combine in a protocol and still be safe. Hence, mOIT (multiple) OIT. Other studies wanted to see if Xolair helped with the OIT process-- which had already been proven "SAFE AND EFFECTIVE." Some studies wanted to see if probiotics ... [Read More]
Food Challenges: Who, what, when, where, how, and why?
In our facebook supports groups, we've had a few misunderstandings regarding pre-OIT v. food challenge (the TEST). Under the care of a board certified allergist who specializes in OIT: OIT starts in nearly invisible amounts, MICRO grams, and builds up during the day to find an acceptable, NON-reaction, spot where the doctor feels you could go home with that amount and dose for the next week or two. WITHOUT REACTIONS. If you have side-effects or reactions, you need to call the office ASAP for instructions and perhaps modified dosing amounts. Safety Note: If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, which is rare but possible, you would treat the symptoms, epi and call 911. Then call the office once the emergency is handled. Sometimes reactions have escalated quickly ... [Read More]