So Josie’s first day of OIT was a big, fat, fail…
And I’m not going to lie…it was completely all my fault. Why? Because I’m me. Me as in the anxious, scared, get-these-flash-backs-of-her-dying-in-my-arms PTSD moments. My anxiety was so heightened at her appointment, I almost felt like I was going to die. I took a glance at my FitBit to see my heart rate and it was above 120. That was at resting. Lord. I look back now and am so angry at myself for ruining this for her. This time it’s going to be so much different…
Well, with that being said, our sweet girl is starting her first day of OIT on May 9th! (If we can get this illness out of our house!) This time we’re doing things a little differently. ..
Daddy is going to take her. As most know he’s much more relaxed and she (I think) is more drawn to him. I booked a hotel the day before and the day after only 0.2 miles away for if they need me or I want to come there. I could walk there if I wanted to.
But for me to physically be there? No way! I am no good for her. My husband has told me, the allergist knows and that entire office probably thinks I’m nuts (no pun intended). But that’s okay. I am. I’ll admit it. I am terrified of feeding my child small lethal doses of a food that could potentially kill her. But on the upside there are thousands of positive stories and the success rates are phenomenal. The decision is a no brainer. We’ll do anything for Josie.
Of course with any doctors appointment that I cannot attend, I will probably pace the hotel room with my 19-month-old in hopes to not hear my phone ring. The first appointment can take anywhere between 4-8+ hours. Not a trip that I want to be involved in because I cannot imagine being calm enough for her.
We’ve made some pretty huge steps since that last attempt. Josie now takes Zyrtec liquid in a medicine cup. WHICH IS HUGE! She wouldn’t touch any medicine, at all, what-so-ever (without throwing it up) and because I’m sure her PTSD from past reactions/hospital visits/ICU, etc. But what she absolutely WON’T take is anything in a syringe. KEEP ANY AND ALL AWAY FROM HER. It terrifies her! Like to the point of freak out, throw yourself on the floor, type of freak out. So when we attempt again this time, they will NEED to put their syringe (they used on her last time), in a medicine cup before even entering the room and I’m willing to bet she’ll down it like a champ.
She seems to think she will go to the doctor once and walk out of there eating ice cream. Children have no sense of time. Since our last visit we talk about that doctor a lot. In fact, we talk him UP a lot. We finally convinced her that she can eat what baby sister does if she will go and see this doctor.
Josie: “Mama, can I go see Dr. S so I can have him give me medicine and then I can go eat ice cream with you and daddy and baby sister, please mama, please?” How precious is that? And bless her heart! It’s literally the small things in life we take for granted. She has no clue on the amount time this will take to be “desensitized” enough for her to enjoy that ice cream cone one day. Thank goodness we’re doing egg and milk at the same time. If that goes well, we’ll move to tree nuts and then peanuts (together or separate, we don’t know yet). Then try to tackle the whole chicken thing…
This post is short and sweet. Mainly a reach out to those friends and family who have prayed for Josie before, to please, please, please keep us (Josie) in your positive thoughts and prayers. Please pray that this works for her. I really do have good faith in this allergist and I am confident he will change our lives forever. And if that being the case, I will never know how to repay him for that. It will be priceless!
Read past experience here:
Josie’s Journey into OIT-Day 1, The Consultation
Flashback: The Day Josie Became My Allergic Child
A Pair of Socks 