BLOG: Arizona Food Allergy Alliance Guest Blogger– “Adventures in OIT” by Amy

There are over 50 OIT family blogs published in our Research & Learn library. They contain the journey of that family in OIT–some are in clinical trials, and others are in private practice with board-certified allergists. All the blogs are fascinating to read, full of wisdom and knowledge unique to that family’s journey.

ONE EXCERPT FROM THE BLOG:

By: Amy Martin | AFAA Editorial Contributor

 “Adventure” became the word we used over and over to make it all seem less scary. Mostly for me. The kids were handling it better than the adults.

“We’re off!” I told the kids as we pulled out of the driveway, a small trailer packed with all our necessities for the next six months in tow. “Everything is Awesome!” blasted through my speakers. I had been easily convinced by a fellow allergy mom in one of the OIT Facebook groups that if there were ever a time to move to Utah for treatments, it was now. My husband and I discussed it and agreed all the pieces were in place.  We were already selling our house to move closer into town, but had not yet bought another and my son was still young, just about to enter the first grade. He was totally on board for treatments and I knew as he got older it would be harder to convince him to both eat peanuts and to leave his friends.

All the arrangements had been made and an apartment was waiting for us in Utah as well as our first appointment with Dr. Jones. I planned to homeschool while there so as not to endure the sicknesses involved with starting a new school. Excessive illnesses would prevent us from maintaining regular updoses. My husband would come visit as often as possible, but someone needed to stay home and keep our business going. “Adventure” became the word we used over and over to make it all seem less scary. Mostly for me. The kids were handling it better than the adults.

Our appointments would be weekly, only to increase his peanut dose. First, he would be getting minuscule amounts of peanut protein in a liquid solution, then move on to peanut flour and eventually, actual peanuts. I would be administering the doses to him morning and evening.  There were rules to follow about proper rest afterward, when to go to sleep, making sure he had food in his stomach and not spacing the doses too far apart or too close together.  I knew these rules coupled with being a temporary single parent with two kids and a dog in a one-bedroom apartment would be a lot.

I also knew if we stayed in Arizona it could be years before a doctor there would offer OIT. I would spend all that time worried about accidental peanut exposures. We would be too stressed about a mid-air reaction to fly and visit family on the east coast. We would not be attending any baseball games. More than anything, I wanted to relieve the stress and worry of touching something with peanut protein on it for my six year old. I never wanted to hear, “Am I going to die?” from him again because he was reacting.

To us, this six months would be but a blip in the grand scheme of things, yet change our entire lives forever.

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