Megan Lavin is a fan of oral food challenges (or OFCs). They’ve allowed her two boys with multiple food allergies to reintroduce several foods – from soy to beef, shrimp, eggs, hazelnuts, sesame and more. That’s been life-changing.
But in this episode of the Megan’s Minute video series, our parenting contributor gets candid about two oral food challenges that did not work out. They simply proved that her older son’s allergies to wheat and pistachios were still present.
Disappointing? Sure, but there’s a reason she uses air quotes when discussing a ‘failed’ food challenge. The fact is, she has discovered a silver lining of benefits in at least trying the challenges.
First, Megan gets that children often grow out of some allergies – or that a food allergy test could have been falsely positive. The oral food challenge is the gold standard of allergy testing because you actually eat the suspect food, in gradually increasing amounts. If you pass one, you can bring that food into your diet.
With her older son, for instance, he didn’t qualify to try a beef challenge until he was 10. Then, eureka, he passed. Today, a hamburger is one of the tween’s favorite meals.
As well, though, having had the experience of a ‘failed’ OFC, her son now gets the remarkable effect epinephrine has in a reaction.
Megan describes him “going from being red, swollen, hived out and overall miserable to his skin clearing and his breathing better within seconds.” She says something clicked for him about epinephrine: “It can really change things for the better, and fast.”
In fact, he got it to such a degree that when the pistachio challenge was bringing on symptoms, he was the one to ask for an epinephrine shot.
‘Failed’ Food Challenge and Power of Epi
Megan, known for her Allergy Awesomeness recipe website, is a veteran of oral food challenges. She shares in the video the wisdom that she and her son have gained: from successful and ‘failed’ food challenges. In the safe environment of the allergist’s office, she’s seen her son have the courage to try – and to get past reaction fears.
As an allergy mom, she used to feel panicked by symptoms of a reaction. Now, she feels practiced in what to do. And, she notes, “we’ve learned to believe in the power of epinephrine.”
Megan works closely with the allergist to see whether annual skin-prick testing shows an allergy is likely decreasing for either of her sons. She explained oral food challenge decision-making and what goes on during a challenge in a previous Allergic Living article. In that post, she spoke of the psychological freedom in a successful OFC.
But so too, she reminds in this video, are the lessons in gaining understanding of a child’s individual disease, of epinephrine’s effects and of allergy management. Pass or ‘fail’ a food challenge, and she sees benefits.
Megan concludes with: “I hope your allergist is talking to you about whether or not your child is a candidate to try oral challenges…. Because there may be some silver linings for you too – even if your child doesn’t pass.”
Join Allergic Living monthly for a new installment of Megan’s Minute with Megan Lavin, the creator of the Allergy Awesomeness blog. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
More Megan’s Minute Videos:
Taking a Family Cruise with Food Allergies
Creating a 504 Plan for an Allergic Student
How Not to Overreact with an Allergic Child
Food Allergy as School: Self-Carrying Epi Matters
Epi-Carrying at School with No Backpacks Rule
Warning: Wheat Starch with a Wheat Allergy
