Luke went to the allergist today and had the dreaded skin test. I actually don't have time to write out the whole story here now, if you don't mind too much I'm going to paste the text of a letter I've written explaining it all to his teachers, therapists, etc. I'm sharing this because I'd love to hear from anyone, if you or your children have receieved allergy shots, how did it go and what results did you see? Gotta run now, I have an appt with my gyno surgeon this afternoon (follow up), then a PTA-type meeting after that, what a DAY! Plus Sarah has been crying non-stop... Calgon take me AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!! ;>)
Here's the letter, if you have time or care to read it:
To: Leak "K', Ruthie Grant, Lani Carpenter, Jane Taylor, Paul Topper:
This is an update for all of you involved with Luke at Back Creek. Lani and Jane, I'd like to informally introduce you to a fellow Back Creek Preschool parent, Paul Topper – he has an extensive history of working with autistic children in Massachusetts, specifically with inclusion programs like we're attempting here, and has kindly offered to provide any information or support he can. I'm very grateful for his input.
Today I took Luke to an allergist, Dr. Humphreys. We performed the dreaded "stick test" on his back and he reacted strongly to over half the allergens given. He is especially allergic to a variety of trees, molds, eggs, milk, dogs, cats, and horses. Thankfully I'd put off getting a pet! The trees and mold are what are causing him the most trouble right now, at this particular time of year. Since it is impossible to avoid all of these allergens, and since allergy medications cause a negative reaction (hyperactivity, irritability, sleeplessness), the only option is allergy shots. The doctor believes shots will serve him better in the long run, anyway. So, as soon as the serum arrives, Luke will begin getting allergy shots twice a week.
Here is where all this affects his schooling. The doctor watched Luke's behavior in the office – he was a real trooper with all they did to him, he had the nurses "charmed" right off the bat, but he was quite active and distractible. Dr. Humphrey's assured me that MANY children come in acting that way, but after a few months of treatment, have calmed down SIGNIFICANTLY and are much happier. There is much documented evidence that allergies can cause children to feel irritable and agitated, and can produce "hyperactivity". So I am very encouraged to hear that these shots should help him in those areas! Lani and Jane, you know from a year of working with Luke that overcoming his developmental "quirks" is not that difficult when he's happy and cooperative, his "normal self". However, as they begin to inject him with the very things he's allergic to, he may actually get worse before he gets better. This is certainly not good news for the short-term. I am not willing for him to have many more days like he had on Monday. Leah reports that he would not respond to her at all, would not remain seated for any amount of time, threw his papers down when she asked him to do anything, and spent much of the day rolling around on the floor yelling "no" and his own name! He came home that day very anxious and irritable and I can only imagine he spent that day knowing that he was being "bad" but not sure what exactly to do about the way he was feeling. In addition, the work she has sent home from him is nowhere near his potential. Last year he'd begun writing his name and drawing simple objects, and we know that he can identify and discriminate ALL his letters and numbers. He's not performing anywhere near that in class, at least not without one on one support. I can't stand the thought of this continuing for another month or two while we wait for these allergy shots to kick in.
Here is what I would like to know from all of you. Do we have a case for asking for a temporary one on one for Luke, from CMS, just for say, 2 months? In that time he may have adapted well, and the shots should be helping him significantly (again, Dr. Humphrey's was adamant that we WILL see a change in behavior). Please advise me on what I would need to do in order to accomplish this. Personally, and please do not share this with the "powers that be" at CMS, but if they cannot or will not provide one, we would find some way to pay for a person like this. Ruthie, how would that work from your position as a school? And all of you, where would I find a person like that? I have no idea what it would cost but for a few months we'd figure it out. It would have to be someone trained in shadowing an AS child, not someone who would do everything for him or prematurely intervene, but who would be there to guide him as needed and keep him on track so that he learns to do as much as possible on his own, until he eventually did not need that person at all.
I'm just afraid to "wait it out". I'm afraid of the emotional toll it might take on him personally, to spend many more days behaving the way he did Monday. I'm also afraid of the peer reaction he will get if he continues to behave that way. And I know that Leah cannot continue to deal with that level of behavior on her own.
Feel free to call or email with your thoughts on this, I greatly appreciate all that each one of you have done to help us and I know it's going to pay off for Luke in the long run!
Sincerely,
Michelle McConnell
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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)
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Any experience with allergy shots?
