Allergy Freak Out

Life-threatening illnesses aside, I can think of no other childhood ailment that causes more motherly distress than allergies.  For the last few weeks, my daughter has been breaking out into hives.  We don't know why, and it is really stressing me out.  At first, we thought it was something she ate because the hives were all over, even behind her ears!  I racked my brain, trying to think of what it could be, but she hasn't eaten anything new.  She is not big on change when it comes to food. 

We haven't changed lotions or soaps.  She has eczema, so we only use unscented products formulated for sensitive skin.  I only use Dreft detergent for her clothes. 

The break outs have occurred at different times and on different days of the week. There is no pattern, no common denominator that is readily apparent to me. The not knowing is what is driving me up the wall.

My daughter is a trooper though.  She takes her antihistamine with little complaint, but I think my freaking out is stressing her out.  As I checked her hives for the umpteenth time the other day, she said, "Mom, this is getting annoying."  

I've talked with other moms.  Of course it didn't help my stress level when I found out from one mom that her daughter was diagnosed with "chronic hives" of unknown origin.  Great.

We have an upcoming appointment with an allergist.  I'm hoping we'll be able to nail it down. 

I try and reassure myself that I am doing all that I can do, but I still worry.

I can't help it.  I just want to figure it out and make it better.  That's what moms do.