Talking Allergies

Hi, We're living in Boston at the moment and JUST got satisfied with my medical team down here for my two boys. Both have asthma, the older one has multiple food allergies and the younger has food intolerances. Now we're unexpectedly moving back to Calgary in September and I'm so discouraged by the wait times I've been quoted (got spoiled down here!). I'm hoping someone on this forum is in the Calgary area and can offer some guidance re: good docs, places to buy food (I know Community Foods and Amaranth), support groups, etc. Am hoping someone can let me know what the current state of things is regarding allergies in daycares/schools as my older one will start Kindergarten in a year (we actually got a preschool spot for him at this late date, surprise!)

Thanks in advance!
Heather

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Heather

DS, 4, allergic to PN, TN, sesame, chick pea and lentil, EA, dog, cat, asthma
DS, 16 mo, former multiple food intolerances, asthma

Welcome to the forum Heather,

Alberta Advocate...where do you live...other than the obvious .

I'm sure there is someone on the forum who will be able to help you out. I can't imagine having to move once finding specialists, good care etc.. DH was offered a transfer last month and In one day I was so frantic that we turned down the move. It has taken us 3 years to get comfortable with grocery stores and dr.'s, his upcoming school etc..
Good luck with the move and be sure to post if you need to chat,vent, have a break from packing.

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DD 12 yrs -no allergies
4 yr old DS - asthma/eczema Anaphylactic to Peanuts, all tree nuts, sesame , all pea/lentil legumes, gelatin.
Allergic to trees, grass,ragweed, feathers, dander, mold and dust.
Outgrew eggs, fish, shellfish

Drs. Carr and Vander Leek are v. good allergists and have a big clinic in Calgary.

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Allergic to soy, peanut, shellfish, penicillin

I just looked up Drs. Carr and Van der Leek but they are listed in Edmonton. Has that changed do you know?

Thanks!

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Heather

DS, 4, allergic to PN, TN, sesame, chick pea and lentil, EA, dog, cat, asthma
DS, 16 mo, former multiple food intolerances, asthma

Right, they are Edmo.

Once off deadline, I'll dig up a name or two from Calgary.

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Allergic to soy, peanut, shellfish, penicillin

We see Dr. Stephen Cheuk in Calgary, he is in the SW. I think he also has a specialty in pediatrics and respirology. Our first visit was hours long, with thorough asthma testing, teaching on devices, and skin testing. Our annual visits have also been very thorough, and our most recent visit involved a baked milk challenge - which I know now was risky considering my ds' RAST number, but he is very academic and seems to be very up-to-date on the current state of research. There is also Dr. Serushago and Dr. Doctor. We have seen all 3. Dr. Cheuk is my favourite, by a landslide. It was almost a year to see him initially (I think... it's been a while). I know there have been a few new ones come to the city since we started seeing Dr. Cheuk, but I haven't heard anything about them. I'm a pharmacist, so I see alot of prescriptions from different specialists, and those are really the only 3 that I see scripts from. I know there are several family docs that list allergies as a special interest, but they are not allergists. I think the new ones are based out of Children's Hospital, so that might be a place to start. Good luck!

Glad you found this forum Heather....and a big welcome back when you get here. This is my 2nd reply to you. I lost the 1st one. I really need to learn to save more often.
Anyway, I can't really help on the doctor front, as we have only seen one (after she reacted to meds in the emergency) Dr. T. Bowen in Calgary. He was very nice, but I really can't say anything else. Those names that Gwen gave you, I recognize both, very well respected. Dr Carr I have seen on tv because he is doing the therapy stuff and Dr. Tim Vander Leek was one of the principal authors of "Anaphylaxis in Schools and Other Settings" -pretty much word for word with a few exceptions as "Anaphylaxis: A Handbook for School Boards (Canadian School Board Assoc.). I believe he is now associated w/Anaphylaxis Canada. Anyway...Edmonton is not that far from Calgary if you are interested.
On the school front, you lucked out if you choose public in Calgary, as the Calgary Board of Education has had a policy in place for a few years and it was put together by Nancy Wiebe (AAIA) I believe. viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6472 I think it is better than most here, but could use a little updating.
I have no idea what is in place for children at playschools or daycares.

The province has been very busy paying a lot of people a lot of money to make it look like they have things covered since about 2006 but there are still a lot of uneducated people out there in the school systems.
Here are some threads that may interest you.
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6197
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6461
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=5758
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=2202
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1567

edit to add - just my opinion

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Myself - Seasonal, cats
dd-asthma (trigger - flu) anaphylactic to eggs, severe allergies to bugspray and penicilin,pulmicort
ds-Seasonal, cats and OAS
dh-allergy cats, bugspray and guava, outgrew egg allergy

When we travelled through Calgary, we shopped at Planet Organic for all of those specialty foods that we couldn't get at a mainstream grocery store. http://www.planetorganic.ca/

I was e-mailing them a bit prior to the trip and they were most helpful.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

I'm in Calgary and I love Planet Organic. It's a bit of a drive for me so I really stock up when I do go there. I like the one across from Market Mall in the NW. Blush Lane in Aspen Landing is also very good. I can find quite a few corn free items at both of these stores.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I used to go to Community Foods downtown but Planet Organic is about the same distance. Good to know it's a good resource.

I will check out Dr. Cheuk. I LOVE that you think he's up to date on things. We had one horrendous experience down here with an allergist who must be operating on her own little planet. Getting a recommendation like that means the world to me, so thank you!

I've been dreading school of course. We'll have my son in one more year of preschool and the teacher has assured me she has epi training, etc. but will make sure of course. Elementary school just seems so much less controlled, I imagine I'll have a big adjustment period! But it's good to know CBE has a policy, though having worked in many schools I know a policy is just a piece of paper until someone follows through. Sigh. Not looking forward to 12 years of this!

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Heather

DS, 4, allergic to PN, TN, sesame, chick pea and lentil, EA, dog, cat, asthma
DS, 16 mo, former multiple food intolerances, asthma