WHILE Sidney has been going to see his “Dr Bob” ever since he was six months old, it’s only been during the last two or three hospital visits that he has really understood what is going on.
Until our most recent round of skin prick tests, he would sit cheerily on my knee tinkering with toys and never showing any upset.
This latest time, with Sidney a full year older than the last, we had caterwauling from the outset – but not to the needles. It was the height and weight machines that had him fleeing.
In the end, he dealt admirably well with the skin pricks (the TV in the nurse’s room helped).
Other people – adults – have told me that having positive reactions feels like “amplified nettle rash that you’re not allowed to touch” and yet, despite the big lumps springing up across his arm he played ‘shop’ happily enough with the hospital’s toy till, had us read stories to him and fiddled with his Peppa Pig fuzzy felt.
It was still a long morning and a lot for a little one to put up with. So on the way out I picked up a Mr Greedy book from the hospital shop as a ‘well done’ for being so brave, and for tea it was his favourite bolognese with ‘butterfly’ pasta, followed by a Kinnerton (nut free) chocolate lolly.
What treats does your little one get on Allergy Apointment Day?
yesnobananas 
What hospital are you under? We have our first appointment with paediatric allergy specialist at st Mary’s paddington on thurs. Been told to allow 2 hrs but no idea what they are going to do!
Hello Karen – we are also St Mary’s and they are great. Obviously I don’t know exactly what your little one needs but, generally speaking, on arrival there’s height and weight, then a little wait until seeing the allergist. From there it tends to be skin prick tests with the nurse, then waiting 20 minutes for those results to ‘appear’, back to the nurse to read the results, and then back to see the doctor. Depending on your situation you may well then see a nurse for EpiPen training or a dietitian for more advice. All in, a couple of hours is about right. Take a few snacks and a drink and maybe a couple of small toys. There are toys for the children to play with but it’s always good to have something up your sleeve in the event of tiredness and/or meltdown! We take stickers, a favourite book or two, and something like fuzzy felt to concentrate on. Good luck! You’re in great hands. x
Anya has a new rainbow fairy book and lunch at Bella Pasta in town, they are well trained with allergies and always look after her. Her yearly test is usually Christmas time, so we visit the German market and go on the carousel, what with the train journey in and so much to look forward to she barely notices the SPT!
Ah, that’s lovely… lunch is a great idea! Nice to turn it into a day out…
It’s funny what you say because after years of being fine, my daughter hates the hospital now…but then every year she has to have a blood test for her coeliac disease. She always gets a trip to the shop afterwards to get some sweets and that helps!