Ok, new question for my good buddies here.....

My son went for his T&Aectomy 2 week follow-up with the ENT yesterday. I told the doc that he was sleeping very peacefully since the surgery, no more snoring, no more gasping.....but that I was concerned that he still had very dark circles under his eyes. The doc says it's probably alergies. I told him we had had him tested for alergies about a year ago, and nothing showed up.

i have never bought into the idea of him having alergies...he doesn't sneeze, cough, or have watery eyes...all the usual things I associate with allergies. My husband and I do not have any allergies...How do allergies cause dark circles? What could he be allergic to?

I just read an article that says dark circles are associated with allergies in children, and that children with large tonsils, adenoids, and sleep apnea are prone to allergies. I've assumed until now that the circles were from the sleep apnea, but now after the T&A  and if the apnea is resolved....why does he still have circles?
 
Anybody know anything about the connection between allergies and sleep apnea. It's frustrating to think that we've been through all this with the sleep apnea, only to find out that now we've got allergies to deal with.

Anyway, the doc said we would give it another 3 weeks and if he still has the dark circles we'll evaluate it then. He said there was no need for another sleep study (to verify the apnea is gone) since he is no longer snoring and is sleeping peacefully.

Doesn't it seem with these kids that one illness just leads into another and another......makes you wonder which one came first?....how are all these issues so common to eachother and why?

kim

Well I know my little guy has bad allergies............ I think it is the cause of his large tonsils and adenoids!!! He is going for the surgery on Oct 17th. But if your little one doesn't have symptoms it would seem unlikely!!

Hi Kim,

I have learned through this whole process to TRUST YOUR GUT!  If you think something is going on, please get a second opinion.  I had three doctors tell me that my daughter probably didnt' have sleep apnea, and she ended up having it.  

After my three year old's T&A I noticed that she was still somewhat sleepy.  I opted to do another sleep study just to "close the loop".  Lo and behold, she still has apnea.  Its better than before, but its still there.

Nobody knows our children better than we do.  If your insurance can cover another sleep study (usually done at least 3 months after the surgery) I would go for it.  In the meantime, talk to an allergist.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Good luck!

Hi Kim,

Don't let them just assume the apnea is gone.  Make them prove it to you with a sleep study (if you can get coverage for one).  Apnea can still be a problem even if they appear to be sleeping well.  

As for the dark circles and allergies, they do go together.  They can be associated with food allergies as well as environmental allergies.  Your child can become allergic to anything at any time, so a past negative test is not a guarantee of no allergies.  It is also possible to get a negative skin test and still be allergic to something, the same for the blood test.  As I have been told, reactions trump results every time,  so none of the allergy tests are perfect.  If the dark circles don't go away try allergy testing for the top 8 allergens (wheat,corn,soy,milk,peanuts,tree nuts,shell fish,eggs)....not all food allergies are obvious.

Tatamom and Chris (Food allergies to wheat/rice/peas/tuna/oats/barley/drinking milk/drinking soy milk) Asthma and former apnea kid

Hi Kim -

Wow, we are dealing with the same issues!  My son was having a lot of trouble with snoring, restless sleep, dark circles under his eyes, sinus infections at age 3.5 (he is now 5.5).  We had his T&A done at age 4, and thought we were out of the woods with the OSA, etc.  He was breathing much better, sleeping soundlessly at night, and overall much more rested.  However, after about 6 months of what we thought was resolved, all the symptoms returned.  

We are still struggling with the dark circles, persistent snoring and restless sleep, which our doctor(s) have tried treating with various allergy/sinus meds, allergy elimination, RAST testing, etc.  All tests have shown him negative to food allergens and environmental allergens.  He has no other symptoms to indicate allergy - no sneezing. itching, watery eyes....Both ENTs we have seen are scratching their heads, and can only offer the suggestion of food allergies, but like you said, no history of food allergies in the family, no other allergy symptoms but the dark circles and snoring/sleep problems.  The other suggestion was that he will grow out of this, but as a mom, it is so painful to see your child struggle like this.  I know how difficult sleep deprivation is, and how bad I feel without sleep, and would do anything to help him.

To complicate matters, we live in a remote area of Arizona where we have to travel a minimum of 3 hours to see an ENT.  I'm sorry that I have no suggestions to offer, only that you are not alone in your search for answers.  It is so frustrating going from one doctor to another, only to have them brush off the symptoms as nothing to worry about! I would love to know if you get any further with your quest for answers..  Hang in there--

jacksmom

Just wanted to say thanks for all the help.

Roxie: That's a good point about the allergies being the cause of the big tonsils....it makes sense because the tonsils are made of glandular tissue just like the lymphnodes (I think  ?).

msturiale & tatamom: I think your right, even though I'm pretty sure the apnea is gone, a second sleep study would give me some peace of mind about the dark circles. Tatamom, what happens if your daughter is exposed to some of the things she is alergic to? I guess what I'm asking is, what are some of the other symptoms or things to look for with food allergies? All I've noticed is the dark circles.

Jacksmom: "Wow," is right! Our situations are very similar. I know how frustrating that whole "oh, they'll grow out of it" response is -I hate that!  I have read so many posts here about how after a tonsilectomy the apnea reappears later down the road. Maybe it just seems like its common here on the board because the people whose kids are cured and stay cured....move on and don't come back to post. I wish they would though.....nice to hear more success stories  .   If I get anywhere with the dark circles...I'll let you know what I find out...but in the meantime, it sure is nice to know someone else has/is going through the same thing.  

Thanks guys!

kim

If I were you I'd insist on another sleep study just to make sure he's not having apnea.  My daughter has never snored, and as far as I could tell, she slept fine (although she did move around a lot).  When her pulmo doc first suggested apnea at 4yo, I told him there was no way -- she slept 12 hours a day, napped for 2 and didn't snore.  Thankfully he was insistent.

After 2 years on a cpap, with increasing allergy symptoms, many tests, trips to ER, the problem turned out to be too much pressure on the cpap for me.  My respiratory systom rejected the excess pressure being forced into it.

Out of 14 Doctors, the last one figured it out.  Then all the other Dr.s agreed.

It is sad to have to be our own best advocates in medical care, but thank goodness for the net.

Best of luck,
Selene