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Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
I am at a loss here and might be grasping at straws and won't know anything definitive until we meet with the allergist next week...
If your DC has a dairy allergy, hos did it present itself? Did you see anything else aside from blood in the stool?
James' rash has now started flaring up after he finishes his bottle, which is making me thing it HAS to be something in the formula. He's on Alimentum, which still has dairy in it. He gets a very angry looking red raised rash on his face (specifically his forehead and temples and now it's spreading to his cheeks) and head. he used to just kind of rub his face with the back of his hands, but now he's full-on scratching himself with his fingers. I hate the thought that he could be hurting from something I've been feeding him.
We've changed detergent, changed lotions and soaps, stopped feeding him solids - the one thing that has remained consistent is the formula.
Am I a total nut for even considering that it could be the formula?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New question...
What kind of formula should he be switched to? A soy, like Isomil, or something else?
Message edited 1/25/2010 1:05:04 PM.
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Posted 1/25/10 9:39 AM |
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laurabora
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2712 total posts
Name: Laura
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
You're not crazy, I'd think the same thing! My DS never had blood in his stools but had three hour vomiting sessions and eczema flares after eating dairy. So symptoms can vary so much. If you can't get in earlier to see the allergist, I'd at least call the ped and see what they think.
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Posted 1/25/10 9:43 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name: Janice
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
josh's rash went to neck and behind ears.
gas like crazy. i took a poopy diaper to ped and they tested it that day. came back with blood.
i did not have appt, just dropped diaper off at desk.
good luck!
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Posted 1/25/10 9:43 AM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
Posted by laurabora
You're not crazy, I'd think the same thing! My DS never had blood in his stools but had three hour vomiting sessions and eczema flares after eating dairy. So symptoms can vary so much. If you can't get in earlier to see the allergist, I'd at least call the ped and see what they think.
Thanks! Maybe this is why he's constantly spitting up as well? We have a well-visit tomorrow and the allergist next Tuesday. I just want to get to the bottom of this already!
Janice - the doc tests his diapers every time we go in and there has never been any blood in the stool....
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Posted 1/25/10 9:47 AM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name: Amy
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
That most definitely sounds like a dairy allergy and is exactly how Madelyn's allergy presented itself. Her nose would also run and she's start salivating as well.
I would contact an allergist as they can really give you the best course of action. In the meantime, talk with your pediatrician about switching formula. My DD did just fine with soy.
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Posted 1/25/10 9:49 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name: Janice
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
mine had a protein intolerace to dairy and soy...so maybe just a dairy allergy won't show in diaper.
I know how awful this mystery game is.
The rash to me screams allergy.
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Posted 1/25/10 10:08 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name: Melissa
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
don't think that test is conclusive. You could either test him at an allergist vi scratch test(does not hurt them) or try amino acid formula for a few weeks and see if there is a difference. My Dr gave me samples of it at first. Then I was able to get insurance to cover it with a note from my Dr.
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Posted 1/25/10 10:10 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name: Stephanie
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read!
KJ had traces of blood in his stool but he also has eczema, would SCREAM during feedings, suck feverishly at the bottle and then release over and over, etc
good luck, poor James
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Posted 1/25/10 10:14 AM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Bumping for new question...
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Posted 1/25/10 1:05 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Andy's symptoms were severe eczema, visible bloody mucus in stool, he would fight the bottle and would projectile vomit at least once a day, 12+ dirty diapers daily, crying and fussy a lot of the time. I feel like there was something else I'm forgetting, but it's been a few years.
As far as formula, first we switched to Similac Alimentum which has the milk proteins pre-digested. He still had visible bloody mucus in his stool so then we were switched to Neocate, which is amino acid based so it's safe for kids with food allergies.
Message edited 1/25/2010 1:43:39 PM.
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Posted 1/25/10 1:43 PM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name: Amy
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Mads only did formula for a month or two (she was BF until 11 months old). We put her on Enfamil Pro-So-Bee.
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Posted 1/25/10 1:44 PM |
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lilangel919
LIF Infant
Member since 10/09 220 total posts
Name: Vi
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
DD has a milk protein allergy, she had blood in her stool, would "fight her bottle"(thrash her head back and forth when eating), cry when eating, arch back when eating, eczema on her arms and legs, would bring her legs up to her chest often and would spit up what felt like more then she ate. She was (and still is) the happiest little baby, except when she had to eat. We tried gentlease, then Nutramigen, then Almentium and her symptoms never went away.
She is now on Neocate, which smells terrible and her spit up (which is so much less) smells like vinegar, but she doesn't seem to mind. She is so much better now. My Ped. and GI both said typically babies who are allergic to milk are allergic to soy as well. We also only feed her Beech Nut Cereal (there is no soy or milk porteins in it). GL
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Posted 1/25/10 2:00 PM |
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laurabora
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2712 total posts
Name: Laura
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
My son did great on soy, but some will tell you not to switch right away because kids with dairy allergies sometimes have soy allergies too.
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Posted 1/25/10 2:01 PM |
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Lola
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1854 total posts
Name:
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
DS has a milk/soy allergy and has blood in his poop. Other symptoms were reflux, difficult feedings, mucus in his poop, rash on his face, and bad gas. I BF and had to eliminate both from my diet. I'm also trying to clear up lingering traces of blood by replacing some feedings with Elecare which is an amino acid based formula. I would make an appointment with a GI doctor.
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Posted 1/25/10 3:37 PM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
It sounds like it to me too.
DD had bad eczema (the picture is not of DD but what it looked like. It was on her torso, front and back and then behind the ears, knees and elbows) and also green mucusy poop. She was never really fussy or gassy when I BF. Once we had her tested and I cut out dairy and egg out of my diet it cleared up.
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Posted 1/25/10 4:55 PM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Posted by JerseyMamaOf2
It sounds like it to me too.
DD had bad eczema (the picture is not of DD but what it looked like. It was on her torso, front and back and then behind the ears, knees and elbows) and also green mucusy poop. She was never really fussy or gassy when I BF. Once we had her tested and I cut out dairy and egg out of my diet it cleared up.
IMAGE
I've been trying to get a good pic of James' face - this is exactly what it looks like all over his face, head and arms.
He's never really gassy or fussy, but lately he's been wanting nothing to do with his bottles....
His poop is always green and slimy, we were told that it was just a result of the formula he is currently on...
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Posted 1/25/10 6:09 PM |
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BlackJack96
LIF Infant
Member since 6/08 245 total posts
Name:
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
I didn't read a lot of the responses so I'm sorry if I'm repeating anything, but here's my take....
Milk Protein Allergy (MPA) typically presents with GI symptoms. (usually blood and mucous in the stool, but can also present with vomiting). Usually the treatment for MPA is to switch to a hydrolyzed formula like alimentum or nutramagen. These formulas have no milk or soy proteins since they are broken down into polypeptides (amino acids strung together.... polypeptides strung together are proteins). Some 70% of kids with MPA also are allergic to soy so rather than trialing soy formula it's easier to just go to alimentum or nutramagen. (one is from the enfamil people and one is from the similac people).
From your posts about your kid (and the cute pics in your profile) it sounds like eczema. While eczema can be triggered by food it can also be triggered by the environment (detergents, synthetic fabrics). It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact foods that trigger the eczema.
Eczema treatment is simple: 1. moisturize: 2xs per day with something greasy like aquaphor 2. steroids for flare ups: you start with the lo potency stuff like hydrocort but if you want you can bump to medium potency like aclovate (you need script for this though). Often 2xs a day for a week will kill the rash. 3. if the itching is really bad a little benadryl or hydroxazine to help with sleeping and itiching.
I know you already have an appt with an allergist, but I think your best bet may be to a) address your concerns about the rash with your pediatrician (esp if you are doing all the stuff above) and b) consider finding a dermatologist. If the steroids do control the rash this is something you'll just have to manage.
Allergists in my opinion are best when you have multiple allergic issues. (i.e. the kid with asthma AND eczema) to look for some overriding cause of both OR the kid who has flare ups of rashses everytime you try new foods (esp as you work through fruits and veggies) to determine allergies ahead of time.
Hope that helps...
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Posted 1/25/10 9:28 PM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Posted by BlackJack96
I didn't read a lot of the responses so I'm sorry if I'm repeating anything, but here's my take....
Milk Protein Allergy (MPA) typically presents with GI symptoms. (usually blood and mucous in the stool, but can also present with vomiting). Usually the treatment for MPA is to switch to a hydrolyzed formula like alimentum or nutramagen. These formulas have no milk or soy proteins since they are broken down into polypeptides (amino acids strung together.... polypeptides strung together are proteins). Some 70% of kids with MPA also are allergic to soy so rather than trialing soy formula it's easier to just go to alimentum or nutramagen. (one is from the enfamil people and one is from the similac people).
From your posts about your kid (and the cute pics in your profile) it sounds like eczema. While eczema can be triggered by food it can also be triggered by the environment (detergents, synthetic fabrics). It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact foods that trigger the eczema.
Eczema treatment is simple: 1. moisturize: 2xs per day with something greasy like aquaphor 2. steroids for flare ups: you start with the lo potency stuff like hydrocort but if you want you can bump to medium potency like aclovate (you need script for this though). Often 2xs a day for a week will kill the rash. 3. if the itching is really bad a little benadryl or hydroxazine to help with sleeping and itiching.
I know you already have an appt with an allergist, but I think your best bet may be to a) address your concerns about the rash with your pediatrician (esp if you are doing all the stuff above) and b) consider finding a dermatologist. If the steroids do control the rash this is something you'll just have to manage.
Allergists in my opinion are best when you have multiple allergic issues. (i.e. the kid with asthma AND eczema) to look for some overriding cause of both OR the kid who has flare ups of rashses everytime you try new foods (esp as you work through fruits and veggies) to determine allergies ahead of time.
Hope that helps...
While I agree with what a lot of what you said, if OP's DS has eczemas that is triggered by an allergy she needs to find out what it is. A derm. is going to look at him and tell him he as Atopic dermatitis, give her a topical cream to use, probably steroidal if it is bad and to use Auquafor twice a day. In few days it will clear up so she will wean him off the topical cream and then it comes back. Another thing about eczema is that the itch causes the rash, not the other way around (at least that is what was told to me by the derm. when I brought my DD) and it made sense because the more she scratched the the more inflamed it got. Once we figured what her allergies were, her eczema went away, but she was used to waking her self from scratching so we gave her benadryl for a few days at night, per the recommendation of the allergist to get her to stop scratching and it worked.
I do think a formula like Elacare or Neocate may be the way to go. Maybe ask your ped. about trying it first before going to the allergist.
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Posted 1/25/10 10:20 PM |
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hdrd0411
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 1923 total posts
Name: Maureen
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
I will just add that you should def. not switch to a soy formula. When a milk pro allergy is present the babies gut becomes permeable, allowing the soy molecules to go directly into baby's blood, therefore making a soy allergy possible. The AAP does not recommend soy formulas in these situations.
The best formula advice I would give you is that if you suspect a MPA to try this route. First, try Gentlease. It is a formula that is in between routine and a hydrolysate. It has partially broken down proteins, not completely hydrolyzed like that of nutramigen/allimentum. However, if it is a true allergy, then you will have to go to a hydrolysate. As far as hydrolysate formulas, I would go with nutramigen w/enflora. It is the only one on the market that contains a probiotic (lactobacillius) that actually helps heal the damage in babies gut that was caused from the allergy. It is the same a culturelle, if you are familiar which is usually given when LO's are on antibiotics to help stop diarrhea. It works a lot better than nutramigen and allimentum - in my clinical opinion.
You should see results within 48h if not immediate. If you think it is a true allergy: eczema, blood/mucous in stool, wheezing, runny nose, excessive crying, and pulling knees into chest, I would go directly to the hydrolysate formula. Most insurance companies do cover this as well.
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Posted 1/25/10 10:27 PM |
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BlackJack96
LIF Infant
Member since 6/08 245 total posts
Name:
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
HDR: Classically MPA presents with GI symptoms since it's a direct reaction of the actual GI lining with the protiens in question. It sounds like the OP has nonGI symptoms. Also, the kid is already on Alimentum so if the kid has MPA it shouldn't be an issue since there are no milk (or soy) proteins in alimentum.
JerseyMama: I would disagree that ALL cases of eczema need to lead to an invasive investigation of allergens. While it is true that food allergy can manifest as atopic dermatitis (eczema) not all cases of eczema are due to food allergies. I'm not just saying this as a doctor. Both my kids have eczema and have responded to daily skin hydration and occaisional bursts of steroids. If you are adequately treating the eczema and have a few flare ups here and there there's not need to get crazy with an allergy work up. If the eczema is not responding OR there are other signs of atopy (asthma, GI symptoms of MPA) then an allergist can help put it all together.
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Posted 1/25/10 11:10 PM |
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
JerserMama, BlackJack and hdrd - thank you for the info!
This morning, the rash is not as angry as it was last night - figures, we have the doctor's appt this afternoon and I was hoping that he would see it at its worst. You can still see definite patches of where it was, but it's not maroon like it has been.
I am REALLY hoping to get some answers - I'll keep you all posted! (I know you'll be on the edge of your seats )
Message edited 1/26/2010 9:17:03 AM.
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Posted 1/26/10 9:16 AM |
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Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
Posted by scarletbegonia
This morning, the rash is not as angry as it was last night - figures, we have the doctor's appt this afternoon and I was hoping that he would see it at its worst.
Isn't that always the case????
Good luck with the appt and I hope you get the answers you are looking for.
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Posted 1/26/10 9:20 AM |
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hdrd0411
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 1923 total posts
Name: Maureen
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Re: Dairy allergy moms - please read! *Added question in OP
If LO is already on a hydrolysate, then your next step would be a complete amino acid formla such as nutramigen AA.
Keep us posted
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Posted 1/26/10 10:34 PM |
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