OHbaby! Forums : Allergy or Intolerance?

Allergy or Intolerance? : I know, I requested to be shifted...

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:18:07 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 02�July�2010 at 6:18pm

I know, I requested to be shifted to the allergy paed & he was who I got so I presume that he's the "specialist" I was under Nikki Webstar who is the cardiac specialist. Yes I get the feeling he's not that proactive.

I thought for a whirl & a good photo op I'd give Cooper ricies...hmmm no immediate reactions. Reacts to baby rice & ground rice cooked at home & rice milk but not ricies...weird!

Allergy or Intolerance? : hahaha kel he is jacks doc......

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:28:09 +0000

Author: drumstx
Subject: 34336
Posted: 02�July�2010 at 4:28pm

hahaha kel he is jacks doc... allergy specialist ah?! that funny. get past the crappy geeky doctor bit he is ok, not very proactive, think i drive him nuts! good luck and i hope u get some good plans in place
and yayayayayay for breakfast! am all green with envy! hehehe

Allergy or Intolerance? : Go Mac!!! Caro, the bowel bit,...

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:01:22 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 02�July�2010 at 1:01pm

Go Mac!!!

Caro, the bowel bit, even though Cooper has horrid pooh all the time we've never got the blood. So I'm very thankful for that. I feel for your little man, it's not fair the hand life has dealt them.

Up at the hospital here, Orr who is an allergy specialist So I'll have my dietician on the Wednesday before I see him as well.

I got the nicest email today from a lady I had no idea existed but she's a lurker on a chat group I'm on & she gave me such words of support. This is what she said Just thought I'd let you know that it will end OK. and But at no time has a medical person agreed with me and assisted with my childrens reactions, but they are all growing and developing into beautiful people with more idea's about the world around them and how things react together and will be much wiser than most of there peers with regard to themselves and keeping healthy. They all know to question reactions and not to just accept what they are told. They will appreciate all your efforts to do the best for them and they will grow and the worry will be more shared with you by them. I also am alot wiser and am glad to have become more aware just as my kids have.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Oh drumstx that all sounds really...

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:41:44 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 02�July�2010 at 9:41am

Oh drumstx that all sounds really horrible but good on you for being strong and go little Jack for being a fighter! I'm sure kids are way tougher than us grown ups!

Mac ate some breakfast too.
Just a little bit of pear but it was something.

Allergy or Intolerance? : drumstx it might be worth you...

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:16:50 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 02�July�2010 at 6:16am

drumstx it might be worth you contacting allergy nz, if you haven't already, as they may know of other people in nz going through the same thing. It sounds awful and I really hope he out grows it. Sounds like he is a little fighter though and you are a big fighter for keeping at it with the "professionals"

Allergy or Intolerance? : yayayay for the 2and a half weeks!...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:26:24 +0000

Author: drumstx
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 11:26pm

yayayay for the 2and a half weeks! that cool, here or in auckland? who u get to see?
the symtoms are long and cruel, similar to what u write about but more like all his body rejects everything and takes the lining of his bowel with it. takes approx 9 weeks from what i understad to restore itself, along with the skin on the outside. he has biopsys done in waikato and insides are a mess from it is a tough little boy. i havent yet found anyone with it or doing what jack is. but did email that hosp that u put up before, maybe they can point me in direction of anyone who has had and either grown out of it. all abit intense really. let us know how u get on with the pead ah, even if u can get them to refer to the dietitain, though there is only one in our area that i have found worth dealing with!

Allergy or Intolerance? : Caro, what were his symptoms?...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:18:03 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 11:18pm

Caro, what were his symptoms? I've read up on FPIES tonight & don't think that is what Cooper has but he's reacting to weird things.

I've decided tomorrow we're going back to basics & documenting everything & I'm going to photograph his reactions as well. We've just finally got an appointment in 2 1/2 weeks rather than 2 months.

Allergy or Intolerance? : oh and now i have gone back and...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:37:39 +0000

Author: drumstx
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 10:37pm

oh and now i have gone back and reread the posts again i will throw my 10cents in... jack has FPIES food protein endocolitis syndrome and he reacts to eggs dairy soy rice chicken and barley. and something else that i cant figure out wot!!! he cant break down the proteins in these foods. is called a non-IGE allergy. there is no test for this, no skin prick as he doesnt get violent exema he gets fine film of rash over his skin and he has random acts of reactions to strange things. starship diagnosed him and a wonderful dietition in hamilton who now has a halo. i havent found anyone else who has a child with this kind of allergy so if anyone else hears of anyone with it let me know!

Allergy or Intolerance? : hi ladies oh my heart goes out...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:20:42 +0000

Author: drumstx
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 10:20pm

hi ladies oh my heart goes out to you!!!
i have been down the no eating track and it has not ended well. i really hope that u get some really good advice from dietitation.. they are the key in this not the pead. and immunologist too. for us they were the only ones that got us thru everything. jack didnt eat anything but neocate thru ng tube and then peg in tum for 3 months and we are now a year lata just starting food aversion therapy to get him eating and not being afraid to eat. it is an extremely hard and lonely road. Be strong and stand up for your babys i say!! and if the 'professional' doesnt listen to you find another. If i had stopped when i was told i was being overprotective jack wouldnt be here. good luck pm me if u want

Allergy or Intolerance? : I just wanted to come in here...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:11:56 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 10:11pm

I just wanted to come in here and do a little party dance cause Mac ate his dinner!!!!

At first he refused it.
I feed him sitting on my knee, not a beleiver of highchairs personally. But he threw a tantie so I let him lay on the floor and chew on his coolfish thingee and inbetween his chewing I offered him spoonfuls of food and he took it. Was a bit of a dodging act between the hands but we managed 2 ice cube's worth of food!
Then he had a big BF before he went to bed.

Yay...he ate!!!
I actually danced around the lounge for a significant amount of time after this.

Have been giving him Red Bush tea as suggested by Mac's aunty (who was told to use it by her paediatrician). It's a natural herbal tea thing and apparently has natural pain relieveing properties. It's also good for lactation for Mums.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Tara, Plunket don't get paid...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:52:34 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 7:52pm

Tara, Plunket don't get paid so unless you have a lovely plunket nurse they won't give a sh*t! As the ogre I saw said they only get paid for the main visits listed in your book so I got fobbed off...so much for thriving under fives!!!

I'll try it tomorrow & give you my verdict on the oatmilk.

Allergy or Intolerance? : If you are worried about him,...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:06:35 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 3:06pm

If you are worried about him, plunket should be happy to see him more often? I know I'm seeing them more often than other ladies in my coffee group cos they've tagged DD as a baby to keep an eye on.

I think you said in the Dec thread that you wanted to do purees, but have you thought about doing baby-led weaning? It takes some of the stress out of it which might help you both?

Kel I'm going to have to try oatmilk now. I miss cereal but can't stomach rice or soy milk on their own. I only use them in cooking.

Allergy or Intolerance? : I should go boil up some Basmati...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:26:30 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 1:26pm

I should go boil up some Basmati rice and blend it and try that.

I don't even own my own scales cause I have a slight issue with obsessing over my weight

We're due for a Plunket appointment this month so should be able to weigh him then.

Allergy or Intolerance? : have you got plain baby rice?...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:28:55 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 12:28pm

have you got plain baby rice? The only one I found with no added anything other than iron was the Only Organic one. Except this was an epic fail for us cause we've discovered that rice doesn't agree with Cooper. The other one I was using was the farex, red label one but it had soy in it.

Try him on plain pear mashed up or if you have a tin.

Can you weigh him and make sure he's not losing any.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Mac ate some of the Banana Baby...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:12:03 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 01�July�2010 at 10:12am

Mac ate some of the Banana Baby Rice last night.

Refused his breakfast this morning though.

Starting to feel really stressed about all this

I know he won't starve himself but it's really hard to just accept it when your baby refuses food. He basically only BF's at night now and has only been having 2 BF's during the day for the last 2-3 days.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Teeth do add the the mix but I...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:34:51 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 30�June�2010 at 5:34pm

Teeth do add the the mix but I haven't known teeth to cause eczema.

Definitely keep a food diary & make sure you keep a dairy of what you eat as well.

Reflux & the associated pain will make them refuse food.

Honestly, while you are fully breast feeding him & his food intact is still not that great I'd cut all food out for the week & start again.

There is a allergy site for NZ that you can buy food diarys. It's a face book one "australian & NZ allergy kids" Go to the website & you can order more food diarys.

Allergy or Intolerance? : I've started keeping a diary...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:34:08 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 30�June�2010 at 2:34pm

I've started keeping a diary of when/what he eats (including BFing), also recording what his rash and eczema are looking like.
I was lucky enough to have a friend give me a book that is made for this purpose when I was preg and I managed to find it and have started filling it out.

He refused his breakfast this morning too.

His teeth are really bugging him. I've been trying to keep on top of the pain with regular Pamol and Bonjela but I am unsure that I'll be able to accurately sort this food problem out until the teething settles down.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Sorry to hear you've got...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:04:35 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 30�June�2010 at 1:04pm

Sorry to hear you've got to deal with this too. I think a food/nappy/eczema diary might be in order. I had 2v hours of sleep last night, so will get to some reading for you later in the week

Allergy or Intolerance? : Urgh, I sat down with Mac's...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:55:43 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 30�June�2010 at 9:55am

Urgh, I sat down with Mac's Dad last night, showed him the cryingoverspiltmilk website, the posts from you ladies and talked about what we had seen from Mac. And he disagrees that it's an allergy and instead thinks it's him teething.

GRRRR, but what about when we fed the Meusli...immediate reaction.

Yes his teeth are definately bothering him at the moment and he refused his dinner again last night because of them but there are other things pointing to an allergy for me.

The immediate reaction to the meusli, the eczema, the poo explosions, etc. His Dad keeps telling me the Eczema could be from "something else". That'd be a fine comment to make if he could actually ID something else but he can't.

And weirdly, I've noticed, the nights he refuses his evening meal, his nappy rash is basically nil, but when he does eat it flares up like nobodies business.

I'm going to try even making my own baby rice now too. I have a recipe to make it using Basmati rice so I'll buy some of that and start from scratch.
I even suggested we take solids away for a week to get it out of his system and start right from scratch but his Dad thinks that's a bad idea too.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Also treat rice milk as the 4...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:23:38 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 10:23pm

Also treat rice milk as the 4 day thing as well.

Oat milk is actually way nicer! Even Alia will have that on cereal.

I hate well meaning people trying to push you. My mum was a little like that but after seeing one of his pooh's & seeing my frustration she's now really understanding his diet or lack of it. Also that I keep going back to the dr is helping her see that I'm not bullsh*tting.

My advice is to definitely go slow, if you have to leave 7 days before introducing a new food. Just so you are 100% clear. Definitely write every thing down.

Right now I'm really confused as to what is going on with Cooper, his skin is getting worse, but why?? I'm at the point of eliminating wheat but we've already eliminated rice so I'm a little screwed!

Back on track You need to make it clear to people that they have allergies, you can get T-shirts that say allergies, nil by mouth on them. You need to be your childs voice & advocate quite strongly. Do not be afraid of upsetting people & putting them out even if they've gone to an effort, you are the one that has to live with the repercussions.

Allergy or Intolerance? : MamaT wrote: After DS not...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:13:38 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 10:13pm

MamaT wrote:

�

After DS not having any improvements with his reflux after trying both gaviscon and then ranitidine my doc referred us to the paed just as a precaution. We were referred back in May though and aren't being seen till mid-July

[/QUOTE]

OMG what did you do to get seen so early...mine was march & told to come back in Sept!! Guess my fault for being on top of his allergies at that point!

Allergy or Intolerance? : AandCsmum wrote:T-rex, my local...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:58:10 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 4:58pm

AandCsmum wrote:

T-rex, my local GP referred me to the hospital Paeds....in my experience if you have your childs issues under control you get a little fobbed off.

Yeah, thats pretty much what my doc said. She'll refer me if I want, but doubts they will do much. She has had a couple of phone consults with them though.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Mum2Mac wrote: Will have to...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:53:57 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 4:53pm

Mum2Mac wrote:

Will have to take my glasses shopping with me now, which incase anyone is unaware, it's really hard to wear glasses when you got a baby strapped to your front in a Moby wrap...he keeps trying to steal my glasses!

Hehe, I can imagine! Can you forwards face him?

I'll see what I can find in the way of articles for you. Can you pm me your email addy please?

Boo to those hassling you about things. Your baby, your decisions!

Allergy or Intolerance? : Mum2Mac wrote:I tried Rice...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:42:15 +0000

Author: MamaT
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 4:42pm

Mum2Mac wrote:

I tried Rice Milk Not my thing. I found it really watery. Kind of reminded me of the Green Top (Two Stroke) cows milk.

Doesn't help that family and friends are always asking when he's going to go onto new foods and two meals a day, etc. GRRRR at people who forget about what baby can do and just want them to be at the next stage...even if they're not ready.

I didn't like Rice milk either so am now just using soy milk for cooking really, have got on to having black tea or herbal teas and don't have milk in anything else.

I totally get your pain on the pressure from other people. We haven't introduced solids yet and everyone is on at me to do it, IL's, Plunket, strangers even. Its ridiculous really.

I haven't found eliminating all dairy too bad actually. Most things have in bold if they contain Dairy (or soy, or gluten or nuts) which makes it much easier when reading packets and a lot of it is just common sense

Allergy or Intolerance? : T_Rex wrote: MamaT wrote: I...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:37:44 +0000

Author: MamaT
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 4:37pm

T_Rex wrote:

MamaT wrote:

I am now too scared to re-introduce dairy at all JIC, but will be seeing the paed in a couple of weeks time so will discuss it with them. Will let you know what they say too M2M if you like

Ohh yes please do let us know what they say. How did you get a paed appt? What grounds did they refer you on, or have you gone private?

Allergy or Intolerance? : T_Rex, I'll read anything....

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:22:07 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 2:22pm

T_Rex, I'll read anything. I can research anything in a research paper that I'm not 100% on. I've never done anything "highly intellectual" in regards to Uni or research but I think I'm pretty good and figuring them out.

I tried Rice Milk Not my thing. I found it really watery. Kind of reminded me of the Green Top (Two Stroke) cows milk.

Ok, so I'll go back to square one with his food and introduce everything again from scratch. I was going 3 days in between new foods but to be honest, I probably didn't take as much notice as I should have in regards to any reactions.

Will have to take my glasses shopping with me now, which incase anyone is unaware, it's really hard to wear glasses when you got a baby strapped to your front in a Moby wrap...he keeps trying to steal my glasses!

Doesn't help that family and friends are always asking when he's going to go onto new foods and two meals a day, etc. GRRRR at people who forget about what baby can do and just want them to be at the next stage...even if they're not ready.

Allergy or Intolerance? : reacting to parsnips is quite...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:03:20 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 2:03pm

reacting to parsnips is quite rare, normally root vegetables are the least reactive but the dr did tell me you can be allergic to absolutely anything which was reassuring...lol

Allergy or Intolerance? : Try rice milk - it's nicer...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:49:35 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:49pm

Try rice milk - it's nicer than soy anyway

4 day rule is to wait 4 days between new foods so if you get a reaction there is one obvious candidate. It's a bit tricky with BF cos what I eat can complicate things, so I haven't followed it. Instead I make sure everything she gets I try a few days in advance so she gets the chane to react to a dilute version first.

I now read labels on everything. Makes for a slow supermarket trip, but its worth it. If I don't have any dairy in the house, I can't eat it.

I bought parsnips yesterday... now I'm nervous

Hehe, M2M best reading is the ingredients list on whatever you are buying

but also try cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz and have a browse on the nappy network. I'll have a think about what else I've got. Are you into reading scientific papers, or would you prefer something a little more user friendly?

Allergy or Intolerance? : You could try rice milk instead,...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:46:18 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:46pm

You could try rice milk instead, or oat milk.

The 4 day rule is how plunket suggest introducing foods and it is basically that you only introduce one new food every 4 days. So say he is happily having baby rice and you decide to try him on pear as well, for the next 4 days he can have baby rice, which you already now is ok and pear the new food that he is trying. After the 4 days if you are happy he is ok with pear then you can add in another food, say kumara, so for the next 4 days he can eat rice, pear and kumara and so on and so forth. They also recommend a little bit of the new food on the first day and then build the amounts up as well. The 4 days is to allow for slow onset reactions and to make it easier to quickly identify and eliminate the offending food.
Any food you think he is reacting to keep him off for 3-6 months then try again cos some reactions they grow out of really quickly.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Ok so whats the 4 day rule? I'm...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:33:30 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:33pm

Ok so whats the 4 day rule?

I'm such a dunce! I feel so stupid on this topic which is really unlike me but I'm really struggling to grasp it.

Ask me about BFing or Vaccinating or child rearing and I got a million and one answers. But this, this I'm having trouble with.
Has anyone got some recommended reading for me?

two_boys - now that you mention parsnip, thats a new food we had introduced when he started going a bit "pear shaped"

And I drink soy milk instead of cows milk but now that you guys mention it, sounds like he could also be having an issue with the soy protein.
Feel like I'm going to have to starve myself to figure this out.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Just thinking it would probably...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:22:45 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:22pm

Just thinking it would probably be good for you to keep a food diary and make sure that you follow the 4 day rule when introducing new foods to him. We had some reactions you wouldn't think of, like parsnips and some more common ones like strawberries. The strawberry one was obvious cos it came up nearly straight away but the parsnip one was less obvious cos it took about a week of eating them before his exzema flared up and then I wasn't convince so we eliminated then tried him on parsnips again adn the same thing happened again, but if we had been introducing heaps of foods all at once we wouldn't have had a clue which one he was reacting to.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Most do out grow it and some unfortunately...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:19:11 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:19pm

Most do out grow it and some unfortunately have it for life. Those that do have it for life the severity of the reaction normally reduces. My boy is 3 and can now eat cheese, yoghurt etc and is perfectly fine and he was on neocate until he was just over 2.

No it's not all protein it's just the protein in cows milk, but what you do need to be aware of is that goats milk protein, sheeps milk protein and soy protein are all similar in their make up so people who are allergic to one if exposed to the others can end up reacting to those to, so they recommened avoiding all until 12 months. The other thing for you to watch will be eggs as their is a strong link between egg allergy and milk allergy so best not to introduce egg till after 12 months and then just do a tiny bit in baking to test first and slowly build up from there. Be cautious of nuts too. My boy was allergic to dairy, eggs and peanuts and peanuts is the one he has not out grown.

Allergy or Intolerance? : We basically have the same reactions...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:09:55 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 1:09pm

We basically have the same reactions you do. I have never purposely given Cooper milk containing foods, I did give him some milo made with rice milk at Queens birthday weekend & he vomited straight away, which caused the oh sh*t moment has it got dairy, um duh yes!

He's been skin pricked & no reaction but I got done at the same time & I did have reactions. So it's two fold I don't eat dairy.

He might be just allergic to dairy protein or he might be allergic to the other allergen proteins as well, soy, wheat, fish, shrimp, egg & nuts.

It takes about 8 weeks for dairy to exit the system. It totally does suck having to think about what you are eating & reading packets! If you want some quick hints on what you can buy just ask away.

"Will this allergy more than likely go away or is this something he'll have all of his life?"

The million dollar question, some grow out of it by 2yo...I'm so hoping that is my boy!

Allergy or Intolerance? : Ok, so if I eat dairy myself,...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:59:24 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 29�June�2010 at 12:59pm

Ok, so if I eat dairy myself, within a few hours usually, Mac is refluxing. (I'm still REALLY bad at remembering NOT to eat dairy)
On the few occassions where he has eaten the Baby Muesli which I discovered too late has Skim Milk Powder in it, the reaction was immediate. And then appears to be ongoing for a few days (we stopped feeding the meusli a few days ago after I clicked but we are still getting horrible explosive poos which I can only put down to the meusli (Not a tummy bug cause he's happy all day))

Also if I eat dairy his eczema and nappy rash flare up hideously.

Will this allergy more than likely go away or is this something he'll have all of his life?

If it's a dairy allergy (which from your answers is an allergy to the PROTEIN in dairy) when does that mean he's allergic to ALL protein or just dairy protein?

Thank you so much ladies. Your answers have shed a lot of light on the situation and I will be more scrupulous (sp?) in my investigations into foods Mac and I are eating.

Mum_me I've never given Mac formula and am hoping to never have to. Personal goal type thing

ETA: For anyone on here who has an older child with a dairy allergy, how do they react?

Edited by Mum2Mac

Allergy or Intolerance? : Just to throw some murk in the...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:21:05 +0000

Author: AandCsmum
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 11:21pm

Just to throw some murk in the allergy reactions there are three groups of reactors. Group one is immediate, Group 2 & 3 are more delayed.

With an allergy any amount of the milk product or by product will cause a reaction, with an intolerance there will more than likely be a threshold of tolerance, although that itself can be small.

Also with an allergy, there will usually be skin reactions like ezcema.

T-rex, my local GP referred me to the hospital Paeds....in my experience if you have your childs issues under control you get a little fobbed off.

Allergy or Intolerance? : We have two food allergic kids...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:07:12 +0000

Author: Mum_me
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 8:07pm

We have two food allergic kids and have found that most paeds are not very knowledgable in this area - which I think is a bit of a worry considering how common they now are.

I was even told by one that my exclusively BFd DD could not have allergies as allergyns do not go through BM

If you can afford it and are happy to make the trip to Auckland then I would recommend going to see an allergy specialist there. The one we see does ph consults after the first appointment.

Allergy or Intolerance? : MamaT wrote: I am now too scared...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:17:09 +0000

Author: T_Rex
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 7:17pm

MamaT wrote:

I am now too scared to re-introduce dairy at all JIC, but will be seeing the paed in a couple of weeks time so will discuss it with them. Will let you know what they say too M2M if you like

Ohh yes please do let us know what they say. How did you get a paed appt? What grounds did they refer you on, or have you gone private?

For reintroducing dairy, I find if I accidently eat dairy for lunch, DD starts puking the next morning and keeps it up till bedtime. We can ride out trace amounts, but when we did the reintro where I had a glass of milk, it was too much for her and she refused to feed. I got her through it by feeding her EBM that I'd collected while DF. If you want to go this way, then you could have a day or so worth of feeds in the freezer and switch to EBM as soon as you know he's reacting.

Allergy or Intolerance? : This is a good thread and fantastic...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:47:54 +0000

Author: MamaT
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 1:47pm

This is a good thread and fantastic answers ladies.

I have now been dairy free for almost a month after being recommended it to help with DS reflux. MIL made dinner for us one night which had packet gravy on it and 48 hours later DS had an awful rash on his bottom (blistery) and red raised marks on the back of his head, turned out that the gravy had milk in it.

I am now too scared to re-introduce dairy at all JIC, but will be seeing the paed in a couple of weeks time so will discuss it with them. Will let you know what they say too M2M if you like

ETA - after 5 days of being dairy free DS reflux was showing huge improvements. Now, though he is like a different baby. Even family and friends can't get over the change in him and we have been able to get rid of the losec

Edited by MamaT

Allergy or Intolerance? : milk is bit different. Lactose...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:36:06 +0000

Author: cuppatea
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 1:36pm

milk is bit different. Lactose intolerance is a lack of the enzyme needed to breakdown lactose, this is rare in children as breastmilk is actually higher in lactose than cows milk, normally lactose intolerance starts in early 20s. cow's milk protein allergy, is just that, an allergy to the protein in milk. With lactose intolerance people can eat lactose free things that are still dairy, like cheese, and be fine but those with the allergy to the protein can't as anything with dairy in it has the protein in it.

reflux and dairy allergy are stongly linked. The easiest way to test (as some dr won't do a skin prick test till over 12 months anyway) is to eliminate all dairy from you diet for two weeks, then reintroduce and note what happens, if it's an allergy it will be pretty obvious. The skin prick test however is pain free and takes about 10 mins. Our paed lets him run around the office playing with toys whilst the reaction comes up and my boy always laughs at the actual pricking, cos it really is not painful at all and he finds it ticklish.

Also they have pretty much stopped giving the CDA for allergic children unless they have a life threatening allergy to something, however if he needed to go on a specialist formula (which I doubt would be needed as you are Bfing) then that is subsidised through pharmac.

Allergy or Intolerance? : Technically speaking the difference...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:56:51 +0000

Author: Mum_me
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 12:56pm

Technically speaking the difference between the two is the speed of the reaction. Typically an allergy will cause a reaction within minutes (or at the most and hour) and intolerance can take up to 48 hours.

Scientifically speaking they are produce quite different reactions allergies being IgE reaction and intollerances being IgG or IgA. And allergies are generally to proteins and intolerances are more commonly to sugars (with some to proteins).

That probably doesn't help you a lot though as reactions through BM can take longer than if Mac were to drink milk himself - has he ever had formula?

Test wise for allergies there are Skin Prick tests (which despite the name are actually quite painless) and RAST tests (a blood test) neither are particularly accurate at this age. There are not many (medical) tests out there for intolerances - a stool test for lactose intolerance, not sure what else.

In terms of assistance with WINZ they have made it quite tough now to get the Child disability allowance - you are unlikely to get it now for a single food allergy and you can't get it for intolerances on their own. There maybe some other form of assistance out there though - we are over WINZ income levels so only get the CDA.

A very disjointed reply - trying to get as much done as possible before DD wakes!

ETA - don't forget that BM naturally contains lactose. So regardless of whether you eat dairy Mac will get some lactose.

Edited by Mum_me

Allergy or Intolerance? : How do you ell the difference...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:29:11 +0000

Author: RinTinTin
Subject: 34336
Posted: 28�June�2010 at 12:29pm

How do you ell the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?

Mac's Dad is lactose intolerant. He can still eat dairy but if he eats too much he gets a bit of a crook guts and farts lots

Mac however refluxes (and that can end up as power chucking too if I don't watch my own dairy intake), gets like a heartburn and the reaction is almost immediate.
So is that an allergy or just an intolerance?

Also, does anyone know what tests are involved with diagnosing an allergy? And is it worth doing it? I just know that if I get an actual diagnosis WINZ will help me out with buying any special food or anything he may need. But I don't want to put Mac through lots of tests to achieve a little bit of extra money.