GP only offered blood test for 6 mo dd....

[MmeButterfly]

Hi all,
my 6 (nearly 7) m o dd has been having a skin rash whenever she's been in contact with cow's milk. I'm basically in no doubt that she's allergic to it. She gets the same kind of hivey rash i get when i touch cats. So i went to my gp who offered her a referral for a blood test. I asked him if it was a pin prick test and he said no its a needle. Well, i can't see my dd sitting nicely for this and i;m really not happy about her having one. So i tried infasoy formula and would be happy to keep buying it. But, she hates it! I've tried it mixed with porridge oats, weetabix, fruit puree, on its own, even added some vanilla essence!!
I would really like to try the hypoallergenic formula but is it true that you can only get it on prescription? I'm worried that we will have to have the blood test unless i've been misinformed?
If anyone can suggest an alternative to infasoy which is more palatable, that would also help!!
AAAAaaargh!

Just to reassure you that bloods at that age is quite easy and over before you know it. They don't like it but they are easy to hold and it's really very quick. It's when they are older that it's trickier IME.

The best thing I have found is applying Emla cream to numb the area. Holding DD in your arms with her arms around your neck with a nurse blowing bubbles behind you. She won't feel the needle, will have her hand in a good position and will be looking at something nice. Good luck

Oh sorry just re read your post. DD is 6 months not 6 years! Sorry, just hold her firmly on your lap and watch the bubbles then, she will be fine.

I don't know about blood tests (FWIW my DS had one when he was 2 weeks old to check his thyroid function and it was over and done with in seconds), but I know you can buy Nutramigen (the hypoallergenic formula) over the counter. Maybe not at all chemists, but ours ordered it in for us without any problems before DS had it prescribed. It was expensive - over £4 for a small tin. And it tastes worse than infasoy. It also smells awful. DS cried the first few times he tasted it, but got used to it after 24 hours or so. He's now 15 months and we're struggling to wean him off it as he doesn't like the taste of normal formula or cow milk.

absolutely absolutely don't worry. No it is not nice to ever have a blood test at any age, but my son had this at a similar age to your little one.

He wasn't keen but it was actually better than vaccination meltdowns!

Over very quick

May I also say I battled for a very long time to get some help with our sons skin issues, so to be offered a blood test, even though its not something you want do, is actually a really positive thing.

good luck. be brave!

ps hyperallergenci formula such as Neocate is so expensive, you really would only ever want to have it if possible on prescription ...

As for infasoy - bear in mind, your child might also be 'funny' with soya - as mine. I think the statisitic is one in four kids who are dairy allergic are also not great with soya..

He actually loved the taste of infasoy when he tried him on it - unfortunately it didn't love him, and it brought him out in equally worse all over rashes (we only knew this as I was exlcusively breastfeeding so I could quickly revert back to boob... )