Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Allergies and intolerances

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

advice on probable dairy allergy in 8m old

9 replies

pipplin · 15/03/2011 22:18

DS didn't really tolerate some brands of formula from birth. They seemed too rich almost. We moved to a comfort one for colic and constipation- we also had both of these.
This was fine. Until weaning. Assured by the GP to give him dairy (im dairy intolerent) I produce too much mucus, even in my stools sorry tmi! I sounded like i have a bad cold. My sinuses feel infected etc. I can now have goats milk and hard cheese and have milk within cooking.
DS doesn't have dairy unless it's within cooking. He's started bringing up milky phlegm throughout the day. Some days he hasn't even had dairy but I gather it does take a while for it to leave your system.
He is so, so snuffly even though has no cold or anything. He also has a cough- worse in the morning but he brings the phlegm up but can't spit yet and you can obviously see he doesn't like the taste of it in his mouth. I have exactly the same symptoms when I had dairy.
The cough is waking him up too. We are seeing the GP on sat and i

OP posts:
pipplin · 15/03/2011 22:22

Sorry it went without me finishing.
I'm worried the doc will play the "is he your first?" card he has played previously about another issue.
I know Something's up and I know this is not normal. What do I need to say to him and what would an allergy clinic do? If I managed to get referred in the first place.
He's little I worry about calcium etc.
What do you think?
Any advice appreciated, no one in real life to ask.
Thanks.

OP posts:
AngelDog · 15/03/2011 22:28

There are new NICE guidelines on allergies in children which recommend exclusion diets as the first course of action in establishing whether there's an allergy.

We have a local paediatric allergy team I believe. Your GP may want to try some alternatives, or refer you on.

They can be prescribed different formula. My GP was happy for me to exclude dairy from my 14 m.o. DS's diet on my own, but he's a lot older and is breastfed.

If you're not happy with what the doctor says, I'd try to see another one if you can.

Ideally I'd keep a food diary and a record of the symptoms.

Good luck!

pipplin · 16/03/2011 11:25

Thank you, that NICE guidelines document is very useful. I just want to go to the doctor prepared and full of knowledge. It's a shame the only one we can see isn't great tbh. I will definitely try another if I'm not happy though.
I think it is the formula, he seemed ok for about 5 months on it. I know allergies/ intolerences can change.
I'm clutching at straws. I just want my baby better.
Anyone else having/had similiar experiences?

OP posts:
pipplin · 19/03/2011 14:04

Well doc was bloody useless! The patient before us came out crying. Glad he's not just a patronising git to me!
Apparently DS has drawn the short straw and had 3 months worth of continuous viruses Hmm
Am going to see another one.
Am also going to see my private doctor.

OP posts:
jesieb · 21/03/2011 12:05

Hiya. Sorry its a bit late. But yes def see another Dr. You are entitle to w second opinion. I would go to your local one first, purely cos you can push and get this done on the nhs

I had 11 hard weeks of fights. To the point where I questioned my self. I too left the drs crying once and I then went to see my HV and DR about it. I put in a complaint and my HV put in a professional complaint! I refuse to see him now and I am actually very selective with who I will see for DS.

I used to have great respect for GP's and take their wore for gospel. However, I have actually come to realises a few things...
GP's are very knowledgeable, they know little bits about everything.
GP's see hundreds of patients a week, for 5 minutes at a time.
GP's gave targets to meet and budgets to work under.

You see your baby all day/everyday.
You know what is normal and what is not normal for your baby.

You have mummy intuition and there is nothing more powerful thanmuumy intuition!

If your anything like me, before you go to the Drs you research, ask others, get advice. Rule things out and get evidence of suspicions.

Then you go to Dr and ask for help.....

The Dr, who has met you for 3 minutes says your a tired over pardoned mother cos actually they dont understand complex conditions and viruses are very common.

You however have a family history and personal experience so you do know best.

My Dr was great once I stood my ground and said this that and the other, he actually admitted he does not specialise in these areas, said I obviously knew my stuff and referred us. Now my GP asks me questions and what I think he needs if its to do with his diet (and when it was reflux too)

Anyway story I rambled a bit basically in short...
Go to a Dr and be firm and confident.
DS has a milk allergy. You know this because you have one yourself and he displays the same symptoms, even after minimal milk portions in cooking.
Therefore you would either like to see a dietitian (if you feel you need the support) and/or you just like some milk on prescription as he is far too young to cut milk out completely.

It sounds like the allergy is more likely than not, and giving him the formula is the only way to find out.

Do not hive the Dr any chance to say otherwise and if they do say actually no. You want a trial to confirm if it is or not.

Neocate is the most popular formula I think. We have nutramigen.

Another argument to get it now is that the formulas do not taste nice, so the sooner you get it the more likely he will accept them.
Being 8 months he is already quite old, but there are ways around it when you get the milk such as favouring with nesquick etc. And I think neocate actually comes in different flavours.
When used in cooking though, you can't taste it.

HTH

Gillybobs · 21/03/2011 12:25

Not sur eif this will help but my DS (now 9 years old) couldnt tolerate normal formula and we had months of stress and tears (him and me) and visits to paediatricians before a wise friend of mine who had been through the same trauma advised me to try soya formula for him when he was about 6 months old. It was like a miracle, he happily drank it and his terrible tummy problems were no more. He was my second baby so I was a bit more confident to try it than I probably would have been first time round. I dont think he was allergic to normal formula but he def didnt tolerate it well.

Obv Im not a health professional but have raised to DSs and I agree with the post above, you need to trust your mummy instincts and remember noone knows him like you do. GOod luck

eragon · 21/03/2011 13:09

ask for a fully changed protein formula, and do not go for the soya. in fact doc might be aware that its not recomended these days.

jesieb · 21/03/2011 15:54

As pp said, soya - especially in large quantities is not recommended for baby boys anymore.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 21/03/2011 16:00

DS (3) has a dairy/soya allergy, but fortunately haven't had much trouble with the GP. He was diagnosed at Children's Hospital as he was very very ill. He's been on Neocate since 13 months. I know a lot of GPs don't like prescribing it as it's very expensive, but if you get a referral to a paediatric dietician, and think it is a dairy allergy, then they will 'request' the GP prescribes it.

So, if you ask the GP for a referral to a Paediatric Dietician, I can't see this being refused. In fact, if you are refused, then it would be a basis for a complaint. Also that you have a milk allergy, makes it a more than reasonable request.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread