Dairy issue?

[vvviola]

I'm sure I'm completely over-thinking this - but it's what comes of my entire support network being literally on the other side of the world.

DD (9 months) had a bad reaction to yoghurt when I gave it to her first. Did this weird shiver and then vommited everywhere. She still refuses yoghurt, but has managed cheese ok.

I started introducing a tiny bit of cows milk (a little in mashed potato etc). Today - after cow's milk in her porridge this morning, she was really congested, nose streaming and red rimmed eyes that seemed to be irritating her.

She was bad last night too, but without the eye issue. She'd had a tiny bit of milk in her scrambled egg.

She also has little patches of what looks like eczema on her legs, although she is prone to dry skin.

Is it likely that this might be an issue with dairy? And if so, what do I do next?

It could very well be an allergy / intolerance vvviola

Poor thing and its worrying and stressful for you too.....

My DS reacted with vomiting and worsening eczema when we tried him on formula at 7 months and he has a milk protien allergy - diagnosed at about 20 months at Paed Allergy Clinic.

Please speak to your GP and get them to start the referral process for an Allergy appointment.

We tried lots of disserent milks and in the end my DS was fine with one suitable for babies with milk protien allergy and he reacted to Nanny (goats milk) and locatose-free milk.

Feel free to PM me if you need to and good luck

visit www.allergyuk.org

This page www.allergyuk.org/getting-help-with-food-intolerance/what-can-i-do has a link to a food and symptom diary

This part of the website gives a helpline number where you can get advice on diagnosis www.allergyuk.org/getting-help/where-to-start

Thanks! That's really helpful. She woke this morning in good form, eyes cleared up & only a tiny runny nose. So I'm pretty sure it was a reaction to something - most likely the dairy I suppose.

We aren't in the UK, but that site looks like it has loads of really useful info & I can look into equivalents over here.

DH gave DD a handful of grated cheese this evening, not really thinking about the dairy issue. After she had eaten it all we noticed that her face was all blotchy and her eyes were red again.

I'm beginning to see a pattern

But then she's had cheese before... how come she's only reacting now?

Spoke to nurse today who, on hearing reactions & symptoms reckons dairy intolerance rather than allergy. And that she can obviously tolerate small amounts (like through my breast milk) but that over a certain threshold she reacts.

So, no dairy for DD (said try again when she's 1) and very reduced dairy for me (said no need to exclude products with small amounts but that should reduce/eliminate milk, cheese, yoghurt etc.

Does that make sense to people? Or should I be looking for a second opinion?

Some intolerances/allergies take a while to show. Maybe the reason she didn't react before was because of that. However, I should go to the Dr for a proper diagnosis, if I were you and avoid dairy in the meantime, to see if it makes a difference. And beware, 'cos it's hidden in lots of different by products: whey, casein, to name but a few!

Dairyfreebabyandme - thanks for replying. I meant to update the thread. I did in fact take her to the doctor and she's been referred for tests tomorrow.

I'll be hugely surprised if she doesn't show something up - the change in the past week is incredible. Skin cleared up, nasty nappies gone, appetite increased dramatically. She's even sleeping slightly better.

Unfortunately my cooking has taken a dramatic turn for the worse as a lot of my stand-by meals seem to contain dairy in some way. Once we have a result I'll have to look into modifying things if necessary.