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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Nutramigen - How long should you use it for?

19 replies

KatyH · 25/07/2006 22:30

My 22mth old daughter has been on nutramigen since she was 7mths due to a suspected milk allergy causing her eczema.

As she's nearly 2 I was wondering if we could maybe stop giving her the nutramigen and replace it with something like calcium enriched rice milk. Does anyone else know if this would be alright? Our GP doesn't seem to know and we don't have a dietician we can ask because we never received an appointment!!

OP posts:

misdee · 25/07/2006 22:31

perosnally i would ask for an referral to allergy clinic to find out for sure if your dd is allergic to cows milk.

sunchowder · 25/07/2006 22:34

I did just the same as you Katy, I am here in the US, I switched my DD onto Enriched Rice Milk when she was about 15 months. She also tolerated yogurts (don't know if you have tried) and rice milk cheeses. We have a company here called Imagine that does a nice line of rice products including puddings. I am sure someone else will come along that might have better or different advice, but this is what I did.

Original poster

KatyH · 25/07/2006 22:35

She's been before and came up +ve for lots of things but not milk! However, it's the one thing that makes her skin flare up so they reckon she is allergic. Apparently the skin prick tests only show immediate reactions and she may react hours/days later.

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Original poster

KatyH · 25/07/2006 22:40

Thanks sunchowder. I'm finding it all quite difficult because it seems almost impossible to find other products over here that are milk and soya free (she's allergic to soya too). As a result her diet isn't entirely milk free as I worry about her not getting enough calcium. However, I can't imagine spending many more years making up formula! I shall check out the imagine line too. Thanks for that!

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sunchowder · 25/07/2006 23:50

Katy, here is the American website: Imagine foods

threebob · 26/07/2006 03:27

I would use it for as long as you can get someone to prescribe it!

There is lots of calcium in it so I don't know why you worry she isn't getting enough. Where in the world are you?

foxinsocks · 26/07/2006 08:53

we used nutramigen until dd was 2

they did another milk food challenge which she passed so luckily, we went back to milk after that (but she hardly had any because she hated the taste!). Have they tested her blood for the milk allergy? Tbh, as misdee says, I think you want to be 100% sure she is allergic because it's such a massive food group to avoid.

I think someone was posting on here the other day about there being another Nutramigen now - nutramigen 2 was it? I'm not sure.

Original poster

KatyH · 26/07/2006 13:59

I'm in Scotland (Edinburgh). I worry about her getting enough calcium if we stop the Nutramigen. At the moment it's a struggle to get her to take more than 10oz a day. I'm happy to carry on with giving her Nutramigen but I wasn't sure if this is what normally happens or if there are alternatives now she's older. They haven't tested her blood, in fact, getting the little help that we have has been a struggle! I think I should start being a little more forceful

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youknowwhat · 26/07/2006 14:12

KatyH , you can use both.
I have been using a similar milk to Nutramigen for DS2 as milk and then rice milk to use in our everyday cooking. You can also use oat milk and soya milk altough the last one is more contraversial. A lot of children allergic to milk are also allergic to soya so doctors advised to stay away from it.
Have you try to challenge her recently ?
DS1, also allergic to cows milk but NOT to goat milk, finnally got over is allergy around 2 yo. I know they normally try to challenge the child at about 18 moyhs old. If you do, try a small quantity at first and see what is the reaction. You can then slowly increase the quantities.
Also, if you can, try goat milk. DS1 wasn't reacting to it so it might worth trying.
Just a comment about milk, the only reason why dietician are so carefull when having a dairy free diet is because of the calcium. If you can ensure that your dd is gettingthe right amount without dairy, rice milk etc... that is OK. And rice milk/ oat milks are a good replacement when cooking for the whole family.
Good luck!

Original poster

KatyH · 26/07/2006 14:26

I've tried my own challenges and I'm pretty certain she reacts as she comes up in large discoid patches of eczema. She is allergic to soya, hence the reason I find it quite difficult to find alternatives but I think the idea of using more than one type of milk is a good one. This might keep the GP happy. I get the impression he thinks I'm neurotic, not that he can provide any constructive advice himself!!

OP posts:

sunchowder · 26/07/2006 15:18

I use rice milk for almost all of my soups, making pancakes, etc. No one knows the difference. I also use heavy cream for my sauces too--but to this day my DD uses Rice Milk in cereal and she is 12.

youknowwhat · 26/07/2006 16:31

Don't worry you are not neurotic!
I have had similar reactions from my own GPs but surprisingly not from the exzema nurse or the dietecian ... try to see if you can be referred to a dermatologist for her exzema. They should be able to refer you to a dietecian (That's what happened to me for DS1.)
Just do what seems right to you. As I said the important is that your dd is getting the right amount of calcium. If it is not possible to be sure to acheive that through her diet, you should be able to get some calcium supplement from your GP (well that's what my dietecian was ready to do for DS2 if he had carried on not wanting to take any of the 'special milk' like Nutramigen). Bear in mind that a lot of products have some calcium in, not just milk (Rice, bread and fortified cereal are all good examples).

Original poster

KatyH · 26/07/2006 21:43

Thanks YKW. She has seen an eczema nurse who is wonderful but a little sketchy on the details when she answers my questions about her diet. We've been told that we're on the waiting list to see a dietician but we're not really a priority!! The eczema nurse advises us to keep using the nutramigen while the GP is hinting that we should maybe be coming off it. Needless to say, we're a little confused!!

Thanks everyone for the advice. It's good to know that we don't have to rely solely on the nutramigen

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feet · 31/07/2006 21:16

Hi KatyH. I'm also in edinburgh and have 2 on nutramigen 2. I have been fortunate to see the dietitian for my daughter who is now 29 months old. She gets an instant reaction to milk and is also allergic to eggs. I was told that as nutramigen 2 is nutritionally complete that she should stay on it long term. I know what you mean about being made to feel neurotic... I'm now battling with child number 2 in the system! anyone got any tips on getting nutramigen into an 8 month old fighter???? My daugher loved it from day one (once I eventually got it prescribed!) but my son is more fussy and has reflux also so I really need a way to disguise the taste. any tips would be appreciated.
KatyH, happy to meet up to swap ideas/tips if helpful.

Wicker · 31/07/2006 21:37

Hi - my LO has a milk allergy and is on Neocate Advanced. He drinks around 18oz a day and our dietician said that this means he isn't getting enough calcium and so she advised us to give him liquid calcium (called calcium sandoz) on top of this.....perhaps this is something you could look into giving your DD if you are worried about lack of calcium.

Original poster

KatyH · 09/08/2006 21:42

Hi feet, sorry for not responding, haven't been on for a while. Would be great to meet up although I work full time and weekends are a bit hectic at the mo. Are you on mat leave? Thanks also for the advice on the nutramigen. The next time the GP pressures me about the repeat prescription I shall say I have it on good authority it's a long-term thing

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Original poster

KatyH · 09/08/2006 21:44

forgot to say, Wicker - can you buy the calcium supplements over the counter? The GP would probably have a fit if I ask for a prescription for that too!

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Fouca · 17/08/2006 19:31

My three year old has a milk allergy. She was prescribed Nutramigen, however, when there was a shortage at the manufacturers the dietician said to try soya. She has been on this ever since. The pick up on the lack of vitamins, she prescribed Abidec, which is provided under the NHS.

CantSleepWontSleep · 17/08/2006 19:49

KatyH - I see that this thread is a few days old, but hopefully you are still checking it.

I saw the paed for my DD (6 months) on Monday, and he advised NOT to use rice or oat milk in cooking, as it is nutritionally quite crap!! Said to cook using Nutramigen.

He said that most children outgrow the allergy/intolerance by the time they are 2, and that between 18 months and 2 years we should try re-introducing by offering a couple of teaspoons of yoghurt initially, and see if she reacts.

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