Allergy testing?

[BettyBoo246]

My 5 week old dd has suspected cmpa as she suffers bad with silent reflux and is on Nutramigen formula plus ranitidine. I’ve asked the doctor if she can be tested for it as I’m really unsure if she is actually allergic gp said they don’t test for it, only way of knowing is taking away the hypoallergenic formula and seeing how she is on normal formula which I don’t think is the best course of action as it will just upset her tummy and probably constipate her.
Is there anyway I can privately get her tested?

You need to listen to what your doctor says ... s/he is correct.

You can waste as much money as you want privately, but the only way to be certain is to feed your child dairy.

Ps ... that came across harsh, but I'm afraid that blood tests and skin prick tests never tell the full story. Gold standard is just a food challenge!

It depends what kind of allergy is suspected. Skin prick tests and blood tests can be used for igE mediated allergies, but even so are not 100% reliable. I am not sure they would use these for such a young chikd either. For non igE allegies, there is no test, other than food challenge, as your doctor has suggested. If symptoms are digestive only, i think this would likely indicate non igE allergy.

All the privately available alternative tests are lacking in any scientific evidence.

It sounds like you believe the nutramigen has helped. This would suggest to me that your dd does have cmpa. If her symptoms are improved, why not just go with it for a while?

You are lucky to have been prescribed nutramigen so quickly to be honest. My experience is that a lot of parents have to really push for it and parents and child suffer for weeks/months in the meantime.

Thanks wonderwoo, my gp is actually really good, he prescribed gaviscon at 2 weeks old then ranitidine at 4 weeks and no we’re on Nutramigen. It did seem to be having some effect as her dry skin cleared up and her painful gas seems to have gone, it’s just not helping the silent reflux that’s why I’m just not sure our doc has said he is happy to keep her on the Nutramigen even if she hasn’t got cmpa as he believes it better than normal formula for any baby. We have been referred to a dietician so hopefully they will be able to help/advise further. Just wish this silent reflux would do one

Silent reflux may be a symptom of cmpa. If nutramigen helps but only partially, you may need neocate, which is an entirely synthetic formula. Nutramigen still has protein in that has been broken down.

Doctors are often reluctant to prescribe neocate as it is very expensive. Maybe try nutramigen for a couple of weeks and if silent reflux persists, ask for a trial of neocate?

We had omeprazole for the reflux, so there are other medications which could be tried for that too. But in all honesty though, although medication helped, the reflux did persist until about a year old.

Your doctor sounds great. Often they keep you on gaviscon for longer too! Even though i was told by the consultant it is pretty useless. Hope things improve soon. Its really hard having an allergic and reflux baby.

Aw thank you wonderwoo it really is such a nightmare, my ds had it too 5 years ago but all he needed was the ranitidine luckily.
I will persevere with the formula and see if she improves, if not I will mention the other options you’ve suggested to them.
I think I do remember ds’s reflux peaking around the 6-8 week mark so maybe that’s what is happening with dd this week

Hopefully it will settle down very soon. Look after yourself too.