Does this sound like it could be milk allergy/intolerance? Help please...

[Lisa3SSJ]

Hi everyone, been advised to try this thread on allergies - previously on breastfeeding. My 19 week old DS has had runny, green, very smelly poos since he was about 4 weeks old. He is always irritable and usually cries in pain most of the day especially before he fills his nappy. He's permanently congested and he still doesn't sleep much - I had hoped that this would improve after he was given ranitidine for reflux but it hasn't - although he doesn't suffer with acid any more. I changed his milk from C&G to Aptamil Easy Digest before Xmas and have been using Colief lactase drops for about 2 weeks but neither have made any difference. I've spoken with HV who says it's colic - but that's what she said before he was given treatment for silent reflux!! So I've not got much faith in her. I'm going back to GP but as she's already done a test on stool sample that came back ok I'm not sure what more she'll do to help. Can anyone offer any advice? Also DS has developed dry skin on arms and is now spreading to trunk and legs so I've done some research on milk protein intolerance and allergy and I'm considering trying soya milk but I'm reluctant to before getting some advice from people in the know. I've read that the proteins in this can also cause an allergic reaction. Any info on hypoallergenic milk and supplements required if you use this? I'm really getting desperate now. I know there are far worse things that could be wrong with him but it's got to the stage where I won't leave the house with him because of him crying and being unconsolable. Daft I know - I'm driving myself round the bend TIA

Hi! I sympathise so much. My ds (18 mnth) had severe reflux and was on medication and has dairy allergy and soya intolerance. IMO it sounds like an intollerance therefore lactase drops will prob make him worse.

I was told my ds had colic and i have seen colic babys and i just KNEW he didnt. Cut along story short he was tried on various milks including nutramigin. Basically he was better off dairy but not great and realised he was soya intollerant aswell and caused MAJOR probs with bowel/tummy poor little lamb. I put him on nanny goat milk at 4 months and noticed an almost instant improvement. I was then told to take him off it as it 'wasnt nutrious enough'. He was then on C&G comfort which is supposed to aid digestion which was the best 'dairy' milk. I decided to put him back on nanny i think around 6 months (the dairy/soya was causing havoc with his skin) and has been on it since. He is thriving and i wouldnt think twice about putting a 2nd child on it.

I would try soya if it was me but dont forget soya intollerances are getting increasingly common so if he isnt much better IMO id take him off dairy AND soya..

LEt me know what you decide

Although I couldn't say for sure that your lo has a dairy allergy, I think you'd be wise to consider this - esp with the appearance of dry skin which can be a precursor to excema.

The best (quickest) way to find out if this is the problem is to get him on hypoallergenic cows milk (there are various brands) then, if he does improve, you can arrage for allergy testing.

The thing is that the hypoallergenic formulas are only available on prescription, so you'd need to go back to your GP. If necessary, be very firm with them that you want to explore this avenue - depending on the GP you may unfortunately have to insist.

Luckily (!) my ds's reaction to dairy was immediate and unmistakable so I never had any problem getting a prescription for him, but I suffered years of excema as a child due to undiagnosed milk allergy so this is a subject close to my heart.

Well worth trying the hypoallergrnic cows milk (I can recommend enfamil lactofree on rpescription- myself and 2 of my 3 sons are milk intol), however just to be warned a no response doesn't necessarily write off intolerances- enfamil is fab but does ahve casein in (no lactose) and a few people (me) are casein intol rather than lactose intol, you'd need either a trial on nutramigen or soya to check for that really. I'd satrt with the enfamil though and see how it goes.

another mum here with kiddies that are allergic/intolerant, plus also I am allergic to dairy too!

my girls went onto cow n gate Infasoy, but both were wll over 6mths by the time the allergy was confirmed as I was breastfeeding and thro reactions with DD1 and excsma I went dairy free while pregnant and breastfeeding with all my subsequent children.

DS2 however just never thrived on BF so went over to pregomine (sp?), another type of hypoallergenic formula, along with ranitidine (also had three severe reflux babies too, interestingly enought the allergic ones!) and altho he didn't 'thrive', he was tons better. (turned out he was also coeliac too, so a whole other issue!).

ask also about baby gaviscon to mix with his feed, rather than colief. for silent reflux, that also helps.....makes the bottles all slimy and oily, altho that could just have been the milk as it is made in a different way to 'normal' formula, so is a slightly different 'texture'.

prepare yourself to have to be firm tho....I had to be with DD1 and DD2.........funnily enough after that I was listened to.
I really wish they would take note of mums instincts more, as we know our children best, and so sometimes (well, lots of times in fact!), we KNOW what is wrong MONTHS before the meds agree!

most of the milks you get on perscription do have a small amount of milk/soya in them. Yes it is hyrolysed or whatever the proper term is but that tiny tiny amount was enough to give my ds allergic reaction so just cause they say its dairy/soya free doesnt actually mean that. Nutramigin def has it int it

The trouble with the alternative of soya though (and if like my ds1 your baby is failing to thrive its a very minor problem), soya has a lot of sugar in it- ds1 lost several teeth, my cousin lost all hers.

Thx for the advice guys. Already tried gaviscon - made him constipated although poos did turn from green to yellow. Have appointment this pm with GP so am going armed with all of this info. Will post tonight with results - hopefully news