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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

desperate need help - 11 month old on such a restricted diet, no idea what to make anymore

43 replies

mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 18:29

11 month old ds2 has a few health issues. Firstly he has very bad reflux and is on medication. He has had alot of problems with certain foods and for a little while (under paediatrician) we need to keep dairy,soya,all protein foods and wheat. Today i took him to see a lady who does biochemistry screening, allergys etc and it has come to light he has candida. Showed he is also intollerant to banana, bakers yeast (marmi0te) yeast & mushrooms (because of cadida) grapes/raisins.

Im REALLY struggling. I can make some sort of cakes with wheat free flour and use brown sugar but all he is eating is either wheat free pasta or rice with vegetables blitzed up in it. Obviously he is now getting bored and wont eat alot of it.

The lady thinks that 2-3 weeks with avoiding these extra intollerance foods and with the bifidus stuff we should see a difference and MAYBE he will then be able to start eating protein foods and things that he isnt intollerant to but is having problems with the digestion side of things.

ANYONE??

OP posts:
Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 18:39

oh and ive been told to keep him off egg for now due to ds1 allergy..

OP posts:
defineme · 23/10/2009 18:40

I'd highly reccommend Babara Cousins Cooking Without - you can get it off Amazon. I found her inspirational - there is also a vegetatarian version of the same book.
I would have a look around health food shops-there are some interesting substitutes for flour out there.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 18:48

thanks for replying. i went to health shop today but nothing i havent got or havent tried. YEs the lady recommended that book but ive obviously got to wait till next week now until i can get it! No idea what to do in the meantime!

OP posts:
oxcat1 · 23/10/2009 18:52

I think I'm likely to get flamed for this, but I wouldn't have thought it was a good idea to follow the advice of the biochemistry lady whilst simultaneously following your paediatrician's advice, as it is going to produce a seriously limited diet, as you've found out.

I would ditch (for now) the candida advice - most within mainstream medicine regard it as a very dubious diagnosis - and instead concentrate on producing variety within his 'paediatrician-recommended' diet. You could see if your paediatrician would refer you to a dietician for further help.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to do, and I'm sorry that your little one has had it so tough so far.

lilyjen · 23/10/2009 18:58

Hi I have severe IBS and I can't eat any of those things (except mushrooms) and more besides..I recommend mashed up sweet potato, carrot and tunips. Also use rice milk to make creamy porridge (check if that's ok for a baby) or mashed butter beans (for protein) and chick peas..can he have peanut butter yet? mm prob not ok..mash up soft fruits like mango and pears for a pudding maybe..he will be ok without protein for a while anyway so don't worry..hope that helps

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:06

oxcat, ds2 has had 5 general anesthetics, 2 lots of cameras put up and down him, numerous medications, laxatives, various ph studies, biopsies etc etc. They cant find what is wrong with him. They already referred me to a dietician who was no help as they didnt have any suggestions to what im already doing. I even rang the dietician my ds1 was under.

They have said he will 'have to grow out of it'. I have had 11 months with him waking every other hour (on a good night) in pain with his tummy (or reflux) a friend of mine suggested this lady to me a while ago and after a convo with the consultant 2 days ago i decided id had enough. Everything this lady said to me made sense, what she described was exactly ds2.

lilyjen, ive been using rice milk in some things and he does seem to like that. Its like he's just given up eating as he doesnt like food anymore!

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:09

I agree with oxcat

you have enough on your plate without biochemistry woman

how have they tested his allergies (the paed)?

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:13

he doesnt have any allergies, just been intollerances. The paed's have given up as they havent found anything wrong i cant cope with seeing him in pain and discomfort and tired all the time (let alone me) It's only for a few weeks to see what happens. I just have to get through those few weeks.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:14

but what made them think he was intolerant to dairy, soya, all protein foods and wheat?

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:17

he hasnt had dairy, ds1 is allergic so we were told to avoid it for now.

Basically when he eats wheat or any protein foods that night he has awful tummy cramps, bent double, very very bad trapped wind, and his tummy is churning and gurgling. They say he obvs has a problem digesting them and not to reintroduce to his diet for a while. That this can go hand in hand to babies that have very bad reflux like he does apparantly

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:18

dd had v restricted diet (due to allergies and reflux)...she got much better at around 15 months (first night she slept through) and then when she was around 2.5, she grew out of the dairy allergy. She's now 9 and far better (though still has reflux).

She had an undiagnosed hernia that they only picked up when she was about 3/4 but I reckon that cause her a fair amount of discomfort.

we used to live off bean casseroles, banana porridge and fruit and veg!

foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:20

I'm amazed they do this sibling avoidance thing (with allergies). dd had soya, milk and egg (confirmed ones) and chicken, white fish and peas (uncomfirmed).

She too had a very underdeveloped digestive system like you describe.

IF it is that, at least you know it will get better with age. It is v v v hard in the interim though.

Can you get a break from it all?

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:20

i havent tried him on beans, lentils etc for a while..bit scared to! I just need to clear him out for a few weeks. I have been really worried about his diet, lack of protein, iron etc but apparanly he is very healthy! Not lacking in minerals and vitamins. He is on neocate formula....

OP posts:
Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:23

he also had a barium xray and the said there was 'no sign' of a hernia...im guessing that is enough to assume he doesnt have one?

He always used to struggle with textures (i think due to reflux) and even now some textures he wont eat, like porridge etc.

Its been getting me down, really dont know what to try to cook that ihavent already

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:25

yes that formula can keep them going for ages I think . Dd was on nutramigen (eww so foul!)

it is horrible watching them in pain

do you think he has shown any improvement?

does he like sweet potato?

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:27

any improvement since when do you mean? I only saw this lady so today is first dose of bifidus thingy and obv today he has already had marmite and banana!

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/10/2009 19:27

no, I mean as he's got older

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:30

oh i see. Well reflux in the daytime is better as he is on his feet most of the day. naps and night time are no better at all, he still sleeps propped up.

Diet wise....he hasnt had protein for a few months so i cant really say about if that has improved. The consultant said wait 4-6 weeks and try reintroducing it. He has had bad constipation since birth and had a blockage which has now cleared and is now on sennakot every day so the poor thing has a really bad tummy all round but 'mechanically' he is fine.

OP posts:
ra29needsabettername · 23/10/2009 19:31

what meds is he on for the reflux? Ds had terrible problems with this and couldnt eat dairy, soya or gluten (biopsy showed coeliac presentation) but until he was on a strong dose of omeprozole nothing helped. It's so hard and I really feel for you.

TheProvincialLady · 23/10/2009 19:31

At 11m I wouldn't worry hugely TBH. My DS2 is 10m and barely eats anything at all yet. As long as he is having a suitable formula he will be ok for a while yet and might well outgrow some of his intolerances before his restricted diet becomes a problem.

I would ditch the biochemistry woman personally. I have never known anyone be tested by these charlatans people without coming away with a massive list of foods they are allegedly intolerant to. My DS1 is intolerant to dairy (paed diagnosed)and we struggled for ages to work out what things in his diet upset him...but I think you are more likely to be able to work them out for yourself by introducing things gradually and seeing the effect, rather than cutting out great swathes of things without proof that there is any need to.

Sorry to sound negative about the bio woman..believe me, I know how awful it is having a child who screams at night with stomach pain Have you seen a paediatric dietician who specialised in allergies and intolerances? We were referred to a paediatric allergy and diet clinic by our GP and they were fantastic.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:33

he is alreay under a dietician but as i said there are no help as every thing they have suggested i am already doing.. i wouldnt be worried about the lack of what he is eating as he is nice and chunky and 'average' its the fact that he doesnt have the minimum 20oz of formula a day and that he is always hungry!

OP posts:
ra29needsabettername · 23/10/2009 19:34

also I agree with others about biochemistry woman- sorry I know its not what you want to hear

Original poster
mad4myboys · 23/10/2009 19:36

i cant cope with just sitting and 'waiting' for him to supposedly grow out of something that they dont even know what is wrong.

If there is no improvement in 2-3 weeks then i'll ditch it but i need to do something for all our sakes

OP posts:
TheProvincialLady · 23/10/2009 19:38

We saw a bog standard dietician at the start of our allergy/intolerance journey and he was CRAP, so I sympathise. If you badger your paed or GP for a more appropriate referral you might get someone who can give you proper advice.

The first dietician told me to stop giving DS1 breast milk so that he would be hungrier for solids, and when asked how DS1 would get calcium in his diet, he told me to put fecking apple juice on his weetabix and give him vitamin tablets

bruffin · 23/10/2009 19:59

Agree with Oxcat and the others, those type of tests really can't diagnose intolerances