Testing for cmpa?

[PandaMum88]

If I suspect my DS has a cmpa, can I get the gp to test for it? Or would I need to see a specialist?

Based on suggestions from here and additional research I’ve cut dairy from my diet over the past 3wks and it’s seemed to have helped, but I’d like to know for sure if it is down to that or something else.

Are you on Facebook? Some fabulous CMPA private groups on there which were amazingly helpful when we were in a similar boat.

I cut out all dairy for 3 months when #2 was 6mo. And we didn't use dairy during the first 6 months on solids.

I could not get HV or GP to take me seriously, not a family member who is a paediatrician (!!), so went it alone with the support of those FB groups. There is one for bf, one for ff and one for weaning, as well as general ones. Thank goodness!! I remember being in pizza express and asking what I could eat. Members of the group responded almost immediately. Made me feel like I wasn't alone!!!

DC2 is 3yo next month and never had cows milk as a drink.

• Projectile vomits yoghurt (DH tried it last month so disproved his own theory that it wasn't CMPA!!!).
• horribly Sore nappy area after uncooked cheese.

We think she has a tolerance level so seems to cope with pizza for example but not chocolate brownie......

• still bf at bedtime / wake up time if I'm around (I work long hours during the week so not guaranteed!) and I can consume dairy now but try to limit it.

We give Oatly barista milk as a drink and that or almond milk on cereal.

I use oatly barista for my coffee. I avoid soy so either have black tea or a splash of cows milk. However if you / your DC can cope with soy then it works well in tea. (Lots our kids with CMPA cannot tolerate soy either).

The sad thing is DC2 loves butter and cheese but it clearly does not love her. Trying to stop her eating it is a real pain now. And in fact someone gave her an ice cream recently when I was not around to stop her and I felt so sorry for her later that day when she was so sore.

Due to 3rd bday looming and the ice cream incident I am actually going to brave the GP again to get a referral to a dietician as I want to make sure we are covering all the basics of nutrition. I know there is plenty of calcium in other foods but I'm not sure she is eating enough!!!

I would also appreciate a HCP actually acknowledging this is not in my head. I haven't made it up. She really does have a problem with dairy..... I know kids usually grow out of it but not much sign of improvement over the last year here.

FWIW DC1 also had a dairy issue but we didn't realise. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

Btw CMPA is difficult to test for. Or so I'm told.

Your best bet, if you can afford it, is to hire an ibclc to support you. They can help with the diary tracker and advise who to see in your local healthcare team to get further support if necessary. However if cutting out dairy from your diet sorts out the problems then that might be all you need to do for the next few months

Also worth getting ibclc to check for TT. As this can cause some CMPA symptoms even if there is no problem with actual nursing.

Best of luck.

Thanks @MindfulBear that's really useful and I'll look for the FB groups. Sorry that no HCP hasn't listened to your concerns though...that's so frustrating!!

I'm trying to get a GP appt this week to speak with them about it and see about getting him tested. I've been told that it's just a simple skin scratch test, it's just that you need a GP referral. We'll see though...

I feel pretty convinced his symptoms are linked to dairy, but I'd really like some confirmation that it's not just in my head!

If there’s been improvement since you’ve cut out dairy then the GP isn’t likely to refer you, you’ve already shown that the issues are resolving. The NHS is screwed and a GP isn’t going to send anyone for expensive tests if the symptoms are getting better.

TBH the GP should not send a child for allergy testing before a certain age and certainly not with a newborn. The testing is unreliable and even more so for CMPA which can have short or long reactions times indicating different types of allergy / intolerance. .

However if cutting out dairy resolves issues and introducing dairy brings back the issues - that is all the GP should need to know to agree with you.

If you ask they might refer you to a dietitian to support intro of solids but where I live only those with private health care get that support!!!

And then it's a case of tracking it
Majority of kids grow out of it between now and 3 and then even more before 5.

So