Can anyone talk to me about food intolerances please?

[LowLevelWhiinging]

DS2 is just turned 3. He has always pood frequently, sometimes 5 times a day. Usually slightly loose and frequently gets a really sore bum, as if the poo is acidic (poor thing). He never ever does a solid-type of poo.

The health visitor has suggested keeping a food diary and seeing if any patterns show up. His favourite foods are cereal and bread with loads of fruit. He is currently refusing most other things! (Oh, and he has a lot of the innocent smoothies which we wondered about).

So does anybody know if food intolerances can cause these sorts of symptoms? I'm just a bit worried that it's going to be really difficult for him to potty train if he's having a lot of loose stools.

I know it's v dull for a friday, but, anyone...?

Have a look at thread cuurently on here 'does anyone else have skinny dc that poos for england....' sorry, dont knoow how to do links. I started it and received some brill advice.

apologies for spelling.

thanks bootus, will do!

I think possibly yes, although I'm no expert. Dd1 had severe allergies, but I'm suspecting that dd2 might have some intolerances as has very sore face and poos as you describe.

Sounds like he has a lot of fruit? Could be too acidic for him? I think fruit might be the issue for dd2 as her face goes v red after tomatoes/strawberries/apples etc (ie anything acidic). Just an idea - best idea is the food diary as your hv suggested.

Thanks luke. Your DD has a sore face? Does that mean she has like eczema symptoms?

My DS doesn't have this, but yes, he has a lot of fruit. You'd think loads of fruit would be a good thing!

Yes, more like eczema - not the swelling/hives dd1 would get with dairy. Problemis that their diet is already so restricted with no dairy/eggs, I can't imagine what we would do without tomatoes as well! I think I'm going to have to stop giving raw tomatoes/fruit though, sigh. Sorry, thread hijack over.

There are so many food intolerances that is why they have asked you to keep a food diary. I have 3 DC all with different intolerances. Fructose and sucrose is an intolerance - where you can't give your child fruit of any kind - dried, fresh etc, or honey, or 'normal' sugar. Other intolerances could be dairy - often a cause of the runs, but can often also mask gluten intolerance. I also have an IBS DC. Lots of weird and wonderful things can set that off - as pixie said - some common and yummy things can cause many a problem.
Don't panic though, once you know what it is most intolerances are quite easy to manage - given a little time to get used to. It also might make your DD feel better in other ways too. Lots of energy, happier and just generally more comfortable. Good luck.

Whoops I meant your DS - sorry !

Thanks auntevil

If he was intolerant to something, e.g. milk, then would it affect him the same way every time he has it? So if it was something he has everyday like milk, he would have the runs everyday?

Food is weird - milk can be in lots of things - biscuits, sauces, where whey powder is used to thicken, flavoured items where milk powder issued to get the flavour to stick to it, such as crisps. so sometimes it's not that you have milk on a cereal, but that you also have it in other things you eat and the body can't deal with the amount. That's one scenario, but also with some intolerances it can be a combo effect. On IBS you can eat tomatoes one day and be fine, but put some seasoning such as black pepper on it the next day and it sets off. IBS can also be emotion led - stress etc, so worrying about something that is coming up - change in routine until things settle - can also give ups and downs in symptoms.
You can also have a spastic colon effect as well where sometimes food is processed well and others when it is either rushed through or delayed - with explosive results!
This is where a food diary can help.
I've been doing a lot of learning on fructose and sucrose and whether a fruit is likely to have a big or little effect can depend on the % of fructose vs sucrose per 100g. So some fruits might have less effect than others and dried versions may have the complete opposite effect. I'm guessing that milk is similar as i know that hard cheese has most of the lactose removed in the fermentation process where as soft cheese such as mozzarella is high in lactose (which is a highly intolerant part of milk).
Its only when things are a little bit different with your child's diet that you start thinking about food so much. Don't be scared though. Go through the hoops of diagnosis but remember, an intolerance is not the same as an allergy. be thankful that at worst there will be lots of poo and stomach cramps and lethargy, but an allergy can lead to anaphylactic attack, carrying epi pens everywhere and worse.
Sorry - essay over! seriously though don't be scared you don't need to be a delia or nigella to cook for intolerances