Does this sound like cows milk allergy?

[revelsandrose]

Constant loose stools (with and without mucous) lots of explosive nappies, constant nasal congestion, very often red watery eyes (rubs them a lot), mild eczema like rash on head/face sometimes flares up badly other times not so bad, often comes out in viral type spotty rash on head/torso, very windy. I have a photo of mucous nappy but not sure if this is necessary!

Sounds like it to me. I have a cows milk allergy and get similar symptoms. Maybe try on lactose free or soya milk formula for a couple of weeks and see if there's any improvement

DS2 had CMPA, it sounds like you should call the GP and see what they think.

Thank you, I'm so annoyed, gp told me that it couldn't possibly be milk allergy as dc would instantly come out in a rash after every feed (which he doesn't) so I've continued giving him milk.

Is it possible for some people to be 'more allergic' than others??

Yes you can have a mild intolerance that can just give you a bit of an upset stomach or you can be really allergic which can cause rashes and sickness etc too. It's really common in babies to not be able to stomach cows milk

My GP actually used google to discover the symptoms of CMPA!!! I knew what it was as XH (not DS2s dad) had had it too. It can be delayed, DS2 came out with the rash a few hours later for example, but got very congested and snuffly immediately after a feed. Is there another GP in the practice?

Yes it does.
Can you see another GP?

Yes - sounds like my DS who was allergic but confirmed as mild with an allergy test at the hospital. His main symptoms were eczema.

Thank you all, just wanted reassurance that I'm not totally neurotic (as the last gp assumed I was) I'd originally said that he was crying and seemed to be in pain passing wind and had asked if he could have hay fever because of the eyes and sneezing. Gp just said I should 'wind him better' and Ilthat they won't diagnose hay fever in babies, he then said it definitely wouldn't be cmpa as he didn't come out in a rash after every feed and there were a 'lot of other symptoms he didn't have'.

I have an appointment this afternoon, don't know which gp as they slotted us in as an emergency appointment so don't get to choose.

Our GP dismissed my concerns the first time too, despite DS2 having every symptom bar anaphylaxis (thank goodness!) it took me having a massive strop to make her listen!

I think I'm heading towards a massive strop too notreally

I think they are so quick to dismiss new parents as neurotic! I'm beating myself up thinking that I should have pushed for something sooner but it was the extremely mucousy nappy this morning that kind of shocked me and made me adamant that this just isn't right, too bloody late now he is going to be weaned soon!!!

I don't blame you! It's massively frustrating to be dismissed as neurotic when you KNOW something isn't right. I hope you get the answers you need for your wee one.

Ok so I saw a trainee gp who said it sounds like cmpa. She told me to replace cows milk with soy milk. I asked her to clarify and she said continue using my normal formula but make it with soy milk rather than cows milk????? What the fuck??? I pointed out you make it with water and the cmp is already in the formula! She ran off and checked with another gp, came back and told me I need to buy soy formula and trial him on that for two weeks. If he improves go back and they will prescribe milk. I said I had concerns about soy milk and infertility, she said it's ok it's only for two weeks and then he will either go back to usual formula or get prescription. I'm so confused? Does this sound right?

Oh dear, that sounds confusing! DS2 was prescribed formula called Nutramigen although there are several different types. It's not soya based, they hydrolyse (break down) the proteins to make them easier to digest. I'd try the soya to see if cutting out dairy helps and if so demand prescribed non soya milk next time.

How old is your baby? Under 12 months, soya formula is not the recommendation for CMPI/CMPA. And quite a lot of babies with CMPI/A can't cope with soya either. First line is meant to be hydrolysed formula (the protein is chopped up into smaller pieces, so harder to react to), or if that doesn't work amino acid based (broken down all the way to the basic building blocks).

"If referral is not indicated, advise a trial elimination of cows' milk from the diet for between 2–6 weeks, followed by reintroduction of cows' milk to prove that it is the cause of symptoms. Seek advice from (or refer the person to) a paediatric dietitian with appropriate competencies for guidance on nutritional adequacies, timings of elimination and reintroduction, and follow up.
In exclusively breastfed babies, advise the mother to exclude cows' milk protein from her diet. Consider prescribing a daily supplement of 1000mg of calcium and 10 micrograms of vitamin D to the mother to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
In formula-fed or mixed-fed infants, advise the parents or carers to replace cows’ milk-based formula with hypoallergenic infant formulas, such as extensively hydrolysed formulas (tolerated by 90% of children with cows’ milk protein allergy) or amino acid formulas. A paediatric dietician can advise on the appropriate milk formula to prescribe."

Taken from here (it would be the non-IgE mediated bit, if you want to do a print out and highlight, as that's what they are suspecting). cks.nice.org.uk/cows-milk-protein-allergy-in-children#!scenariorecommendation:1

Definately. When my DD was a baby, she had every single thing you have listed.

You can have an instant reaction and a delayed reaction.

IgE & non IgE.

My DD has the non IgE.

Which we are able to manage & feel o.k to keep going with the milk ladder.
She vomits 3-4 hours after milk. (we still trial it, every few months)
The rash can appear over days, after the milk.

An allergic reaction is serious/life threatening.

A food intolerance isn't.

I was told for 6 months, she had a viral rash & heat rash.
I was told all babys have loose stools, green snot pouring down their face & sore spotty skin and that her coughing all night is fine
They always get 'colds'

I finally found a great g.p who referred us to the hospital.