Help Lactose Intolerance - is it recurring?

[Twohoots]

I posted a while back and said I believed my DD was suffering from LI after a nasty gastro bug. She was 5-6 nasty smelly, watery poohs every day and seemed to be in stomach pain when eating (she is 17 mths now). I found she could stomach cheese/yoghurts (i.e. processed milk) but cows milk as a drink seemed to be a problem.

Convinced the GP and got Lactose Free formula on prescription. Didn't cut out the 'processed' dairy but did cut out the drinks. She did improve - down to 1-2 poohs a day and fairly normal - no more stomach pains etc. After 6 wks on formula I gradually started to reintroduce cows milk to drink and she seemed OK. So I believed it had been temporary.

She has been back on cows milk about 2.5 wks now and in the last few days has started with the loose, watery/smelly poohs again. Doesn't seem to have any cramps/pains.

Do you think it could be the lactose intolerance recurring? She is also teething at the moment (eye teeth) so the nappies could be that too??

HELP please! I don't know what to do as the GP was so dismissive in the first place that it was a lactose intolerance!

Anyone? I guess I'm basically asking those in the 'know' whether the intolerance would have come back almost immediately once re-introducing the milk drink or whether it could take up to the 2 wks or so to reoccur?

Not sure...dd was the same at around 5-6 months when I stopped bf and she was purely on formula. I changed to a loctose free one and she was fine. At around 1 year I changed her onto cows milk and she has been fine since.. TBH maybe she needs to be off cows milk for a while.? My hv told me that usually they grow out of it at around 1 year which is why I swapped when I did. Maybe keep on it for longer..? A bonus is that its on prescription so free. Take advantage while you can.

BTW not sure about the teething bit as dd never seemed to suffer with bad nappies when teething, infact didn't seem to bother with new teeth coming through.

Thanks shhhh. I am just not sure at all. Her nappies are still awful. They did seem a lot better when she was on the LF formula but then she wasn't teething during that period either. The GP told me that 6 wks should be long enough a 'break' from cows milk drinks to see if it was that. she also told me that it was normally about 2 years before they 'grew' out of it. HV also wasn't much help - told me to see GP!!!

I would have thought that if she was intolerant to cm drink then as soon as I reintroduced it, it would flare up not 2.5 wks or so later? Could it be a build up thing?

BTW - DD has always had horrid nappies when teething so it could be that but it's been going on since about Tues now.

Any LI people out there can help please? I am getting desperate as the GP was v snotty with me last time and didn't really help and told me that she would refuse point blankly to refer DD to a specialist (although she mentioned a paed which I'm guessing wouldn't be the right medical person anyway - quote "a paediatrician wont' be able to help anymore than I have so I can't see the point in referring her" ??). HELP

Just read this twohoots so sorry couldn't help earlier. Does certainly sound as if your dd has a lactose problem. It won't be protein allergy i don't think as the reaction is only bowel prob and anyway the lactose free formula would have still been cows milk based. Different products have different amounts of lactose in them so don't be confused by her ability to tolerate some better than others. You need to give her a complete break from lactose not just 6 weeks, thats not long enough, i'd say 6 months at least i'm afraid. Lactose intolerance is a very real thing and should be taken seriously as tummy troubles are so horrid for the poor little mite. i would put her back on the lactose free milk but also cut out other dairy products as far as possible. let us know how you go.

ps don't question the 2.5 weeks toleration - not significant at all.

i dont know too much about this except what ive read on the net and in books,because i think my ds2 has this problem.from what i know,there are varying degrees of LI,some ppl will have problems with the tinyiest amount of cows milk,but some can drink a certain amount before they get any symptoms,which is what happens with my ds2(who is 3),if he has half a glass of milk he is ok but anymore and he gets runny poos etc.he also had the runs every time he cut a tooth.ds2 was fine on formula milk the problems only started when he started having cows milk.
u can get lactose-free cows milk in morrisons now and u can also get stuff to put in the milk that removes the lactose somehow.
i know doctors dont like to think that LI exists(some doctors,anyway).it was a woman in the local health food shop who suggested that may be what was wrong with ds2 cos apparently it can cause reccuring colds/ear infections as well.

Thanks for replies! It is awful - I just don't know but I think it may be a LI. She seems to be getting to where we were last time with eating - i.e. doesn't want to and cries Think I am going to make another Doc appt but she was v off last time - she just said well stop giving her the milk then - when I qu the pint a day thing she said it won't hurt her not to have it!. We have private medical and was really wanting a referral for DD. Afterall this LI thing is just my guessing from what I have read too. I am not even sure who she needs to see - a paed doesn't seem right to me - any ideas?

Divastrop - I've seen LF milk but it's always been semi skimmed which they can't have at this age. I am reluctant to try soya because it too can be an allergen.

I feel so helpless I wouldn't know where to start to cut milk completely out of her diet - it's in nearly eveything!

I'd recommend alternative medicine, doctors I have found are only really good at dealing with acute conditions not chronic ones. It sounds like your child is suffering from some intolerances and has weak digestion. Bugs can wreak havoc with the system, LI can vary and you can be more sensitive when your system is below par. Sounds like there is an imbalance, a homeopath or kiniesioligist would be able to help. Look for recommendations in your area.

Thanks rebelmum. I agree that there is something just not right with her digestion but when she was on the LF formula is was miles better - normal poohs 1-2 times/day!

Funnily enough I am seeing the GP tomorrow but today she has only had one pooh but it was AWFUL - loads of it and v runny/smelly - poor little thing. She has eaten better today as well?

I agree that a GP probably isn't the best way forward but not sure about homeopaths tbh and don't know what the other one does that you mention??? Will see how I get on tomorrow. I've done some research and you can buy lactase stuff that you can put in drops in normal milk to make it digestible - that may help?!?

Good luck with your doctor, I doubt he will be able to help though. With children you need less invasive methods to help rebalance their systems and homeopathy is a very gentle yet effective approach. www.bcma.co.uk/kinesiology.html My daughter's intolerances have greatly improved and are no practically non-existent using a combined complimentary therapy approach. I'm sorry your so sceptical.

Re: NB I'm just a mother sharing my experiences which span 15 years of food intolerances who has a daughter who had a similar problem. I apologise if I appear to be sceptical but that is just my personal experience. I shouldn't make assumptions that other people are in a similar situation. Just wanted to share my experiences and successes. Of course you should always consult GP as first port of call. I just wanted to highlight that there are well respected, registered complimentary therapy disiplines that can also be explored and work in conjunction with conventional medicine.

rebelmum - please don't take offence I did not mean my reply to upset you I am willing to look at anything that may help - that's why I mentioned the lactase drops - they are a complementary treatment and thought you may have heard of them. (I have indeed tried some homeopathic treatments myself in the past for various things of which 1 out of 3 seemed to work so perhaps I was just drawing on my own experience). On the other hand, I actually think most complementary treatments are fantastic - have had accupunture, both myself and DD see a chiropractor regularly (I am even looking into learning reflexology - so I am not totally sceptical ).

I am pleased you replied to my message - thank you. All shared experiences help. I just wouldn't know where to start with a homeopath or kiniesioligist in this area? As you say I need to research on the web.

I saw a different GP today and she agreed that DD has an intolerance to lactose - it's a start as the other GP was v sceptical. I am going to try lactase drops and then go back to see her in 2-3 wks (in this time I will research the complementary treatments as well so I know where I can go from there).

If you are able to give me any further info on your daughter's intolerance (am presuming she also has/d one to lactose) and her complementary treatment I'd be v grateful