Allergy

[Everdreamer1990]

I think my LG may have a cow's milk allergy. She is 12 weeks old & has suffered with various problems since birth. At her 8 week checkup my HV said it could be a possibility but they're only doing phone check ups.

We've tried everything for colic & painful wind, nothing works. She fluctuates between constipation & diarrhea. She has the most awful smelling farts. She suffers with bright red puffy cheeks & red, puffy, runny eyes.

She hiccups after all feeds, vomits all the time (up to 2 hrs after a feed), she cries a lot (like colic for over 3 hours), she suffers with bad coughing, sometimes sounds like choking & she is always sneezing.

She's seen my GP before now for her eyes & her sneezing & wheezy chest but they never brought up allergies.

I am going to phone them tomorrow for a chat but I just wondered if anyone else has had a baby suffering with a milk allergy & how if affected them. Did your GP take you seriously or did you have to 'fight your corner'? Did you notice a vast improvement once you changed their milk?

Thank you

Hey. My baby is 12 weeks on Monday and he has a milk allergy and sounds just like your little one.

Puffy eyes, wheezing, blocked nose etc are all signs of cows milk allergy. Google it on the NHS website. You will be surprised.

The coughing and choking I would put down to reflux maybe. My baby had the same and the doctor said reflux. The acid coming back up irritating the throat. My baby looked like he was choking or chewing it was strange.

Anyway I basically told the doctor that they prescribe me special milk or I'll just keep ringing every day. Throw in some tears too. It's really hard at the moment because seeing a doctor face to face isnt the same as over the phone.

My baby is now on a formula called neocate. The doctors dont want to prescribe it because 400g costs the NHS 40 quid so you really need to stick up for yourself and dont take no shit.

Hes also on infant gaviscon too which causes constipation so we have lactulose twice a day to help him go

Hope that helps. X

Hello, my little boy had a cows milk allergy and the day after I changed his milk I noticed a difference. Your her Mum, if you're not happy with what's going on then push push push to get what you and her need. I think you can get some milk free formulas at the supermarket. I'd change it sooner rather than later as my little boy refused it quite badly as it doesn't taste great x

It's not my DC that have it, it's me so I don't have experience of fighting for their corner.i

Have a read of this from Allergy UK as it gives tips on talking to your GP

Brilliant, thanks everyone!

I'm just bad at trying to communicate things to doctors. I have anxiety disorder so I always feel like they think I'm just overreacting etc.

I'll definitely explain all her symptoms & push for something

It might be worth printing off the information from Allergy UK and having that with you.

Do you have a DH/DP and could he be in on the call too? Annoyingly a lot of GPS will listen more if Dad is there too,

Ask for milk challenge. They will probs prescribe pepti but if your lo is still having issues, ask for amino acid based formula.

Within 48 hours of my daughter starting the milk her skin was clear, she was smiling and she stopped screaming.

My DP is out at work all day so it's just me on the call. I'll try & have all the information in front of me.

@everdreamer1990 hi!! I'm so glad I saw this as I've literally just typed this out myself! My baby is 4 weeks and everything you describe is what my baby has. My HV and dr suggested CMPA so we are on nutramigen LGG 1 from Monday and it made a huge difference tho I'm starting to see symptoms coming back with feeding - arches back, goes red, splutters, coughs, sick and unsettled during the day. It massively helped with his bowel movements and gas - vile egg smelling and noticeably painful for him. I'm running out of ideas and my emotions are so high. I want to enjoy my baby but he just cries and is so unsettled. I feel so guilty saying that but I just want him to be okay. My dr suggested possible reflux too and has prescribed gaviscon but my HV wants to try milk first - I'm so nervous when it comes to feeding as I know it's a battle. We've tried infacol too as he struggles to wind and won't let me do it he arches his back and cries. The only way to settle is to rock/walk round house, try and try again- always happens between feeds. If I stop him after an ounce he cries so I let him feed until I notice his legs scrunching and then we take a breather.
I do hope your dr can give you new milk, the nutramigen smells and tastes not too pleasant for babies but it can be the answer 🤞🏼 x

Also his breathing was so loud and wheezy but has gone quiet on new milk x

Hope the call goes well for you. If the GP suspects CMPA, they should automatically refer you to a Paediatric Dietician.

The NICE guidelines are here. From my limited knowledge I'd say it sounded like ige CMPA.