Me Again – Milk Allergy?

[Anonymous]

Well starting to suspect more and more than Marisa may have a worse
milk allergy than we realized. One full week back on Alimentum and
things seem to be getting worse. It’s hard to tell because she also has
a cold and is teething we think, but still… She does have a few
patches on face (above nose/between eyes on forehead and also on left
side of nose) that look like acne or something – but only started when
switched back to Alimentum. She’s also been rubbing her eyes and nose a
lot – which she hasn’t done in ages. And I think below her left eye
looks a little puffy.

I just called my Ped’s office and made an appointment for a sick visit
at 5:30 today so we can discuss all this with her. And I really like my
Ped but this obviously isn’t her specialty and she thinks it’s hard to
be allergic to Alimentum (which from my reading doesn’t seem true).

Problem with just switching back to Neocate is that she was having
eating issues on that as well and it was totally constipating her and
seemed to be aggravating her reflux since so thin. So I don’t know
where you go from here. Never tried soy – not sure if that’s even worth
trying – can’t that be constipating too? Or is it only constipating for babies that have a soy allergy?

Very frustrating. And sometimes we (DH and I) feel like we are
overreacting because she still is sleeping well and will play for the
most part. But she does seem fussier and the weird eating and face
rubbing, etc make us upset and just want her to feel good and not have
any long term repercussions. And I’ve heard how unreliable allergy
testing can be at this age. But maybe it’s a start at least?

We aren’t going back to old Ped GI – didn’t like him. May have to find
someone new or an allergist/dietician? Really don’t know… Her reflux
doesn’t seem to be the problem right now – more gas and cramps and the
face rubbing and all…

[Anonymous]

Karen it definitely does sound suspicious…especially when considering your husband’s history of milk allergy (i think you mentioned that once, right?)

Also beware of soy…it’s CONSTIPATION HELL!!!!!

Hope she’s feeling better soon. (BTW, as for your doctor not being an expert on this, I think that we’ve all learned even if they are experts on it, they often still don’t know what they’re talking about).

[Anonymous]

Hi Lori, and thanks – sort of history of milk allergies. Or
intolerances anyway. My dad, my g-ma and DH’s mom all could not have
milk as babies and were on goat’s milk. They all do tolerate milk now.
So frustrating – she doesn’t projectile vomit or anything – seems more
gastro related (cramps, gas) and skin related? with the acne or
whatever and itchiness… I wish she could talk and tell us!

[Anonymous]

Karen

so sorry you are going through this!! Seems like the symptoms could be from an allergy but i have never seen anything on Matthew, so who knows! What about goat´s milk then…. Robbie (Haggismama) is on it and doing wonderfully…

[Anonymous]

I have heard wonderful things about goats milk too! My ped just doesn’t want us to try it b/c he said don’t fix what isn’t broken.

It is hard to say with the history of mspi b/c we have a huge history here too. Isaac’s cousin and 2 uncles had it and goats milk was used but i don’t think there was an alternative with the 2 uncles.

I guess you really have to weigh out the pros and cons to alimentum and neocate. It is a really tough situation that you are in. I hope that the ped will help you out a lot with this!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. Just down about the whole thing since it kind of sucks
either way. And she’s such a sweetie pie and we just want her to feel
well of course! Did ask Ped about goat’s milk once but she was adament
about not using that for babies – said back with our
parents/grandparents there was no alternative but now… Guess will
have to see what Ped says today and maybe go to an allergist too. Argh.

[Anonymous]

Karen I’m so sorry you have to deal with this and as you know, I understand completely-same boat here.

Only thing I wanted to throw out there for you is-have you ever tried Nutramagin by chance? We tried Alimentum for a couple of days once and Ian had a quick horrible reaction to it whereas on Nutramagin, he held out much longer and seemed to tolerate it. Ian vomited up soy the instant we gave it to him-projectile. I think it may be risky. Also, Ian could not tolerate Neocate at all whereas on Elecare (which mixes much better and is a little thicker, he had less issues).

If you want to, you could also try the simply thick in Marisa’s neocate bottles because it is a fiber and may help her go more? I’m wondering if it’s giving Ian gas but then again he was on it for a couple of weeks with no issues and the chance of that reaction is very small. I have samples if you’d like.

I’ll also let you know about the GI at Cornell next week. Hopefully they’ll be great and you can visit them too.

Hugs!

Tracy (Ian’s mom 9-26-05 prevacid and elecare)

[Anonymous]

Hi Tracy, thanks. Nope – never tried Nutramigen. Guess would be willing
to but nervous since it’s basically the same – right? So if she did
have a strong enough milk allergy/intolerance to one wouldn’t she to
the other? I just don’t know anymore and don’t really have any faith
that the Ped will help out much.

[Anonymous]

Well, I agree with you that it would be logical if it was a mspi, however, Ian couldn’t tolerate the Alimentum at all, whereas on Nutramagin, he was uncomfortable-yes, but we had a much better time of it. But of course, I’m not a doctor and we did end up going to Elecare, but not really sure if it made much difference or if Ian just outgrew problems. Will try switching back at 6 months like you. But Ian did eat much more on Nutramagin RTF. You may want to give it a shot for a week?

Sorry, I wish I was more help to you. These elemental formulas come with so many strings attached!

Tracy

[Anonymous]

It’s crazy – just seems like an allergy to me. As soon as she eats
she’s fine for a couple of ounces and then starts to get really gassy
and rub her eyes and push the bottle away and pull it back. Plus, since
starting the Alimentum, she’s been sucking her thumb CONSTANTLY, which
I don’t mind but wonder why she needs to constantly comfort herself all
of a sudden. Just very disheartening since Neocate didn’t seem right
either. It all makes us want to skip over the infant stage which is sad
– we want to enjoy this and every part!

[Anonymous]

In addition – when she wakes up from naps, the pimples are still there
but I think get worse when she eats. Plus her eyes are getting red
rimmed when
she eats. And fussier during and after she eats. And crazy hard gas
that she has a hard time with but only when she eats. I don’t even want
to
give her the Alimentum next bottle (probably about 30 mins from now)
but dont’ want to change before we see the doctor either. Argh.

Edited to say now I think I’m going crazy – eyes and pimples look same
after eating. Still totally fussy and fighting with bottle though – but
was doing that to a lesser degree on Neocate.

knb182006-2-3 15:34:7

[Author]

Posts