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EAT => Food Allergies => Topic started by: jackman on January 31, 2011, 22:05:11 pm

Title: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: jackman on January 31, 2011, 22:05:11 pm
Hi,
DS has never been a good sleeper at night. I think I can count on one hand the number of STTN we have had and of course this site has been my saving grace as I have tweaked and tweaked his routine to improve his night sleep. However, now I'm starting to wonder if my suspicion of reflux that I had for DS when he was 6mo was spot on. I brought it up to the peds, but she brushed it off and said if DS did have reflux, it would be gone by now.

Well since we switched over to cow's milk DS has pretty much puked minutes after he is asleep. This happens every night and occasionally before naps. The milk that he drank is already curdled and it is very acidic smelling (if you can even smell acid?). DS has always eaten little bits at a time as well as drank his milk in little spurts and I just chucked it up to him always being hungry. DS is on the lower side for weight and at his 12mo check up he was only in the 5th percentile for his age group as he lost weight.

For the last 4months, DS has had a chronic cough, wheezing and bronchitis. It comes and goes and we have been to the peds several times. They have prescribed oral and inhaled steriods for DS and it seems to help, but it never fails that within a couple of weeks, the coughing and wheezing are back. Peds even suspect asthma; however now that he has been throwing up I'm starting to suspect reflux.

I have made an appointment for this coming Thursday and would appreciate any opinions or thoughts from anyone who has an lo that suffers from reflux. Tell me if I'm wrong and that it's something else? Like allergies? I have no explanation for the puking. Would love to know why DS has sleepless, restless nights that we've had since DS was born.

HELP PLEASE???!!!!  :'( 
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: Lolly on January 31, 2011, 22:11:48 pm
Most children will have grown out of reflux by 1 year, however my 20 month old is still on meds and my 4 yo has just gone back on meds so if it was reflux then it could still be.

If you have noticed that things are worse on cow's milk I wonder if he has a problem tolerating milk protien. Have you ever gone dairy free with him to see it it changes anything?

Laura
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: jackman on January 31, 2011, 22:44:30 pm
Hi Lolly. Thanks for reading and replying. I also thought maybe lactose intolerance, but wouldn't DS' poos be very loose (diarrhea)? Since we started solids around 6mo, DS has eaten yogurt and didn't have any issues, but maybe it wasn't as pronounced as it was just a bit of dairy? Also, since most formulas are milk based, wouldn't I see affects then too?

But to answer your question, no never thought about eliminating dairy from DS' diet. HMMM.....
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: ~*~Louisa~*~ on January 31, 2011, 23:21:38 pm
yougurts are low in lactose

DD2 is lactose and mpi we were told lactose caused her bad poo and milk protine caused skin reactions
because she had weight issues the dietion said she needed some fat from things like cheese but she could only have full fat and extra mature because the maturer the cheese the less lactose in it, yougurts are also the same because they are pretty much fermented milk its not got as much lactose in though more thn cheese

So yougurtts might not effect it if the issue is lactose rather then mpi

DD#2 also we never noticed anything with her poo (though she did have bad skin from birth) untill 6 months and weaning
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: *Liz* on February 02, 2011, 20:16:53 pm
Sounds like a dairy allergy to me.

Was your LO on formula before cows milk, or were they BF?
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: jackman on February 02, 2011, 22:31:24 pm
DS was BF until 6mo and then on formula until he was 1yr. Will mention to doc about MPI. Is there any way to test it besides eliminating it?

Thanks ladies for your thoughts.
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: EloysH on February 03, 2011, 11:11:18 am
I just want to agree that it sounds like either dairy allergy or milk protein intolerance.  It must be eliminated from the diet for at least 2 weeks or until symptoms settle right down.  Sometimes the gut is damaged and it take 6 - 8 weeks for the gut to heal and the poos to become normal etc.    The way to test it is to reintroduce the milk formula in a controlled manner (like 200 ml per day) and watch for symptoms.

Cows milk lies on the most reactive and troublesome end of the scale as far as protein intolerances is concerned.  I would expect some reaction from a dairy based formula.    BUt if he has had the chronic cough and wheezing for 4 months,  that is a sign of milk protein intolerances or dairy allergy, and can be interpreted as a reaction to milk based formula.

 I guess we need the answers to Liz's question and how long was LO on each, BM, formula and cows milk?   
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: *Liz* on February 03, 2011, 13:40:59 pm
I'm sure this is milk allergy - if your suspicions started at 6mths when you weaned to formula, but got worse on pure cows milk. The proteins are still denatured in formula due to the processing of the product.

You up for a dairy exclusion to see if things get better?? You will need a milk substitute though.
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: jackman on February 03, 2011, 16:07:54 pm
Hi EloysH and Liz,
I'm up for a dairy elimination at this point. Anything to help DS get better nights sleep and STOP the wheezing and coughing. DS is 13mo now and has never been right. How do I go about doing this? How do I know what foods have dairy besides the most obvious ones like yogurt?
Title: Re: Could it be reflux or milk allergy at 13mo?
Post by: *Liz* on February 03, 2011, 19:59:37 pm
Here is the info you need - you will need to read A LOT of labels  ;). Milk products hide everywhere  >:(.

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=135427.0

I'm going to move your post over to food allergies for proper support while you try this - but we will still be here as well.
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: Buntybear on February 03, 2011, 21:04:12 pm
Hi Oanh, my luv. Sorry you have found your way over here but we are here to support you through this. xx

I have to agree with the others. As you know I have followed Jack's NWs with you for months now and having read through other posts about toddler's sleep, for you still be be suffering them I would be guessing there is something else at play here. FWIW, now Olly is off dairy, wheat and eggs he is starting to sleep much better  ;).

You say you have an appt with a Paed soon? That is a good start as they should be able to arrange tests for you - blood and/or scratch tests.

Milk is in so many things, things like the flavourings for crisps/chips etc. I think you need to take a very close look at Jack's diet and pare it back really. It is hard at first but you will get used to it.

Find yourself a good milk substitute - rice, hemp, oat - pref something with added calcium and make sure he is getting a couple of protein portions a day (my dietician rec'd this the other day for Olly so am passing it on!).

Good luck. Let us know how you get on at the Paed.
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: jackman on February 04, 2011, 18:12:57 pm
Thank you Liz for the links. Will have a look at them closely.

Claire - thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. Yes, you have been following along with Jack's NWs just as I have read about your journey with Olly. It is comforting to know that there is a great support system on this site, but to have you with me as I try and figure things out with Jack is sooooo nice. I just suspected something was up since we tweaked and tweaked Jack's routine so many times.

I'm glad to say that Jack has gained two pounds, but still only in the 6th percentile for his age group. Peds doc agreed with me that there is something else that is contributing to Jack's restless nights and chronic cough/wheezing. So she put Jack on reflux meds and has made an appt for us to see an allergist. We will definitely be doing a scratch test, but will leave it to the allergist about the blood test.

I'll be eliminating dairy from his diet starting this weekend once I get a read of everything that Liz provided. I do hope that Jack's nights improve as I'm getting frustrated with the NWs. They are taking a toll on me and the fam, but I'm sure you feel the same Claire. Glad to hear that Olly's nights have improved. There is hope for us!!!

 :-* :-*
Title: Re: Could it be reflux at 13mo?
Post by: Buntybear on February 04, 2011, 18:44:03 pm
Oanh - you are the queen of tweaking! He would have to be an incredibly touchy baby for those tweaks not to have paid off at some point!

Hope those meds work for you soon. If you need any help with his diet or ideas for meals etc just let us know. There are plenty here that are on DF diets. In fact there is a support sticky that you could join in on??

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=186294.0