BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Food Allergies => Topic started by: Mom to M&M on February 14, 2011, 12:25:51 pm
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So my DS (20 months) has been dealing with food intolerances/delayed allergies? for some time now. We have definitely pinpointed pumpkin and orange squash as BIG culprits - they result in hives, diaper rash, screaming at night (guessing from tummy pains), blowout diapers, etc. We also are pretty sure, though not positive, that he has milder reactions to the rest of the gourd family, zucchini, cantaloupe, etc. And we think pineapple bugs him.
But then there are some things we DON'T know - like cereal bars always bug him (which is too bad cause he loves them) but we're not sure what in them causes a problem. And very troubling is that he reacts to SOME pizza. He LOVES pizza and is usually fine with either takeout or when I make it at home (and at home I add veggies). But there is one place we used to love to takeout from near our house and we noticed that everytime he'd be up at night, moaning or crying after half hour/hour. So of course we don't order from there any more. Then last night we had dinner at my parents house with them and my sister's family. And we got pizza, salads and Italian dishes from a place there. He had basically a normal sized piece, cut into squares, no crust. And then last night - he was up moaning/crying and at times very distressed every 20-30 minutes between 10pm-1am, then moaning around 6 and 6:30 and still sleeping now at almost 7:30.
So what could be the problem? It can't be dairy/wheat since he has that all the time, no? So maybe something different certain places use in the sauce? A spice/herb/seasoning? Ugh....
To further confuse matters, we had him allergy tested maybe 3 months ago. But the allergist only did SPT and only to the 8 major allergens plus all the nuts. All showed up negative. But I'm not surprised since they seem to be delayed reactions - usually a few hours later...
Sigh.
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Anyone? From speaking with his Ped and a friend whose family has a pizza restaurant I'm guessing it's either that the tomatoes are more acidic (not cooked down as much) or a seasoning like red pepper flakes or anchovy paste or something in the sauce?
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Hi, it is very hard to tell what he is reacting to if he reacts to some pizza but not all for example. All I can really suggest is that you look at ingredient lists and see if anything jumps out?? If he has been tested for the main allergens and all is clear then that is GREAT news. Have you looked at possibly intolerances to natural food chemcicals such as amines, salicylates and glutamates? I am afraid I am no expert here but there are some websites with info on lists of foods that you could check and compare?
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How is he with mustard and celery?? Perhaps if a pizza place makes their own sauce and adds either of them it could be that?
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He does eat celery all the time in chicken noodle soup but don't think he's ever had mustard before... Thanks guys - will keep thinking...
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OK - we are taking DS to a holistic doctor who specializes in food sensitivities (among other things) and is also a nutritionist. First appointment we can get is for April 5th. Two of my friends have taken their sons to her and SWEAR by her - say she's awesome, she takes her time and really listens. She uncovered a milk sensitivity for one of the boys (he's 6.5 now and been having changing issues his whole life but tested negative on SPT) and with the other who has MANY developmental delays has really turned his life around with diet and supplements.
Been told the first appointment will take an hour. I'm sure I'll need to take him to the lab around the corner after for bloodwork right after - and that takes 2-3 weeks to get results. She does NOT take insurance and is an hour+ away BUT we really need to get to the bottom of this. And at least after the first in-person appointment she'll do phone appointments...
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So to further confuse matters I finally took away DS' bottle this week. He was still getting one AM and one PM - about 12 ounces total tops. I offer it in a cup but he now drinks maybe 2-4 ounces a day tops (instead drinking more water and diluted fresh fruit smoothies with avocado blended in). And since then he's eating better, sleeping better and his poop is more normal. Could he have a slight milk intolerance even though he tested negative to SPT and was on milk formula since birth? He is still eating yogurt and sometimes cheese and that seems OK.
Anyway, hopefully will know more next week. The appointment with the above mentioned holistic doctor is next Tuesday!
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Hi, yes he could have a milk intolerance as you can't test for that. Elimination and syptoms improving are a good indication
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I should have worded that better - my fault. I know that he "could" have an intolerance, I'm more wondering in his case if it's likely. But I'm happy for now that his symptoms are some better and hopefully will know more after this appointment. He did have yogurt at lunch today.
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Well I guess all you can do is watch for symptoms after consumption of dairy products? Maybe do a few days dairy free and re-introduce?
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Well the specialist we are going to next week does some extensive blood tests that find many sensitivities (as opposed to allergies), as well as metabolic imbalances, etc. So I might stay relatively status quo until then.
I've had two friends take their LOs to her (for various reasons) with amazing success. http://www.holisticfamilyhealthcarepc.com/
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SO glad this appointment is tomorrow! After a really good week (for the most part) in terms of sleeping and eating and diapers, DS had a bad night. Was half awake/moaning almost every hour between 11-3:30. Finally gave him ibuprofen (in case teething) at 3:30 and think he slept until 6:05 after that (instead of 6:45 or so). He DID have some ice cream last night (maybe only 3 spoonfuls worth) and 1-2 ounces milk in his straw cup before bed. Not sure if that, or something else he ate, or teething (one eye tooth just came through a couple weeks ago) - will check his mouth when I get him up (he currently has books in his crib) and see how diapers are today. Exhausted!
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How did the appointment go?
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Hey Karen, just seen this and as you know I started seeing an NAET therapist. I hope your appointment goes well and am keeping fingers crossed for you and M. I'm particularly interested in NAET because they can "cure" the allergies. I did a quick search and they have lots in NJ. Here's their website if you're interested: www.naet.com
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The appointment is today - in about 4.5 hours (11 am EDT)... Better night here though still not as good as had been. He did have oatmeal made with 3 ounces milk at dinner time yesterday. Almost seems like the milk leads to shorter sleep/night with 1-2 wakings/moanings whereas some of the other suspected irritants lead to all night moaning and blow out diapers (like the night before).
Thanks Koe - I'm going to stick with this person for now (and likely dietary changes) but if we don't see success will look into the NAET side. How are you feeling?
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Karen, thanks for asking. I'm doing ok, the mysterious muscle pain has gone since I stopped eating our bread. (I had lots of croissants and pains au chocolat in Paris and had no problem at all.) My first treatment was just for general energy circulation and I was told to drink lots of water in the following 25 hours and eat normal things. I did have great thirst and didn't need to pee at all! I must have drunken about 1-2 liters of water more than normal! My body seemed to have "slimmed" down (I think I normally have lots of water retained also.) I can't wait till Friday for the food treatment. Will keep you posted.
BTW, love your new profile pic :D
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I am always very dubious when people claim they can cure allergies. I was told by my son's specialist that there is no cure. The best treatment is to avoid allergens to prevent a allergic reaction of course this is only possible once the allergen has been identified. Of course part of me hopes they will find a cure in the future but as far as I am aware there is not at the moment. Having said this people do seem to have positive results from going to alternative healthcare professionals so I am not against it at all I just don't think they can cure an allergy.
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I'm a bit skeptical too, to be honest (though I hope for your case Koe that I'm wrong!). In our case, they aren't straight-forward "allergies" anyway but more likely sensitivities. In which case, it might be possible to eventually add some of them back into his diet, at least on a rotational basis. But I'll know more, hopefully, today and then more again by end of month when we get his blood results back.
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Almost seems like the milk leads to shorter sleep/night with 1-2 wakings/moanings whereas some of the other suspected irritants lead to all night moaning and blow out diapers (like the night before).
Sounds like milk could be an issue - did you used to heat his bottles? I am fine with milk and milk products if heated about 72c at that destroys most of the milk protein (whey), I think! Although too much ice cream upsets my stomach too.
The pizza could have been made with soya flour too, in some cases. A large % of people with milk issues can't handle soya either (MPI milk protein intolerence).
DS has problems with dairy (not sure if all dairy, as doing complete elimination at the moment). He also used to get a burnt bottom with carrots, citrus, apples, tomatoes (sometimes only) but seems to be outgrowing it slowly. He gets very loose bowels with dairy and soya.
We kept a food diary and used that to keep track of meals and symptoms/nappies.
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Lucy - we actually never heated his bottles. Formula was also room temp and milk straight from fridge. Interesting with soya flour!
Koe - also the croissants and pains au chocolat sound lovely! So glad you had a nice time in Paris.
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I'm skeptical, too! :P I'm just desperate to try anything but I have friends IRL who are cured. It's based on acupuncture and the meridian which I believe in. I am really hoping that it will help me. :) Have you had the appointment yet, Karen?
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Formula was also room temp and milk straight from fridge. Interesting with soya flour!
Forgot to say that I am pretty sure formula will have been treated so probably easier to digest and not the same as "normal" milk.
Most pre-sliced bread in the UK has soya flour in it, not sure about elsewhere :(
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Back from the appointment. Lady was super nice, thorough and really good with Matthew. Course we won't know anything for 2-3 weeks (likely closer to 3). Had three vials of blood drawn to check both IGG and IGE for many items and also have to send out a stool sample. She's also checking with that blood for celiac, as well as levels of iron, Vit D and more. She agreed seems to be something digestive since he gets stomach cramping and messy diapers with reactions (as well hives from certain items).
Based on our discussion and his history she's thinking probably milk issue, in addition to of course the pumpkin/squash, etc. Possibly celiac but she wasn't too sure. Basically we are keeping his diet as is for now, although I'm not going to even offer cow's milk to drink (instead either almond or rice probably) and in his oatmeal. Can still offer yogurt and cheese for now and we'll reevaluate all once we have the results back.
Those of you who have used either - would you recommend rice milk or almond milk to try? Does one taste better?
Koe - when do you go back again?
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I would be wary of trying almond milk unless your lo has already had nuts without a problem.
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I should have mentioned that. He eats nuts in granola sometimes, as well as has had in Larabar and stirred into oatmeal... But hemp milk is supposed to be good too right?
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Almond milk may be worth a go then. I have heard lots of good things about hemp milk but not tried it yet. We use rice milk and oat milk at the minute mostly but we do still use some neocate that we have left. We don't have much left now though so need to find which will be best to make sure ds is getting enough calcium.
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We use oatmilk (Oatly) which has added calcium - not tried it straight, but it is nice when used in porridge and cooking etc :) We were told not to use rice milk due to levels of inorganic arsenic compounds in it ...
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I ended up buying a carton each of enriched rice milk (Rice Dream) and vanilla oat milk. I tried the rice milk in his sippy tonight but he had maybe two sips only. Will try again tomorrow - at least with one of them in oatmeal even if he won't drink it!
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we had to start pureeing fruit and adding that to the milk (well, it was neocate!!) and making a smoothie - then he got used to the taste and now LOVES the milk! Not seen the vanilla flavoured milk ... sounds okay!
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He just seems to have zero interest in milk of any kind since we took the bottle away 1.5 weeks ago. I already puree fruit and add it to a bit of apple juice and water (and avocado often) for smoothie - should I blend the fruit and avocado with the rice milk instead? But we often bring it out/about with us in a sippy cup - how long would that type of smoothie (with the rice milk) stay good for)?
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we just blend fruit with the milk :o) he usually drinks it in one go but suppose it will keep as long as normal milk would without fruit in it.
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No go - he didn't like that either. Seems he really just doesn't like milk unless it's in a bottle. So for now will stick with other sources - yogurt, cheese, rice or oat milk in oatmeal, etc...
Wish I could get results already - will be a long three weeks!
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You could try giving him a straw or different style cup - the novelty value sometimes works!!!
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Nope it seems he just doesn't like milk in a cup. Water or diluted smoothies (made from only juice, water and fruit/veg) are great but he just doesn't like milk in any cups - and we have a LOT of them!
He did have cheese yesterday at lunch (homemade mac n cheese with carrots blended in) and yogurt last night though.
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As long as he is getting calcium in other foods and milk in cooking/cereal that should be fine. I never drank milk as a child either! Maybe over time reduce the amount of fruit in his smoothie to get used to drinking milk again??
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But the smoothie isn't made with milk either and he doesn't eat fresh fruit anymore so I like keeping fruit there. He LOVED milk in the bottle but apparently it wasn't the taste of the milk but the bottle itself! Two nights ago he had a nice amount of rice milk cooked in oatmeal (4 ounces of it) but then yesterday had more loose stools than usual so I'm a bit hesitant to change/try/push too much of anything before the test results come back - and that will probably be at last another two weeks. Sigh.
Will offer a grilled cheese sandwich at lunch. I also made challah french toast for breakfast with a fair amount of milk in the batter. And I made a new batch of breakfast cookies yesterday which have a nice amount of ricotta cheese in them. One can hope he'll have one for snack at some point!
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Have you tried a smoothie using milk?
I know it seems forever but 2 weeks isn't that long - at least he is taking cheese, etc so getting calcium and fat, etc. Could you just wait until after the test results?
If you are desperate for him to have milk would you give him it in his bottle again, but at mealtimes? Not sure if that would be too confusing for him if he was attached (DS was breastfed so didn't have the issue) to his bottle.
Lots of hugs
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Oh I'm not desperate for him to have milk at all. And if he still won't have it and depending on test results we will likely be putting him on a multi-vitamin including calcium. And TBH I'd prefer that to going back to his bottle. He doesn't like smoothies with milk but I do add avocado to the juice/water/fruit ones for good fats.
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That sounds good! I never drank milk and still don't - I just take calcium tablets instead. Hope tests results are what you want them to be xx
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Don't know what I hope. Just for some answers so we can get a plan in action!
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Yes, once you know what you are dealing with things will be so much easier xxx let us all know how it goes
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Waiting is so painful. Should know WRT celiac and IgE allergies this week and food intolerances another 1-2 weeks. Meanwhile have been trying some gluten free foods in case I have to go there but so far he won't even taste them (in some cases not even touch them). Last night he had an Ella's kitchen pouch and then oatmeal made with rice milk for dinner (he had refused the chicken, potatoes and broccoli I made) and had a bad night. So strange.
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Latest guess is some sort of gluten or wheat intolerance. We had a totally gluten-free/wheat free day today and (1) he seemed in a better mood; (2) I finally wasn't pulling green boogers from his nose this afternoon (to be fair he did have a cold - my DD has it now) and (3) he only had 2 BMs today instead of 3+ and they were much more normal than usual. Could be a one-off, not sure. Today's eating was:
B: few bites of a toasted gluten free bagel with butter, pouch of sweet potato/apples/corn
L: 1.5 pieces toasted gluten free cinnamon raisin bread with butter, greek yogurt with honey and bananas
S: freeze dried apples and pears
D: gluten free pizza crust topped with chopped mushrooms, spinach, onions and garlic into sauce with blended carrots and sweet potatoes and topped with cheese before baking (he was hungry and didn't seem to notice it was gluten free and had a lot - for him anyway); pouch of broccoli/pears/pears
He drank his normal fresh fruit drink I make for him with blended avocado. Today's was strawberry/banana/apple juice/water/avocado. Plus maybe 1-2 ounces lactose free milk
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OK just got results emailed to me. And I have a phone consult set with the doctor for 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime would love thoughts. Looks like he's VERY reactive to whey - not as much to casein or yogurt, etc. And cheese very reactive but not mozzarella - so can he still have pizza? Also will need to re-make my granola bars without the almond meal and stop putting peanut butter in his oatmeal I guess... See attached.
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Good that you got the results!! Things don't look so bad at all, right? hugsss
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Hey so glad you got your results through. Been thinking about your little man for scwhile now.
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Thanks Koe and Lisa. The doctor will email me her treatment plan later today and then I'll speak with her by phone tomorrow afternoon so I'll post an update then. Going off dairy will be tough since he eats a fair amount of cheese but I'll give it a go for two months (which I'm guessing will be her suggestion).