Allergy? Or what's up?

[Solene]

My 17 month old has some weird stuff going on.
When he was a baby, he spit up a lot, but that was fine, he was a baby after all.
And he stopped, somewhere between 8 and 10 months or so.
The he started spitting up again at some point after he turned a year, I can't remember exactly when right now. But it was just a little period, and he stopped again. And it wasn't much, just a little several times a week.

Anyway, the spitting up started again.
Some weeks ago.
And it's still not much, but it's several times every week. And he thinks it's uncomfortable. But I get that, must be sour.
Sometimes it comes out, sometimes he just swallows it again (so I'm guessing it's less when he does that).
He's always been long and slim. At 16 months he was 8.16 kg. (18 lbs). He's probably just a tad more now (I hope) and I'm guessing at least 80 cm (31.5 inches).
But he shouldn't be spitting up now? He's too big. Or more important, he quit. And then started again.
He also wakes up in the night or morning sometimes, screaming, like really screaming.
Like he's in pain. And he kicks his legs. So my first thought is stomach pain.
He settles when he gets to nurse though.
I've also seen that he sometimes gets a little red skin, his temples really, and I  think I've noticed it mostly when he gets an Organic Ella's Kitchen smoothie.

I haven't been able to see a pattern. And I've been looking.
But there's lots of things he will get every day, like milk.
I don't know much about allergies, none of us are.
If he is allergic to something, is it likely that the reaction will come right away? Or can it be hours later?
What are common signs when you're allergic?
Or what about an intolerance? (What's the difference, really?)
And what's the first step to ruling it out, do we start writing down everything he eats, and when he spits up/has pain (or if he gets a little red)? If so, for how long?
And if we then see a pattern, we cut out what we think it is, see if it gets better, and then introduces it again and sees if there's a change? And for how long would you cut it out? Or do you just do that with a doc's advice?

[Buntybear]

Hi, that sounds like it could be reflux?

Some reflux is made worse by MSPI as I understand it so I would suggest that a food diary is a good place to start if you feel it is food related? Did you BF or was he on formula?

Symptoms of allergies and intolerances can be immediate or slow - some can even build up over days before showing symptoms.

Symptoms would include vomiting, stomach pain, eczema, swellings, hives, etc

[Solene]

Thanks Buntybear, but we did rule out reflux when he was a baby.
When he was 3 months he had the 24 hour ph test, all fine. In his worst spit up period. It isn't very likely to suddenly come later huh?

He has always been BF, exclusively until 6.5 months or so, and then started BLW, so he wasn't eating a whole meal of solids until probably 8 months.
Still nurses several times a day, once (or twice) at night.

Never had eczema or swelling. He has hives atm. actually, no itching. No idea why.

[Solene]

No one else?

[Hedgehog17]

Hi Solene,

This could be partly due to teething. There is an increase in acid production with teething which can cause a reflux flare up.

I know you say reflux has been ruled out, but that's exactly what your poor LO is doing 

Hives indicate an allergic reaction.

Get him checked out by a doctor, preferably one who has some experience of these things! 

[Buntybear]

Hi, it does sound like it must be a bit of reflux? Have you started a food diary to spot any triggers? Maybe cut back any anything acidic - cirtus fruits etc

[my3girlsjde]

It really does sound like reflux to me hun.

I've got no experience with the ph testing, but my youngest had reflux completely derived from food intolerances. She has not had a single positive on any allergy test but still reacts with reflux to foods she's intolerant to.

Have a peek here to see if anything fits: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=189899.0 and here as well:

[my3girlsjde]

Sorry my phone cut me off.

Try here too: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=654.0

These los can be tricky for things showing up properly on a test but it really does sound like reflux, especially of there's discomfort involved. I would strongly suggest that if anything in the links I gave you seems to ring true, a trip to the doctor would be a good idea. There are many safe Meds out there that are very effective.

Hugs, I know it's tough. You could also try eliminating one of his most common foods such as dairy to see as t it's one of the most common reflux triggers.

[Solene]

Thank you guys!

Hedgehog17, ah, they don't call it that here, when it's not sour (enough). Because it doesn't do damage then (ph value over a certain point). But yeah, he kinda is refluxing in theory.
But teething huh, he is teething right now I think. His hands are in his mouth constantly, and he is drooling a lot.
And those hives are still there.

Buntybear, yes, started food diary. Daycare also doing it.
He doesn't spit up at daycare btw. He's not there for long either though. He doesn't get citrus right now, what else is there? He's not eating tomatoes, he only drinks water, nurses or gets a little rice milk now and then.
Grapes, are they considered acidic?
Kid loves his grapes.

my3girlsjde, thank you for those links, they are great.

Hmm, I've actually been wondering if he might react to something I am eating, when I'm writing this. He doesn't spit up in daycare, he doesn't nurse there either.
The main difference would be that I have cow's milk in my coffee, and he doesn't drink cow's milk. We eat pretty much the same.
I'm gonna see if I see a pattern from the food diary, that'll be interesting.

He can spit up more than an hour after eating.
He did have a period during the winter now when he was coughing a dry cough and having a runny nose for months! We were gonna take him to a specialist, but then it stopped.
He eats often, always has. He nursed about every 2 hours from the day he was born until he was 15 months. And he still wants food about every 2 hours, I can stretch him to 3 maybe.
He's always gained weight slowly, and he even losses a little a while back (tiny bit). But he is following his own curve, and it's not FTT.
I think that's it from the reflux link.

From the food intolerance one, there's not much. It's the spitting up, and that his poops are a little hard sometimes, but not consistently.
Oh, and those hives now, but that is the first time.

I made sure that the doctor is at the health station on monday when we're going to see the nurse. So that we can talk to him too. And he can give us a refferal to a specialist if need be.

[Buntybear]

It is SO HARD figuring out what they are reacting too. It really is trial and error. Go with your gut instinct first - if you have one at all!

I think grapes are acidic? They can give me a bit of heartburn anyway 

I would get a picture of the hives so you can show a doctor. How long has he had them now? Olly's came and went fairly quickly with his allergies.

[Solene]

We'll lay off the grapes for a while then.
And he's had the hives since thursday, I think? Yeah, think so. But he's not sick in any way, so it can't be a disease.
But yes, I'll get a pic in the morning, good idea.

[Buntybear]

I would take him to the doctors about the hives if it were me.  Just googled it though and there can all sorts of reasons for them and in over half of cases they is no known reason!

[Solene]

Yeah, and they are gone!
I was gonna take a picture this morning, and they aren't there anymore.

[my3girlsjde]

Gotta love those mystery hives

E hasn't had them.for a.while.but our allergist said these kids can often get them without there being a reason you can pinpoint. Very frustrating, but I got in the habit of taking pics with each food reaction. I printed them all off and took them in to prove I wasn't crazy iykwim.

[Solene]

my3girlsjde, I'm gonna start doing that if we get more mystery hives!