Is this an intolerance to formula?

[*Nicola*]

 Hiya guys (I've copied this from our Temp forum, hope you don't mind)

My saga continues .... I just wanted to ask for some input before I see GP again on Thursday. Feeling increasingly sick about these feeding issues. sad.gif

Callie has been on gaviscon for reflux, diagnosed after refusing feeds, fussing at feeds, crying at/after/during feeds.

Due to ongoing issues we have now weaned breast feeding and are giving bottles of formula only. We have been giving the same brand of formula for 7 days now. The first 3 days she had between 6-10 oz per day with no issues. 4th day she had bottles all day with no issues, 5th day no issues until last bottle when she got some red marks around her mouth, 6th day (yesterday) she had red marks/rash around mouth and under chin after first feed (3.5oz) of the day. 2nd feed (8oz) she had red rash everywhere on her body, ears all red and swollen, white 'heatbump' like spots on top of the rash on her neck and mouth.

Took her to pharmacist who sent her to doc. He checked her over, diagnosed a bad throat infection and thought that the rash was linked to that. Gave her anti histamine and penicillin and wants to review on Thursday. I asked if about rash ONLY appearing after feeds but he doesn't think it's linked.

Started antihistamine right away yesterday. She had tiny feed before nap as she was shattered, no rash. Big bedtime feed but I didn't think to check her for rash (silly), very sick during night but not distressed. Fed this morning and out in rash everywhere again.

I spoke to HV to said to change formula brand to see what happens, and I will keep diary until Thursday. HV said if rash continues with changed brand that they will need to do some testing for intolerances.

Sigh/Cry this seems to just be going on and on and on for my baby. Feel so sorry for her. Is there anything else I need to be doing? Any experience/ideas/input would be really appreciated. We are not doing solids so I know it's not that. Hoping like mad it's not intolerance but it's looking suspicious.

I'm really worried they're going to have me brought in for Maunchausen by Proxy (only half kidding, btw!) and just want things to go back to normal.

OK, thanks if you got this far!! Sorry for hogging the boards with all of my concerns/issues.

Love you all xxxx

**updated to add**

gave a bottle of the same brand formula but a 'heavier mix for reflux/sicky babies' and no sign of any rash.  I'm going to give this for next couple of days and see where we get.

[em_here]

Hi Nicola, when ds has a food allergy it looks like heatbumps.... whereas with dd hers looks like a red eczema rash. It certainly does sound like some sort of allergy probably to cows milk proteins, or I know this may sound stupid, could she be allergic to the material the teats are made from?  I know dh's dad has always been allergic to certain plastics, just a thought.  Huge hugs to you, you just cant catch a break eh 

[* Paula *]

Just lurking,to see your updates.

Huge hugs hun xxxxx

[*Nicola*]

Emma, very like heat bumps.

We've given cow and gate formula all day today (except first thing) and she has been fine 

Will see what tomorrow brings.

[em_here]

Excellent! Good luck with the new formula  You deserve it to be ok xxxx hugs xxxx

[yaya]

OH nic, hoping you get a break soon...
Just wanted to ask, when she was refusing feeds and u were still BFing, did the doc check her throat?? The bad throat infection could have been the culprit after all!
Are the spots on her tummy and arms at all? Could it be fiftth/sixth disease? Often after an infection, babies break out in spots as athe body reacts to the infection....
OR could be that some formula is dribbling out of her mouth during feed which wasnt happening with the BF and the 'wetness' is giving her a rash? Just a thought.
I woudl try putting vaseline all around her face before a feed to act as a barrier.
Intollerance....hmmmm not sure tbh, have u noticed any other symptoms? DS got(gets the rash ALONG with other symptoms

[*Nicola*]

Doc did check her throat yup.  Also checked it at NHS24 service on sunday when she began the screaming at feeds and they said all was well.

Spots are all over, tummy, back, hands, bum etc.  Doc did say he was sure it was infection related rather than milk related but it was strange that it only showed after feeds.

Have some pics will post in a min ...

[em_here]

Pics arent working  Unless you can put them on photobucket or something and post the link xxxx

[*Nicola*]

Oh are pics working?

LOL Emma you got there first. 

Cripes by the time I find my photobucket address ....

I'll put them on MSN and facebook and scare you all!

[em_here]

I dont have you added on either  Would be interesting to see and compare them to DS's allergy rash xxx

[*Nicola*]

Emma I'll PM you x

[em_here]

Ok Nicola xxxx

[Jimbob]

I would be really interested to see these pics aswell. It definately sounds like a reaction to the firmula to me, but obviously I am not a doctor. Like you said it it was linked to her throat it seems strange that it happens after feeding.

Kelly

[rinajack]

The formula you are giving now, is that one where the proteins are broken down?

Sounds to me like food allergy also.  If it is milk protein, that could be the cause of the reflux too (ie reflux could be the symptom of the intolerance), and the trace amounts in your breast milk would be nothing compared to giving her formula.

Hugs Nicola.  Hugh is reflux AND MSPI. I am on elimination diet, he won't eat solids most of the time since he relates these with pain, and although OK at the moment, we also have feeding troubles when his reflux flares up.  Currently, he is doing about 3 night feeds each night.  I feel your pain. Muah.

[*Nicola*]

Hiya guys ....

I think pics are working again so I'll them posted in a bit.  If not I'll face book them and make sure you all have my address.

Doc today thought that again that it was a coincidence but did say not to try formula again to try. Not sure about the new formula Rina.  I need to go check it out.

Got to get lunch sorted ... back in a tic.

BRB x

[*Nicola*]

Pic 1 - mouth/chin (which I've just seen isn't that clear)

[*Nicola*]

Pic 2 - redness and heat bump like spots on neck

[*Nicola*]

Pic 3 - clearer one of mouth

[yaya]

OMG Nic, the one on the neck looks very itchy! The one on the mouth and chin is exactly what emily gets if I dont wipe her face immediately once shes finished eating. Been to a dermatologist, its just very sensitive skin. He recommends NOT using baby wipes on her face even the non fragranced kind, just a cloth soaked in water. moisturize well but with non perfu,ed cream.
Have NO idea about the one on neck but looks diff to the chin to me, white not red and although I am nO expert it doenst look like milk spots to me : /
Have you tried putting aloe Vera on it?

[*Nicola*]

It's gone now Michelle.

Basically, she fed, her mouth went red about 15 mins later, then it spread over her head, ears (which also swelled), neck (which got the bumps), back, legs, tummy, arms, hands. Then it died down within about an hour. 

The first time it was just her mouth and she had just a couple of oz.
The second time, mouth and neck and she had about 3.5 oz
The third time was the above pics and she had 6oz.

I need to look and see the difference between the C&G formula and the C&G comfort (which she is on now).  I'm sure someone (Emma?) mentioned that the milk proteins are different.

**ETA** apparently the C&G Comfort formula has lower lactose content.

Now I am wondering if maybe we have some issues    like you say Rina.  Trace amounts in breast milk which resulted in the screaming/refusing feeds, lots in regular formula which gave rash, and less in this formula which is fine?

Geezo

[Jimbob]

The photo of her neck definately looks like hives to me. MMy son had a severe case of these on Monday. If your dd symptoms got worse each time then it needs to be taken seriously by the doctor. Reactions can go from mild to severe at any point. If your dd is ok with the comfort formula then it might be that the proteins are broken down more in that. It is definately worth looking into further.

Kelly

[*Nicola*]

Thanks Kelly ...

I am going do a bit of reading and broach it will HV.  She did say that she thought Callie should be tested for allergies

[Tamara]

Only seeing this now Nic - wowsers!!!  Poor Callie

That is not the rash of a sore throat though, that's all I know.

Sending you both lots of ((HUGS)) you really are going through it!!

[*Nicola*]

LOL @ not the rash of a sore throat.

The Doc today said he was convinced it was 'scarlettina'?? Related to throat infection.  He did also say not to re-try formula lolol ... wonder how convinced he actually is !

[yaya]

agree with Awel, def not scarlatina....the spots are red
 the connection between the amounts of formula and the rash are waaaaaaay too suspicious to me.....my gut feeling is MSPI...will be interesting to see. Unfortunately it is easier to 'positive test' in young babies then alleergy test. SO giving a particular formula and getting a reaction and then trying lactose free and NOT getting a reaction would be your diagnosis. My pead told me that LOs under dont test positive to allergy tests even if they are intollerant

[rinajack]

That sure looks like hives to me, DH had it just a couple of months ago, and the Dr diagnosed it as an allergic reaction.

[binxyboo]

Wow!!!
That would scare the cr@p out of me!

[*Nicola*]

Cripes ...

the thought of allergies is freaking me out.  Living with diabetes is enough ... really don't want another of my girls to be bothered by something

[em_here]

Looks identical to DS's when he had the reaction to Strawberries the 2nd time, except his one on his bottom, does look like an allergy to me, poor little bub, wonder what it could have been too if she seems ok now with the milk. Hugs xxxxx

[yaya]

Awwww Nic, hugs sweetie. I was worried about allergies too, its not fun obviously but not an big issue at all. I think diabetes would def give you work work! With thomas we changed to lactose free formula, no more probs. then avoided dairy on solids, again no probs.  Remeber there is a diff between intollerance and allergy. An allergy generally wont get better and intollerance is just that thus you can build up a tolerance to it. So with thomas who was very intollerant to lactose, we slowly introduced tiny amounts and now age 2.5 he drinks whole milk : )

[*Nicola*]

Emma,

The rash was after drinking C&G milk.  Then we moved to C&G Comfort and have had no issues.

Michelle, again you make me feel better!! The difference between allergy and intolerance didn't even enter my head.

xxx

[Jimbob]

I hope your dd continues to do well on the cow and gate confort as the hypoallergenic formulas and elemental formulas taste and smell terrible.

Kelly

[* Paula *]

How's she doing Nic?

[em_here]

I also hope she does well on the comfort milk, hopefully the lower lactose content will help her, poorlittle bub, how are things this eve? xxxxxxx

[*Nicola*]

Thanks for checking in on us everyone.

She's been doing great on the Comfort milk.  No issues at all. Fingers crossed things continue like that!

[yaya]

excellent news

[* Paula *]

Thats great news Nic. 

[em_here]

Hurrah!!!! Soooooooo pleased!

[raynesmommy]

I had the same issues with my little girl. She couldn't handle regular formula and had a reaction to soy. I switched to Enfamil's Nutramigen. It is hypo-allergenic and reduces gas and colic, helps with excessive crying, helps reduce rashes, and is lactose free. These are all major issues I had with Rayne. She was on the formula 24 hours and you could swear I had a new baby. She was 75% better and much more manageable. She's on it awhile now and the issues are few and far between. Check out that formula. I swear by it!

[Mileshunt]

Hi Nicola, great news about your LO. IKJWYM about feeling like people are going to think you have Munchausen's by proxy!

Linds x

[donna_issabella]

WOWOW, sorry Nic, I almost spat my coffee out onto the key board.. THAT is as much a strep throat rash as what I am a Strep rash!!!!! Did the doctor SEE it or go on your description??

Glad it has not reoccured. Definitely an allergic reaction to something in that formula. And no, not just the higher lactose content!

HUGS to you and Callie!

[Jimbob]

I have to say I would be thinking about changing doctor. I hope things are still going well.

Kelly

[*Nicola*]

DI, your post made me laugh ... love all of the  ...

On a serious note ... he did see the rash     and still related it to the throat infection.  I can't remember what I have updated here (after being offline for so long) but when we went back for the check up I told him I had switched formula and had no rash again.  He reiterated that the rash was not an allergic reaction, in his opinion.  I asked if I should retry her on the original formula and he said not too.  Hmm .... suspicious.

Anyway ... things are great here.  Formula feeds going well.  No reflux or rash issues.  Just waiting to see what happens as we begin to introduce more foods/dairy etc. 

 

[yaya]

what a loser.....the Dr not you!
glad to hear things arre going well
X

[Jimbob]

I am so glad to hear that things are going well .

Kelly