So much conflicting advice - HELP!

[enna77]

My DD is 6 months old and developed eczema at 3 months when she was still exclusively BF. Introduced 1 bottle of cows milk formula at 4 months for bedtime feed when my night supply was lower and still do this. But she had eczema even before introducing the formula.

Went to an allergy specialist and the RAST test came back negative. So he gave me a magnitude of creams and pine tarry bath stuff etc and sent me on my way. Prior to this we had a a hair test done, as a locum initially wouldn't refer me to the specialist as he thought it was fungal. This came back showing sensitivities to soy, dairy, goat and sugar. I know there's a lot of skepticism over these tests but at the time it was our only choice before insisting on the referral.

To start with found some natural creams that seemed to manage it quite well, then its like they stopped working and she now gets very bad flare ups, she has just learnt to start scratching it and I had to put sox on her hands the other night. Poor thing was so upset  The next day I thought enough was enough and used the steroid cream which dampened it down heaps.

Because I didn't get much joy from the allergy specialist I've also consulted a homeopath who gave her some drops.

Problem is I feel like I get so much conflicting advice, if I could use natural methods I would but they just don't seem to work as well, the allergy specialists are saying she isn't allergic to food so to use creams which treat the symptoms but don't seem to solve the problem then I get the homeopaths saying that the creams etc the specialist are providing are carcinogenic! I don't know who or what to believe 

Meanwhile I still feel like its still coming from something internally and want to treat the problem not the symptoms, should I change formula and stop dairy in my diet? What should I swap to? soy? goats milk?

I had eczema as a teenager and my DH was allergic to milk as a baby so I've now learnt genetically she has a high chance of having an allergy of some description.

Any advice? Shes such a happy baby otherwise I feel terrible for her, especially if its something I'm eating thats doing it through my BM. I've already cut down on dairy loads and are having rice milk in case soy is also a problem but I feel like so confused about pretty much everything.

[motherof3]

Enna-

I would def recommend eliminately all milk and soy from you diet if you are bfing.  Since your Dh was allergic to milk there is def a possibility this could be her problem.  Allergy testing is very unreliable at her age.  So I would try the elimination diet for 2wks or more and see if that helps her symptoms.  I think there is a list of food in the MSPI thread.  Make sure that you read all labels as milk is in everything. 

It is tricky if you do supplement.  B/c if you are eliminating all milk and soy it is counterproductive to use a milk or soy based formula.  Maybe an elemental formula like Neocate or Elecare would be a better choice. 

HTH,

Andrea

[daybyday]

Just wanted to agree with pp! hugs to your dd (and you)

[Jimbob]

Totally agree with Andrea, very good advice..

Kelly

[enna77]

thanks for the great advice so your recommendation is to eliminate soy and milk together rather than to try one and then the other to see if i can isolate it?

[Jimbob]

I would eliminate both until you reach baseline. You could then add one back into your diet and see if there is a reaction. I would probably opt for soy as the first to add back.

Kelly

[willnaddysmommy]

When we found out my daughter had a milk protein allergy (different than lactose intolerance) I had to give up everything with whey protein. wheat, dairy, pretty much everything.... you may want to talk to your dr about that possibility.
hth

[enna77]

thanks for all the advice and the great lists of foods i found to avoid - very handy 

[kcamelia]

Yes, eliminating it isn't so bad once you get used to it.    Just found out there was whey in my kettle chips, though.  So sad . . .

Do you feel you have enough milk supply to replace the formula bottle?  If not, one of the hypoallergenic formulas may work, but it seems so counterintuitive to me because they are made of cow's milk.

[birdie]

When I asked our pediatrician about allergy testing, she advised that it would not work as the allergens are not in DS system. Could this apply to your LO as well?

[kcamelia]

Yeah, I was told the same--the tests don't work until they are actually ingesting the foods themselves.

[enna77]

I was told by an allergy and immunology specialist that it can come through the BM. But all I can say is that although the tests came back supposedly clear my instinct tells me theres something triggering it, the steroid creams can clear it up in a day and then I keep it well moisturised so its not like its dryness thats causing it then the next day it starts to appear again until within 2 days it looks so red and angry like it resembles burns or welts.

Anyway as a start I am avoiding dairy and soy in my diet and I have changed her to goats milk formula for the once a day feed (no I don't think I have enough supply to change this to my milk) I know goats milk can cause the exact same issues as cow milks but until I can get a HA formula this was my starting point.