How soon after eating a food would you see symptoms?

[~Emma~]

 Grrrrrrrr.....we really are in the same situation here hon.

 I think I am going to ring tomorrow and tell the HV that I want the referral.

 Your nights sound so like ours. She wriggles and wriggles and grunts and does wee cries and tries ehr wee heart out to get back to sleep but its just to painful. Its heartbreaking. 

[Shiv52]

Yes I am convinced now she is in pain from the dairy.  I feel so awful because i have thought it for so long and left it.  But after starting these solids I am sure and thanks to you all you ladies here for your help.   I am still trying  to get my head around going dairy free but i imagine once i start I'll get used to it in no time.

And Em, i said to the doctor, you know i'm not a crazy mum looking for her to be STTN, but more than 2 hours at a time would be nice and he just looked at me at said 'well it stands to reason if you are in pain and discomfort of course you arent going to be comfortable to sleep'.    Poor wee R. 

Does any one know do i need to remove dairy with GP's go ahead or can I just batter on?  Take it I'd need calcium supplements?  He told me today to not do anything until i see the HV but that could be in another week. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I would just go ahead and do it, especially if you might have to wait for the HV.  I never bothered with the health nurse or Dr. at all, once I realized that all her symptoms cleared up on soy formula I just kept avoiding dairy until she was over 1, and at that point we needed to get her allergies tested for eggs, so we had them test for dairy. Of course it didn't show a reaction as I am sure it is just an intolerance and since we are GFCF it really doesn't matter if she can have it now.

For sure you would need to take calcium and figure out where the dairy is hidden in your diet.  It is hard at first, but once you get the hang of all the names dairy can hide behind it gets better!

[EloysH]

you can just go for it hun, there is no harm in a dairy free diet, calcium can be obtained from other sources or else a good supplement.  You need 1200mg a day when bf'ing. If you google calcium contents of foods, there should be some charts available to help. 

It is probably worth going soy free too, half of dairy intolerant babies have problems with soy, as the proteins are very similar.  I definantly wouldn't replace cows milk with soy milk, go for oat, rice, coconut or almond milk.

[Jimbob]

I am so sorry that your GP is making this so difficult. I really don't know why it is so difficult. If they don't want to prescribe the formula then they should give you a referral straight away.

{{{Hugs}}}

Kelly x

[Shiv52]

Thanks lovelies!

HV actually rang me this afternoon and was great!  I take back all the bad things I've said about her.  She said she didn't understand why the doctor said i needed to get in touch with her given that I had already tried dairy, noted symptoms then took it out (of her solids) then put it back and saw symptoms again as thats all she would have asked me to do.  She also said it was nonsense that I should just keep giving her dairy and it would desensitise like the GP told me. 

She has referred us onto the feeding team/dietician but was honest and said it could be a few weeks before an appt comes up and said I should just go ahead and take dairy out as you wouldn't want her tummy to be irritated for another few weeks waiting on the appt.  She said she would speak to the dietician and send me some info.

So although she told me what I already knew at least she wasn't putting up any barriers and wanting to watch R;s weight for weeks etc before recommending dairy free.

She said to go totally dairy free for a month before trying anything?  Does that sound about right?

And wow, milk products are in LOADS of stuff eh?!!!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Yes a month would get it out of her system and yours for sure. Isn't it crazy what it is in?  Even more fun when you add eggs and gluten to the mix!  Glad the HV came through for you and I hope the appt comes quickly! Do they do a cancellation list?

[Shiv52]

Even more fun when you add eggs and gluten to the mix!

I can only imagine!!!  hope you are finding it ok!  Is S responding well to it?

Do they do a cancellation list?

I'm not sure actually.  I'll ring on Monday and check.  The HV actually said the dietician is a bit useless (in an organisation sense) and she did take chasing so it may take her a few days to get some info for me. 

I'm starting dairy free today.  My head is spinning trying to work out what to eat!!!  Or not to eat as the case actually is!  I actually think we'll all eat better though as it seems if i make things from scratch I can avoid lots of dairy.  I made chilli last night and noticed the mix i buy has flipping milk products in it but i can still make it but not use the premade spice mix.   DInners won't be too bad.  Its breakfast and lunch I'm finding hard!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

hope you are finding it ok!  Is S responding well to it?

Yup, it is going okay!  As for responding to it, well it's hard to know if it is from the diet or her just getting older, kwim? She is talking loads more, interacting with people other than family and the best part is her bm's are nearly normal.  That last one counts for alot in my book, as she had pretty nasty poos!

I find I cook from scratch alot more too, just because I have to for Spencer, so I do it for all of us.  It gets easier as you go on!  What types of things do you normally do for breakfast & lunch that you are finding hard to replace?

[Shiv52]

I tend to have porridge or cereal with milk.  And we tend to do a lot of bread (so toasties, sandwiches...and of course we do alot of cheese!) or soup (which do have milk but i know i could make from scratch).

So i need replacements for milk, butter and cheese.  And bread!

[Shiv52]

Yup, it is going okay!  As for responding to it, well it's hard to know if it is from the diet or her just getting older, kwim? She is talking loads more, interacting with people other than family and the best part is her bm's are nearly normal.  That last one counts for alot in my book, as she had pretty nasty poos!

That is great.  Amazing she is talking so much more.  I'd say if you've seen such a change in the BMs then it has to be doing something good for her!   Plus you are so in tune with her that am sure all the work you are doing with her is paying off too. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Plus you are so in tune with her that am sure all the work you are doing with her is paying off too.

  thanks dear!

For the porridge, could you do it with rice milk? Or they even make things like almond milk.  Store bought bread here doesn't usually have milk in it, and if you are inclined to make it, it is quite easy to find recipes without milk.  Cheese, well that's a tough one!  I don't think there is any acceptable replacement for that, and since soy is out (and most soy cheese has milk ingredients anyways!) then there isn't much else. 

[Edesanja]

Shiv, I've done dairy free too for both my lo's. It does get easier I PROMISE! Doing it the second time with J was actually no big deal because I'd done it all before and knew already what I could and couldn't eat.

As for porridge - that's what I eat for breakfast every morning too. Once upon a time I made it with milk but I haven't since going df with E. Even after I stopped bfing her I still made it with water. Not nice to eat on its own, but I never eat my porridge plain - always with stewed fruit or if I haven't made any then crushed pineapple from a can. Making it with an alternative milk would probably be fine (I make J's with rice milk every morning) but I haven't found an alternative milk that I like the taste of (though admittedly there are ones I haven't tried) so don't bother.

[Buntybear]

I make ollys porridge with oat milk - makes sense right!