What else could it be?

[oneplusone]

My LO had a lot of skin issues (cradle cap, excema, overall dry skin, splotchy red elbow creases, baby acne etc...) and I've cut out dairy for almost 2 months now (and eggs and soy). This seems to have helped or maybe he just grew out of it. His last symptom is a constantly stuffed up nose, has lasted almost 2 months. He's always sneezing and snoring and he sounds very congested. When I put saline drops in his nose he will sneeze out mucous and will sound better for a day. I thought that eliminating dairy would have helped this. He doesn't seem like he has a cold and nothing else really seems to be the matter. What else could it be? Thanks!

[deb]

Don't hate me, but.... wheat/gluten?

[Buntybear]

Hi, how old is your LO? Have you cut out all hidden dairy/soy too? How he sleep? Is it just skin issues?

I would have to suggest wheat next too  

Have you thought about changing your washing powder?

[oneplusone]

Thanks Deb - I was really hoping it wasn't wheat. That is so much harder to cut out. I didn't think it would make you stuffed up as a symptom. I thought for sure cutting out the dairy would have helped.

Buntybear - My LO is 3 months. I've cut out all dairy, soy & eggs for 2 months. The skin stuff cleared up, but he's still really stuffed up and congested. I thought for sure cutting out dairy would help that. I already use really sensitive fragrance dye free laundry soap and the dry skin was specific spots (knees, elbows), not all over like an allergic reaction to soap. His sleep is not bad. He was doing 6 hours at night, eat, then another 3 or 4 hours but just went through a growth spurt and is up every 3-4 hrs at night. It's really just his congestion and mucous I'm worried about. Now, the cut wheat out of my diet as well... what AM I going to eat???

[deb]

Meat, fruit, vegetables, seeds? We eat pretty much no dairy or grains at all, wheat or otherwise, and we do OK. Takes a bit of planning though at first!

[Buntybear]

I am not sure that the congestion sounds like a wheat allergy but maybe just try for a couple of weeks and see if there is any imrovement. If not then you can start eating it again!

[oneplusone]

Buntybear - I didn't think congestion was common with wheat either. I thought for sure that eliminating dairy would help. Oh well, worth a try...

Deb - I'm a vegetarian. Maybe I'll have to start eating meat. Dairy was pretty easy to cut out, wheat is is so many things.

Thanks for all your help!

[Buntybear]

There are so many wheat replacements foods out there now - bread, pasta etc..

If you need any help with what to eat post here and I am sure we can help

[*Kara*]

Sneezing is a very common sign of a wheat intolerance   So I would think that the congestion could certainly be as well... good luck hun!

[oneplusone]

Thanks Kara - yes he sneezes a lot and is very congested. I've never heard that congestion/sneezing was related to wheat. I thought for sure it was dairy related. It did clear up a bit after I cut out dairy, but not totally.

Buntybear - we have a really great health food store near my house so I guess I'll be going grocery shopping. It's great how many products are wheat free now. I have a friend who has celiacs so I know a few things to make, its just you have to be so careful and read the ingredients on everything since it seems like wheat is in everything!

[*Kara*]

Here is a great link for everyone

Scroll down a bit and there is a pretty long list of potential symptoms for wheat allergy/intolerance...

http://www.wheat-free.org/wheat-allergy.html

[oneplusone]

Thanks Kara! Great list

[Mom to M&M]

A good friend of mine has a son with wheat/gluten intolerance (NOT celiac positive though) and one of his main symptoms was constant congestion (which lead to constant ear infections, then tubes, then asthma, etc) until he was finally diagnosed at 6.5 years old...

[*Kara*]

That's awful Karen!  So sad when the LO's live so long without having an answer.