Re: Anyone else's kids have food allergies?/Sandi

[Guest guest]

Sandi,

Have you had Jack tested for food allergies? We had Haley tested (a blood test)

b/c she was having blood in her stool. We found out not only was she allergic

to milk protein, but she was also allergic to soy, eggs, oats, peanuts, and

wheat. Cutting all of those things out of my diet was an adjustment. I just

stopped nursing about a month ago (Haley was 19 mos) She would have been a

happy camper to nurse 24 hours a day! She would go through phases of not

wanting solid foods even when she was 16 mos and older. I contacted our

Breastfeeding Doc and she suggested that Haley just wanted to nurse b/c of

comfort, but that it was fine b/c she was still getting nutrients. I know there

is a lot of debate about the nutritional value of breast milk after 12 mos, but

the doctor who specializes in breast feeding suggests there is nutritional

value. Sorry to ramble, but I hope that helps you some.

Misty and Haley

wrote: Do

you think it's comfort? With such a major change (casting,etc), maybe he's using

YOU/nursing as his comfort.

I'm not sure what advice to offer...I really hope you figure it out =)

and Evan

" *\\o/* San *\\o/* " wrote:

Jack is refusing food. I don't know what's going on with him - he's

never been a very " good " eater. He would eat a bite here and there,

but now he just isn't eating solids at all and nursing all the time.

To top it off, I know he's dairy sensitive/allergic and suspect now

that citrus is a problem.

I feel like I can't even GET him to eat things - much less healthy

things, you know? I coudl offer him a bowl of ice cream (or nondairy

ice cream) or a candy bar and he wouldn't eat it. He's been nursing

around the clock for a few weeks - which made me think it might be

that his cast is too tight.

I don't really know what to do. Do I get some kind of therapist

involved at this point? He's almost 18 months.

Sandi

--

Mom to Madison, Skylar, on, Piper, & - diagnosed with

infantile scoliosis at 10 months with a 70° right thoracic curve.

Currently undergoing serial casting.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Sandi-

Both of my daughters (age 2yrs and 7mo) have food allergies. It was

a long difficult road for us because they have multiple food protein

intolerances, meaning they are/were allergic to just about

everything, and breastfeeding was a disaster because they both

reacted even when i was eating only rice, squash, apples, and

turkey. My 2 year old has been outgrowing some of her allergies,

which is nice! (she recently passed turkey!). We discovered the

problem when i was breastfeeding and noticed a lot of blood and

mucous in their stools. Although Rose (2yrs) has never been a

great eater, we have never had to deal with serious feeding issues so

i can't really directly comment on your concern. However, kids with

food allergies/intolerances tend to have many food aversions and

trouble eating. That of course is not to say that this is the cause

of your son's problems. I think many non allergic kids also have

feeding issues.

However, i did want to mention that there is a difference between

food allergies that show up with blood and skin tests (those that are

IgE mediated) and those that cannot be detected via any test but a

food challenge(non IgE mediated). The former are the types of

allergies that can lead to immediate dangerous reactions. So far my

dds have the intolerances (non IgE), so nothing shows up when they

are RAST and skin tested. Nevertheless many foods make them feel

sick and produce stool issues (and sometimes hives), and if they were

constantly exposed to these foods they would become very ill. We can

usually tell within 3-7 days if there is a reaction (usually blood

and or mucous) and stop the food immediately. Both subsist mainly on

amino acid formula.

Some markers of food allergies/intolerances are eczema and other skin

issues, asthma, blood and or mucous in the stool, hives, and rashes

(all seem to have reflux as babies). The most common allergens in

children are milk, soy, and eggs. After the big three are wheat,

tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish. 50% of babies who are milk

allergic are also soy allergic. When it comes to intolerances, any

food protein can cause a reaction although this is a rarer condition.

Is your son underweight? This was the main question my dds allergist

had when i asked if we needed intervention.

I hope this addresses some of your concerns. Feel free to email me

if you have any specific questions.

(mom to Holly 7 mo (infant scoliosis) and Rose 2 yrs)

> Jack is refusing food. I don't know what's going on with

him - he's

> never been a very " good " eater. He would eat a bite here and there,

> but now he just isn't eating solids at all and nursing all the

time.

>

> To top it off, I know he's dairy sensitive/allergic and suspect now

> that citrus is a problem.

>

> I feel like I can't even GET him to eat things - much less healthy

> things, you know? I coudl offer him a bowl of ice cream (or

nondairy

> ice cream) or a candy bar and he wouldn't eat it. He's been nursing

> around the clock for a few weeks - which made me think it might be

> that his cast is too tight.

>

> I don't really know what to do. Do I get some kind of therapist

> involved at this point? He's almost 18 months.

>

> Sandi

>

> --

> Mom to Madison, Skylar, on, Piper, & - diagnosed with

> infantile scoliosis at 10 months with a 70° right thoracic curve.

> Currently undergoing serial casting.

>

> ---------------------------------

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, .

I have a few dear friends whose children have anaphylactic food

allergies, so I'm sadly aware of the dangers that lurk there and the

IgE classifications. (One is deathly allergic to all the major

allergens and carries an epipen jr. - I can't imagine how difficult

that would be!)

is not currently underweight and is definitely making up for

what he doesn't consume with what he drinks in breastmilk. Luckily, I

have been able to breastfeed him without consuming dairy myself, and

now I'm able to have dairy again in small amounts and he doesn't seem

to react. I think that is why our primary care physician isn't

concerned - because he's increasing in mass (height and weight) and

doesn't " look " like he's not eating. I'm sure he won't nurse forever,

but some days it seems like it.

Sandi