Increased sensitivity to dairy since changing to almond milk?

[sezzolou]

I've always suspected lo has an intolerance to dairy. Had silent reflux and gets eczema. By the time the Dr tried prescribing hypoallergenic formula lo was around 9 months old and would not drink it due to the taste so we stuck to anti reflux formula. A few months ago we successfully weaned him off reflux meds but still had problems with bad poo's and hives-eczema. I finally made the change to almond milk from anti reflux formula and cows milk for cooking/porridge about a month ago and things have been so much better...no reflux, hives and eczema cleared and he started sleeping though (at 17 months). I did not cut out other dairy products such as cheese and yoghurts and it didn't seem a problem until this last week. A few times this week he has come out all blotchy on his face and body, seems to be after dairy. Last night he had spaghetti carbonara and he's totally blotchy today.

Is it normal to become more sensitive to other dairy products once you've cut out cows milk? I find it odd that he could tolerate some dairy products but now seems to becoming sensitive to them. I'm hoping that cutting out cows milk hasn't caused him to become hypersensitive to other dairy products?

 

[the why bird]

I can only answer with anecdotes I'm afraid, but I have heard people say similar things. It's almost as if the body has built up some kind of tolerance from coping with dairy for so long, that when you take a break you lose it and it can seem worse when you try it again.

With allergies, it's pretty common for reactions to be worse after repeated exposures. For lactose intolerance, you react because of a lack of a certain enzyme in the intestines. Some people make less and less as they get older so the reactions seem worse. Also different dairy products will have different reactions. I don't know what was in your carbonara, but for me, cream would cause a bad reaction but parmesan would be fine as the aging process uses up almost all the sugars. I know less about how it works if he is intolerant to the proteins in milk but perhaps there's something similar at work with regards to the bacterial action?

If you wanted to add dairy back in, I'd be tempted to start with live yogurt and aged cheeses rather than milk or cream.

Another thing to consider: milk is everywhere. It's in all sorts of pre packaged foods and even in odd things like sausages and crisps. Unless you are being super rigorous at checking labels he might be getting more than you think. You need to look out for milk, cream, cheese, whey, lactose, milk powder, condensed milk, butter and yogurt on ingredients lists.