living with kids with allergies group

[hinkybinky]

Now she did make an interesting comment. We went from Apatmil one milk to Infasoy when diagnosed by GP with lactose/dairy intolerance, she asked why she was put on Infasoy, basically she said that soy and dairy have a similar protein, so if they are dairy intolerant they would most likely be soy intolerant as well. So we should have gone onto something totally different!!!

It depends on the GP. I read that a lot of GPs don't bother with soy formula any more because it can cause an allergy. When I went to see mine I asked not to go on soy formula but they insisted that was the procedure, and that if he was allergic to soy we'd cross that bridge when we came to it!

We went swimming yesterday - big mistake. Haven't been since his skin's been improving, and it's really red and dry today. He's been scratching his neck all night and drawn blood. I also noticed blotches all over his scalp when he got out, even though he'd only gone underwater once. Must be the chlorine, I supoose if we don't put any other chemicals anywhere near his skin then it will be quite harsh on him. So we'll give that a miss for a while I think.

I don't know what to do about his diet, as I feel I need advice about what to feed him (dairy-free) and what else to cut out as his eczema is still bad sometimes. We're booked into this dermatology specialist at end of June but will he advise on diet? Could go back and see his doctor but she was useless last time I spoke to her about what to feed him. So out of touch with NHS weaning advice. Could see a different doctor in the practice, not sure what to do.

 

[hinkybinky]

This is what he has on a normal day:
B - Ready brek with alpro soya milk
L - Veggies (root veg or broccoli, peas etc) with pasta or baby rice
D - veggies with mash and chicken
Plus the plain organix corn snacks.

He also has abot 25oz of infasoy milk.

Am I missing out any maJOR FOOD GROUPS. hE'S ONLY 6 MONTHS SO PROB NO NEED TO WORRY TOO MUCH AT THIS POINT, BUT YOU DO OF COURSE. aM GETTING HIM WEIGHED TODAY AS A BIT OF A BASELINE so Iweight can see if he's still pytting on anything. So sorry, one handed typing is awful!!

 

[happyface82]

I totally understand your concern! Katerina has been on a very limited diet for months now and I felt horrible. But the doctor reassured me that she is not missing out on anything! Her diet is very much like yours actually. I don't see how you are missing out on anything but I can totally see where you are coming from!

 

[Arcanegirl]

Theres a link to a soya and dairy free diet factsheet on the first page if thats any help, i also have a dairy free factsheet i can email you aswell

 

[Farie]

Are any of your bubs on EleCare? I'm just wondering if you can cook with it?

We are a few weeks away from weaning yet but I'm already trying to think about what she can have etc.
We are going to try to do blw but will have to take it v slowly as there is so much the 'could' set her off so everything as to be introduced bit by bit.

 

[happyface82]

Farie!

Hope you are well! I haven't heard of EleCare but I can't see why it wouldn't be ok to cook with it!

Hope you are ok!

 

[hinkybinky]

Theres a link to a soya and dairy free diet factsheet on the first page if thats any help, i also have a dairy free factsheet i can email you aswell

Thanks, that would be really helpful, I'll have a look at the link too. My email is [email protected]

 

[bumbleberry]

Hi, hope you don't mind me popping by, one of the other members directed me to this thread and although I haven't read all the way through yet, it looks like an ideal place to get some advice/support

My daughter Jasmine appears to have had an allergic reaction to eggs, I say appear because we are waiting to get an appt at the allergy clinic.

Basically I was feeding her scrambled eggs on Wednesday (not the first time she has had it, but I've been advised by some good ladies on the forum that it can take the 2nd or 3rd try before a reaction) and within 10mins of eating it her face was bright red with what I think were hives all over her mouth, neck and cheeks, her lips and cheeks and possibly her tongue were slightly swollen, she was very itchy and scratching her face and ears, this then spread onto her chest and then onto her back

I took her to A&E and after quite a few checks they advised it could possibly be an allergic reaction to the eggs (or a viral reaction, they are not 100% certain) and they asked the allergy consultant to come along and he said he feels it was the eggs but she needs further checks so she has been referred and we have to avoid eggs and anything with eggs in and also to be careful with cheese and milk. I also have to carry her medication around with me just in case.

My first question really is whether any ladies with experience could tell me whether this definitely sounds like an allergic reaction (I think I already know the answer!)

Secondly, I suppose I am just looking for some support/advice, as since Wednesday I've been reading a bit about it and it just seems so daunting, I especially didnt realise how many products have egg in it!

Urgh I was just starting to get the hang of BLW and then this comes along! lol

(oops sorry for the long post!)

 

[bubbles123]

So we took our little man for his allergy appointment at Alder Hey the other day and it was really positive. The allergist actually listened to us and we are currently waiting on the results of the ige tests, which hopefully will turn up something. Even if they don't it was just so good to talk to someone who believed me and didn't just think I was making a fuss. She also prescribed a new course of treatment for little man's legs, which are really bad at the mo with weeping blisters that just won't heal and now they are getting much much better. So all in all it was positive and I'm so glad that I finally got my referral! Now just have to wait for the results.
Hope you ladies are all well and love to your little ones X

 

[Jemma_x]

Bumbleberry it does seem really daunting at first. My LO has a dairy, soya and wheat allergy and when he was first diagnosed i was so confused but it does get easier. Thankfully most packaging has an allergy section and will say if it has egg in it. When you go back if they diagnos an egg allergy if they dont do it themselves ask to see a diatician ours is so helpful and i know if im stuck i can ring her anytime.

 

[hinkybinky]

Hi everyone, hope you and your little ones are doing okay.

bumbleberry I'd say that sounds like a classic allergic reaction. I hope you get something sorted quickly.

bubbles123 so nice to hear you are being listened to and taken seriously. Hope your little man's legs are getting better, that sounds sore.

AFM, hoping for some more advice!! Made appt for GP this Wed, taking hubby as back-up! Stanley's obviously allergic to the soya, we gave it a good go but the reaction is the same as the one he had to milk. Have cut out solids to make sure (I hate doing that, I know I'm really messing with his system and his routine, but don't know how else to get them to listen).

I intend to ask for
- a week's supply of hydrolysed formula to see if his eczema clears (it disappeared in 24hrs when we stopped milk before the soy reaction kicked in)
- referral to an allergy specialist or paediatric dietician or somebody to tell me what the heck to feed him
- antihistamines to stop him itching at night

Last time I asked for antihistamines they told me he was too young. Any idea what they can prescribe over 6 months? (they have no clue!)

Also, is it likely he'd be allergic to something like Nutramigen if it contains CMP? There is little chance they'll agree to prescribe me one of the really expensive amino based ones if they were trying to fob me off with infasoy! What should I ask for? (I'm scared...)

I'm going armed with NHS factsheets and printouts from the BDA and statements from the Chief Medical Officer! Wish me luck for Wednesday!

 

[Arcanegirl]

I think you can get antihistamines for 6 months, sure Button nose has it for her LO.
Another formula option maybe Neocate? Thats the one we're getting for Alex.
Good luck at the doctors!

 

[buttonnose82]

Yeah you can get antihistamines under a year, the bottle says not too use under 1 year but Little Mans Dr & Dermatologist said this just just because they can't conduct a true study on children that young however they have been used for many many years under the age of 1, it's just because it has a sedating effect that they can't conduct the study

Anyway Little Man was prescribed it when he was exactly 6 months old, we use it just as & when needed and he has been fine on it, it just makes him sleepy but we generally only use it near bedtime (on bath nights) as he is most itchy after a bath (he is hyper sensitive too water as well as dairy & soya allergies) and also when he is tired he scratches more

hope you get things sorted

 

[Jemma_x]

Agree with AG, connors had neocate since 4 months after a few days on that connor was a different baby.

 

[happyface82]

We were given antihistamines when Katerina was under 1 year old and she's been taking them twice daily and has been fine.

As for the milk, I was told that most babies are fine on Nutramigen it is a very small proportion of them that are not, by I would try and get Neocate if you can, although as you say it is very expensive so they might not prescribe it for you. Would it work if you told them that you've tried Nutramigen and it didn't work?

If not, you could maybe get 1 tin of Neocate and if the eczema disappears go back and demand it. Take pics of what it was like and hopefully they will listen.

Good luck with the appointment!

 

[buttonnose82]

Little Man is having a reaction too something he has woken from his nap with bright red cheeks and they look very rashy, it's also at the base of his neck

He had grapes with his lunch and it's only the 3rd time he has had them but the first time he actually ate more than half of 1 (he had about 4 grapes in total) so I am wondering if it's that

 

[Jemma_x]

Poor little man, i hope his rash clears up soon. I think connor is allergic to prawns, hes had them twice now and both times hes come out in a rash all over his face, starts wheezing and then gets the runs. Got the diatician next week so going to ask her about it

 

[Khloeee]

he is most itchy after a bath (he is hyper sensitive too water as well as dairy & soya allergies) and also when he is tired he scratches more

Exactly the same as my LO. His rashes always come up after a bath and I think he starts scratching on autopilot now when he's stressed, even if his skin isn't bothering him at that point, he is so used to scratching he does it naturally.

 

[Khloeee]

I'm having one of those days where I get upset over Arlo's cheeks. Just seems like I can do nothing to make it better and most things are making it worse.

Meal times are difficult. It's impossible to stop food from spreading to his cheeks, and then his skin gets irritated and he starts scratching. Then after he's done with food, I have to wipe his face with a cloth, which he hates, it makes him itch more, his skin gets really red....doing this three times a day is doing nothing to help improve his cheeks. I'm sure all the face wiping is what's made his eyelids dry and itchy too - he didn't have this before.

I'm using Fucidin HC every day and have been for about 3 months now. It's not improving his skin but it is stopping it from getting worse.

His cheeks were soooo much better after the 2nd course of antibiotics. Then stupid me decided to test his dairy allergy again and they got worse. And then we took him swimming and the chlorine made him itch his face to bits that afternoon. That was two weeks ago and it's been like this since then:
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/khloeee/IMG_4775.jpg

His skin just seems to be so sensitive. He gets a dotty rash on his tummy if he's playing around on the carpet in just his nappy, or if he dribbles too much, after a bath, or if he's a bit hot (heat rash I guess). He also has started getting larger patches of ezcema on his chest and under his chin, or maybe they are hives, I'm not sure. These tend to come up after he has eaten, but I'm not sure it's an allergic reaction, I think it's a skin irritation where food has touched his bare skin. So I have been trying to feed him with his clothes on, so now all his clothes have food stains that I can't get out. Can't put bibs on him as he pulls them up and uses them to scratch his face/smush food around his face, which makes the itching worse.

Sorry this post is a bit of a ramble....trying to get it all written out before Arlo needs me. I just wish I knew how to make his skin better permanently.

If anyone has any tips for the eating/cleaning problem with sensitive skin, please let me know!

 

[Arcanegirl]

Vaseline! Or a similar type of barrier thing, We used to put a carrier on Alexs cheeks before he would have a tomato sauce dinner as the sauce used to irritate him on contact.