Dairy allergy??

[maciascl]

DS1 has been having some red blood in his poop. Turns out the DH has this on occassion as well. I think it may be a dairy allergy for both of them. I am not even sure where to start, I am quite overwhelmed & I am a little freaked out. If it is just a dairy allergy I can live with that, but I am also worried it is something more. Can anyone point me in the right direction to determine if this is a dairy allergy?

Also if it is a dairy allergy how do you know if it is milk protien or milk sugar causing the problem?

[kjbrown92]

lactose intolerance (the milk sugar) usually manifests in stomach cramps and diarrhea. If it's a milk allergy or intolerance, it can manifest with that plus blood in stool and even hives and anaphylaxis. If you take out all milk from the diet, and all the symptoms go away, then you know that milk is the culprit. If you then try some Lactaid or something similar, and the symptoms come back, then you know it's not just the lactose (there are also lactose intolerance tests that your doctor can give you). If you suspect an actual allergy, you can get a skin prick test or RAST. If that doesn't show anything, then it's an intolerance.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

lactose intolerance (the milk sugar) usually manifests in stomach cramps and diarrhea. If it's a milk allergy or intolerance, it can manifest with that plus blood in stool and even hives and anaphylaxis. If you take out all milk from the diet, and all the symptoms go away, then you know that milk is the culprit. If you then try some Lactaid or something similar, and the symptoms come back, then you know it's not just the lactose (there are also lactose intolerance tests that your doctor can give you). If you suspect an actual allergy, you can get a skin prick test or RAST. If that doesn't show anything, then it's an intolerance.

Great info! Thanks. What about soy would it cause the same issues?

[kjbrown92]

A lot of kids have milk and soy intolerance. Gluten and corn are the other two that round out the top 4 intolerances. But any food can cause any symptom at any age (how's that for a pain in the butt).

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

A lot of kids have milk and soy intolerance. Gluten and corn are the other two that round out the top 4 intolerances. But any food can cause any symptom at any age (how's that for a pain in the butt).

YAY! So I do I begin to figure out what is really causing this? If I take him to the Dr all I really have is as a toddler more than 1/2 glass of a milk a day gave him diarrhea, but then he seemed to grow out of it. Now he is haveing blood in his stool & occasional very loose, urgent bowl movements. He has always been very gassy. Now what?

[kjbrown92]

Wait a minute - he had a milk intolerance already? And "grew out of it"? Get all of the dairy out of his diet (hidden and obvious) and it may just be your answer without anything else needing to be eliminated. Food intolerances often change symptoms (my DS has gone through many iterations with his milk intolerance). And if you suspect DH with the same thing, take you all off it and see how good you all feel. No cheating, for at least two weeks. Then you can determine if it's "something more".

[maciascl]

Thanks! I am trying to do that.

DH went to the chiropractor yesterday & he does these strange tests to check for food sensitivies & DH was sensitive to regular milk & regular eggs, but not organic milk, organic eggs or cheese. Very confused! I don't normally buy organic milk, but I do get the hormone free. This last time I got the wrong brand & it doesn't say hormone free. I am wondering if this is why we are having such a problme right now.

[kjbrown92]

I believe in muscle testing. I don't believe though that someone would be sensitive to conventional but not organic of those things. Free range for instance, where they wouldn't have corn and soy, sure, but organic vs. not? No. I'd take them off all dairy, then try the organic to be sure.