A lost mom

[khays3]

My son is 13 months old and I am in tears about being so confused trying to find out what is going on with him! I nursed him up to about 10 months with no problems. For the past few months he has been having 4-5 explosive diapers every day! We have just recently switched peds. b/c I have been told that he is fine, to try and take out dairy. But nobody has given us an answer on what is causing his horrible upset stomach. I feel like I am torchering my baby.
In 2 weeks they are going to run a gluten test. I have very little knowledge in this area. I have seen gluten free everywhere but I do not know exactly what that means. I am at my wits end and just want my baby to be okay.
A dear friend from college recommended that I try this website and see what assistance I can get in the mean time. She has suggested I start a rotating diet. Although I'm not even clear what that means. Also, what food should I try feeding him in the mean time?
I have taken whole milk out of his diet and replaced with Lactaid. Now his diapers have lost the yellowish/grayish dirreaha color and just come out looking like whatever goes in. He had strawberry applesauce, an hour later it came out looking like strawberry applesauce. He was 6 week premature so he was small to begin with and I'm worried that he is not absorbing nutrients. ANY help is deeply appreciated.

[dannic]

Hugs, mama! It can be so hard!
My favorite book to rec in situations like this is Healing the New CHildhood Epidemics, Bock, MD.

My daughter reacts to gluten, dairy and eggs (and refined sugars). We have been gluten free for three yrs now. It takes some getting used to, but there are so many more resources and options for those who are gluten free nowadays.

It's nice to look at blogs of those who have been there (both for recipes and general gf info). I like gluten free girls and gluten free goddess. Sorry I don't have the addresses off the top of my head, but google them and they'll come up.

Mama's here are really helpful as well!

Really, any food could be causing his troubles, but dairy, gluten, soy and corn seem to be the top trouble makers. I'm thinking lactaid is still dairy, right? Were you able to take him off of all dairy for a time? Even boxed ingredients with whey? Some people are allergic, others are intolerant to a specific portion of a food (like lactose) and still others are intolerant of the whole item.

Come introduce yourself on chat!

[kjbrown92]

Taking dairy out is a good first step (taking gluten out as well is step 2).

Gluten is a protein that is in many grains (wheat, barley, spelt, rye -- I may be missing one, and oats but that one is due to cross contamination).

Probiotics would probably help (be sure to find a dairy free one). Also many kids who are sensitive to milk are also sensitive to soy, so try not to replace milk with soy. If you went to Lactaid and he still had problems, then it is probably not the lactose (the milk sugar) that is the problem (and he's young to be having problems with lactose anyway). It is more likely the protein (casein) or all parts of the milk.

Other things that are healing are bone broth (simmer roasted chicken bones for 24-36 hours -- I add carrots, celery and garlic to mine -- the long simmer takes the minerals like calcium out of the bones and into the broth, and you also get gelatin which helps to heal the intestines). And fermented foods (like real saurkraut).

Be sure to read all ingredients. I think ChangingSeasons lists all of the "other names" things are listed under on her blog (you'd have to look at it on her page).

Also start a food diary that lists everything he eats and drinks (include supplements). You may be able to find a pattern that way.

[changingseasons]

Here I am. Yes, my blog has lists of hidden ingredients- click on my user name, then homepage.

I definitely would take dairy out of his diet (AND yours if you're still nursing). That means no milk, no yogurt, no Lactaid, no cheese, no butter, etc. Most babies with dairy allergies are allergic to the protein in the milk- not the sugar (lactose), so getting lactose-free products isn't going to help.

My blog also has information about how to do an elimination diet and rotation diet. Most important thing is to keep a food journal!

[FireWithin]

hugs mama. it is a scary overwhelming place for you to be. You are right to be following your instincts about something not being right.

I agree with removing the top 4 things including hidden ingredients. While you are doing that, write down everything you and your child eats. That's a food journal. This journal will be good information for you in figuring out other food problems.

[dannic]

How're you doing?

[khays3]

Thank you

THank you all sooo much! I have 2 older children (4 and 5) who have stomachs like a garbage disposal.. nothing hurts them. It has been a very long frustrating couple of months. The past 24 hours have been a whirl wind. I have tried not reading too much on the internet b/c I just got so overwhelmed.
Yesterday at lunch time we started our son on a no wheat diet. He had carrots and baked beans w/ water. I was a little overwhelmed again last night going through our pantry,fridge, cabinets and finding he could only have about 2% of the food we had in the house.
He repeated the same for supper last night. He slept through the night!! (normally he would wake up w/ an explosive diaper). This morning we did a bananna and water. By lunch time I had visited the grocery store... again felt so overwhelmed. I ended up feeling like I was stalking some mom who looked like she knew what she was doing in the Gluten free section and picking up whatever she did. I was happy to find a lot of variety.
I also bought coconut milk. So for 24 hours now he has been dairy and gluten free. I am sooo excited to say he had just 3 poopy diapers today and the last one tonight was NOT diareaha!!!
I am again a little overwhelmed with emotion. I pray we have found an answer to his agony, but I know that this is just the start to learning a lot about something that I know very little about. VERY LITTLE ABOUT. And for me that is the scariest.
Also now convincing my husband that this doesn't make our son, different, weak or less of a boy. Hopefully he will start gaining some weight and get back on the growth charts.
Thank you all again, I have to take more time to sit and read the postings over and check out the different websites. What about books, does anybody recommend any great starter ones?

[dannic]

I really like the one I mentioned earlier (you may have missed it) as he starts sections with real stories of patients and you get to see what was going on with them, what their parents did, and what worked, what didn't ect. It's an easy read with good flow. You may come up with more questions after reading, but any good book will do that, and you'll get some great advice, too! Yay for some relief for you! I agree that it is overwhelming shopping at the beginnning! Stick with the fresh fruits and veggies and meats, ect while getting the ropes. Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Walmart (I know, I know) all have good selections and good labeling. We love coconut milk! And it's a good fat for a growing baby/toddler.

ETA: I also like Lipski's Digestive Wellness for Kids

[JsMamaK]

Another favorite book of ours is the Whole Food Allergy Cookbook (cooking without the top 8 allergens from a mom whose been there, done that!). It's not gluten-free, but you can change the flours you're baking with to make it that way. And the super food around our house: avacado. It's fulll of good fat too and can get hidden in other things easily if he doesn't like it.

Best of luck to you!! Learning about food allergies is certainly a journey with a learning curve, but I promise you, there will come a time when its not ALL you can think about...automatic pilot will kick in! :-)