if your kid has only one allergy, do you see a nutritionist/dietitian?

[peacelove&camping]

my dd is allergic to casein, and her pedi is handling it herself. i've talked to several allergy moms whose kids see a nutritionist and/or a pedi gi; but they all had more than one allergy, so i figured specialists were only for more 'complicated' cases.

recently, dd was seen at children's for something unrelated, and the doctor was surprised that we didn't have at least a dietitian following her. she said a nutrition specialist should be helping us with meal replacement options, and should be the one handling her challenges, not the pedi. i'm not really sure what a gi would do, but this doctor seems to think we should probably be seeing one of those too.

so does everybody on here see a specialist of some kind?

ps. if i'm supposed to introduce myself on this board first.... well hi :) dd's allergic to milk protein; we found out at about 5 weeks old [bloody stool]. she seems to be pretty sensitive to even small amounts of very 'hidden' dairy. i've been on a complete elimination diet since then, and man is it hard. i don't know how you moms who have two, or four or seven or ten, food allergies to deal with do it, i really don't. much respect :)

[ASusan]

We have 3 confirmed (IgE) allergies: egg, wheat, peanut, and an intolerance to dairy.

We see an allergist...once a year? I think they want us to come every 6 months at this point, but things are pretty stable and we think we can handle it. We were never referred to a nutritionist. I doubt I would make use of the referral if it were offered. I trust in my ability to put together a decent diet for DS. There are PLENTY of allergy cookbooks and food blogs. If one is not willing or able to read and/or cook for one's child/family, then maybe a referral is in order. (Maybe someone who relies heavily on processed foods or eating out or whose child is having daycare meals more than once a day so they have to get subs for that - I could see a nutritionist helping out in those cases??)

There are plenty of milk replacements. Of course, you need to be sure she's getting enough protein (if you relied on milk/cheese/yogurt for protein), and you probably want to keep an eye on calcium intake, and maybe Vitamin D. (D is one I would probably supplement anyway, given that we live in the north and DS has dark skin.)

Of course, I've said it before, I'm an MDC snob and I feel if you're posting/reading here (especially in the allergies forum), you're smarter and more motivated that the average Joe-ette, so you're probably ok.

[scsigrl]

We are Top 8, Celiacs and a few others for good measure.

We see an allergist and a Ped GI doc.  Neither one has suggested a nutritionist. They have both been given detailed food logs and know what he eats. Neither one was worried about anything.  When we did get the Celiac's dx, we did go to one (who was part of the local support group and has the disease herself).  She was utterly USELESS.  

Our ped suggested a calcium supp but it gave DS leg cramps.  Also, he had a Vit. D level of 9, so we supp that. Those would be the only things I would even begin to worry about IF your child isn't eating a pretty good well rounded diet.

[peacelove&camping]

Originally Posted by ASusan 

Of course, I've said it before, I'm an MDC snob and I feel if you're posting/reading here (especially in the allergies forum), you're smarter and more motivated that the average Joe-ette, so you're probably ok.

: P ha ha, point taken.

okay, thanks for the info guys!

eta: like i said, her pedi never seemed to think it was necessary; but we were given the recommendation for a referral by a specialist at children's, and i thought maybe she knew something my pedi and i didn't. :)

[ASusan]

If it's covered by insurance and it's doable for you, then why now? It's another source of information.

[kjbrown92]

When DS was little and had the milk/soy intolerance, we saw a pediatric GI. He had me see a nutritionist, who told me the "hidden" names of milk and soy. That was it. Didn't recommend alternatives or anything else. The GI office did the in-office challenge at 13 months, he was considered fine and that was the end of that. He's 10yo and still has those intolerances, and many more. We're on our own. I did just take him to an allergist a few months ago because I was worried that his egg intolerance was getting much worse, and since it's a top 8 allergen I wanted to make sure that it was still an intolerance (it was). So I'll keep it out another 6-12 months and try again. Personally I don't have much use for gvernment food pyramid trained nutritionists since they rely heavily on grains and ever since they came out with dietary guidelines, Americans' health has gotten worse and worse. If it's only one food, I guess I don't think that it's that big a deal to have a very healthy diet without it (we're dairy, gluten, soy, corn free and many other ones for DS and DD2 who have opposite food intolerances). Plus, you have a much better resource: us!! Up in the resources thread (used to be on top, not sure where it is now) there are links to recipe threads, etc. For baking ideas, you can look at vegan recipes (no dairy,no egg).

Is it an IgE allergy? Just curious if you know if it's an allergy vs. an intolerance. Allergies are to proteins. Intolerances are often (mostly) to every part of the food (for instance, caisen, and whey, and lactose). Most GI doctors call it milk protein intolerance, but I think it's a misnomer, since they don't usually test them at that age, it's based on symptoms, and could be either. And if you're saying that she reacts to the smallest amount of "hidden" milk, it sounds more like an intolerance. Just semantics to some. I think it is a big difference in views.

[Alyantavid]

Nope.  We have a casein allergy and have never seen a nutritionist. 

[peacelove&camping]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

If it's only one food, I guess I don't think that it's that big a deal to have a very healthy diet without it (we're dairy, gluten, soy, corn free and many other ones for DS and DD2 who have opposite food intolerances). Plus, you have a much better resource: us!! Up in the resources thread (used to be on top, not sure where it is now) there are links to recipe threads, etc. For baking ideas, you can look at vegan recipes (no dairy,no egg).  

ha ha, definitely! and thanks, i will look for the resources thread!

 Quote:

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

Is it an IgE allergy? Just curious if you know if it's an allergy vs. an intolerance. Allergies are to proteins. Intolerances are often (mostly) to every part of the food (for instance, caisen, and whey, and lactose). Most GI doctors call it milk protein intolerance, but I think it's a misnomer, since they don't usually test them at that age, it's based on symptoms, and could be either. And if you're saying that she reacts to the smallest amount of "hidden" milk, it sounds more like an intolerance. Just semantics to some. I think it is a big difference in views.

good point. she hasn't been tested. her original symptoms showed up after easter, when i um.... okay well i binged on chocolate :) since then we've done a couple challenges and had several 'slip-ups' [i ate things by accident], with several different kinds of dairy, all of which caused a reaction. so i'd say, based on what you are saying, it's really an intolerance. :)

[kjbrown92]

the thing people most worry about with giving up dairy is calcium intake. And sort of Vitamin D. It would be a good idea to get a Vitamin D test (it's always a good idea). For calcium, some people take supplements, some people do it with food. We eat a lot of bone broth (simmer the bones of a roasted chicken or turkey for 36-48 hours; minerals from the bones go into the broth), and also anchovies (shhh... don't tell the kids that I hide it in their food), and whatever the other calcium containing foods are that I can't remember at the moment, because I just took a pain killer and I'm losing braincells faster than I can type. I want to say spinach is one of them but you can find lists of calcium containing foods by a simple search. I know canned salmon is one of them.