Need advice, son has issues with dairy

[Jilian]

Background: DS is 2.5. Was breastfed until 17 mos, I didn't start giving him cows milk until around age 2, and then still only rarely. He started daycare and they are obligated (by the state of FL) to give him milk with lunch.

He started having milk every day and at first his nose would run all the time. Then a nasty cough followed with super high fevers at night (103+). He had a few ear infections in a row that never seemed to be cured. I read about dairy allergies and ear infections being linked and cut out almost all dairy. He didn't have an ear infection for 3 months. Not even a runny nose.

His pedi wanted to test him for a dairy allergy (and a few other allergies) and he tested negative for all. The tests were done via blood. They encouraged me to re-introduce milk. I did, and all the symptoms returned. He now has another ear infection and high fevers at night. Ughhhh.

For some reason cheese doesn't bother him as much, but milk and yogurt are major triggers. Any idea what is going on? Is it intolerance to milk? Should I have him re-tested for the allergy? The allergist said some children will not test positive for an allergy until age 3 (never heard of this). His father (my ex) keeps giving him milk saying he needs to "build up a tolerance" but all it does is make him sick - but that is a whole different issue for a different board. Can anyone offer me any info on this possible allergy or any advice??

[WC_hapamama]

Ask the allergist to do a skin test for milk allergy, for both the whey and casein components.

[smirlynwittles]

In the immuno labs bloodprint, you can be sensitive to milk/soft cheese or hard cheeses, or both. 3 of the proteins are found in the whey (lactoferrin, etc...). I can't remember off hand.

For my daughter we have been rotating between enriched rice milk, oat milk, almond milk, and hazlenut milk (You can also use soy). They all have just about the same calcium and vit D as regular milk. You're just missing the protein and fat. Our ped recommended Kirkman Labs hypoallergenic Calcium with vit D powder for ds. Calcium is actually better absorbed from enriched OJ (assuming you don't have citrus issues).

I'd just go with what is apparent based upon your son's symptoms.

My dd was tested and found to be sensitive to 20+ foods, we eliminated them and a year or so later she was sensitive to a different 20+ foods. Then our ped suggested a rotation diet. My ds is starting to follow dd. I figure I'll pass on the blood tests and just start with the rotation diet. I might as well save him a few pokes.

[Jilian]

Thanks for the info. It's just so frustrating when the Doctors keep telling me to just give him milk. They don't want to listen to me. I've tested my theory 4 or 5 times now and each time I give him milk the runny nose starts again, if we continue with the milk he ends up with an ear infection. Yesterday we went to the doctor again and he has another ear infection. I'm just going to cut out milk all together.

Right now he is drinking soy milk, about a cup a day. Thanks for the info on the orange juice, he loves orange juice so I'll start giving him more.

[wendy1221]

I had peds who gave me a hard time w/ ds1. Our current ped doesn't seem to think it's a big deal to be dairy-free, thankfully. Ds tested negative to skin test, but the allergist said that even if the test is negative, if he has a reaction, he has an allergy.

[CraftyMommaOf2]

one thing to think about is that a lot of kids that have a problem with dairy will have a problem with soy. have you tried rice milk with him?

really just something to remember in case he starts having symptoms again and he's still dairy free.

[crunchy_mama]

I just wanted to encourage you to listen to your gut ! My ped blew me off too when I suggested that lil' man had a dairy allergy, didn't even do a test, suggested I give him pediasure, which makes no sense. Anywho, right now I am in contact with a LC who is helping immensely. Perhaps you can find another practitioner who will listen to you more, so many dr's are so ill informed on allergies. Follow your gut!

[LaLa]

sadly you cannot rely on the doctors to help you uncover food sensitivities. It is not in their scope to do the proper studies (in general medicine) to find problems before serious damage is done.

For example, the only test they were willing to do on Bean was a surgical biopsy on her colon, when a simple elimination diet or blood antibiody test combined with eliminiation diet would have given us results without such invasive measures.

My own example, I had major dairy intollerance that gave me chronic acid reflux and eventually ulcer as a teenager. The doctors treated me for ulcer and gave me many meds, but never uncovered the root and simple cause to the problem...removing dairy.

So, I also recommend you follow your elimination diet and obvious responses that you've seen at home.

I would also avoid soy, as it is a top allergen and can cause problems as well. There are better options, such as rice or almond milk.

Good luck!

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by LaLa

sadly you cannot rely on the doctors to help you uncover food sensitivities. It is not in their scope to do the proper studies (in general medicine) to find problems before serious damage is done.

For example, the only test they were willing to do on Bean was a surgical biopsy on her colon, when a simple elimination diet or blood antibiody test combined with eliminiation diet would have given us results without such invasive measures.

[snip]

I would also avoid soy, as it is a top allergen and can cause problems as well. There are better options, such as rice or almond milk.

Good luck!

You had weird doctors. The doctors that we've dealt with have never done anything as invasive as a colon biopsy. RAST or a test for total serum IgE has always been the first order of business. Granted, my kids primary symptoms has always been eczema.

And, nononononono! No Almond milk! Tree nuts are a top allergen too, and in a child that already has at least one allergy, you want to hold off introducing peanuts or tree nuts until age 3 at the bare minimum.

Soy is actually less allergenic than tree nuts.

My dd's pediatrician blew me off for 18 months about her dairy allergy, and refused to refer her to an allergist. When our insurance changed to something that didn't require referrals to specialists, I took her in to oldest ds's allergist myself. He believed me, did all the testing, and has been sending the info to the pediatrician.