Exclusively BF dd with food allergies - HELP!! - Page 2

[Abylite]

Just want to let you know that I am in the same boat... HARD! and waiting for it to get easier!

[Abylite]

BF baby with food intolerences...vent

DS is 6 months. It's so hard and I can't help but feel down on myself sometimes thinking my breast milk is causing all his problems...eczema, refluxy symptoms, gas, fussiness, etc. I've tried eliminating lots of things...which leaves me very hungry! After reading some of the other posts, I know I am not alone. I hope he outgrows alot of this!

[changingseasons]

Well, I thought things were getting better... DD's eczema was almost completely gone, the mucousy/bloody poos were almost completely gone, the spittup was gone, the screaming fits were gone...

Then, Saturday morning, I noticed DD scratching her forehead (one of her major eczema spots) when she woke up. Then a few hours later, she had some projectile spittup after I nursed her. The spittup has continued all weekend, her butt is all rashy and raw again, her entire head and face are flared up with eczema, and she's super gassy.

I am totally at my wit's end. I spent half the day crying yesterday because I just feel like giving up. I searched and searched through my food diaries to see what could have caused it, and I can't find anything. The only thing that was new in my diet starting on Friday night was a new brand of maple syrup. Is that even possible?!? There's not even an ingredient list, it just says "100% pure maple syrup" on the front. I have been eating maple syrup since the beginning of the ED, but not this brand. I just emailed the company to see if they also manufacture anything with dairy/soy/eggs/nuts, but their website doesn't show any other products...

I'm looking for a ped gastroenterologist that is covered on DD's (DP's) insurance to see if we can get some help there, but I just don't know what else to do.... I'm looking into getting some enzymes and I'm already taking probiotics. Anyone have any good enzyme brands? And do they work if I take them (rather than giving them directly to DD)?

I really just need someone to reassure me that this will get better... feeling really down in the dumps today. :

[chlobo]

{hugs}. It is so frustrating.

Was it organic maple syrup?

I've heard that sometimes they use chemicals in the processing of the syrup, like formaldehyde. Since it was the only new thing I'd switch back to the old brand & see if it helps.

[mommydancer]

You know, I was thinking the same thing when I started the ED- at least I will lose some of this baby weight!! I lost 20 pounds in just a couple weeks, but then haven't lost a pound since (3 weeks now)!! And I'm struggling to get more than 1000 calories some days.... what's up with that?

I think our bodies know to keep some extra padding while we're nursing...just wish I could lobby for the storage to occur in some places and not others. (I giggled at K9sarchik's post.)

Changing seasons - We all have days or weekends where it's just too much. Can I offer a reframe? Think of it this way...something made your DC react. You may be able to isolate yet another thing that isn't tolerated...that would be good information to have. The whole idea here (as I understand it) is to get them to
(A) stop reacting so that we can
(B) add things back in one at a time so at some point they
(C) react and "prove" something to be an "offensive" food for their little body. Then we can
(D) burn the offending compound in the backyard. (Okay, I am trying to be funny there.)

But, the way I'm trying to see it is any reaction is a chance to catch an offender. They are elusive though, so I have had plenty of "chances" that didn't lead to an arrest. That is frustrating. I think it will get better, as you said. It gets to me too...every so often.

[nalo]

Ugh. Huge bummer. Just wanted to pass on that I just bought Enzymedica Lacto and that Marlene's in Federal Way carries it if you don't want to go to Seattle (they also carry many other products of theirs). I'm not starting her on it until late Thursday because it can make things worse before better and we have a few places we have to be this week - don't want to push it. You do need to give the enzyme directly to the baby. You can take them also if you feel you may have some gut issues but both probiotics and enzymes need to be directly given to whoever is being treated. By the way, Lacto is the closest thing to Houston Neut.'s "Zyme Prime" which I was going to get but chose not to based on jplain's claim that they have hidden corn (just in case it does, and just in case we have to go off corn). Enzymedica also told me this was a nice, gently enzyme to start with and you will also read that if you go to enzymestuff.com.

Also, the current syrup we have (I didn't read ingredients when I bought it because I don't like syrup) has multiple corn products in it and it is a good organic kind from Whole Foods!! Ya just never know. Hope your LO feels better soon and that you can figure out what caused the flare up. I really bet it's the syrup.

[changingseasons]

Just got a response from the syrup company... they "only produce pure maple syrup."

The only other thing I ate Friday night was some popcorn, and DD's never reacted to corn before. But maybe she is now.

Originally Posted by DoulaMary

You do need to give the enzyme directly to the baby. You can take them also if you feel you may have some gut issues but both probiotics and enzymes need to be directly given to whoever is being treated.

Well, that is a big bummer. I've been taking the probiotics myself. I'm not completely comfortable giving the enzymes or probiotics directly to her without a professional reviewing her symptoms and giving me a specific kind for her, so I guess I will wait on that.

I also just left a message for my ped to send a referral for us to go to Children's Hospital to see a gastroenterologist there. Hopefully he will do it soon, since it takes a month or so to get in.

[nalo]

I'm not completely comfortable giving the enzymes or probiotics directly to her without a professional reviewing her symptoms and giving me a specific kind for her, so I guess I will wait on that.

I completely understand this instinct but just be aware that these are things that are not likely to be recommended by western med docs and that you'll probably need to see an ND or chiro or someone else who is familiar with "alternative" treatments like this. (So how are probiotics and dig. enz. alternative and man made drugs that MD's prescribe are normal, mainstream????) - that's a whole 'nother thread!

I also just left a message for my ped to send a referral for us to go to Children's Hospital to see a gastroenterologist there. Hopefully he will do it soon, since it takes a month or so to get in.

Just in case you haven't tried, you may be able to make an appointment before the actual referral goes through. Could speed things up by at least a few days.

[changingseasons]

OMG... after wracking my brains about this all day, I think I just figured it out. On Friday I had some sugar-snap peas that I apparently forgot to put in my food diary. It also never crossed my mind that they would be a bad idea, even though she had a small reaction after some split pea soup a while back (I wasn't sure if it was the soup or something else I ate that day.) God, I feel like SUCH an idiot!

So I guess our list now includes- dairy, soy, eggs, nuts/LEGUMES, and we're still not sure about the fish/shellfish. At least I figured it out (hopefully)... that makes me feel better. Now we just have to get through the week of symptoms until she gets it out of her system...

[mommydancer]

Good for you, Nancy Drew!

I agree w/ the PP about calling the gastro MD for an appt prior to your referral. It actually costs less sometimes if you self refer. (Don't get me started, I'll start soapboxing.) They may only take referrals, but you don't know 'till you call.

[changingseasons]

Wait- I've been eating rice with refried beans, and she hasn't reacted to that. Aren't all the peas & beans in the same family? Or is it possible to only react to green peas??

[mtn.mama]

Yep, its definitely possible to react to only green peas! In fact its more probable than reacting to the whole legume family...

[changingseasons]

Ugh. There is just so much to learn... But that makes me feel better that I don't need to restrict all beans- I don't have many other protein sources!