[CO_mamato3]

I am new to posting on MDC but I have read many posts over the last few weeks. I have a 5.5 mo that seems to have many allergies/intolerances.

Our story:
I had a breast surgery & was told I'd never be able to nurse so I didn't really even try. Mind was set we'd use formula. I had extremely difficult nursing experiences prior to the surgery with my other kiddos and was a little relieved to not have to go down that road again. I was shocked and confused when my milk DID come in and I had milk leaking out. I talked to dh about trying to nurse, he reminded me of my past experiences and we both agreed to proceed with formula. Talk about a decision we regret

Initially, we used Good Start. Our ds had terrible gas, reflux, stomach pain, mucus poop & colic from it. At 3 weeks, we changed to GentleEase. Same symptoms but now included a bad rash. Our doc said it was cow's milk problem and said to try soy and then Nutramigen if soy didn't work. We tried soy for about 1 1/2 days. I'm not a huge fan of soy & my ds just screamed the whole time. So, we moved to Nutramigen. He was on that for about 5 weeks total. The last 2 weeks he was on it, he began having 8-10 mucusy diarrhea dipes a day. After 2 weeks of those poops, doc moved us to EleCare. He has been on that for about 3 months. His skin has cleared up quite a bit and tummy issues are much better, although not gone.

During the time of being on the Elecare, we've tried donor breast milk from 2 different mamas. My ds reacted to both and one of the mamas was dairy & soy free. We retried the Good Start to which he now vomits from. We tried raw goat's milk thinking we'd make a formula out of that but he vomited that. We then moved to try to give him bone broth thinking it'd help heal his gut. He gags from that & refuses to drink it.

His growth has been very slow & he is a little behind on his developmental milestones (I think from lack of good nutrition). We saw a ped GI who asked that we go ahead & begin some solids to get extra calories in him (he can't tolerate high cal formula). So, we tried rice cereal, bananas, carrots, pears, coconut milk. He has reacted to all these things. We saw an allergist who did a skin test & he test negative to all the things he has reacted to. The allergist just wants him on EleCare until he's a year & no solids--despite the fact that he isn't growing very well & is still having trouble with the EleCare

: He still has terrible gas & tummy pain & frequently refuses to eat.

SO, if you've read this far, Bless You!! I'm beginning the process to relactate. I'm hoping I can produce some small amount that will help heal his gut & get some good nutrition in him. My biggest question is what can I eat? Should I follow TED or just eliminate the top 8 for now? I'm kinda confused on that. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks,
Wendy

:
~also my ds takes 15mg Prevacid solutab since 10 days old

 

[WuWei]

Is baby on antacids?

, I just saw your last PS.

I'd try cultured raw goat's milk and/or homemade liver formula, with 1:1 fresh green juice, until you have more breastmilk to offer. I'd make kefir from the goat's milk. And I'd give 1 tsp of Bubbies sauerkraut juice to baby 2-3 x per day. Whole food probiotics will help baby's gut to heal.

Weston Price has information on the essential fatty acids, bifidum probiotics, vitamins to be sure to include, etc.
http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html
http://westonaprice.org/children/formula-faqs.html

Additionally, here is more information about eliminating environmental allergens: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...l#post13380214 There is an overfull "bucket" effect to allergens and reactions.

I'd recommend consulting a professional homeopath for prescribing a classical homeopathic remedy specifically for his individual constitution. The homeopath would take into consideration other issues and address them concurrently, as they are part of the picture: dietary issues, sleep, eczema, the runny eyes, throat clearing, behaviors, fears, aversions, cravings, etc. All come into play, birth issues, chronic illness, etc.

I always prefer whole food probiotics. Not sure which probiotics you all are using, if any. But, none of the bottled probiotics have the same ability to withstand the stomach acid and remain viable into the large intestine as non-dairy kefir, fermented vegetables. Those are quite easy, if you need more info. But, infants need bifidum bacteria. I believe that Kirkmans has an allergen-free version.

I would eliminate dairy from your diet, of course. Dairy is the most common source of dietary allergen and mucus production. Here is a list of hidden diary: http://www.kellymom.com/store/handou...dden-dairy.pdf

I recommend vitamins and minerals come from whole foods. But, have you been following the digestion, absorption, detox pathways discussions to gut healing and allergy resolution? Basically, if we digest the proteins, they don't leak and thus we have fewer toxins to detox. Proper stomach acid (HCl) and specific nutrients are required for detox. You can read more about all of this here: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...e#post13406780

Corn seems to be an issue for many folks, especially GMO-corn, which is about 70% of the food supply now, unfortunately. I'd consider eliminating that. But, it is hard as it is everywhere also. http://www.cornallergens.com/list/co...ergen-list.php

I'm no expert about gluten removal, but I believe I heard 6-12 weeks to see significant improvements. Dairy is quicker to see improvements (1-3 weeks). Gluten is hard to avoid completely also. And apparently, it is more important to be 100% gluten-free, or reactions are worse with any slight exposure, I believe.

This is an informative and comprehensive thread about formula and babies with extensive allergies. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...hlight=formula

Re: Relactation, Induced Lactation:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=969721

Have you read the Gut Healing Thread: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=434071

Here is more information on including nutrient dense foods, especially homemade bone broths, foods which help liver support and detox, etc. http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/t...nt-dense-foods

This is an important one about healing leaky gut with food, while nursing, especially if you have mercury fillings in your teeth. http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/t...-gut-with-food

Avoid antacids; they increase allergies and impair nutrient absorption. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...s#post13246127

HTH, Pat

 

[CO_mamato3]

Pat,

I'm reading & re-reading your response. A lot of this is all new to me so I'm trying to understand.

Thank you for all the links. I hope I can ask more questions as I begin to understand a little!

Thanks again!
Wendy

 

[WuWei]

Yep. We've btdt and want to help.

Pat

 

[kjbrown92]

Instead of top 8, since you've tested for "allergies", I would do the top 4 intolerances: milk, gluten, soy, corn. It's difficult but definitely not impossible (since we're doing those and more). And good for you to try to relactate and figure out the cause!!

 

[CO_mamato3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 Instead of top 8, since you've tested for "allergies", I would do the top 4 intolerances: milk, gluten, soy, corn. It's difficult but definitely not impossible (since we're doing those and more). And good for you to try to relactate and figure out the cause!!

The allergist only did a SPT to the foods he had reacted to at the time--cow's milk protein, soy, rice, & bananas. But no reaction on the test. What exactly is meant by "gluten"? I've heard that term for years but don't really know what foods that is

I'm just hoping the relactating works. So far, not a drop

~Wendy

 

[Thystle]

He may have been reacting to something in the things you thought he was reacting too.

Like people reacting to the corn in corn fed beef or corn fed milk, some are so sensitive that they react to what their food was eating and it gets misdiagnosed.

I would redo the SPT with all top 8 and as many other things as you can. Try to see if it is something else. Retest again in the future.

I have been off of everything my son is allergic to for the last two years. It's rough but doable. We had to test MANY times to finally find everything it was... some of them were pretty "unusual" (like squash and celery).

DEFINATELY avoid peanuts!!!!!

 

[kjbrown92]

gluten is the protein in wheat, barley, spelt, and rye (and sometimes cross-contaminated oats). It's the glue that holds the bread together. It is very hard to digest for anybody, but we're addicted to it as a nation.