[daisymommy]

My son has always been a cranky one. He was colicky as a baby with reflux in the first year, and we had him on hypoallergenic formula. When he turned a year old, he did horribly on milk, but all physical symptoms went away when we switched him to Lactaid milk (Lactose free).<br><br>
He is now 3 years old, and the most moody, cranky, angry, irritable child I've ever met. I love him dearly, but at times cannot stand to be around him. I feel like the worst mother <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
He seems perfectly healthy physically anway. Normal bowel movements, no skin problems, sleeps fine, healthy weight, etc. But his behavior scares me at times. And I really don't believe that it's just "bad behavior" due to lack of discipline as some might see it. It often seems he cannot control himself, like he's on drugs or something. I feel sorry for him...I think he feels emotionally miserable many times.<br><br>
I recently read the book "Is this your Child" about food allergies and behavior. I had never known that food allergies could do that to a child. But it seemed way to long and drawn out and complicated to figure out all the things your child is allergic to. Especially when he is such a picky eater to start with. If I were to eliminate wheat and dairy, he wouldn't be eating anything at all!<br><br>
So, I'd love a faster way of going about figuring this out. I heard about Natureopathic teasting? Something to do with muscle energy and rods? Not sure what this is called. How do I find a Natureopath?<br><br>
Any advice? Thanks!

 

[carrietorgc]

well, since he is 3, you could also take him to an allergist and see what he test positive for re skin prick testing.<br><br>
a naturopath can do enzyme testing, which tests also for food intolerances. not sure how you would find one. i was googling and found <a href="http://www.novamedgroup.com" target="_blank">www.novamedgroup.com</a> - they are kinda near me and have a naturopath and take my ins, so i am calling in the am to check it out.<br><br>
milk is hard to cut out but doable, more so than gluten. start by replacing milk with soy or rice milk, the yogurts, etc. it is pretty easy to find non milk bread, cookies, other stuff too.

 

[carrietorgc]

oh, or you could do allergy testing re NAET - but that is a bit different. they do use enegry points/meridians to test, but first they test the 8 basics (vitamins) then they test foods. You would have to call around and specify that you only want the testing done, but not the treatment.

 

[karlin]

Since he doesn't seem to be having bowel issues, I don't suspect wheat or dairy as the culprit. I would start by cutting out all food coloring/preservatives/trans fats/etc. Also cut out SUGAR! Good luck!

 

[daisymommy]

So if there aren't any bowel issues then it's usually not dairy or wheat? I didn't realize that different food allergies/intolerances manifested themselves differently in a child. How do you know what foods to look for, instead of going thru everything in the world?! (ie. sugar=hyper problems, dairy= bowel problems, etc.)<br><br>
Carrie,<br>
Hey! I just realized I came to your house for a cloth-diaper party back when you only had your one babe! Congrats on the new little addition <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I will have to check into the natureopath near you, since thats only a 45 minute drive from me. I had looked in the phone book but found no one. So thanks!

 

[Chanley]

You can have gluten and dairy issues without bowel problems. It is actually pretty common.

 

[Electra375]

Applied Kinesiology (sp oops) -- it's a chiropractic energy technique.<br><br>
I haven't personally used it. I do know a few who have. It's on Quack watch as a quacky thing to do. It maybe total hocus pocus, but then again it may not be. I spent a long time thinking about it and within a year we had the Celiac diagnosis -- so, I don't need to revisit AK at this time.<br><br>
The problem with skin test and blood test allergy testing and children is that it is not accurate and can give false positives and false negatives. A child who test positive on a skin test can test negative on a blood test and visa versa or test negative for both and actually be allergic.<br><br>
My child who had a positive rash break out from playing with Rye bread tested negative on the blood test. And the stupid allergist didn't test him when I had him in for skin testing!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">: So, anyway, I know he is more than likely allergic to Rye regardless of test results -- since he has Celiac Disease he won't be eating Rye anyway.<br><br>
Also, standard allergy test are looking for an IgE response and intolerances are usually an IgG response (I think I have that right...)

 

[SRHS]

My 4 year old turned into a monster, then we tried Feingold...check out <a href="http:">www.feingold.org....he's</a> a new kid now!!! He also has lactose intolerance in addition to the synthetic sensitivies.<br><br>
PS I felt the same way, I couldn't stand to be around him....makes you feel like the worst mother in the world...Hugs!!!

 

[mama_nomad]

you should should start by giving him probiotics everyday--avail. at health food stores. it will help his body process anyhting he might be eating that he has a sensitivity to. that is the first thing our ND did for us when we dealt with this<br><br>
doing an elimination diet a ND can help you with. it helps to think of what your child can eat, instead of what he can't esp when it comes to cutting gluten and dairy--it's not much fun eating a bunch of cheese and bread substitutes when you are used to the real thing--plus careful about too much soy which can cause an allergy when eaten too often. most meals for my dd are brown rice mixed up with soft veggies and meat or beans, a little salt, flax oil for taste and extra fat.<br><br>
i've never tried feingold but it sound like its helped alot for others. also the most importnat thing since you are the mom and you know best is to keep a food diary--write down everyhting he eats and his behavior and you will start to see patterns. this combined with elimination/rotation diets is fAr far more accurate than skin tesing, i believe.

 

[wednesday]

My son is very sensitive to dairy but he never had any kind of bowel issues. He just screamed and cried and threw constant fits if he had milk. Our family doctor suggested we cut out dairy when I went to her in desperation for help with his behavior. It made an amazing difference.<br><br>
I agree with you that a restricted diet sounds pretty difficult but your son's current behavior is pretty difficult too, right? If his behavior is caused by wheat or dairy sensitivity, "discipline" can not really help. The proteins (gluten or casein) are not fully broken down by the digestive system and instead circulate through the body and have a psychotic-like effect on the brain.<br><br>
My son's behavior totally changed after we cut dairy so I never went on to cut wheat. But cutting dairy is not as bad as you might think. He can have soy or almond or rice milk to drink or on cereal. He can have soy yogurt if he likes yogurt. If your family goes out for pizza you can order the pizza with cheese on only half. You can have sorbet or rice dream for frozen treats. It can be a little inconvenient sometimes but when my son was acting totally nightmarishly crazy all the time that was way more inconvenient.<br><br>
HTH...

 

[my2girlz]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Electra375</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Applied Kinesiology (sp oops) -- it's a chiropractic energy technique.<br><br>
I haven't personally used it. I do know a few who have. It's on Quack watch as a quacky thing to do. It maybe total hocus pocus, but then again it may not be. I spent a long time thinking about it and within a year we had the Celiac diagnosis -- so, I don't need to revisit AK at this time.<br><br>
The problem with skin test and blood test allergy testing and children is that it is not accurate and can give false positives and false negatives. A child who test positive on a skin test can test negative on a blood test and visa versa or test negative for both and actually be allergic.<br><br>
My child who had a positive rash break out from playing with Rye bread tested negative on the blood test. And the stupid allergist didn't test him when I had him in for skin testing!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">: So, anyway, I know he is more than likely allergic to Rye regardless of test results -- since he has Celiac Disease he won't be eating Rye anyway.<br><br>
Also, standard allergy test are looking for an IgE response and intolerances are usually an IgG response (I think I have that right...)</div>
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We did the muscle testing. It was awesome! Worked for us!