Milk allergy or intolerance?

I am posting here because we will be here in a week and a half, plus I figure TS's here may have more experience with this. We started trying the 25% milk 75% formula (soy) again today per doctors orders. We were doing it 2 weeks ago and then Max got an ear infection, was prescribed amoxicillian, and broke out in a severe hive reaction that took us to the ER where they put him on steroids for a week and an antihystamine.

So the doctor told us to start trying the milk again this week to gradually get them off the formula. Well 5 minutes after his morning bottle Max projectile vomited the entire bottle up. DH cleans him up and the carpet. We decided to let his tummy rest awhile and about 2 hours later when he was acting hungry we tried another bottle instead of cereal to see if it was the bottle. This time he vomited 10 minutes later, so we cleaned him up with a bath because it got everywhere, and then cleaned up me since I was also covered. About 15 minutes after coming back out to play he vomited the rest of the bottle up. So another clean up.

So we have had two baths and three clothing changes before noon. I remade his bottles and did formula only. We gave him a third bottle as a test before naptime and leaving for a Mother's Day party a day early with my side of the family. He has kept the all soy formula bottle down and is napping right now.

The doctor said if this keeps happening we can give him soy milk at 1 year, which is a week and a half away. I thought about buying a small container of soy milk next Friday when I grocery shop and try it a week early. So does this sound like a milk allergry or intolerance? Has anyone had experience with this?

When he was born the hospital tried 3 milk based formulas before we found the Similac Isomil Advance soy formula worked for him and his sister. They actually made us leave him at the hospital an extra night because of the problems drinking formula and to monitor his heart condition.

 

have you tried lactaid yet? ds is on that now for similar issues, but he wasnt on soy formula before, he was on nutramigen

 

If you really want to be sure you can have a blood test run to test for common food allergies (and some environmental ones). My boys had the same issues and tested positive for a milk protein allergy at 3mos, 6mos,15 mos and then it began to decrease in intensity by age 2. Now they can tolerate foods with milk protein in it, but they will not drink milk or eat cheese- they hate it! They are still on soy. My boys had the blodd allergy testing because they were too young for the skin testing until around 18 mos. We did do the skin testing twice after 18 mos. Most of their allergies have changed or disappeared as they have gotten older, which is great news. One thing that I was told was very important was to avoid all kinds of milk proteins period for a year before re-testing or trying it again. Somehow they feel this reduces the chances that the allergy will be life-long. They also told me that most milk allergies in infants are outgrown by the age of 2 or 3. It was certainly true in our case. It is very difficult finding and making foods without milk protein in it. it goes by many names in igredient lists and can even be found in CANDY!

I hope for your sake, they do not have a milk protein allergy, but if they do it is tolerable once you get used to it. Many, many packaged food have milk in them as can many lunch meats,breads and other baked items. You just have to be diligent about learning all the crazy names for milk protein and avoiding it. The most common names are casein and whey, but there are others! Some manufacturers are only required to list it as "natural flavoring" if it is below a certain percentage- it's nuts! I am happy to share with you anything I learned if you are interested. I did a lot of internet research on milk allergies prior to testing, so I knew what I was in for come solid food time. Be sure to know lactose intollerance is totally different and not very common in infants. Lactaid Milk is nopt likely to help, but you can always try it! Good luck with everything!!

Kelly

 

QUOTE(KellyJ @ May 9 2009, 04:11 PM) [snapback]1307078[/snapback]
One thing that I was told was very important was to avoid all kinds of milk proteins period for a year before re-testing or trying it again. Somehow they feel this reduces the chances that the allergy will be life-long. They also told me that most milk allergies in infants are outgrown by the age of 2 or 3. It was certainly true in our case.


Totally agree with Kelly here. We were on Alimentum for about 13 months (tested positive for a milk allergy at 2 months) and then we got the go ahead to try dairy. I went to soy milk for a week first and then transitioned them to milk after that without issue. I think the good news is that they do not have a soy allergy because our Ped GI said that most babies with a milk protein intolerance also have an intolerance to soy so we were ordered to stay away from that as well. I would get the blood test to see what you are dealing with instead of having to clean up all the vomit. Or I would only put about a 1/2 ounce of milk in, instead of 25%. GL!

 

My little ones had a milk intolerance and ended up on Similac Alimentum, they couldn't tolerate the soy formulas either.

We just started milk when they turned a year. The pedi had said to give them half and half, knowing that Camdyn would spit up or whatever. I decided to slowly replace one ounce at a time with milk. This has worked pretty well. Kyle had a little rash around his mouth after I changed to 2 ounces milk, 6 ounces formula but it went away and the dr said as long as it went away it was fine. Cami spits up occassionally and far less than she used to. Kyle seems to be tolerating it well. I don't increase the milk for at least three days to let their tummies get used to it. Maybe you could try a slower progression. It is hard when they are sensitive to such a major part of their diet. GL

Jen

 

It sure sounds like a pretty strong reaction to milk! We moved to soy milk (and nursing) when they turned one and it was a pain to avoid all dairy, but totally worth it and my guys just vomited a little. With a reaction that strong, it's probably worthwhile to get tested, too, since it really is a commitment to avoid all milk products - not impossible, but you do need to pay attention.