Intolerance or allergy??

[my2monkeyboys]

So here's the background:
Will has been having reflux and some bloating/diarrhea/constipation off and on over the last couple of months. I recently thought maybe it was a lactose intolerance, so we nixed the milk products for the last 4-5 days. This morning I gave him a cup of Lactaid milk before he had anything else to eat/drink. He drank probably half a cup or so, then within 5 minutes started complaining that his chest/throat felt all full again (I am thinking this is bloating he is experiencing, because it's not a breathing issue, he says it just feels like it's full and wants to explode). So now what?? Does this mean he's allergic to milk in total? Or do you think something else completely different is going on?
I know I will end up taking him to the dr, but we are trying "home" stuff first because we just lost our health insurance last week and over the last 5-6 months we've been having an extremely rough time with our business. So the dr. thing will hopefully be used after we kind of narrow down what is going on... we just don't have money for a bunch of tests.
Anyway, any advice/suggestions/ideas/sharing of experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

[luvbug00]

sounds intolerant ..allergic reactions
http://www.foodreactions.org/allergy/milk.html

most allergic reactions involve breathing issues..so I'd look at intolerance

[my2monkeyboys]

That's what I was thinking, but if it's intolerance to lactose, then wouldn't the Lactaid milk have been fine without bothering him since there is no lactose in it?

[luvbug00]

might be something else in it..there are kids who are allergic to the really small stuff..like red dye #48373648959..KWIM?? might be something else in the product.

[my2monkeyboys]

Yeah, I haven't thought about the little stuff. Though I should have - my sis is deathly allergic to most red spices/dyes/etc used in foods.
Now to go read all these labels and see if I can find a common factor....

[my2monkeyboys]

Well looking at the Lactaid milk, all it has is milk, lactose enzyme, vit A and vit D.
So I think now I am back to a possible milk allergy....

[boyohboyohboy]

The only thing I can think of if it is a milk allergy it can take up to six weeks to get all the milk protein out of his system.
Have you tried benadryl when he says he feels full in his throat? It might still be swelling even if isn't having trouble breathing.

I think you would save money asking your ped. To do a blood test for milk allergies. That way your not paying the fee for a specialist just yet and just paying for the allergy test you want done. I think the one for the protein is separate then the one for lactose......
On the other hand he might have to have blood drawn again for further testing....
The skin prick testing wasn't really expensive.

To be sure it's an allergy he should do both tests.
Jakob had terrible gloating, diarrhea, gas and swelling with milk.....
I also wonder if it wasn't the chemicals in the milk.......
How is he with yogurt/cheese?
Ice-cream?

[my2monkeyboys]

He hasn't had much yogurt or cheese lately, but he did have a milkshake the other week and by yht time he was half through with it his stomach was hurting r
and his chest was full feeling, enough so that he hasn't wanted another shake.
Do you know if family doctors can give allergy tests? Or fam dr will let us pay when we can, but our ped demands pmt in full and upfront.

[luvbug00]

here mya got sent to the allergist, huge pain in my ....You should call your family dr. and ask what your options are..I'm sure they can point you in the right direction.
maybe look into non profits in your area who may be able to help with medical bills.

[mummy2girls]

i would stop all dfairy and then after a while when alll symptoms are gone for awhile then try dairy again. if its the same reaction again i would say milk allergy and then take him to the dr to confirm....

[coasterqueen]

Most people who are "allergic" to milk it's the actual milk protein they are allergic for and there is no real test for that except some IgE or IgA (can't remember which one) tests. I am not sure if a regular doc can test for those. I do not think they can test for all other allergies, though. Megan had a lot of the same symptoms, but hers is a lactase deficiency, which even though 99% of the people do not know this....there is a huge difference. Megan takes a pill every day to help with it. It does take 6 weeks for an allergen to clear the system before you really know. Try giving him lactaid tablets when eating any dairy even with lactaid milk. You just have to wait it out for at least 6 weeks. With Megan we had to see a pediactric gastro specialist and she had to go through upper and lower scope and biopsies to find out her deficiency. They don't normally have to do that for just plain lactose intolerance.

ETA: all the allergy testing we had done at the allergist didn't show anything for dairy, but the tests the gastro specialist did showed her deficiency.

This post has been edited by coasterqueen on Jun 13 2011, 10:48 AM

[my2monkeyboys]

We just did an at-home skin test. LOL We put a drop of normal milk on his arm and then scratched his skin with a sterilized needle. Within about 2-3 min others was a red swollen circle. From what I.have read that is an allergic reaction. I know, a dr. didn't do it so it's not absolute, but I think it's a strong sign.
I have been reading up on this stuff all weekend.... my head is hurting now.
We are going to restrict any and all dairy for the next few weeks and see how he starts feeling.
Thanks for all the help!!! Any other advice is also appreciated.

[boyohboyohboy]

Your family dr can draw the IgE lab, but that most likely will be high.
Does he have Meds right now for his stomach? Maybe mylanta? And you could try some benadryl for a few days to give him the histamine.
And keep him off all milk for at least six weeks.
But look up the other names for milk in ingredients like casein, and do strict avoidance.

That is all the allergist will do even after all the tests come back. His stomach will heal and the inflammation will go away when he keeps avoiding the milk protein.

It's taken Jakob five yrs to completely get over this but it does happen.

FYI most of the soy yogurts do contain milk, so be careful.
The only one we found was whole soy yogurt co.
And also to completely avoid, don't buy products made in plants were milk products are made too. Cross contamination will also hurt him.

Oreo cookies have no milk!

[my2monkeyboys]

He has been taking Maloxx almost nightly for reflux. That started about a month ago. Then it quickly went downhill from there. I have found that reflux can be caused by the lact. intolerance as well as milk allergy.
I guess it's off to find dairy-free products now.... fun!

[boyohboyohboy]

I think if you keep using the maalox and avoid dairy it will show a difference.
I wish there was a faster magic bullet to stop him from feeling to crummy, but really avoidance is the key.

Now, that's if that's his only allergy.......

[boyohboyohboy]

Here's a really good list

http://www.avoidingmilkprotein.com/ReadingIngredients.htm

It's over whelming at first but it will get better...and you can't skimp...even the tinest bit of milk will upset him if he does have the allergy.....and you need to go at least one yr before trying the milk again.

[my2monkeyboys]

Thanks Stacy! I have some reading to do....