dairy issues with son

[Winnie]

I have had dairy issues on and off all of my life.  My ten year old has occasional bouts of diarrhea and I can solely pinpoint it to some form of dairy.  It breaks my heart that he may be going down the same path that his mother went through, but I am determined to get help for him so maybe he won't get the same autoimmune problems that I have.  I am calling my peditrician this am and asking about food allergy testing.  He ate icecream after the ballgame last night and he was up at 2 with tummy trouble.   

Winnie

[Scottietottie]

Hi Winnie 

I sympathise. Three out of four of my kids were sensitive to dairy. I didn't know it with the first and she had awful colic when she was a baby and appalling nappy rash (diaper rash). The health visitor I had with child number 3 suggested I cut dairy out of my diet when breast feeding because that baby had bad colic too. She suggested I keep a food diary. Sure enough - if I ate cheese or had milky coffee - he was more colicky and he also developed eczema. If I cut out dairy he was more settled and his skin cleared up. My youngest child was the same, so the two youngest were weaned on to soya milk.

When they got older they realised themselves the consequences of eating things that didn't suit them. Ice-cream would lead to aching bones or splitting headaches. Pizza would precipitate eczema outbreaks. They both grew up though and have developed diets to suit now. It was hard when they were kids - and especially at kids parties.

In the US there is a vastly superior range of products to cope with various food intolerances though. My kids were a lot more restricted living here. There was soya milk or nothing. There are other dairy free milks around now though. My youngest daughter has found she feels healthiest if she eats dairy and gluten free. She's only done that since she left home though.

Good luck with your son!

Take care - Scottie 

[jazzlover]

Could be dairy, could be candida also. I feel much better avoiding dairy. It's not a death sentence.

[Piebird]

We are dealing with the same thing here!

I am raising my 8 year old grand daughter. She has had trouble with diarrhea, gas and eczema for the last little while. My son and I both had these issues when  we were eating dairy.

My grand daughter is NOT liking the idea of being dairy free!

Although they are expensive we try and get her some. dairy free free rice or soy products.

Here in Canada Silk milk substitute works well on cereal and So Good fake ice cream is something she enjoys. Knowing that I can make her a fake "milk" shake makes things easier on her.

[Winnie]

Well, I got into an allergist on Monday.  I guess we will see what she says.  My son is already complaining about going.  I think he already knows.  Dairy free isn't too bad.  I drink the milk substitutes.  The cheese is not the greatest but eatable and I threw away some sour cream, yuck.  I found yogurt that tastes like the real thing.  We already have to eliminate nitrates from his diet due to horrifying migraines.  No nitrates - no migraines.  I wonder if there is a connection??

Winnie