Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

My son is 10 weeks old and was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at 3 weeks old. It was discovered due to blood I saw in his poop, which was then sampled by the pediatrician who diagnosed it. His only other symptom of the allergy was severe gassiness/fussiness after eating. He was out on Alimentum and has been thriving! He was born at 5pbs 14oz and now is 11lbs 12oz. He is such a happy baby!!! I took him in to the doctor for his 2 month checkup and had to bring poop samples for them to test once again for blood. I had not seen any blood in his poop since we switched to Alimentum. The doctor tested it and found microscopic blood. The doctor wanted to switch to Neocate or Elecare and I refused because my son is doing so well on this formula. I don't love what I've read about these 2 new formulas and the doctor even said my son could develop reflux on them because they are so thin. He said he would give it another month and then retest the poop but if they find blood he would switch him to the other formula. I was really upset about this because of how well my son is doing. Has anyone been in this situation? Been on either Neocate or Elecare? Have any advice? I know a lot of pediatricians don't even take samples of the poop to test for the allergy...I wish mine was one of them now!

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! Sounds like Alimentum worked and he doesn't have reflux or severe issues. You can refuse Dr's recommendations. He's your child. How long between new formula and testing was it? There can be residual microscopic blood for a month or so.

ETA, is he still gassy after feedings? If so, you can try gas drops in each bottle. Our dr told us they were pointless so I stopped. DD was gassy and fussy without them so I used them again. I don't always listen to our ped.

Message edited 8/20/2014 11:12:52 AM.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Stick with the alimentum

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Thank you for your response. It's been about 6 weeks since he switched. I was just so taken aback by the ped and how definitive he was that I had to switch. My mom even came with me and despised him (he's somebody that people in my area love) because she felt he was so impersonal and scripted.

Every once in a while he is a little gassy after feedings but only once in a blue moon seems like he's in pain. He usually just farts as he's eating and a little after. Poops 1-2x per day.

I'm just concerned if there is still microscopic blood am I doing my son more harm than good leaving him on this?!? I don't really want to take him to a GI but I would just to clear my head (I'm a crazy first time lom$

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Take him to a real allergist or GI. They will have an appropriate course of action.

My youngest was on Neocate, but that was a final resort, we tried other things first.

I wouldn't just leave it though, if he is still having blood in his stools, that would indicate he is having some bleeding somewhere along his digestive tract

And find a new ped, too.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Our head ped in our practice is well loved in the area too and I DO NOT like him. I like all of the others in the practice though.

If its microscopic I'd think its not bad enough to be irritating his intenstines (since prior to switching you saw the blood). If he gets worse then worry about it then. Our GI dr said sometimes it gets better then worse, but after 6 weeks seems you are in the clear! Good luck!

Message edited 8/20/2014 11:29:20 AM.

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Thanks! Can you ladies tell me who your GI is? I wonder if we have the same ped...

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

My DS and DD were both on Neocate. I have a friend whose son remained on nutramigen (similar to Alimentum) and ended up with frequent ear infections and respiratory problems because they didn't realize he was still allergic. If I were you I'd consult with a pediatric GI. We are in Suffolk and had good experiences with Good Sam Pediatric GI group in Babylon.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

We saw Dr. Gold at Good Sam. He's the Ped GI, not the regular ped. He was good.

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

We used Good Sam Pediatric specialty group, we saw Dr Kessler as our ped GI and Dr Fani as our allergist.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

My sons allergy was severe. Had milk protein and soy allergy... He was on 2 formulas before they put him on Nutramigen, which worked for a while and then stopped. They switched him to Alumentim and that landed him in the ER with a severe reaction. At 5 weeks he was put on Elecare. He still had blood in his poops for about a month. Took a LONG time for his intestinal tract to heal.. It was raw according to his GI and pedi... He was on it until he was 15 months old... It saved his life IMO.
He had reflux from birth and the formula didn't make it worse.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

DD's allergy was very severe and she did require neocate. Blood in the stool, microscopic, or not, suggests that the intestinal tract is continuing to be irritated. I agree to see a GI doctor or allergist for a second opinion.

We used Dr. Marciano (Winthrop peds) for a GI and was generally happy except for his insistence that my daughter fatten up (she did not - 3rd percentile still!) - but I've also heard amazing things about Dr. Gold.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Milk Protein Allergy...WWYD

Any amount of blood is bad and requires a change in diet. One of the symptoms of allergic proctocolitis is the child is thriving despite blood in the stool so please do not mistake weight gain for a reason to stick with formula that is causing your son's colon to bleed.