Food Allergy Living Blog Tagged Results

Our post today is a guest blog entry from Karen Adams, Israel’s mom. We’d like to thank her for guest blogging for us.

I've heard several mothers talk about how their baby was fine at the hospital, that their problems didn’t begin until they got home. Our experience didn’t happen like that. From the very first day my son Israel, wouldn’t sleep, but instead screamed and cried constantly. Nothing seemed to soothe him. Our last night at the hospital, we asked the nursery to take him, so we could get some sleep. 15 minutes later they brought him back saying he was kicked out of the nursery, because he cried too much.

Our first night home was spent nervously watching our baby boy projectile vomit, scream and cry. For months Israel would scream and cry and vomit for hours on end. In fact he would cry so hard he would lose his voice. He took only small naps, the most being 45 minutes. He would have diarrhea so badly that he would keep yeast infections on his skin. He would have odd rashes and dry patches of skin. After two pediatricians and trials of cows milk formulas and soy formula. The doctor then switched him to Nutramigen and scheduled an upper GI.

The upper GI confirmed reflux and he was then put on Prevacid. The Nutramigen and Prevacid really seemed to do the trick. He was still a little fussy and spit up quite a lot. But the doctor wasn’t concerned and felt we shouldn’t be either. But being his mother, I just couldn’t let it go. He could drink water and hold it down, but his formula he would spit up. I knew he could do better. After a few weeks of research I found out about Neocate.

I had read so many testimonials about how Neocate and Prevacid stopped the food allergy reactions and reflux issues. Could it be true? His pediatrician thought the problem was reflux, lactose intolerance and classic “Colic”. And that I simply worried too much.

Finally after several visits he agreed to send my son (6 months old) for an allergy test. He tested positive for Milk, Soy, Corn, Pork, Peanuts, Apples, and Rice and positive for some other intolerances. FINALLY I had my proof!!! The allergy specialist gave me a prescription for Neocate and I rushed it to the pharmacy as quickly as possible.

That afternoon we gave him his first bottle of Neocate. He took the bottle and guzzled it down. We watched and waited, and to our surprise no spitting up! We realized not only had the other formula's been causing spit up but also had made him irritable. He started gaining weight, sleeping through the night and generally acting satisfied within a week of being on Neocate. Now he is happy, healthy and full of energy! He just turned one year old in December 2010 and now we are starting on Neocate Jr. As a mother, I couldn’t be happier!

Thanks to Neocate!

-Karen

Karen and Israel's video on YouTube

Happy New Year! Before we jump into 2011 on Food Allergy Living, we wanted to recap our top ten blog posts of 2010. We tackled topics from food allergy recipes to tube feeding and everything in between and had some excellent guest bloggers share their stories. Based on reader traffic, here were our most popular posts:

1) Baby Rashes (when is it a milk allergy?)

In this post, Christine talks about how to tell if your child has a typical rash or if it is a sign of an allergic reaction to cow’s milk.

2) Dysphagia, GERD and Silent Aspiration

Mallory tackled the topic of GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, and two other conditions commonly associated with it: dysphagia and silent aspiration.

3) Accidental Injections of Epinephrine from an EpiPen

If you or your child uses an EpiPen, this blog is a must-read in case you ever have an accidental injection.

4) Fun Summer Camps for Kids with Food Allergies

Children with food allergies don’t have to miss out on summer camp fun with these allergy-friendly options.

5) How Can Duocal Help My Child Gain Weight?

If your child is underweight or has been diagnosed with failure to thrive, the supplement Duocal can help provide extra calories in their diet.

6) Baby Formula and Food Thickeners: What are the Options?

Thickeners can help treat reflux, but children with food allergies often react to the rice cereals or oatmeals that are commonly recommended. Christine offers some other options that are allergy-friendly.

7) Guest Blog: Living with Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Norman’s Story

Kendra Tiedemann shared her son Norman’s journey with eosinophilic esophagitis.

8) Understanding How Infant Taste Buds Work

If you’ve ever wondered if your baby can taste her food, then be sure to read this post from Mallory.

9) Failure to Thrive: My Child is Underweight, What Should I Do?

In this post, Nita helped to clear up some common confusions about what a failure to thrive diagnosis means and how it is treated.

10) Guest Blog: Food Protein-Induced Entercolitis Syndrome – Roland’s Story

Lorelei Alvarez, one of the founders of the Reflux Rebels group, shared her son Roland’s journey with FPIES in this guest blog.

Which blog posts were your favorite over the last year? Are there any topics you’d like to see us cover in 2011?

- Sarah

A friend told me she went to an office Halloween party as a peanut allergy. I wondered: What would you wear that says, “I am an allergy?” I still don’t know the answer to that question! Thinking about that made me wonder: Since babies don’t come with labels and can’t tell us what they experience, how do they tell us “I have an allergy?”

More and more, children are diagnosed with food allergies, with cow’s milk allergy being the most common. In fact, more than 100,000 babies each year suffer from milk allergy. There are multiple clues pediatricians look for that help diagnose a cow’s milk allergy that you can look for too. Below is a list of eight questions to help parents of infants identify a potential milk allergy, designed by Dr. John Moissidis, a Board certified pediatric allergist at The Asthma Allergy Clinic in Shreveport, La.

Milk Allergy Symptoms

1. Diarrhea Diarrhea is common in babies, but if it is persistent (an average of two to four times a day for more than five to seven days) and/or if there is blood or mucous in the stool, it could signal a more serious milk allergy.

2. Vomiting Babies often spit up bits of food, but vomiting beyond the typical mealtime regurgitation should be examined by a doctor. Reflux symptoms, such as spit-up and difficulty swallowing, can also be milk allergy symptoms.

3. Skin Rash There are many causes for infant skin rashes like eczema. Milk allergy is one possible cause, especially if the rash occurs along with some of these other symptoms.

4. Extreme Fussiness Every baby cries, but crying continuously and inconsolably for long periods of time is abnormal. When there is no apparent reason, this is usually called colic. Sometimes this extreme fussiness is actually caused by the gastrointestinal pain resulting from an allergy to the proteins found in milk.

5. Low or No Weight Gain Most infants double their weight by six months and triple it by 12 months. But when babies are not getting the nutrition they need because of excessive diarrhea and vomiting, they are unable to grow like they should.

6. Gassiness All babies have gas, but when it occurs along with several of these other symptoms, it can also signal an allergy to milk proteins.

7. Respiratory Problems Colds are common for infants, but wheezing, struggling to breathe and developing excess mucus in the nose and throat is not. For some kids, these respiratory problems can be the baby’s reaction to the protein found in milk.

8. Failure to Thrive Babies with milk allergy often suffer from a lack of proper nutrition characterized by dehydration, loss of appetite and lack of energy. This overall failure to thrive is often the result of the effect the other symptoms have on the infant’s body.

My baby has one or more of these symptoms – what now?

Babies with an allergy to cow’s milk protein cannot process the complex proteins found in milk-based baby formula, and many babies also react to soy-based infant formulas. Because of this, infant milk allergy is treated by either eliminating the milk proteins from the nursing mother’s diet or by replacing the regular formula with an amino acid-based formula.

An amino acid-based formula is safe for babies with milk and soy allergies because it is made using amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Amino acids are small enough that they won’t cause an allergic reaction in the way that complete protein chains or partly broken down proteins found in other formulas will.

The next step should be to schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician in order to receive a more thorough evaluation and diagnosis. Bring this information with you and ask your doctor if your baby might benefit from an amino acid-based formula.

What symptoms did your baby have that led you to suspect a milk allergy?

- Rob

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We often get calls from parents asking about their child’s “spitting up” habits. If your little one has had vomiting problems in the past due to food allergies, it may be hard to know when it’s a regular spit up or something more serious. Every baby spits up or vomits occasionally, and some do quite often or even with every feeding. If, despite the spitting, your baby is

• Content
• In no discomfort
• Growing appropriately
• Experiencing no breathing problems from the vomiting

then your little one is what pediatricians call a "happy spitter" and no treatment is needed.

Infant Reflux and GERD

Reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach flow back up into the esophagus. When reflux is severe, it can progress to a more serious condition such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation of food or sour liquid, difficulty swallowing, coughing, wheezing and chest pain. Typical reflux should not be causing any pain for your baby. If you notice your little one is in discomfort, please see your pediatrician.

Reflux Remedies

Infants are especially prone to reflux because 1) their stomachs are quite small and are easily distended, and 2) the lower esophagus valve may be immature and may not tighten up when it should. Typically, the lower esophagus valve tightens up sometime in the first year, usually around 4-5 months of age, at which time the spitting up may go away. For any spitter, there are a few things that might help:

• Keep your baby upright for a half hour or so after a feeding (to let gravity help out).
• Make sure there's no pressure on the stomach after a feeding. For example, try to wait at least 30 minutes after feeding before putting baby in her car seat.

If your child has more serious reflux or GERD, your pediatrician may also prescribe some medication to help control the acid.

What remedies work for your little spitters?

- Christine

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Our post today is a guest blog entry from Brittney, one of the founders of the Reflux Rebels, a support group for parents of children with reflux, MSPI and other GI issues. You can also find the Reflux Rebels on BabyCenter, where they have an active group of over 1,800 parents. We’d like to thank her for guest blogging for us.

I'm Brittney, a stay-at-home-mom to three beautiful kids; 2 bouncing, beautiful girls and a sweet baby boy.

My journey with infant reflux and severe food allergies started when our second daughter, Elliott (Ellie), was born. Ellie immediately started with symptoms of what I now know as reflux and Milk/Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) (for Ellie, her reflux was a by-product of her untreated MSPI and various food allergies).

In the hospital she appeared to be a normal newborn. She was a little “spitty” but nothing that struck us as odd. She only had one bowel movement in the hospital and thus began our journey to what seemed like hell and back. When Ellie was four days old we went to the new pediatrician because her belly was distended, she hadn't had a bowel movement since we left the hospital, and she was visibly in pain. We were told to put her on soy formula (which our first daughter was successful with) and to try a few home remedies to relieve her constipation.

In the midst of the formula change and adjusting to life with a newborn again, symptoms of severe reflux appeared. Ellie went from screaming for a few hours a day off and on to screaming bloody murder for hours on end. In desperation, we went back and forth to the pediatrician begging for help and answers. We were told countless things. She just has colic... She'll outgrow it... Try some cereal... etc., etc.

We were put on medications such as Axid, Zantac, Erythromycin, Prevacid capsules, and Prevacid Solutabs. Finally one night after Ellie screamed for 22 hours straight and the pediatric nurse assuring me she just had “colic”, we made the decision to go back to our previous pediatrician across the state line. The next morning we were seen by our current, open-minded (and amazing!) pediatrician and have never looked back. Ellie was started on 30mg of Nexium a day and switched to Neocate, an elemental formula for kids with severe food allergies.

Throughout the following months, Ellie underwent countless procedures, x-rays, blood draws, ultrasounds, and doctors’ visits to get her condition under control. We trialed and failed food after food after food with her. We were told all of those common myths by the GI and the only thing we were left with was frustration and a daughter completely and utterly miserable. After a few months of being on the Nexium and Neocate combination, things started to look up. By a year she was a new baby and now, at 2, I don't even recognize the once miserable baby she was. She brings such joy to our home!

When our third child, Cohen, was born, I noticed his bowel movements were filled with mucous (a tell-tale sign of a milk intolerance). I immediately cut all dairy from my diet. A week or two later I cut all forms of soy. Like Ellie, while we were trying to get his milk situation under control, I noticed reflux starting to creep its way in (both a mechanical issue and an MSPI by-product for Cohen). We wasted no time and went back to our pediatrician to get him a proper PPI (30mg of Nexium also) at MARCI-kids dosing standards. After 7 weeks of continuously mucousy and bloody stools, the decision was made to also put Cohen on Neocate. Within two weeks of being on the Neocate and Nexium combo, he was good as gold and within 6 weeks, his stools were perfect! He's a happy, healthy, BIG, 7 month old now. He's the perfect (and final!) addition for us!

Why all the details?, you ask. I share the details with you to let you know that I can relate. I have been there and done it all.

• I've dealt with the horrible doctors and the nurses who act like you're insane.
• I've been there with the screaming, inconsolable infant.
• I've been there fighting with the insurance to cover this particular test and that particular medication.
• I have been there fighting with my spouse because of all the tension having a GERDling and allergy baby brings.

I have been there. And now I want to be there for you. Our group, and The Reflux Rebels website, was created out of our desire to see no parent, family member, and infant have to suffer like ours have. We hope that you will find this information useful and informative.

And as always, know, It's not “just colic”

I, along with Lauren, created The Reflux Rebels in January of 2009. Since then it has grown to over 1,800 members. In late 2009, Lorelei and Kim joined us as co-owners of The Reflux Rebels. We are currently in the process of becoming a legal non-profit organization and strive to give back to our community and those in need.

- Brittney

Does it seem like your baby spits up all the time? Do you have to constantly change their clothes (and yours) because they have trouble keeping formula or breastmilk down? If this sounds like your little one, you might be dealing with either GER or GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) a more serious form of Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is very common. According to the National Institutes of Health, GER occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens spontaneously, for varying periods of time, or does not close properly and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. GER is also known more commonly as acid reflux, because digestive juices (acids) rise up with the food.

Occasional GER is common, so if this sometimes happens to your baby it doesn’t necessarily mean they have GERD. If the reflux is persistent and happens more than twice a week, then it is considered GERD, which can lead to more serious health problems for babies including failure to gain weight, bleeding, respiratory problems or esophagitis.

So how can you tell if your child is spitting up a lot or has the more serious GERD? According to Dr. Samuel Nerko, MD, MPH from Children’s Hospital of Boston, gastroenterologists often look for the following symptoms to diagnose GERD in infants:

• Vomiting or spitting up frequently
• Pain associated with regurgitation
• Back arching
• Refusal to eat
• Constant or sudden crying
• Chronic hiccups
• Irritability or fussiness

If you think that your little one might have GERD, check in with your doctor or a pediatric gastroenterologist. They will probably recommend an infant dose of medications typically used to treat heartburn in adults. A hypoallergenic amino acid-based formula can often help babies with GERD too because it is sometimes caused or made worse by allergies to milk or soy protein.

What treatments have helped your little ones with GERD? Are there any tricks that you rely on to manage their reflux?

-Nita

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Nita, Christine, Mallory and I thought it would be fun to do a series of blog entries on what we are thankful for in our own lives. I’m going to kick it off today, but be sure to check in each Thursday in November for a new “Why I’m Thankful” post.

I am thankful for the knowledge and experience that I have gained by working at Nutricia. I not only have the privilege to help families find relief for their babies, but I was also able to put my knowledge to use with my own child, Reagan. After 7 weeks of allergy-related reflux and colic, Reagan was also able to find relief with Neocate and my husband and I were able to find a little more assurance in ourselves as new parents…….and also a tad more rest!

After hearing from parents every day about what a long journey it is for them to finally find relief (usually 3-4 months), I was grateful that Reagan found comfort in just 7 weeks (which felt like an eternity at the time). I returned from maternity leave feeling even more empowered to help other mothers because I now understand first hand how desperate and exhausting these situations can be. It brought my job to a whole new level and I am thrilled to be able to have an opportunity to share my knowledge and become a resource to other families in these situations.

I was also able to help my niece, Maya who was diagnosed with a milk allergy and ended up on Neocate shortly after Reagan. Reagan and Maya are now 16 and 14 months old and have both grown out of their allergy and reflux issues. They are happy and healthy babies which I could not be more grateful for!

What are you thankful for this year? I would love to hear about your families!

-Sarah

The first eight months of Sean’s life were grueling.  He experienced the discomfort and pain of vomiting up to three times a day, unable to tolerate his formula.  Six months of very little weight gain left Sean feeling weak, while his gastroesophageal reflux condition fuelled his asthma symptoms.

At nine months old Sean was diagnosed with failure to thrive; a description given to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and sex.

“We didn’t understand why he was vomiting so often and his lack of weight gain,” said Rebecca Sparks, Sean’s mother.  “It was heartbreaking on us as his parents to see him go through that all, we felt helpless.”

To combat Sean’s persistent vomiting, his parents tried Zantac and Prevacid, which seemed to soothe his symptoms for some time, but they ultimately returned.  

Since his symptoms kept reoccurring, Sean’s pediatrician referred his parents to a gastroenterologist, who tested for allergies, cystic fibrosis and eosinophilic esophagitis.  Sean tested negative, increasing his parents concerns.  With little options left, Sean’s doctors recommended a surgery, nissen fundoplication, which treats gastroesophageal reflux by stitching the upper part of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus, reinforcing the closing function.

In an attempt to exhaust all other options, especially surgery, Rebecca turned to Neocate Junior.  After a month and a half, Sean only vomited a total of three times compared to three times a day prior to Neocate.

“I definitely wish we had switched to Neocate sooner,” says Rebecca.  “Sean is gaining weight and drinking more formula.  He was averaging 20 ounces per day and now he chows down 30!” 

Neocate has improved Sean’s life and offered him an alternative to surgery and for that his parents are grateful.

“Sean doesn’t have to experience the pain of vomiting so often and can tolerate all his formula,” says Rebecca.  “Sean has always tried to be a happy camper despite his symptoms, but with Neocate, he can be happy and healthy." 

If you want to share your before and after photos, we’d love to see them! Send us an email at FoodAllergyLiving@neocate.com. 

Sean After Neocate 

We often get calls from parents who are interested in thickening Neocate. In today’s post, we’ll explore the reasons for thickening formulas (or bottle-fed breast milk) and some tips for those of you considering it.

There are  two main reasons for wanting to thicken your child’s infant formula.

1) Reflux:

One reason is for gastroesophageal reflux. If your child suffers from reflux, the physician may recommend thickening their formula or breast milk by adding a small amount of rice cereal. This practice is somewhat controversial. Some physicians recommend it and others feel that it can actually worsen reflux for some infants. Thickening feeds is shown to reduce vomiting but there are mixed results in terms of its effect on reflux itself. Every baby is unique and for some babies, thickening with rice cereal is helpful.

If you are considering trying to thicken your baby’s formula, be sure to discuss it with the physician first. If your baby has food allergies, make sure the ingredients in the rice cereal are appropriate. We have heard from several parents that their child reacted to a brand of rice cereal that contains soy. As always, read the food labels carefully. It is possible for babies with multiple food protein allergies to be intolerant to rice proteins.

We don’t recommend thickening Neocate, nor do we recommend NOT thickening Neocate. It really depends on the circumstances and it is something for the physician and the parent to decide. That said, the nutrition in Neocate will not be harmed by the addition of a thickener so as long as the doctor or dietician recommends it, there is no problem with thickening Neocate. Keep in mind that thickening formula may make it difficult for the baby to drink it so you may have to adjust the nipple size accordingly.

2) Swallowing Problems; Dysphagia:

Swallowing problems, also known as “dysphagia”, is the other reason for thickening infant formula (or bottle-fed breastmilk). According to the Children’s Hospital of Boston, dysphagia describes the inability of food or liquids to pass easily from the mouth, into the throat, and down into the esophagus to the stomach during the process of swallowing. Swallowing problems can be dangerous because of the risk for aspiration, where food or liquids are inhaled into the windpipes and lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.

When a child has swallowing problems, the physician or feeding specialist may recommend altering the consistency of the diet to make swallowing easier. Sometimes the physician may recommend thickening with rice cereal and other times they will recommend a commercial thickener such as Thick-It. In the case of dysphagia, there is no problem using a thickener with Neocate, so long as it is recommended by a healthcare provider and it contains no ingredients that the child is intolerant to. 

Do you thicken your child’s infant formula or bottle-fed breast milk?