Possible Lactose Intolerance

[sweetsugardumplin']

I suspect my DD (8 months) has an intolernce or sensitivity to lactose.

During the first few weeks of her life I was consuming dairy, on cereal in my de-caf tea and other hot drinks.... anyway. She would get a lot of wind and was obviously in discomfort. So I have been lactose free for nearly eight months and she is doing fine.

However, I recently introduced a little bit of yogurt into her diet, the first time three weeks ago - she had really runny poos and a red bottom. I tried again this week and the same.

I took her to my GP to see about testing and was given a stool sample kit - the problem is my GP told me to give her and for me to eat lots of dairy so the results would show up in her poo.

But this so is cruel, her little bottom was so red and sore after a few teaspoons of yogurt. I cannot bring myself to do this to her again.:crying:

Is there another way of testing, that is not invasive? :confused:

[Tam-I-Am]

Its actually fairly unlikely to be lactose, per se - as breastmilk is actually HIGHER in lactose (percetage-wise) than cow's milk. If she were actually lactose intolerant, she would have had problems back when she was exclusively breastfed.

The issue is far more likely to be a protein intolerance, or overload, which is why she would have reacted to yoghurt, despite it being quite low in lactose.

Having a lot of wind and acidic poo, diarrhoea, cold-like symptoms are all quite common with cow's milk protein intolerances (CMPI). If she's still breastfed it would probably be quite helpful for you to eliminate all dairy and soy (as soy protein and cow's milk protein are structurally very similar and therefore a lot of kid with CMPI cross react to soy) from your diet, and hers. The alternatives for calcium intake are varied and many - rice milk, oat milk, and almond milk are all good options, there are calcium fortified cereals and juices, fish with soft bones (ie salmon, sardines etc) are good, broccoli, nuts, sesame seeds etc are all good too.

You would need to withdraw her from all CMP and soy protein for at least 10 - 14 days for it to be all out of her system (and yours).

If her symptoms change after you withdraw her from the CMP and soy protein, this would fairly conclusively point to that being the problem. You're right. There is no need to submit her to awful symptoms for a diagnosis :(

HTH :) and good luck.

[sweetsugardumplin']

[QUOTE]If she's still breastfed it would probably be quite helpful for you to eliminate all dairy and soy (as soy protein and cow's milk protein are structurally very similar and therefore a lot of kid with CMPI cross react to soy) from your diet, and hers.

You would need to withdraw her from all CMP and soy protein for at least 10 - 14 days for it to be all out of her system (and yours).

I probably wasn't clear, sorry. She is still BF as well as on solids.

I haven't consumed any dairy or soy products for nearly eight months.

Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks
SSD

[Tam-I-Am]

TBH - I think you already have your answer. If she's been okay until the introduction of yoghurt, that's really pretty conclusive. :)

I've known of some paeds to do skin sensitivity tests with food intolerances, but I really don't know a lot about them so can't advice. I might move this to the food intolerance area for you...You will probably get more answers there :)

[reAllytee]

The reason for your g.p to make you eat yoghurt etc will be to see her reaction in her stools. This will then mean the stool sample will come back positive for LI.

Thing is this doesnt mean she actually has LI as such.

This type of LI is usually a symptom of something else going on & the fact that she is reacting like this to the yoghurt pretty much screams that she is reacting to the protiens or could even be allergic.

Sadly most people including g.p's assume LI when this isnt the case & its sadly the specialist who then have to clean up the mess when its handled incorrectly etc.

My little guy has LI as well as CMPI & he was dehydrating from birth losing weight etc we were always at the doctors etc. True LI is a really serious condition which sadly many dont realise because you CANNOT even breastfeed a true LI baby at all because lactose is still in BM & is in far greater quantities than in dairy.

Keeping off the dairy & anything with dairy in it is the best thing for your little one at this point. You are then best to re-challenge around the 10mth mark by using a little bit of yoghurt in her diet to see whether she has grown out of it.

She will grow out of it whether its an intolerance or an allergy ( sometimes the allergies stick though obviously ! ) its just allowing her body to mature enough until this can happen. Allowing 3mths inbetween each rechallenge allows a decent enough time between for her body to cope etc.

You can seek help via a dietician for both of you which then assures you that you keep your requirments met elsewhere & that your little girl does too because there are soooo many foods that have dairy & soy in them they are just hidden !

Good luck !