For those hard core readers roll call may be off subject but I have really
enjoyed reading about everyone.  A lot of "head nodding" and "yep, me too" as
I read through peoples stories.

  I'm Suzanne and I live in Cumming, GA, a suburb of Atlanta.  I didn't
realize that I have been allergic to milk probably most of my life.  When I
look back on my illness and aliments, most are gone with the elimination
milk. I'm 36 and have three kids; 5 1/2 ( milk allergic) , 3 ( don't think
so) and 4 months ( wondering).

     I discovered, we, my daughter and myself, were allergic coincidentally
when I discovered I was pregnant with #2. We took dairy out and we all felt
much better.  Gained less weight with that pregnancy and felt much better.
Since I had all but cut dairy out of my diet, #2 didn't get much inuetro or
nursing.  She doesn't show any signs, but there again our household is mostly
dairy free.  #3 came along into the mostly dairy free household and still
nursing.  He has had lots of gas and I cannot seem to narrow it down.  I
haven't been eating dairy but I'm wondering if trace amounts bother him.
Time will tell.

     As for changes when pregnant--- I noticed at certain stages (3 rd
trimester) I could 'cheat' much more without the problems. Once nursing I
could 'cheat' at the very beginning.  As my hormones changed and he goes for
longer periods without nursing, I can't "cheat" as much.  (When you are
nursing, your body is still making lots of hormones like you are sort of
still pregnant.  Once the child starts to sleep longer, or goes longer
between feeds, the hormones levels start to drop.  If the child sleeps or
doesn't nurse for around 6-8 hours regularly, the hormones will drop low
enough for you to start menstruating again.  Then the cheating is over).

My husband was skeptical about our no-milk speeches and elimination for our
household diet.  Back in the beginning, when we had way to much dairy in our
diet, it was hard to remove.  When we would forget and eat it the symptoms
would come back strong, quick and ugly.  He was a believer after my daughter
and I had ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch and 1 1/2 hours later we both
had runny noses and were yelling at each other and generally in a bad mood.
He now admits that pizza just isn't as good as it used to be because he now
realizes how bad he feels after eating it

And, finally, in conclusion, I have gotten more information and support and
ideas and web sites and recipes and..... so much more from this group than
anywhere else.


Suzanne