Molly,

While infant formula is based on cow's milk, it has been processed in such a
way that it is safe for their little tummies (whereas breastmilk is
automatically safe for little tummies).  The prevailing advice is to NOT
give whole milk to infants until 12 months old, with the exception of yogurt
at around nine months.

Dairy allergy is not new.  If you are not getting satisfaction from your
doctor, assuming he is a general MD, insist on a referral to an allergist
and get yourself properly tested.  My son broke out in hives at six months
after we introduced cereal with formula in it and we were quickly referred
to an allergist who did a skin prick test.  I was lucky to have a clinic of
pediatricians who were quick to act and to understand what the problem was.
Dairy allergy, according to one mother I recently spoke to, can affect up to
8% of the population (I have also heard 5%).

Jim, when we were living in the US, we found that Fleischmann's had a
variety that was dairy free (whether that is still true, I don't know) that
was very good as did Meijer's home brand of margarine. Don't try to bake
with these; substitute with oil instead.

Roxy



On 2/9/07, Molly R Johnson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Similar question and thoughts as the newbie Jims'.
>
>     I've never heard of anything that can help a protein allergy, but am
> definitely going to try Pancreatin acid  just to see. Some 'natural' pills
> that help with digestion seem to help some.
>     Has anyone heard if this is allergy story. I tolerated all dairy
> products until about 12 during puberty. Suddenly I was in the bathroom a
> lot, and in pain. Someone just mention to cut out dairy and see what
> happens
> and sure enough that worked. (Not after 2 visits to different doctors
> telling my mother that my only problem was not enough fiber.) Like many at
> first I couldn't handle milk or a lot of cheese, then I found I couldn't
> eat
> any dairy at all. I tried 'lactate' pills but to no avail. I just assumed
> they didn't actually work. I had never heard of a dairy allergy that
> produced symptoms of diarrhea, bloating, and pretty sever pain that wasn't
> lactose related. As an adult I went to a natural doctor just to try it out
> and did a saliva allergy test. Which came back with milk protein, soy and
> egg whites, as positives. I don't know how accurate this test is but after
> eliminating any dairy (not just the lactose free stuff), I've been a ton
> better. Are there others that became allergic to dairy around puberty? Can
> you have just abdominal symptoms and still be allergic to just the
> protein.
> I have still not had a doctor that said I should get tested for food
> allergies, even though they know I have a problem (I just wonder if I am
> not
> allergic to other foods, and I wonder how accurate the saliva test was).
> Also they seem to dismiss my claims and say it is a lactose problem and
> just
> take lactate, when I push and say that doesn't work they don't seemed
> concerned. Is this allergy new to most doctors?
>     A thought that has been suggested in my case was some 20 odd years
> ago,
> my mother didn't know that giving milk to a infant when they're too young
> was a bad idea. Her doctors told her otherwise. Now I know people know
> better now, but could that have been a factor? Should we wait to introduce
> cows milk into our kids diets until they're a certain age? Can their
> allergy
> develop into something life threatening later in their life?
> One last thing-- since dairy is out and soy products seem the most
> prevalent
> replacement, can you develop a allergy to soy from consuming to much of
> it?
>
> Molly
>