Ear infection returns...and yummy barbeque sauce:)

My second oldest son has been off dairy for many years due to a recommendation by our ENT. He had had ear infections every 6 weeks since he was a baby for eight years and had five ruptures in his left ear. He also had tubes put in twice. We have been very strict, however, as of late, my son has wanted to "test" dairy products. He is 13 years old now, and I felt that it would be okay to try trace amounts. Shortly after our move out west, he said that he couldn't hear out of his right ear. It progressively got worse, until I finally was able to get him in to see a doctor. Sure enough, his right ear was infected. He also failed the hearing test in both ears. Strange, since we haven't had problems for years. We go to see a new ENT on Monday. I will be curious to see what he says. I have no idea if it is related to the small amounts of dairy that we have permitted or if it is related to a new area (seasonal allergies?). Needless to say, I will take him off of dairy again until we are certain what has caused the infection. Fun times:)

On a side note, my husband made the BEST dairy-free barbecue sauce that I have ever tasted. I wasn't able to take a photograph because we devoured it so quickly (there were NO leftovers). He cut the chicken up into small strips and cooked it in the sauce (covered in a skillet) until the chicken was no longer pink. Here it is:

1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c salsa (we used Medium heat picante)
4 T brown sugar
2 T white or cider vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. mustard powder
1/2 tsp. salt
dash hot pepper sauce or crushed red pepper
1/2 onion, diced and sauteed

Saute onion and set aside. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients together and bring to a boil. Add onion. Pour or brush over desired meat and cook until no longer pink.

Wendy's Honey BBQ Chicken

We went to Wendy's the other night, and my son (now 13) decided that he wanted to test the Wendy's Honey BBQ Chicken wings.  The menu said that they didn't contain any dairy in the batter, however, they were cooked in the same oil as items that contained dairy.  Since he tested so low with his most recent allergy test, I felt that it would be a safe for him to try them.  About 30 minutes or so after dinner, he broke out in a few hives underneath his arm and on his chest as well as a small eczema rash on his chest.  I gave him some Benadryl just in case the reaction spread quickly and sent him to bed.  It looks like we need to go back to being 100% strict, at least for now:)

***On a side note, he had a small bite of peanut brittle the other day with no apparent reaction.  It had butter as one of the ingredients.  (He thought it had no dairy in it.)  I'm not sure why he reacts to some things and why other things don't seem to affect him.  I just hope that he can figure out how severe his allergy still is before going on to college, etc.***

Milk Allergy, Lactose Intolerance and Possible Cures

This is a guest post from Ashley M. Jones.  Thanks Ashley for sharing your insights!!!

Milk Allergy, Lactose Intolerance and Possible Cures

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over three million children in the USA suffer from food allergies, and with milk allergy being the most common kind of food allergy, you can imagine the number of children who are plagued by it. Most people who are not familiar with milk allergies tend to confuse them with lactose intolerance – the two are very different in that:

·      Lactose intolerance is a condition where you cannot digest lactose (found in dairy) because your body does not produce the enzyme lactase while milk allergy refers to the adverse effects of your immune system to casein, a protein found in milk and other dairy products.

·      Lactose intolerance causes discomfort in the form of cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea and dizziness while a milk allergy causes more serious symptoms like skin rash, nasal congestion, bloody stools, and even anaphylactic shock.

·      A milk allergy is life-threatening while lactose intolerance is not.

·      Milk allergies develop in childhood while lactose intolerance develops when you’re an adult.

·      Children grow out of milk allergies, but adults with lactose intolerance find that it becomes worse as time goes by because the amount of lactase produced by the body decreases as we grow older.

Whether you’re allergic to milk or suffer from lactose intolerance, you must ensure that you don’t touch dairy products at all. Besides this, it’s best you stay away from other products that contain casein and lactose, like dairy creamers and whiteners, cereals, processed meats, mayonnaise, breath mints, potato crisps, protein bars and powders, salad dressings, baby formula, dessert toppings, and even in a few OTC drugs, cosmetics, creams, soaps, and vitamin and other nutritional supplements.

There is good news on the horizon for parents and children who suffer from milk allergy – the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and the Duke University are jointly conducting a study that could find a cure for milk allergy. The technique, which is known as sublingual immune therapy (SLIT), involves placing a tiny amount of milk protein under the tongue of children who suffer from milk allergies. The amount is increased every day, and over a period of time, the children are supposed to become immune to the allergen. SLIT differs from oral immunotherapy (where small amounts of milk are ingested) in that the milk protein is placed under the tongue rather than ingested – apparently, this makes a difference in the way children react to the protein. According to the study, the children who took part were able to tolerate milk protein considerably well in just three short months. 

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Ashley M. Jones, who writes on the topic of pharmacy tech certification . She welcomes your comments at her email id: ashleym.jones643@gmail.com.

20 Weird Allergies that actually exist

The author of this post e-mailed me this article about 20 weird allergies that actually exist. These include water, money, cold, etc. Although it's not related to dairy allergies, I thought it was interesting:) Enjoy!

http://onlinenursepractitionerschools.com/20-weird-allergies-that-actually-exist/

First attempt at adding milk

On Saturday I made some cornbread for my kids and decided it was time to try the oral baked challenge test. I added 1/4 c cow's milk and 1 1/4 c almond milk to the batter. My son had one large piece of cornbread. I didn't tell him that there was any dairy in the bread so that I could do a blind test with him. The next day, he came to me and said, "Mom, look at this rash." He broke out in an eczema rash on parts of his arm, the backs of his legs, and on his chest. He also said that he was really itchy. I was hoping for no reaction since his blood work came back so low, however, it looks like he is still sensitive to dairy. I will be calling the doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital to advise on how to proceed. My boys who get ear infections have had no adverse reactions that I can tell. Perhaps they will be able to tolerate baked milk?

A new chapter

Over the last few weeks, I have seen a remarkable difference in my baby. We have been able to take her off of all of her medication for reflux. I have also tried little bits of dairy (yogurt, cheese - occasionally) and thus far she has been fine. She no longer screams all day and I have been able to meet her needs better. I am so grateful for this change in her temperament. I am still off of all soy products (allergic), however, I have tried soy lecithin, soy oil, and soy sauce with no adverse reactions. I really like using Rice Milk and Oat Milk and like baking some things with Almond Milk. Since Earth Balance has the soy protein in it, we have switched to using Fleischmann's Unsalted Margarine (dairy-free) as well as Smart Balance Light. I also heard that Smart Balance Organic is dairy-free, so I'll have to keep a look out for that to try it out. We had a great Halloween (too much candy...) and are looking forward to the fall/winter holidays:) I'll post what we did for Halloween to keep it safe!!!

Soy & Dairy allergy update

I've been off soy now for over a month. Thus far we have been trying out alternative forms of milk for my family. My favorites thus far are rice milk and oat milk. Almond milk is okay alone, but DELICIOUS in blueberry muffins. I also liked it with Honey Nut Cheerios and bananas. I didn't really care for goat milk. Our favorite pancakes thus far have been made using oat milk. I'll post the recipe soon!!! As of right now, I've been able to tolerate Soy Lecithin and Soy Oil just fine. I also had soy sauce with no adverse reactions (yeah!!!). I tried dairy the other day and my baby (now 4 months old) had no reactions that I could tell. She has developed a small rash, however, under her chin. I think it's from the constant drooling, but if it doesn't go away, then I will continue to stay off of dairy for a little while longer to see if it goes away. As far as dairy-free and soy-free margarines go, I tried to order the soy-free and dairy-free Earth Balance, but my store hasn't gotten it in yet. Right now I am using Fleischmann's Unsalted Margarine (has soy lecithin) for baking and Smart Balance LIGHT (regular has dairy) for spreading on toast, etc. So far, so good!!!

Soy allergy invades our dairy-free home

I went to the allergist last week and found out that I have developed a soy allergy. It was a 3+ on the skin prick test (the same size as the histamine test). I suspected it because my throat got a lump in it after eating soy yogurt and started tightening. I felt the same thing after drinking a cup of soymilk...lump in throat, tight chest, difficulty swallowing. I know that adults developing allergies was possible, however, I never thought it would happen to me, especially since we suffer with so many dairy allergies in our home. I found myself angry, bitter, and then devastated this past week. That said, I am determined to make lemonade. There are many people out there who suffer from both a dairy and a soy allergy, and if they can do it, then so can I! Since soy has been a major source of protein for me since I currently can't have dairy (it upsets my nursing baby), I will begin by finding ways to get my protein needs met. Although the cookbook that I wrote contains soy in many of the recipes, most are easily adaptable to be both dairy-free and soy-free. I will list the adaptations on my website as soon as I can. One success we had was a Lemon Barbecue Grilled Chicken dish (delicious!!!). I will post the recipe on my website www.milkallergycompanion.com under the "Free Recipes" section.

I did a little bit of research on www.calorieking.com to find out the nutritional content of various milk substitutes. It looks like almond milk can vary immensely depending upon brand. I included goat's milk, but since I don't know if goat's milk is safe for children with a dairy allergy, I am going to do more research before introducing it into their diet. I don't want to introduce something that will hurt my anaphylactic son.

Here's the list:

*Food Item:* Serving Size: Protein (g): Carbohydrate (g): Calories: Fat (g): Dietary Fiber (g):

*Almond Milk (West Soy)* 1 c; 9; 5; 90; 4.5; 4

*Almond Milk (Blue Diamond)* 1 c; 1; 8; 60; 2.5; 1

*Almond Dream* 1 c; 1; 6; 50; 2.5; 0.5

*Hemp Bliss, Manitoba Harvest* 1 c; 5; 7; 110; 7; 1

*Oat Milk, Pacific Foods* 1 c; 4; 24; 130; 2.5; 2

*Goat’s Milk, whole* 1 c; 8.7; 11; 169; 10; 0

*Goat’s Milk, Low-fat* 1 c; 7.4; 9.4; 89; 2.4; 0

*Rice Milk* 1 c; 1; 23; 120; 2.5; 0

Almond milk by West Soy and Low-fat Goat's Milk seem to have the best nutrients and highest protein sources, however, if they taste bad then it's back to square one! I do love Rice Milk, just wish it had more protein:) I'll continue to blog more as I gain more experience with a soy allergy. From what I've read so far, there's a good chance that I can still have Soy Lecithin and Soy Oil, although I still need to do a little bit more research:)

Working with a fussy baby

I have quickly learned that going dairy-free doesn't solve everything for my 2 month old nursing baby. We have tried gripe water and Mylicon, however, she still spit up a lot and was fussy. We finally took her back to the pediatrician and we suspect reflux. We were prescribed Zantac and it has seemed to help quite a lot. Because of that, I decided to try some ice cream and chocolate cake. The next day, she screamed all day and spit up all day, even with the Zantac. She also broke out in a very light rash (not sure what from). So, I'm back off of all dairy while nursing in addition to the Zantac. She still fusses a little bit, but it is much more manageable. My biggest challenge now is trying to get my protein in and calcium in. Having fortified Orange Juice, Soy Milk and Rice Milk has helped a lot. Also, including nuts (thankfully we have no allergies there), beans, and meat (I'm enjoying making chicken salad and eating it with Triscuits) has helped a lot. Cooking from scratch and eating whole foods has its benefits, not only with the budget, but on our health as well:) I just need to look at it as having the glass half full rather than half empty, and in so doing will have a lovely cup of lemonade!

Dairy Allergy Signs, Symptoms, and ingredient listings

Dairy allergy, or milk allergy, refers to any allergic reaction
caused by a component of cow's milk. The three
components of cow's milk that cause dietary reactions are
casein protein, whey protein, and lactose sugar. Casein and
whey are considered more likely to cause true allergies,
while lactose causes a well-known intolerance in many
adults (and some children) due to the body's lack of an
enzyme known as lactase.

CROSS-REACTIONS
Similar components to cow's milk are found in the milk of other
ruminants, including goats and sheep, so any patient with a dairy
allergy who is considering using other animal milk as a substitute
for cow's milk should talk to their allergist before proceeding.

DAIRY/MILK ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
Dairy allergies may appear with a wide variety of symptoms,
including hives (urticaria), eczema, chronic congestion, and
diarrhea. Lactose intolerance, like many other dietary intolerances,
causes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, cramping, and
diarrhea. As always, if you suspect you or your child has a food
allergy, contact your physician.

SPECIAL CONCERNS FOR INFANTS
Because dairy allergies are especially prevalent among babies,
parents with atopic families - that is, families with a history of
severe allergies - should discuss feeding options with their
pediatricians before delivery, if at all possible. There is some
evidence that nursing exclusively until six months and delaying the
introduction of solid foods until that time can help prevent the
development of allergies. Bottle-feeding families have a few
options for feeding infants who either have dairy allergies or are
considered to be at high-risk for developing them. The preferred
option, especially in families with a history of eczema, is formula
that is hydrolyzed, meaning that the proteins have been processed
to break them down. These formulas are often preferred to soy
because soy itself is a common allergen and hydrolyzed formula is
tolerated by more babies. Your doctor will help you select the
appropriate formula. Insurance can help defray the high costs.

FOODS/INGREDIENTS CONTAINING DAIRY:
“Butter, butter fat, butter oil, buttermilk, artificial butter flavor,
casein, caseinates (ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium,
sodium) cheese, cream, cottage cheese, curds, custard, Ghee, Half
& Half, hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, whey
protein), lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoglobulin,
lactose, lactulose, milk (derivative powder, protein, solids, malted,
condensed, evaporated, dry, whole, low-fat, milkfat, non-fat,
skimmed, and goat's milk) , nougat, pudding, rennet casein, sour
cream, sour cream solids, whey (in all forms including sweet,
delactosed, protein concentrate), yogurt, malted milk. The
following may contain milk products - flavorings (natural and
artificial), luncheon meat, hot dogs, sausages, high protein flour,
margarine, Simplesse ®” http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/
safety/allergingred.htm Cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, kefir, sour
cream, and ice cream, unless specifically formulated to be dairyfree,
always contain milk. Milk is also present in many types of
processed food. Processed foods that are likely to contain dairy
products include chocolate, salad dressings, pastries, snack foods
with butter or cheese flavorings (even if they're artificial), soups,
and even canned tuna and deli meats. As with any food allergy,
never eat any processed food unless you have read the label, and
always be aware of cross-contamination risks from utensils or
surfaces where dairy products may have been prepared.

DAIRY AND LABELING LAWS
Dairy is one of the eight most common allergens in the United
States, and as such, current food labeling laws require that the
presence of milk be clearly marked on ingredient labels. However,
it's best to learn the myriad names dairy products appear on in
labels. While FDA laws require that the presence of milk be
marked in plain English, it's safest to rely on that in conjunction
with your own knowledge of dairy-containing ingredients.

PREVENTING LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Lactose intolerance symptoms can be prevented, at least
temporarily, by replacing the lactase enzyme the body lacks. This is
done in one of two ways: through dietary supplements, which are
available over-the-counter, or by adding lactase directly to dairy
products. The latter is how lactose-free milk is made.

LIVING WITH DAIRY ALLERGIES
You'll find substitutes for milk products in many supermarkets and
health-food stores. Always check these for the presence of dairy,
however; some may include traces of milk and thus be unsuitable
for someone with allergies. With that caveat, try the many milk
substitutes on the market for baking, drinking, and cooking. Soy
milk, rice milk, and nut milks are but a few of the varieties
available, and each has different properties. Rice milk is low in
protein (so it acts quite differently than cow's milk in baking) but
has a mild taste; in its vanilla flavor it is delicious on cereal and
good for drinking plain. Soy milk and nut milks have a stronger
flavor and can work well in baked goods. Milk has a somewhat
outsized reputation as a nutritional powerhouse. However, with
planning, you can easily replace the nutrients in milk. Be especially
aware of calcium, protein, and vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are
found in abundance in dairy products.

Information taken from: http://foodallergies.about.com/od/
dairy/p/dairyallergies.htm

Always double check labels...

I bought a new cereal, Cinnamon Chex, and served it to my kids for breakfast. All Chex cereals have been dairy-free to my knowledge, so I didn't even think to read the label. As we were eating it, everyone commented on how delicious it was. I turned the box to see how much sugar was in it and saw that it contained milk. I told my anaphylactic son to dump it down the drain, rinse his mouth out, and drink a cup of water to dilute the cereal. The next day he was once again covered in an itchy rash covering his arms that he will now have for a few weeks until it finally goes away. He tries not to scratch it, but during the night it's hard for him, and he's now got little scabs over the rash. Another lesson learned on how important it is to always double check labels. Thank goodness a rash is all that happened:)

Rebekah's Rash!

I've become a little bit more lenient with Rebekah's eating habits since the allergist said that she wasn't allergic to milk anymore.  Today I gave her a polio string cheese and a yogurt.  Boy do I regret that decision.  Within an hour, she was covered head to toe in hives.  I gave her Benadryl and watched her closely for any sign of anaphylaxis.  I am glad that she seemed okay the next day.  I will definitely keep her off of all dairy for the time being.

Another ear infection...

My daughter, whom was fussy as a baby until I stopped dairy all together while nursing, got tested for a milk allergy and it came back negative. So, I decided to try and give her cow's milk. At first she wouldn't drink it, as she preferred soy. So, I kept her on soy. The other day, we were out of soymilk, so I gave her a sippy cup full of cow's milk. The next day we went to the doctor's office and found out that she had an ear infection. What!?! It is an interesting coincidence. I do not imagine that I will keep her off of all dairy products, but until I'm certain, she will definitely stay on soymilk.

Screaming baby...happy baby:)

When I had my fifth baby, I felt like I was becoming an expert on milk allergies. My three boys suffered from them, while my daughter showed no symptoms. So when I had a baby girl, I was very careful that she didn't get any formula. However, she was a very fussy baby. The thought of going through another colicky baby was daunting to say the least. I saw visions of sleepless nights and rings under my eyes. I heard from a friend that she had to go off of all dairy products while nursing because her baby was fussy. You would think that I would put two and two together, but no...I always learn the hard way! I had never thought about a possibile connection between colic and milk (coming through the breast milk). "I wonder..." thought I. So, I decided to take the plunge and go without any dairy products myself. It was the first time in my life that I had sympothy for my oldest son, now ten. Could my food really taste that bad without the cheese and other ammenities? I missed ice cream, cereal and milk, lasagna, and all of my other favorites. I missed goldfish, parmesan cheese, and whipped cream. I began a quest to cook better and to find dairy-free recipes that the whole family could enjoy, since now four of my five children were having problems in one way or another with dairy products.

I have since began writing a book and cookbook that I hope to have ready for sale soon. (www.milkallergycompanion.com) I don't want other mom's to have to go through what I went through. Imagine an entire cookbook filled with recipes completely dairy free that the entire family can enjoy! I am really excited about the prospect, if for nobody else, at least for me so that it can make cooking that much easier for my family:)

Back to my baby...so I did the experiment and went completely off all dairy products. She turned from a fussy baby with diarrhea, gas, and colic type symptoms to the sweetest angel you have ever seen. Everyone I talked to asked me, "Is she always this good?" I smile and say, "Yes." If I had known this, I am convinced that I could have saved my second son and myself months and months of misery when he had his colic. I wish I had known this so that I could have at least tried and made things better for him. After a year of going dairy free myself, I finally got my daughter tested for a milk allergy. It came back negative. My oldest son has a lifetime milk allergy (we keep re-testing him). I can't help but wonder if this could have been avoided had I gone off all dairy while nursing. I guess I'll never know:) Perhaps not, but I am overjoyed that my now seventeen month old can enjoy dairy. The funny thing is, that she doesn't even like it that much. She spits it out and asks for soymilk. Go figure! Anyway, I hope that this helps some nursing mom out there:)

More ear infections...

After seeing the improvement with my second son and his ear infections, I decided to try the experiment on my fourth son. He also had a history of ear infections. They wanted to do surgery when he was two and then again at three, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to go through that again. Especially since it didn't seem to help his brother long term. As I was deciding on what to do, I got the advice about the connection between ear infections and milk allergy from the ENT for his older brother. So I thought, "What would it hurt to take both of them off all dairy?" My three year old has not had an infection since.

One interesting thing is that my parents babysat for me and gave him pizza. The next morning he woke up screaming holding his ear and saying that it hurt. I did some research that stated that milk can cause extra mucus when you drink it. It makes sense to me that if my boys ears don't drain very well and if they get extra mucus in there, that it will eventually get infected. When I went to an allergist for my fourth asking about the connection between milk allergy and ear infections, he said that it was just a coincidence that his ear hurt after having had the pizza.

Whether or not there is any connection, my boys are now all dairy-free...as well as ear infection free:)

Two surgeries and eight years later...

Okay, I want to jump from my first son to the history of my second son for this blog. When he was born, he was an extremely colicky baby. He would scream every night for hours at a time. This was a very difficult and dark time in my life. Anyone with a screaming baby can understand. In addition to the colic, he had recurring ear infections. Every six weeks or so, he would get another infection. He was constantly on antibiotics and his left ear drum ruptured twice. So, he was sheduled for surgery to put tubes in his ears. After his surgery, he could have no water in his ears for one year. We had to use special ear plugs for every bath. When he went to the pool, we put ear plugs in and then reinforced his ears with an ace bandage to insure that no water could get in. Everyone at the pool thought that he had a severe head injury:) But at least he could splash around in the water. (I believe that he was 2 or 3 during this time). A few years later, he was still having ear infections every few months. He had had a total of four ruptures in his left ear and was scheduled for a second surgery. This time they took his adenoids out as well. I was pregnant with my fourth at the time and as he awoke, he started vomitting blood. Apparently it had drained down into his stomach during the surgery. As I was sick as well with morning sickness, the nurse had to help both of us and clean up my son. It broke my heart to witness this. Since he was I believe 6 or 7 at this time, I thought that all would be well. Once again we had a summer with no swim lessons and had to take precautions to protect his ears. This was really hard for him. After the tubes fell out, I noticed that his hearing was diminished in his left ear. He was talking to his Dapaw on the phone and couldn't hear him at all. I then switched the phone to his other ear and he could hear perfectly. So we had even more visits to the doctor's office. As a side note, every time his ear drum ruptured, we had little signs and little warning. He would wake up at 1 am screaming, we would rush him to the hospital and by the time we got there, it would have ruptured already, if not then, then by the next morning. So, any time he said his ear hurt, even the slightest, I would pack up all the kids and rush off to the doctor's office, urgent care, or the hospital, depending upon the time of day. When his ear drum ruptured the fifth time, I sobbed. He woke up, said his ear hurt, and by the time we got to the doctor's office, it had already ruptured.

So...why do I bring all of this up? We finally found a specialist when he was eight who told us that we needed to take him off of all dairy products. What? I had never in my life heard of anything like that. His older brother had the severe milk allergy, not him. Besides, he LOVED pizza, ice cream, milk on cereal, etc. I decided to do an experiment. In the past he always had mucus and green stuff in his nose. After the fifth rupture, he was also getting infections every six weeks. So we took him off of all dairy. Completely. No whey, no casein, etc. His nose cleared up and he hasn't had an infection since.

As a side note, I brought him to an allergist and asked him about the possibility of a milk allergy and ear infections. He said that it has never been proven and didn't believe me. I don't think that I'll be seeing him again:)

Welcome to the Milk Allergy Companion Blog

Hi! I'm a mom of five precious cherubs who all have one thing in common. Me. Just kidding:) Actually, 4 out of 5 have all suffered in one way or another from a milk allergy. I am writing this blog because ten years ago, when it all began, I had no clue where to go or what to do to help my oldest son. If I had known what I know now, life would have definitely been easier and we would have had fewer trips to the emergency room. I hope that by posting this blog it will in some way help someone else who suffers from the same thing.

Let me start out by saying that I am NOT a doctor. Although I've dealt with this for ten years, I cannot be responsible for the advice given, and I encourage you to go to the appropriate source to get help for you or your child. That said, I do have a few lessons learned and "not-so-funny" stories that I've gone through. As I'm new to blogging, I hope that you bear with me and enjoy reading:)

In the beginning there were two college students desperately in love and willing to take the plunge into marriage. I was nineteen and he was almost 24. One month later, I was vomiting 5-20 times per day off and on for the next five months. 4 months later our oldest son was born. All seemed well until this rash appeared on his chest. He would itch it until it bled. We went to countless doctors and specialists. None of them checked for a milk allergy. We used multiple steroid creams to no avail. When he was 8-9 months old, I tried formula (I had nursed him up until that point except for one bottle in the hospital.) He immediately vomited the formula, which I thought was odd, so I continued nursing him. The rash was still present.

A few weeks later I tried yogurt. After one bite of yogurt, he went into antiphylaxis and we rushed him to the urgent care. His eyelids swelled shut, and his entire body swelled up. It was surreal. I became prenant with our second son and was still nursing, as I didn't want to try formula again. Of course I got sick with my second pregnancy as well. My oldest son started losing weight, so naively I decided to give him a bottle of straight cow's milk. This time his eyes rolled back and he had labored breathing. Finally we found an allergist who told us that he was allergic to milk and eggs.

And so our journey began...