The Second 12 months - Finally some answers

So began the wait to see an allergist. In some states of Australia, the waiting times to see an allergist are 6 - 12 months for public or 3 -6 months for private allergists. We waited to 3 months to see a private allergist.

Baby B was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, soy, eggs, nuts and salicylates. We were put onto an elimination diet and given some elemental formula to try. We also were linked in with another paed gastro who worked with nutrition and children with allergies.

Baby B has no anaphylaxis to the things he is allergic to, but instead has a gastrointestinal response. This can and has resulted in bleeding for him from his stomach and bowels.

Unluckily for us, Baby B is also allergic to all elemental formulas. This required me to continue breastfeeding until he was over 2 years of age as there was nothing else to replace it. So both Baby B and I went onto the strict elimination diet together. Mr B had variations of this as it was too complicated to cook multiple meals :-)

Interestingly the thing that was affecting his sleep were natural foods containing salicylates. We removed things like apple, avocado, corn - many things you introduce baby to with solids and his sleep improved dramatically. Down from waking 15 times a night to 3 or 4 times a night.

The dramas in the second year were 2 x gastroscopies to check for damage to his oesophagus and gut. The paed gastro told us that reflux is a common allergic response to children with allergies.