What is Cow’s Milk Allergy? A simple enough question, and one you would think most doctors would be able to answer. Why then, in this day and age do we find that GPs struggle to diagnose this illness? I may be over reacting here, but it is my experience. I want to take this opportunity to share it with you because no parent should have to live through the nightmare. Hopefully this might go someway to raising the awareness of this illness.
The story begins with the birth of our Bethany. Right from the beginning we had difficulties feeding her: breast feeding was impossible, this was heart breaking for me, as I felt a failure as a mother. The use of the bottle was no better. As our only child, I had nothing to compare it with. I spoke to friends and other mothers and got a range of advice: we couldn’t get the answers we needed from the health visitors. I got the impression that she thought I was a pushy neurotic mum.
Bethany had colic, her bowel movements were loose and smelly. Is this not what all babies do? She was losing weight, and I was now a constant visitor to my GP, increasing my status as a neurotic mother. She now had red blotchy blisters and was looking more like a malnourished child from Africa.
My GP said that Beth had gastroenteritis and gave here replacement fluids for four days then reintroduce milk feed at the end of the week. This did not help at all, her symptoms returned when we reintroduced her milk, and it seemed to get worse. He ended up swapping her soya milk, but it did not help.
Its not just Beth who was suffering, I was becoming more and more depressed and withdrawn. I didn’t want to see my GP about it because…. I just couldn’t. My focus had to be to get Beth better, nothing else mattered now. Maybe I should have changed doctors but I thought, “he knows what he’s doing, he has the history of Beth, he will find an answer soon.
Mike and I were also arguing more between the crying and sleepless nights, my paranoia had turned to him, was he also questioning my ability as a mother? Was he blaming me? It was alright for him, he had a rest bite, he could go to work the next day. I was dealing with it day in and day out.
Then at about six months into her new (and painful life), she stopped breathing. We were shopping at the time, I don’t know how but something just told me she wasn’t just sleeping anymore. I can’t remember the exact events that morning because ashamedly I went into a panic. It was a passing stranger who I’ve never got the chance to thank that help resuscitate her. We were rushed to hospital and she was seen straight away. After explaining the history the doctor said that she might be suffering from an allergy to her feed. She was admitted and given a nasal feed with clear fluid. They then started her on Neocate, and even after a few days we could see an improvement.
Now Beth is two years old. She is a happy smiley child, but is prone to illness. Her immune system was badly damaged in the first 6 months of her life. Her allergies now include milk, egg and nuts. I worry how about the future now, what am I going to do about nursery and school?
We have since moved and are now with a different GP. I still wonder what could have been had it been diagnosed much earlier. I just wish there was more awareness out there and hope no other parent has to go through what we have done.
Patricia F