Lost and feeling defeated!

[Anonymous]

Ian has had croup last couple of days (minor case)and it’s making eating impossible, but my boo hoo is about his long term problem. For the last 3 1/2 weeks, he’s been (and I apologize as I’ve been posting before-but I’m at the point where I’m ready to go into my GI’s office screaming) eating 1-2oz – stopping- pulling legs up and passing hard gas-and then anxiously trying to go back to eat- sucks a couple of times-repeats sequence 3 more times-gives up frustrated. Not reflux but stomach related-I’m sure of it. He was eating 28-30 oz and now is down to 13-18oz a day. Doctors are not listening to me at all! They keep saying – gaining fine/happy/sometimes babies change eating habits/blah,, blah,, blah,,. I keep telling him that ALTHOUGH he has gained fine in the past, over the last 3 1/2 weeks, he’s only gained 3oz! That’s not in anyway his norm. Now, he does have a virus and is eating a little less right now but the issue is still the same! His stools have become even more infrequent and are watery and small. I just cant understand why no one is taking this seriously!!

Apologies for the rant, but I’m at my wits end. Even this morning, he’s clearly feeling much better and he had to stop at 2oz because of this weird gas thing. I can’t even get him to take the rest in the bouncy chair which he always does. If anyone has ever had this-please let me know. We’re sure it’s not constipation with the loose stools but worry about some other issues that may be serious.

Thank you for listening.

Tracy (Ian’s mom 9-26-05) Elecare and Prevacid

[Anonymous]

Are there trace proteins in the elecare? I am not familiar with it. Dylan was on Nutramigen for a while until the milk proteins had a chance to build up in his system, and then he was similar. very fussy, gassy, uncomfortable, impossible to feed, etc. Neocate would be the next thing I tried.

Also, what form of Prevacid is Ian on?

[Anonymous]

Hi again Tracy… Sorry that Ian’s not eating well. Much of this we’ve
discussed by email but thought I’d post more details here. I’d honestly
suggest:

1. Prevacid solutabs can cause gas/cramping in some babies. Have you
thought about trying an unflavored compound instead? Or Zegerid?

2. I know when Ian goes it doesn’t seem like he’s constipated, but it
sounds to me like he is to a degree – and the month or two of rice and
juice may have upset things (like it did with Marisa). I’d strongly
suggest talking to your ped or GI about using milk of magnesia or
Miralax to really clean out his bowels. We noticed a HUGE difference
with Marisa after really getting her cleaned out with the Miralax last
week – she started eating much better and more comfortably. Still
struggles at times with gas and to pass BMs but definitely better.

3. Course of probiotics. We plan to do this with Marisa (1/4 tsp of
Baby Jarodophilus in formula) after we see Ped on Friday for her
6-month visit. Can really help restore balance to intestines and
normalize things.

4. You mentioned you are seeing Dr. Pittman on March 3rd, correct? From
what Thais has told me, although she’s really arrogant, she is
aggressive with testing – so maybe you can get some answers from her?
Have you checked with her office to get put on a cancellation list and
maybe get in to see her sooner?

5. Could Ian be lactose intolerant? There is a small amount of lactose in the solutabs…

Anyway, I hope things clear up soon!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys.

Elecare is just like Neocate -no traces. We did have problems on Nutramagin-but he cried all the time not just at feedings. As far as the prevacid issues-This weird gas thing started when he wasn’t taking any at all. We started prevacid again just in case it was reflux. But good thoughts though.

His bowel movements have been more regular but are really watery and explosive (which could be the virus?). Doctor said no to laxative if they’re soft (sigh!). As for probiotics-I asked my ped and he said no because research doesn’t support. K-what does your ped think? Is it something you buy over the counter?

We’ve called our old gi who I don’t like at all (you know-K) and are hoping he’ll be open to testing. Dr. Pittman isn’t until March 3rd and can’t get in sooner. It may be a habit of Ian’s right now, but he’s clearly hungry. I can tell you the exact day and time this starting happening because I remember the grunting. Daycare even is concerned but all the doctors keep saying is ‘some babies just decide not to eat”ARGHEEE!!!

It’s really stressing me out to feed him and I know that’s not good. I’m trying to hide it from him but I’m getting worse at it. I’ve been doing most of the feedings because he’s off daycare this week and husband has work full time then school at night. I guess I just need a break.

Thank you for listening.

Tracy

[Anonymous]

My ped thinks probiotics could definitely be helpful and said she may
suggest we start them after she sees us Friday – she wanted this full
week on it’s own first. Plus, here are some links:

http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/baby/health/feature/dony 0800altmd_colic/dony0800altmd_colic3.html

http://www.foodallergysolutions.com/constipation.html

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/international/produc ts/tg8.asp

You can get at organic markets, Whole Foods, etc and Ped also said she can write a prescription.

Have you heard back from Dr. S? Let me know what he says.

Have you tried a faster nipple? This did help us a little with the gas
issues. We recently (like 3 weeks ago) changed from a #1 to a #2 nipple
– we think Marisa may have been pulling too hard before and thus
getting more gas. But if the nipple is too fast you can have problems
too.

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiousity did the weird gas thing maybe get worse with the prevacid? The odd thing is that Isaac had what seemed like constipation while on the solutabs but when he went it was just normal not hard balls. This could not at all be related to prevacid but i thought i would throw that out to you. We stopped prevacid and a couple of days later no fake constipation.

[Anonymous]

Tracy, I’m sorry to hear that you are going through such a rough time. Sometimes if they are actally constipated, they can have small, watery bm’s that are just actually leakage (sorry so gross) because they are blocked up. Often times a bulking agent is useful after they’re cleanedout b/c it helps with both constipation and diarrhea. I hope things get sorted out soon. Hang in there…

[Anonymous]

Thanks Lori and Sarah-

Yes, I’m beginning to think something may be backed up. (Even though every dr. will tell you otherwise). He has started to lift up his bum alot and kind of whimper. And, I really don’t think it’s reflux just because he has no signs.

As for the prevacid, we were off of it when he started these problems. When we went back on it thinking perhaps reflux, things didn’t change. Hate the idea of him being on meds if he doesnt need it.

Was thinking of going back to Thick it for a few days as that has a laxative effect on him. Maybe clean him out? ANy thoughts? Scared it could backfire since his belly seems to be aching.

[Anonymous]

I definitely think he could be backed up but would caution against
using the Thick It – could just put additional stress on his digestive
system. Instead I’d use Milk of Magnesia – we used 1tsp of the Phillips
cherry flavor and it worked pretty well (not as well as Miralax, but
still). Most doctors will recommend MoM or Miralax only as laxatives
for babies with reflux, MSPI, etc.

[Anonymous]

We did try MOM once (1/2 tsp) and it made the poor guy scream in pain. Scared to try again.

I can’t believe how sensitive his system is. Quite fragile.

Tracy

[Anonymous]

I’ve never heard of that reaction from MoM – would almost make me think
even more that he is really backed up and his body was starting to push
out something big and it was painful to him? I have no idea though…
Any word back as to whether you can get into the new GI on Friday?

[Anonymous]

I haven’t heard of that reaction either! Poor little guy! It really sounds like they need to run some tests now.

[Anonymous]

On the testing note – Tracy, was the new Ped you saw yesterday at Mt.
Sinai willing to do some tests? They don’t have to come from your Ped
GI… Maybe the new Ped will arrange for you to do the lower GI/barium
enema? My Ped was going to (who knows, we may still have to).

[Anonymous]

Just called my husband crying. He’s going to call our reg ped and ask him (I hate to say this, but sometimes they’ll take the husband more seriously when they otherwise dismiss mother as ‘overprotective’). I’m just freaking out because he’s not eating at all. I just got him finally to take 3oz by putting pacifier in his mouth-taking it out- and then slipping bottle in. Going in intervals. I don’t want to feed my child like this!

I agree – I want to test the heck out of him. I’m really worried.

Tracy

[Anonymous]

s&h’s mum wrote: Sometimes if they are actally constipated, they can have small, watery bm’s that are just actually leakage (sorry so gross) because they are blocked up. Often times a bulking agent is useful after they’re cleanedout b/c it helps with both constipation and diarrhea.

I agree! I just learned about this through Hailey’s Ped GI. They can do an abdominal x-ray to see the amount of stool in the intestines which can indicate that there is a blockage somewhere and loose stool is “leaking” out around it. We said no to the x-ray and opted for the treatment assuming this was her diagnosis. They prescribed Miralax for two weeks which cleans them out and Citrucel along with the Miralax to bulk up the stools. The Citrucel itself won’t clean him out. Are you seeing a Ped GI? Hailey’s regular Ped never suggested any of this and I seriously thought the Ped GI was nuts when he told us that was the problem. I’m convinced he was right, I think it was part of her issue.

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