Rice? and thrush

[Anonymous]

So, after 5 days of cutting out rice & turkey of TED all the hemoccults were still continuing to be positive for blood.

BUT the 4th & 5th day though there was no visible blood in diapers.

Diapers were all still green, mucousy, stinky, etc… but starting to be a bit “seedy”.

I added back in rice yesterday (Saturday) – the 6th day & there was again, visible blood in diapers (plus hemoccults still + all day). Also, “seediness” is gone.

Coincidence? or the rice…

I’m really frustrated that nothing seems to be working!

-I’ve been on the enzymes since Thursday.

-Evan & myself both started probiotics yesterday.

-And I’ve been doing “block feeding” for nursing to ensure that Evan’s getting the hindmilk.

Also (I put this on another post but I’ll repeat), I’m symptomatic for thrush again. We’ve basically been passing it back & forth since Evan was 1-2 wks old & I had to be on antibx. I was treating myself some, but ped kept insisting that Evan didn’t have it. My symptoms have been gone for about a month. Now I’m wondering if undiagnosed & untreated thrush is causing his tummy troubles. I have no clue if that’s possible, but I did read that oral thrush can eventually travel to intestines, etc. Any input?

[Anonymous]

Erin,

I don’t know about the thrush so much, but if you have had it for that long, I would bet it could be causing the problems. As for the rice…here is my opinion…and many people may not agree, but you have to be able to eat something, or your body is just going to shut down. If you think rice may have had something to do with it here is what I would do. You have only been on rice for one day…I guess maybe this is day two. Keep rice in for the next three days and if the visable blood continues, then take it out one more time…if it disappears again, then I think it would be logical that it is the rice.

OK I know this is a stretch and you may have already gone down this path, but is there a chance this tummy problems could be caused by lactose intolerance? Again, I know it is rare, I am just trying to brainstorm for you. I know someone who did have an infant who was lactose intolerant….just a though. 🙂

I am praying for you!

[Anonymous]

My gut is that it’s the rice, but I’m not you. I will say that it is fairly easy to eat the TED diet and avoid the rice, just eat LOTS of potatoes instead. I did it that way, and apart from some weight loss, I survived just fine.

It does sound like there are other issues besides the diet that are causing problems, specifically the thrush. Thank God we never had it hear, but I know it can really cause problems. I’m sure you have already, but I would try La Leche League or a LC to see if they have any suggestions. I know the probiotics will eventually help, but it can take some time. Would the doc give you script to treat the thrush in both of you again?

[Anonymous]

No good advice, just . I would suspect rice, too, but I do think that Emily has some good advice for a couple more days and then cut out again.

I think I remember Christine’s daughter (kevieb) having some issues with Thrush (she was older, too)… I can’t remember the details. If someone knows, can they add in?

Hang in there!!! I will try to find out what I am thinking of…..

[Anonymous]

I just shot a PM to christine to see if she could help….

[Anonymous]

Update:

We had Evan’s 2mth appt today. He’s still growing like crazy so that’s a plus. He got shots, but that’s quick pain (unlike reflux & tummy pain).

We got his Prevacid increased to 30mg! Yay!

Ped wants us to pursue an upper & lower endoscopy. We were prepared to do lower (after appt w/ Ped GI last wk) but general ped wants upper as well to check for esophogeal thrush. He said that it is definitely a possibility for it to travel to intestines, etc.

If another dr. tells me that I might still be eating milk, soy & wheat (b/c they are hidden in so many thing) I may scream-lol. Like my dh said… there are literally only 6-7 things I’m eating & none of them are even remotely processed, etc.

I will give it another day & then will call Ped GI on Wed. to schedule endoscopy.

Thanks for all the continued support & prayers… it’s so hard right now.

Emily- what could he be reacting to if he is lactose intolerant? I don’t understand. I’m going to continue rice for another day or 2 & see. There hasn’t been visible blood today but still green, mucous, etc. & all hemoccults positive.

Naomi- ped never treated Evan for thrush. I treated myself w/ antifungal cream + acidophillus. That did the trick for me, but obviously if Evan had it (w/o symptoms) then we have just been passing it back & forth.

Ann Marie- thank you for sending the PM!

[Anonymous]

really lactose intolerance is super rare (although not unheard of) in babies. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but with this I think the baby is reacting to the lactose sugar in milk. I am not sure if it causes all the problems that Brodie is having, I am just trying to think of things for you. I don’t even know how you determine if this is it, but just something to keep in the back of your mind. I think at this point the endoscopy is a good option. My GI would have done one if McKenzies blood hadn’t cleared up…he still said he would do it, but he was fine if I didn’t want to.

Anyway, I know it is frusterating because people say you COULD be eating dairy, soy, etc….here is something I just thought of…your prenatals? Are those free of everything? I have some that actually say on the box dairy, soy, gluten, etc, etc free. My calcium supplements are the same way.

Hopefully if you do the endoscopy they will be able to schedule it soon. They will take a biopsy and it should show what he is reacting to.

Keep us updated.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that Evan is still having so many problems.

I have heard of several other moms (incuding Naomi) whose little ones had problems with rice. I agree with the suggestion to add turkey back in your diet and completely cut out rice. That might make a difference – and keep your health up, too.

Feel free to cyber-scream all you want if any other doctor insinuates that you are still eating milk or soy. You’d think that years of schooling and seeing patients would teach them to recognize the difference between someone who is actively doing everything possible and someone who is in need of basic information. UGH! (And then you have my ex-ped who said that “nothing” from my diet could pass through my breastmilk to my son…)

We did the Upper GI at 6.5 mths old. It was actually quite simple at that age and should probably be even simpler at 2 mths old. If you are doing at All Children’s, they’ll suit you up with the X-ray apron and you stay right there the whole time with the baby.

We had a small episode of thrush and it amazed me that my ped would give med for my son, but not for me. I had to go to my OB or my MD to get meds for me. I guess that is where a good old-fashioned Family Doctor would be of great help. Someone who treats the whole situation, not just one part of it. I hope that you are able to both get treatment for the thrush so that you can determine if it is a factor in the bad diapers.

I wish we could wave a magic wand and help you immediately get rid of all of this! But, if it is any consolation…you now are most certainly a SuperMom, if you weren’t before. Any challenge that arises in your life after this will be a piece of cake for you to handle!

P.S. Let me know if you’ll be back up in St. Pete for your appts.

[Anonymous]

Oops. I just realized you said an upper endoscopy, not an upper GI. Sorry for talking about the wrong procedure.

[Anonymous]

we battled thrush for probably 6 months–if not longer. sylvia did not have any obvious symptoms of thrush in her mouth after treating with nystatin (more than once) but i couldn’t get rid of it on my breasts. i couldn’t seem to get both of us treated at the same time. local doc said she could not have it without it being obvious—ped gi said yes she could—it could be in her esophagus. since he was 3 hours away, he decided to go ahead and and treat her for it since a scope was the only way to be sure. she started eating, sleeping and gaining weight after just a few days it seems. the ped gi had me quit nursing her—but she was about 15 months old at the time.

i don’t think you will be able to geta rid of it unless both of you are treated at the same time—regardless of which one of you is showing obvious symptoms. diflucan is the medication you want to use since it will treat it systemically and not just topically.

one of my older girls also had esophageal thrush, but we discovered it when she was having a scope for her reflux. she was 14 at the time. she had no obvious thrush in her mouth.

[Anonymous]

Dianne- I will let you know when our appt is. We had Upper GI @ 4wks old & yes, it was very easy. The hardest part was the 3hr fast before.

Christine- so, (just so I have my info straight when I talk w/ ped & OB) – Diflucan for both Evan & me?

[Anonymous]

yes, i would ask for diflucan for both of you. i can’t remember for sure, but it seems like it was at least a 10 day course. i finally ended up using a cream on my breasts when i was no longer nursing that was a combo of a steroid cream (betamethasone) and an antifungal (clotrimazole, i think).

years ago (daisy is almost 23) she had a yeast infection on her bum. the ped had told me that if it was on her bum it was probably all the way through her system and i think he treated the rash with a cream and also gave her some oral medication. he asked if my nipples were sore–they had been cracked and bleeding—he told me to use the baby’s bottom cream on my nipples. this was before diflucan and it was nystatin we used, but, he was having me treat everything that seemed to be infected and it had not been going on for 6 months.

i wouldn’t use nystatin again because you have to try and get it all over in their mouth which is pretty hard to do with a baby and you have to give it 4 times a day. diflucan works systemically and is only given once a day. (i think)

[Anonymous]

Ok thanks Christine; we’ve never used Nystatin. I’ve treated myself w/ acidophillus + OTC antifungal cream & Evan’s never been treated.

Upper & Lower Endoscopy is scheduled for next Thursday (7/31) so hopefully we’ll have answers from that!

[Author]

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