Should I give it a try?

[Anonymous]

I had posted a different question on here, but quickly realized that the answer to it was already in other posts, so I am editing.

My new question is this: Is it possible for my son to have a MSPI when his only consistent symptom is a lot of spit up? He has had reflux for 9 months strong and we have never switched his milk-based formula. He has had a runny/stuffy nose for about a month now and his reflux has been so bad since he was just a couple of weeks old. He has not always had a runny/stuffy nose, so I am not sure if that has anything to do with milk. He does not get diaper rashes, other rashes, he does not seem to have painful gas and he has no real problems with his bowel movements. His only consistent and predominant symptom is reflux. He has always had an itchy nose and itchy eyes, but I am not sure if that could be a symptom. The doctor has always told me that it is highly unlikely that it is a MSPI. However, at my last visit, she said that I might as well give the nutramigen a shot since he is still spitting so much. He is gagging on the nutramigen and it is clear that he hates the taste.

What do y’all think? Should I give it a shot? What are the odds that it is a MSPI?

klmccart2008-05-30 21:29:43

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t really sound like MSPI to me. We had rashes along with our spit up and horrible gas and irritability before we were on Nutramigen. Where do you live? What is going on with your pollen? What you are describing sounds to me like seasonal allergies… You could try alittle Zyrtec (he can have 2.5ml/day) which is OTC to see if that helps with the stuffy nose and itchy eyes. Cooper’s allergies have been so bad that when we go outside his eyes start watering almost immediately. But those are just my thoughts. If you do decide to go with Nutramigen, I would do a gradual switch since he has been on the other formula for so long, b/c he won’t like the nutramigen if you go cold turkey.

[Anonymous]

I had the opportunity to hear an amazing ped GI lecture last weekend, and one thing that he really wanted everyone to take away from his lecture was that reflux is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There is always something causing the reflux.

In newborns, this is commonly an underdeveloped / immature LES (lower esophageal sphincter) and if that is the case, it will subside as the LES and gut matures. When reflux dosen’t subside with time, then it is important to explore the various possible causes because it is not normal for an otherwise healthy older baby, toddler, or child to have reflux. There must be a cause. The most common cause of persisting reflux is food intolerance.

How did you introduce the Nutramigen? It really doesn’t taste good, and most kids won’t like it if switching from a non-hypoallergenic formula. It is best to introduce it very slowly by adding one ounce of Nutramigen to the old formula. After a day or two, try 2 ounces of Nutramigen, then a couple days later 3 ounces, etc. until you have fully made the switch. Keep in mind you shouldn’t expect to see much or any improvement in symptoms until your little one is completely on the Nutramigen for maybe even a week or two. It is likely best to avoid any other sources of dairy (in baked goods, crackers, yogurt, cheese, etc.) while doing a milk-free trial so as to really see if there is improvement in the absense of milk.

Good luck! I know your little one has had such a hard time with reflux, I hope that going milk free will help! Both of my kids are 100% milk free – and we’ll never go back.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that information, Sheri. Have you ever heard of a baby with a MSPI whose only symptom is reflux? Did the GI say anything about that? I would have loved to have gone to that conference!

[Anonymous]

http://www.frontiercoop.com ->

Baking and Spices ->

Flavoring and Extracts ->

You’ll find a whole list of natural flavorings that are alcohol free. We bought vanilla and banana (only used the banana).

I think we used one drop per 2 ounces.

After a few weeks, we totally omitted the flavor, and she drank Neocate just fine. HTH

[Anonymous]

I know I’m late on this one, but I have to agree with Sheri. Dagney was still having reflux issues at 17 months, our Pediatrician said that same thing–that reflux is a symptom not a disease and it is caused by an underlying food intollerance. We tried cutting out all dairy again, and that didn’t seem to make a difference, and then we cut out tomatoes, and — knock on wood — we havent’ seen any reflux symptoms! (And we even had the blood allergy test done that didn’t show an allergy to tomatoes, so it could just be an intollerance or the acid getting her.) Best of luck, and hope things are going better now!!

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