needs some help

[Ollie76]

Hi just to give some background:

-My DD is 10 months
-has reflux that has been treated for the past 7 months
-she is on Nutramigen (hypoallergenic formula) just in case the reflux was related to an allergy (which I don't think it is)

My question is this.  She never seems completely comfortable during the day.  She has so many BM's and is often squirmy and uncomfortable until she actually has a BM.  I gave her bread the other day, and it seemed worse (not sure if it was a coincidence or not).  Also, not sure if the formula could be increasing BMs!

It's so frustrating and I'm just not sure what to do anymore.  We have seen a GI and he said it could be IBS? At this age?  Could it be an allergy?

Any thoughts?  Thanks,

Chantal

[Eden&Connor'sMom]

My DS has reflux and I think it's causes by MSPI. His spitting up is completely under control with a milk and soy free diet (well, my diet, as he's breastfeed) as well as Prevacid. If he does get milk or soy in his diet, he gets very gassy and uncomfortable/squirmy. His gas also stinks to high heaven, which tells me he can't digest it properly. It's certainly possible to be MSPI and have no other symptoms than gassy and uncomfortable.

Here's a true mom question for you: what are her BMs like? Are they green, mucousy, loose/hard or odd in any way?

[momtoandrewandthomas]

I know that my Thomas was similar to your discription.  He was generally pleasant during the days but when it came to eating or pooping we had issues.  He always was extremely constipated and that was the reason he was started on Neutramigen in the first place.  The doctor thought maybe the easily digested proteins would help his bowels.  It really did not make too much of a difference for him although she said that most kids go 4-8 times a day on it.  He was lucky if he went once and that was pumping him full of laxitives. 

I do know that any type of starchy foods (rice, pototoes, squash, carrots) made him scream to high heaven and he began refusing to eat from a spoon at all.  I finally settled on oats with sugar (natural laxitive) and pears.  Those were the only 2 things that did not bother his belly at 6 months.  My husband kept making fun of me and telling me he could not eat only pears forever.  He is a great eater now!!!

I guess I would agree with Eden and Connor's mom - start to look at the relationship of all foods, poops and spit up.  When are they happening more?  How is it all related.  Thomas pooped dark green for months and months and the pedi never cared about that.  He was in excruciating pain all day because he would have to poop and then he wouldn't eat until he did and then he would eat too fast and then spit up and be hungry and miserable.  He also could not sleep at night.  he rested well through the day, but at night we would pray he would only start to get up at 1 or 2 beacuse once he was up, he was up all night.  Sometimes he started at 10.  It was horrible.  To make a long story short, he was MSPI and we had no idea.  He also had reflux most likely as a result of not being able to digest what he ate all day and night.

How does she eat?  Squirmy throughout?  THomas never lay still for a feeding and he latched on and off the entire time and then he would just fall asleep from boredom. 

Try keeping a detailed food, sleep and poop diary for a week or 2 and see how things relate to each other.  It may tell you a lot.

Jen

[Mydreamcametrue]

We were told that my son may have IBS also.  Personally I think that is a load of crap... 

I would deft. keep the food diary and see if you can see any connection on foods and bowel movements.

I got the same question.  What are the BM's like? 

My 10 month old has also been having about 4 to 5 BM's a day, but it is hard and barely anything there.  There is a food that is causing his constipation, I have not been able to figure it out yet though.

BTW:  Does the bread you give have milk in it?  If she is MSPI, or just milk protein intolerant, than anything with milk can make her feel uncomfortable.

Hugs, Wendy

[Ollie76]

Thank you all for your replies.  In terms of her poop (not sure if everyone wants to hear about this but here we go).....since she changed reflux meds it has been firmer and usually small.  I think she's constipated at the moment......she poops about 5 times a day but only 1 of those poops seems somewhat normal (size, consistency wise).  Whenever I give her prunes, she just seems so much more uncomfortable....it's hard to know whether or not I should be doing something to make it better or not.  My DD1 I believe, had a milk protein intolerance (would get extremely constipated) so we stayed away from milk for a while (she's fine now). 

I think that the nutramigen makes her feel like pooping, but that the reflux meds make her constipated!  Could that be the problem??

BTW:  don't think we'll be changing reflux meds at the moment (this is our 4th one).

[momtoandrewandthomas]

I had a speech therapist tell me that one of the biggest hidden signs of reflux is constipation.  Also, they have done new research that shows that MSPI also causes constipation (Thomas's biggest problem).  It is not as common as vomiting and diarrhea, but is definitely an issue.  Is there a chance that there is milk or soy in the reflux med?  I think some of them do have it.  Thomas has not had issues with them, but I know antibiotics, which are typically grown on milk or soy, have wrecked havoc on his belly causing severe diarrhea (NEVER happens otherwise).  It is such a challenge to find common ground.

[Ollie76]

We are having a really bad day today.  She is very constipated.....I gave her some fruit, but I think that makes it almost worse - maybe she has cramps.  Her BM was black and sticky??  We just put her on probiotics - maybe not such a good idea?  She is just miserable - poor thing.  We also had the same experience as you did with your son Jen on antibiotics a few months ago - terrible crying and diarrhea! 

I'm also a speech-language pathologist and didn't know about the constipation/reflux connection - just learned something new I guess!

[momtoandrewandthomas]

That is wild lots of therapists on this site.  I don't know - this SLP worked at Easter Seals where we live and she had gone to a training that told her that.  I would say that was the case with Thomas as well.  I have waffled about the probiotics myself but am nervous to rock the boat as at 26 months, Thomas is doing well and sleeping halfway decent.  Thomas constantly had black/forest green sticky poops and he was awful!!!!!  It hurt to go and then he could not eat either.  He was better when he was on regular foods and not as much formula.  I think the sticky poops are the worst because they can't get them out well.  Is there a way to add some water to her diet.  I know that helps with my older son.

Maybe something like Miralax or sugar water?  I used to give Thomas 4-8 oz of sugar water a day and that did help.  Prunes made it much worse green diarrhea!!!! 

Hang in there and keep posting to let us know how she is.

[Mydreamcametrue]

Black poop is a sign of blood.  I would make sure that does not continue.  If so, save a sample of it and take it with you to the doctor to be tested.

About the probiotics, what brand are you using?  So many are grown on milk, so if she has problems with milk, you need to find one that is not grown on milk.

I have a brand I got here in the US, not sure where you are.

Hang in there, Wendy