Home › Forums › Infant Reflux Support › HELP!!! › Am I overreacting? Formula change.
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February 23, 2006 at 10:26 am #2238
Anonymous
InactiveNew GI asked us to switch to Alimentum from Elecare because for the last month, Ian’s been having tiny, watery stools and had stopped eating-not desire, but for some reason seemed like he couldn’t get it in. Dr. thought perhaps he outgrew intolerance and more reg. formula would help. It did in the sense that Ian’s eating a ton and has had a normal, healthy bowel movement, however, new curious behavior is coming up. For 2 days now, he’s back to stiffening (not bending), crying fits, and moaning constantly (have to keep pacifier in him). Not as playful and sleep is somewhat interrupted. But, he has no signs of intolerance-ecezma, vomiting, blood, etc. Is it possible its a digestive adjustment period? Has anyone else had to go through a hurdle such as this where it works itself out? Would hate to not give it enough time but am I just building up proteins? Or perhaps it’s related to why he stopped eating in the first place? He’s still bearing down (though not as much) like he has to poo and we never did figure out why he obviously was hungry and would go to bottle but had to stop eating(while on elecare)-it didn’t SEEM like a taste issue but rather that it hurt.
SO confused! Supposed to go for rectal biopsy tomorrow and have called dr. Any thoughts are appreciated. And, I so apologize if this question has been posed before, I’m just desperate. What do you do-give him a formula that he’ll eat and poo on or Give him a formula that he feels good on? ………SIGH.
Tracy (Ian’s Mom 9-26-05)
February 23, 2006 at 10:55 am #2240InactiveHi again Tracy! I know we emailed but thought I’d post additional thoughts here.
Marisa went through an odd adjustment period when we first switched her
from Neocate to Alimentum about 4 weeks ago. Of course she also had a
cold and started teething same time so was really hard to tell what was
what. But she was congested and sucking thumb way more and seemed more
whiny. And needed to eat more often. And was getting patches of acne.
But my DH and Ped convinced me to wait and see and those symptoms did
totally calm down after about 10 days or so. Her congestion is gone
now, the acne is mostly gone and she’s not sucking thumb as
ridiculously much – but still quite a bit since teething hard core.Wasn’t he doing the stiffening and not bending on Elecare at one point too?
I guess if it were me I would wait and talk to the doctor and do the
tests first before switching again. Especially since he doesn’t eat the
Elecare or Neocate… Hard call though, I know.February 23, 2006 at 11:03 am #2243InactiveDigestively speaking, I think it is reasonable to expect a period of time for his system to adjust to the new formula. I remember when we switched from Good Start to Alimentum, it took a good 6 weeks before everything kind of worked it’s way out. There are so many factors that can happen coincidentally too (like Karen suggested – teething, viruses, etc.). I would probably keep him on it, especially since he’s actually eating it and pooping too!
What does this rectal biopsy involve?
February 23, 2006 at 11:41 am #2246InactiveThanks guys-I need to hear it and remind myself patience is a virtue.
K-he was not bending on Elecare but once the proteins kind of worked their way out-it died down and almost had gone away. Also, that’s funny-Ian’s been having some congestion too! I thought it was leftover virus.
Stacey-a rectal biopsy is just a tube they put up his bum/colon. Not too stressful-no anesthsia (I should know how to spell that word) but Dr. says baby will cry from the pain-although short proceedure. This is to tell us if he has hirschsprung’s because of the leaky poo. She may not want to do it since he did go, but I agree with Karen and think I’ll push for it. We still don’t know what caused Ian to have that weird month and I don’t want it to happen again.
Stacey – can I also ask what age was Hailey when you switched to Alimentum? Just curious, even though I know all children are different.
He does seem to calm down for awhile after he eats. But doesn’t last long.
Tracy
February 23, 2006 at 12:09 pm #2247InactiveJust talked to Dr. and she said no to biopsy. Said although it’s minimal risk, it is a risk. Since he finally went and doesn’t have any other hirschsprung symptoms/history, why put Ian through it. She seems very concerned about his liver and wants to start with that first. Also, I’m to switch one bottle Elecare, one bottle Alimentum for a couple of days but touch base with her tomorrow. She didn’t seem to think it was very likely that it was an adjustment period but wants to compare reactions to formulas back to back.
From here we decide on more tests. She says it sounds like reflux but I’m still not on board with that. Besides, why would I put him on a formula that I have to increase his meds on, right? Any thoughts?
Tracy
February 23, 2006 at 1:16 pm #2257InactiveI didn’t realize there was minimal risk – makes sense then to hold off
on that test. What liver test are they doing? When do you get blood
results back? What other tests would she decide on?The switching back and forth doesn’t make sense to me. How would you be
able to tell anything? If he is reacting to the Alimentum, the proteins
would still be in his system for the next Elecare bottle.As for formula/medication, I know what you mean about not wanting to
have to increase medication. But if he won’t eat the Elecare, is it
worth it? Maybe he’d be better off on different/more meds as long as
he’s eating and pooping at least? Not sure – but I probably would lean
that way myself.February 23, 2006 at 1:58 pm #2266InactiveOk, I’m starting to lose my mind over here. He’s just had a bottle of Elecare and he didn’t want it but got 3 oz in, now he’s crying/whining non stop. Moaning again. He did have another bm-good, but I agree, how can you tell anything by switching back and forth. Only thing is maybe it could make the transistion easier?? I don’t think the GI’s get this-they read things in books-but being at home with the child is a totally different thing.
I didn’t know there was risk either-didn’t elaborate-I’m sure something minimal as with all tests. Remember this is the Dr. who doesn’t want to give Miralax. Liver is an ultrasound because it came up enlarged on xray. Chance of infection. Blood tests are normal. We will then decide what to do from here.
I still cant get behind the acid reflux theory. Although he’s stiffening like mad and if you bend him, he screams(getting worse) but he’s already on 30 prevacid. And, he has no other reflux symptoms. Still a happy spitter and no arching while eating or anything. I think it’s more of an stomach pain issue which is why I really think we need to test.
I love my son but 2 days of constant moaning is really wearing on me. My husband is not around much with school, choir, work, etc. and I’m getting no relief. This is so stressful! Son is ignoring me when I try to talk to him-I know he doesn’t hate me right now but it sure seems like it.
Tracy
February 23, 2006 at 3:13 pm #2280InactiveI know the nonstop moaning is tough. With Marisa’s gas as of late and
the teething, we have some really whiny days (and are having one now
today). When that happens I put her in the sling a lot (and stroller)
and we go outside a lot – really helps distract her. So does seeing
other kids – so we try to get to a baby class if possible or just visit
with others in our apartment building.Maybe he would do better on Prilosec/Zegerid instead of Prevacid or
another form or Prevacid? Maybe he’s lactose intolerant? Some babies
don’t do well on the Solutabs.February 23, 2006 at 3:37 pm #2286InactiveThat still doesn’t explain why he did so well on prevacid and elecare for 2 months. Really don’t think it’s reflux. I think more gut pain. It’s really bad right now, he won’t even sit in bouncy chair which he loves. Tempted to try Nutramagin since we always did better on that. Dr. talked me into Alimentum but the 2 days we tried it before elecare 3 months ago were also a mess. Maybe it’s something in the RTF? Should I call Dr. again or just take him off it? I know I said I’d wait but it is getting worse by the minute-literally.
So desperate. Everyone keeps coming into my office to see if he’s ok because he’s crying non stop.
help!
Tracy
February 23, 2006 at 4:08 pm #2287InactiveI really would call the doctor asap – it sounds like something is
definitely up… Keep me posted Tracy – hope he feels better soon.February 23, 2006 at 10:54 pm #2312InactiveTracy – I cant imagine why they would want you to alternate Elecare and Allimentum. The dairy proteins build up over about a week so every second bottle of Elecare isnt going to stop that happening. I guess if you are only having half the amount of dairy then the reaction might only be half as bad?
Tyler does the all day moaning when he is having a reaction to something, he used to do it on dairy and now he does it with certain foods. I can only imagine it is due to a stomach ache or cramps.
I really hope you can get some answers.
February 24, 2006 at 6:54 am #2318InactiveHi Amber-
Yes, I was confused too, but I think her reasoning was 1-start him slowly digestively if not an intolerance and 2-see if he reacted more right after one bottle over the other. An experiment I guess. However drama of course won out in the afternoon-Ian started developing a rash and his face was getting red (not to mentioned the moaning developed into full blown crying-people kept asking me if he was ok because it’s not his nature). When I tried to feed him (I had to bend him) he’s screeched like I have never heard before. Long story, but dr. took him off immediately and apologized for jumping the gun. But how can I get upset-he ate and pooped normally for those two days. We’re back on Elecare, but may try Nutramagin in a couple of weeks because Ian did have more success with that. We think it actually may be one of the ingredients in the Alimentum RTF (maybe the sucrose-actually somewhat common) because we tried it months ago for a couple of days and stopped immediately as well.
So far Ian’s eating ok, little trouble this morning. Although he’s a tad cranky, he’s doing much better already. Still wondering if we should test.
Thanks for the input-I felt the same way.
Tracy
February 24, 2006 at 7:08 am #2320InactivePoor Ian…
Is the sucrose a common problem? Is it in the powder too or only in the RTF?
Are you doing the liver test today?
February 24, 2006 at 8:10 am #2323InactiveI hope Ian feels better soon! Who would have known that he would have a problem with the sucrose?! Poor little guy!
February 25, 2006 at 9:07 am #2443hellbennt
Keymasteris there corn or some sort of corn product in the RTF? I think I remember reading about that?
not sure…
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