Constant screaming

[Anonymous]

I am a newbie on here and have found all this information very helpful and a little overwhelming. So, please excuse my long post…

My daughter, Natalie, was born at 35 weeks by emergency c-section because I had oligo (too little, or in my case, almost no amniotic fluid). Because of my condition, her lungs were much more premature then her gestational age and she stayed in the hospital for 10 days, on oxygen for 7. She was difficult to feed in the hospital because she was a preemie, but she only vomitted once while in the hospital, then began to vomit on a regular basis literally from the car ride home on.

We switched formulas several times and she was put on Zantac. She stopped vomitting once she was on Similac Sensitive RS and was on the Zantac. However, she had a little rash on her face and was very fussy, so we started giving her Alimentum. She started to vomit that up from the very beginning, so our ped had us put in rice cereal. She has only thrown it up once, but it clogged both nostrils and she turned purple and couldn’t breathe for awhile until my husband got the nasal aspirator while I crumbled in fear and panic. She seemed to be becoming more and more irritable, so our doctor prescribed Prevacid. Since we switched, she is so much worse. She screams nonstop and now she has a small rash all over her head and back of her neck. She also HARDLY EVER burps and when she does, her stomach convulses and sounds and feels like she is about to throw up and then it turns into the hiccups after several minutes.

Has anyone experienced these things also? Especially the stomach convulsing? I am also concerned that she may be having seizures, which once I started reading posts on here, may be Sandifer’s Syndrome. She gets extremely jerky and arches her back and stiffens her body and screams, but after she has these fits she seems blank in the face for awhile. She also seems to have these similar movements during her sleep.

I am trying to get our ped to refer us to a specialist, which for some reason, he hasn’t wanted to do. I think it’s because she is gaining weight very well.

I am just very concerned and I know my baby is in pain. Does anyone have any similar occurances to my daughter?

Thanks a lot.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the site! What type of prevacid is she on? Prevacid solutabs have lactose in them. Most kids do fine with them, but every now and then it’s a problem. Also, some babies have trouble with rice and need to switch to oatmeal. Other than that, I don’t have any ideas. Sorry.

[hellbennt]

maybe try beechnut brand cereal- rice or oatmeal, or any other brand that doesn’t have milk or soy proteins?

you might find that you don’t need to thicken? sometimes these little ones’ systems are just too immature to handle the cereals…

as for your doctor- just TELL that you need a referral, don’t ask. it’s your RIGHT for a referral. I think sometimes pediatricians get their egos involved too much…

I don’t know a lot about formula, but I *think* there’s RTF (ready to feed) that is thicker than the powder? some do better with this…

if after trying milk/soy free cereal added for 2 weeks & there still is a rash (& other symptoms) you might want to consider neocate. but, I think I’d address medicine issues fist- proper dosing! before switching too many things at once…

also, when was she switched to prevacid? your dr probably didnt’ tell you to remain on zantac for 2 weeks while you wait for the prevacid to be effective (mine did not tell me this! I learned the HARD way!)- so it’s like your baby isn’t on any meds at all. if you have zantac still, give it spaced 4hrs from the prevacid- you can do this- you can read about it here on the board-also I would guess that there is room to increase the zantac dose- it can be up to 10mgs/kilo…

I have a LOT more to say & it’s here:

Groupie Intro: my intro: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&PN=1&TPN=1

so glad you found us!

~laura

[Anonymous]

Thank you. She was on the compounded Prevacid from the pharmacist, but I read that it loses it’s potency within a week or two, so I tried the solutabs. I’ll look into the oatmeal. How did you know when your baby had allergies?

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much. I do still have quite a bit of the Zantac, so I will try that. She is just so so miserable. She literally screams until she is beat red and absolutely dripping with sweat and none of the docs I have taken her to (I have taken her to several peds to try and find the best one I can) haven’t acted like its a very big deal and it’s extremely frustrating and distressing. So, I really appreciate your replies and input.

[hellbennt]

thankfully my babies did not have allergies! but I’ve been on this board for close to 4 & 1/2 years, so I’m pretty educated on most reflux related subjects

The rash *could* be a sign of intolerance or allergy- this should really help: Mspi/allergy info(‘main page’): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=1&TPN=1 on page 2 from this link, there’s an EXCELLENT article that explains the difference b/t intolerances & allergies

what dose prevacid are you giving? are you giving it on an empty stomach?

my guess is that it’s not a high enough dose if you’re seeing Sandifer symptoms. that reminds me: FAX your ped, THANK ped, keep note short & sweet- mention Sandifer symptoms and request referral. THANK AGAIN and then call office to say you sent a fax then call again to follow up and ask for your referral, ie “when can I come in and get the referral to the GI? or are you just going to fax it to them? what’s their number so I can follow up? THANKS!”

if you have zantac I would add that to the mix, too. my baby was on both a PPI and zantac for quite some time. just space them out…

[Anonymous]

Hi there! The rash really makes me think MSPI. If she still has this on alimentum, I’d try neocate. What dose of prevacid is she on… my guess is it’s not high enough. Also, it needs to be given on an empty stomach and followed up with a meal 30 minutes later. If the dose is too low or it’s not being given correctly it could be like getting no meds. My dd had Sandifer’s and it was very scary. Many moms have tried elevating the mattress at night to help with the choking. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

She was on 2 mL twice a day of the prevacid suspension, then I switched her to 7.5mg of prevacid solutabs twice a day, but she seems even worse on that. I have given it to her on an empty stomach and waited 30 minutes to feed her. At first I thought her rash was baby acne, but it has continued to spread and get worse, so I am assuming it is a rash because she is 3 months old now and it seems to be almost hive like because it’s worse when she gets upset and a few more spots will show up.

Anyway, thank you again.

[Author]

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