Increased Mucous

[Anonymous]

I am on day 3 of TED & it seems that Evan’s poops are almost all mucous & green. They have been mostly mucous & occasionally green since birth & I feel they increased some when we started the solutabs (last wk) but some increase even more since starting TED.

He isn’t straining/red as much, seems more comfortable, still some grunting, still stinky gas/poops, sleep (naps & nighttime) worse than ever…

I guess my question is… any insight? is this normal? or are we probably destined to switch meds (prevacid capsules or zegerid).

I know it’s so early w/ the TED so I’m trying to be patient but it’s frustrating to think that it’s useless for me to do TED if we’re giving him a medicine w/ milk in it!!!!!

Also, dh (in medical sales) has ordered a box of hemoccults & we are going to do one for every diaper. Did one for an all mucous poop a bit ago & it was ‘negative’ so who knows.

I wasn’t sure where to post this (here or ‘gastrointestinal topics’) so I apologize if it’s under the wrong topic.

erinntx2008-07-01 20:06:54

[Anonymous]

Erin, Sorry to hear of his continuing/increasing symptoms. I personally found that the tiny bit of milk in the solutabs was not something my son could tolerate. I think we gave him three or four doses before we said “no way!” Thankfully, we were able to start with a new ped at that point and I showed him the Marci-kids website and he was willing to prescribe Zegerid at the dosages recommended by them.

As far as what to do next, it is not useless for you to do TED as you are cleaning out of your system things that might be bothering him. Some moms find that it takes up to two weeks to get the offending proteins out of their systems. You have obviously already made a difference in his digestion of your milk. He doesn’t strain and grunt like before. That shows that at least something is better even if not entirely. If you stop the TED at this point it is likely that you will see him go back to the straining to poop.

In general it is wise not to make multiple changes at the same time because then you don’t know what made the difference. Since you saw his diapers change last week before you started TED, that indicates a separate reaction from the improvements you have seen after starting TED. I would personally try to get him off the Solutabs while you still continue on the TED. If the Solutabs are the problem for his diapers and increased irritability, it shouldn’t take very long for the effect of the Solutabs to get out of his system.

Hang in there! It does get better…really…!

[hellbennt]

It’s so hard! hang in there!

I wouldn’t focus on the solutabs at the moment- they may or may not be bothering him & this is true with so many things right now, ack!

I would continue w/ the TED (for all the reasons Dianne mentioned) and contact marci-kids to ask about caracream. despite it’s name, there is no milk or soy in it, & it’s a way to make a compound from capsules and I can’t say enough fantastic things about it, LOL! there’s a chance you can get some…maybe even email dr philips himself…in your email ask him about how to use the capsules w/ some apple juice- your baby might be too young, I truly don’t know. Investigate zegerid, too. You have options! It’s just hard on your patience, I know… worse case scenario, you TELL your ped HOW to write a PROPER prescription for the compound. I think you could then even fight w/ insurance to cover it, since it’s written out by the ped? something (else!) to consider…

you’re doing great!!!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you ladies so much… I actually am NOT considering stopping TED @ all since I have seen improvements. Sorry if I misconveyed my intentions. I am just frustrated b/c every time we feel like we’re almost there, there’s another ‘hurdle’.

The improvements I’ve seen are: overall comfort/content level improved & much less crying; less grunting; no straining.

The steps back: the diapers/poop & sleep

I had initially thought I would wait until Monday to fax my dr. (an update & request to change med to capsules or Zegerid). I don’t want him to think I’m jumping around on meds… he doesn’t know that we are doing TED since he wasn’t that worried about the blood in his stool.

Should I go ahead & fax tomorrow?

Maybe I’ll email Dr. Phillips – ask him about caracream & the capsules (I was wondering about if Evan is too young as well)….& see what he says. If I like what he says (haha) I can include the email in the fax).

Honestly, I’d rather do the Zegerid b/c the timing of dosing the Prevacid has been hell (that’s the majority of the crying lately)…

Ok, thanks for ‘listening’

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say I sympathize with what you said about another hurdle — we felt that way for the longest with Nathan.

BUT you have come so far!! He’s only about 6 weeks old (hey, I just noticed he was born on my Nathan’s first birthday!!), and you already have him on the marci-kids recommended Prevacid dose and you’re already on TED. Evan is REALLY a lucky little guy; you’re doing great!! It took me much longer to get to that point with Nathan.

Quick question — when you say his sleep is worse, what exactly is happening? Does he wake up after short naps (like 20-30 minutes)? If so, does he wake up suddenly with a scream (like pain)? Or does he never settle down for naps at all? What about nighttime? And I’m puzzled about the diapers….not sure why they’re worse.

I’m not sure what I’d do next if I were you. I might just sit tight for another week and see if it settles out (but I know that’s hard to do, and I, in fact, didn’t do that when I was where you are!) After that, I think I’d go for the capsules or try Zegerid.

p.s. If you do email Dr. Phillips about giving the capsules with apple juice to a newborn, would you mind letting me know what he says? I’ve always wondered if it would work.

Thanks and hang in there!

[hellbennt]

ask him about caracream, too! it is the predecessor of zegerid & does not have to be timed either– report back

[Anonymous]

I emailed Dr. Phillips about capsules (w/ apple juice), Zegerid, & Caracream. Last week it took him about 4 days to return my email so we’ll see what he says. I’ll report back.

Last night was our worst night of sleep ever (even worst than pre-Prevacid). He’s not in pain I don’t think… just won’t stay to sleep. His diapers have also been entirely mucous the past 4-5 changes. Ugh!

Paula- about his sleep… for naps he’ll either not settle down @ all (unless I wear him & walk around holding the paci in) OR he’ll settle down being rocked, but wake 20-30 min later. He usually looks like he’s in pain (red-faced, screaming) but I don’t know… he might just be worked up. At nighttime he’s doing the same thing. He was giving us a 4 hr stretch (@ least) at night & then going back to sleep for another 2-3 hrs. For naps he was usually doing at least 1 good nap (1-3hrs) during the day. That all changed (literally) the day after starting solutabs.

[Anonymous]

hmmm… could be so many things…hopefully dr. phillips will get back to you soon about the medicines.

One other thing as far as the diapers go. I know the TED includes rice in the diet, but there are several babies on this board who cannot tolerate it. So, not that you want one other variable in the mix, but maybe if it continues to be green and yukky, try stopping the rice for a few days. I wouldn’t think it would take too long to clear both of your systems.. a few days should do it. If no change, then start eating it again.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I contacted Dr. Phillips & posted that info on the Medicines section. I printed all that info & faxed my ped. Will follow up in the morning if no word from him (he’s the Chief of Pediatrics @ our hospital so he may not be in the office this afternoon & I don’t want to harass them-lol).

Naomi, thanks for the heads-up w/ the rice. We will (hopefully) switch to the capsules + CaraCream & then if no change I’ll cut out rice. I have been eating a lot of rice products so this would mak total sense – so confusing!!!

[hellbennt]

Caracream info:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11191

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