Why, Why, Why? (update)

[Anonymous]

Brian had stool test done when he was 8 month old, it came back negative for occult blood. He had blood test done when he was 9 month, it came back only positive for egg. He had endoscopy done when he was 10 month old, it came back negative for any erosion and allergic cell.

We had first appoitment with new GI (4th opinion) in 1/06, GI used his finger to get some stool sample from Brian’s rectum, and did stool test, result was positive for occult blood, but I did not pay any attention, and thought that his finger may damage the blood vessel in rectum cause the positive result.

We had second appointment with this GI today, and I brought some stool sample in, he checked it and result was positive for occult blood, he was worried because Brian is already on such high dose of three med (Pepcid 0.9ml 3/day, prevacid 22.5mg 1/day, reglan 1ml 3/day) and still find blood in his stool, now he wants us to discontinue the pepcid, then increase prevacid to 30mg, then discontinue reglan slowly, and go back to see him in 2 month, if Brian still has blood in stool, he will do endoscopy again. I am sooooo scare and confused, why does he have blood in his stool now but not before? What can be the cause of the blood, allergic? reflux? How come the endoscopy found nothing abnormal?

I can not believe that we are still dealing with this at 15 1/2 month with high dose of med

Sharon Liu2006-5-19 21:45:2

[Anonymous]

Most likely to be a food intolerance…did he offer any suggestions re diet and testing?

[Anonymous]

Sharon

I am so sorry to hear about this. I have no idea about blood in the stool… i don’t think Matthew has this so i never really looked into it. I hope that someone else can chime in. I am thinking out loud… but is occult blood always related to allergies? Can he have a little bit of bleeding somewhere else in the stomach?? I have seen posts about the difference between fresh vs dried blood and the shape and seem to remember that each one is caused by something different…

Also, have you given him something new since he was 8months old?? Or, maybe, at 8months old you were giving him little traces of foods, ie an ounce a day or so and it was not enough to harm him but now the same food is irritating his esophagus?

The increase in prevacid should compensate for the pepcid, so i would not worry about that and i guess that it is good they are weaning him from reglan, if it is not helping and may be moving things around too much?

I wish i could help. I know you already went through endo but i think that it is the way to go again. At least you can know if whatever is causinig the blood is in the esophagus/stomach/beginning of intestines or it is something further down the GI track?

[Anonymous]

Sharon, I’m sorry to hear this. I don’t know much about occult blood either. Did you ever see any blood in his stool? Just wondering since no one’s ever tested this for Hailey. Sorry I can’t be of any help.

[Anonymous]

Tricia – I wonder about the food intolerance too, and I remember our first ped gi said that endoscopy can only find out food allergic but not food intolerance. Can food intolerance cause the gi bleeding? Today the ped gi thought that the blood is cause by the reflux not allergic (because if he has food allergic, then he would have diarrhea, and would not gain so well). ped gi asked us to increase prevacid and go back in 2 month.

Thais – “Is occult blood always relate to allergic?” That is my question too. Brian’s blood allergic test shows that he is only allergic to egg white, and he never have that. I weaned him very slowly from reglan before without any success, he either refused to eat or vomitted like crazy, I am so afraid to do it this time, but have no choice at all.

Lori – Occult blood test was the first test beening done by our first ped gi, occult blood test suppose uses to rule out milk allergic

[Anonymous]

Sharon, so sorry to hear about the blood! I know its scary! DD has had severe problems with gastritus and blood in her stools. At 8 weeks old, the tests came back negatvie for a milk/soy allergey. So I didn’t know there was a problem with milk and soy. I just thought her stools should be loose because she was on baby formula. She eventually developed the basic signs of intolerance with mucousy loose stools, painful gas, major spitting up, fussiness, and dark specks in her stools (blood). Things did not clear up until a month after being on neocte, after the intestines had time to heal and all the proteins had time to get out of her system. Wish there was a simple test for food intolerences, but in most cases it seems to be just trial and error. At least you know where to start looking now. Hope your new gi doc will be more helpful and sort Brians problem out fast!

[Anonymous]

Sarah – Brian does not have loose stools, painful gas, major spitting up, or fussiness, but he does has ezema (sp?) on his face and body.

[Anonymous]

I asked the GI to repeat the stool test, and he refused, so I asked the ped to order the test, she did. Today the stool test result came back and three days stool are all negative for occult blood.

[Anonymous]

good news, sharon!

[Anonymous]

I can’t speak about pedi occult blood, but only my own and what I know as a RN.

A fed months ago I had a sharp pain in my epigastric area (the area right under your breastbone.)

It hurt for a few hours, but stung and felt like I had an open sore that would get scratched when I ate raw carrots and celery.

A few days later my stool was black, which can be a sign of blood in
the stool. Iron can do this too so it doesn’t always mean blood.

The “open sore” pain I had went away in a week or so. My GI
confirmed that it was blood from “your heartburn” which I don’t have,
but do have hiatal hernia and GERD and I know there was an open sore
that he will not discuss with me.

When blood in stool is black, this usually means that it is coming from
higher up in the gastrointestinal system. The esophagus, sphincters,
stomach maybe even small intestine.

When the blood is red, it is fresh and is usually associated with
inside or outside hemmeroids or small tears around the anus from hard
stools. I would call the pedi for both, to see what they say. A visit
might be in order if not to dx the baby then to decrease moms anxiety 🙂

What Sharon’s son had, was hidden (occult) blood that can not be seen
but can be detected with a simple stool test in the Dr’s office, or at
home if Dr suggests.

Stool with occult blood looks normal, whatever that is for your child.

Elijah has not had any episodes of blood in his stool nor has he had an endoscopy.

He has been doing really well reflux wise on the Prevacid after 5-6 months of pain for my poor boo-baby.

I can’t believe we didn’t even think to ask for a referral to a pedi
GI. We just kept going back to the very nice pedi but she does not use
PPI’s and finally suggested the GI dr after 5 month. (then took 1
month or so to get the appointment.)

I pray you get help for your baby soon!

[Anonymous]

Sharon Liu wrote: Can food intolerance cause the gi bleeding? Today the ped gi thought that the blood is cause by the reflux not allergic (because if he has food allergic, then he would have diarrhea, and would not gain so well).

Back in late March, Claire had bloody stools for 2 days after exposure to beef. In her case, food intolerance has always been the apparent cause of lower GI bleeding.

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