formula and intestinal problems

[linden]

Any suggestions from veteran moms? DD is 4 weeks old. She has been to the pediatrician many times in the last week. She has been having diarrhea with blood in it. They said she has colitis caused by either a stomach virus or by a formula allergy. She was on Similac Advance, then on Isomil (soy), and now she's on Nutramegin which is soy-free, lactose-free, and milk protein-free. It's partially broken down so that it's easier to digest. She's still doing OK with her weight...she's up to 7 lbs. 12. oz, so she's gained 2 pounds since leaving the hospital a month ago. However, the bloody stool is very worrisome. She has had up to 15 diarrhea diapers a day and she screams in pain when she eats and then has a bowel movement. Any suggestions?

[BC-Cel]

Hi Linden!

It's so scary when your new baby is that sick. Has she had any other symptoms that would lead toward it being a virus (such as fever, etc.)? Did they test the stool? That would help rule some things out.

The hard thing about the symptoms is that they can go with both of those diagnoses. How is she doing on the Nutramigen? When did she start it? It may take a day or so for her system to adjust to it and work the other stuff out if it is an allergic colitis.

I hope this clears up soon for her!

[Monchhichi]

My dd had a formula allergy and when we switched her to Nutramigen, the relief was almost immediate. If she is continuing to have blood in her stool on the Nutramigen, I would expect that to mean that she doesn't have a formula allergy, or switching to a hypoallergenic formula should have provided some relief.

[linden]

DD has been on Nutramegin for over a week and is still having 10-12 episodes of diarrhea each day and all have blood in them. We're going back to the pediatrician tomorrow morning. I'm so worried about all the blood in her diapers and that she is in so much pain.

[BC-Cel]

I'm sorry to hear there hasn't been improvement. It has to be so hard to watch her go through this and to feel helpless. I hope the pedi can give you some answers. Please let us know what you find out.

[spring]

I'm so sorry your dd is having so much to deal with Has your ped sent you to a gastroenterologist yet? It sounds like it would be *really* helpful.

A few things to consider - she could still be allergic to something even in Nutramigen. My dd is allergic to corn, for instance, and even though the argument could be made that the corn in nutramigen shouldn't contain proteins that would cause an allergic reaction, so many corn-allergic folks, including my dd, can not eat foods with corn syrup in them, and that's just one for instance.

My dd is suspected of having an EGID (you can look at American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders to see a description). I'm not suggesting this is what's up with your dd at all - so many things could be causing her symptoms - but, fwiw, kids with EGID often have so many adverse food reactions that they go on elemental formula - the formula that the kids I know with EGID use is called Neocate (Neocate - Nutritionally Complete Infant Formula for Cow Milk Allergy). Again, I am absolutely not a doctor and I am not suggesting at all that your dd has this but symptoms are very similar. I really think if I were you I'd insist on a gastroenterlogist appt asap - good luck

Best wishes,

spring

[linden]

Saw the pediatrician this morning. Sophie is losing weight quickly due to the diarrhea. She is only 7 pound, 10 ounces now. Pediatrician switched her to Neocate and sent us to the hospital for bloodwork to check her liver. Also referred us to a pediatric gastroenterologist and is sending us to the hospital on Monday to test for cystic fibrosis. It took 7 years for me to have this baby and it's killing me to see getting smaller and smaller and in so much pain.

[BC-Cel]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm happy the pedi referred you to a gastroenterologist. Do you know when you can get an appt? Sometimes specialists, esp in pediatrics, can have full schedules; if your doctor hasn't already done this and they are telling you there will be a long wait for an appt (esp w/ the holidays), request he call the gastroenterologist's office and ask them to squeeze you in. I hope the Neocate helps in the meantime.