Neurological Irritability
Does anyone have any advice as to how to help an infant cope with neurological irritability? Is it ever possible to soothe them?
My 2 month old has ulcers on her brain (we are awaking more info on the general diagnosis - an infection in utero - and have an EEG, MRI and CT scan coming up) but she cries and thrashes constantly. She is rarely content, and barely sleeps.
We have tried various "colic" remedies: Swaddling, white noise, colic drops, gripe water, every type of formula, the colic hold, the moby wrap, gas drops, reflux medicine.... I'm probably forgetting something. However, this is technically beyond colic.
Motion seems to somewhat help, so her swing, bouncer, and car trips offer a little relief, but its short term.
Anyone experience this? What has helped?
Re: Neurological Irritability
I don't have any direct experience, but just wanted to say I am so sorry to hear about your LO. I hope they get it all sorted out.
Have you tried vibration? My youngest son has a brain injury and sometimes when he is upset that helps or just laying him down in a dim room on a blanket. Sometimes I think he just gets overstimulated.
My little guy has a similar irratibility. However, he has different underlying issues than your LO. the only things that help us are baby wearing and he's so stiff that only a ring sling was what I can get him in.
I feel your pain, my baby screamed about 18+ hours a day until recently, and I was told repeatedly that it was just "colic". Neuro finally decided to get a clue and at 4 months old we finally were told that it's not colic.
Have you had your LO checked for reflux? Eli is a silent spitter for the most part constantly refluxing little bits and reswallowing them. Medication made a drastic difference along with Enfamil AR. The irratibility puts so much pressureo n his tummy that his reflux his worsened because of it.
My little guy arches and thrashes all the time too, and sleeps in about 20 min increments. We lay him on his left side and cuddle him up to us and pat him to sleep. it's the only thing that works. My little guy is very easily overstimulated and it's difficult with other people around. It seems that too much noise, teething pain, diaper rash, reflux, any little stimulant that may be irritating or annoying sends him over the edge. We find that keeping things calm and quiet and avoiding the white noise when he gets in his "fits" helps a little and also my little guy likes to be up on our shoulders and patted firmly on his butt. I have to pat him pretty hard to the point I've had people in the grocery store make comments about how hard I'm hitting him. It seems if I can do something to take his mind off of the irritablity it seems to help.
It's really hard because there is no real cause for it and he can go from happy and smiling to screaming his head off in one moment. It's really hard and I hope you find some answers soom. the waiting is the hardest part.