***Pixel*** Kim

MsGirl1

Hey! how are you momma? I was wondering if you are still feeding Ryan Nutrimigen? I thought you had said that at one point....I think we might try that for the boys, just wondering what your experience was with it....

hope you are doing well! we need to get together!

angie?

m&m823

::butting in::

Sorry to butt in!  When DS was younger, we used Alimentum (Similac's version of Nutramigen).  Thankfully, his problem did not end up being a milk/soy protein allergy (but did end up being bad reflux) so we were able to switch off of that formula after about 6 weeks or so when we saw no relief. I was just going to ask what symptoms the boys were having to make you think they have an allergy?   I did a lot of research when we were going through this, so if I can offer any advice, I'm more than happy to!

::butting out::

MsGirl1

hey! thank you for butting in! i'll take all the help i can get!

they started out on Neosure for preemies and with that had lots of reflux issues, spitting up out their noses and acting really uncomfortable in general.

we then tried Enfimil AR lipil with the rice starch, which seemed to help with the spitting up but made them constipated and then one of them would just scream when he would eat. we also tried zantac which didn't make much of a difference, and now they are on prevacid for the reflux. we then switched to Similac Sensitive which we thought worked at first but they have now become very fussy and have periods of screaming where you can't console them. the spitting up is better, but we can't hardly lay them down to sleep, they only want to sleep on their bellies and mostly being held.

we took them back to the peds last week and she seems to think they have reflux and colic, so gave me samples of the Nutrimegin to try. i have a couple family members who have suggested Soy.....

so, thats the scoop.....any ideas??

thanks?

m&m823

This sounds EXACTLY like what we went through with Mattie (except not the preemie part.  Or the twin part.  )  We tried everything.  We started off with Similac Advance (blue can).  Then moved to Similac Isomil (soy - pink can).  That seemed to help a bit, but it was very temporary.  So we tried Similac Alimentum (hypoallergic - purple can).  That seemed to help a bit more, but not for long.  It was SO frustrating.  Eating was such a chore and he just screamed anytime he was awake.  It was horrible.  It was the hardest 3.5 months.  We tried Zantac and that did NOTHING.  We finally got him onto Enfamil AR (he's still on that!) and a high dose of Prevacid.  And voila!  The reflux has gotten 100 times better.  We actually took him off the Prevacid a couple of months ago and he's fine.  When he was around 3 or 4 months old, we ended up taking him to Children's for an upper GI series.  They strapped him to this board (he looked like he was on a rotisserie!) and had him swallow barium from a bottle.  We could see on the monitor that as soon as he swallowed, he would reflux halfway back up his esophogus.  Poor little man.   

There were times when I really didn't think we could make it through.  He was such an unhappy baby and it was so sad and frustrating.  Nothing we did would help.  Nothing.  Thank God for our pediatrician, Prevacid, and Enfamil AR. 

The thing about Soy formula is that it does not help one bit if what you are dealing with is reflux.  We used soy because we were trying to rule out a milk protein allergy.  However, if a baby is allergic to milk protein, they will likely also be allergic to soy protein.  It's weird that way.  Mattie never had the classic symptoms of an allergy (bloody poo, etc), so we really had no reason to think that was his problem.  We were just trying everything we could think of to solve the screaming.  There were times when I was in the pedi's office at least ONCE a week.  Sometimes I just went because I wanted them to hear him screaming.  It was so so hard. 

Do the twins have any signs of an allergy?  One of the best resources that helped me was this book.  I breezed through it because it described us exactly.  This doctor (who is actually a pediatric gastroenterologist) that wrote it pretty much says there is no such thing as "colic" and that it can almost always be explained by an allergy or reflux. 

One more thing - Zantac.  While it has been helpful to some people, it's not that great.  It's usefulness is very reliant upon weight and if the child gains a little weight, the doseage has to be adjusted.  That Colic Solved book I mentioned above talks in-depth about all the difference reflux meds.  Anyhow, Prevacid is a different type of reflux med and therefore works differently. 

I'm so so sorry you are dealing with this (times two!).  I cannot imagine.  Who is your pediatrician?  If you are in the Kirkland area, I would recommend going to mine.  She understands this problem and really actually cares about Matthew.  Email me (Lazlo48 at aol.com) or page me if you have any other questions!    Best of luck.  I hope you get a solution soon.

 

pixelvixen

Hi Angie! I'm sorry you're dealing with all of this... I hope you can find a formula that works for you.Nutramigen has been just fine. We use it because they think Ryan has a cows milk allergy. I dont think he does but we havent had any problems with it, other than being WAY expensive. We're going through a can every 4-5 days. Ugh. At $27+ a can, its adding up. Albertsons spits out $5.00 off coupons at checkout though that help with the cost. For what its worth, i think Similac Alimentum is cheaper and in a bigger can. We should get together soon. Email me kimgillette@hotmail.com