Allergic Colitis

pixel psd

Hi Mommas,

I need to VENT! My 6 1/2 month old has allergic colitis and I am exhausted! He is super fussy, and shows that he's in pain. He constantly has diarrhea and I can't get him to switch to formula. Every time I attempt the sippy cup or bottle he just screams. Our Pediatric GI specialist says he's doing well (gaining weight) and that he should grow out of this.

Did any of you have this experience too? It brings me to tears to see him so miserable and see so much diarrhea. It's also so upsetting trying to get him to take formula for hours on end with no results. I was told 8 hrs is the upper limit I should withhold breastfeeding him. If he doesn't take formula, I can't make him. I've attempted this and it's awful and he doesn't take the formula.

Does it get better than this ladies?!

 

sami1784

It does get better. LO had allergic colitis due to a milk allergy, so I removed all dairy from my diet.  It took about a couple weeks to see marked improvement, but he is doing better.  Just be patient and give it a bit of time - once the allergen is out of your system and out of your LO's system, it should be better.

pixel psd

I've been milk free and hidden milk free, soy free and egg free for 3 months. It turns out he is allergic to the protein in my breast milk! GI said I could stop eating everything and it wouldn't make a difference. I think I'm ready to tape a tube onto my nipple so that he gets formula.

funchicken

pixel psd:

I've been milk free and hidden milk free, soy free and egg free for 3 months. It turns out he is allergic to the protein in my breast milk! GI said I could stop eating everything and it wouldn't make a difference. I think I'm ready to tape a tube onto my nipple so that he gets formula.

My DD has this, and my pedi said she hopes she'll outgrow it, too.  I'm sorry your LO is so uncomfortable.  Could it be something else that you're eating?  Did you try an elimination diet? The Dr. Sears site has a good one.  I had to cut out dairy, soy, eggs, fish, wheat, corn, peanuts, tree nuts, citrus and other acidic foods, and cinnamon.

Does he take a bottle at all?  If he does, you could try mixing small amounts of formula with pumped breastmilk and gradually increase it until he's taking all formula. 

ETA: Sorry, I just saw where you said he screams when you give him a bottle. Have you tried bottles of breastmilk to get him used to bottles first?  My DD started taking bottles around your DS's age. It took a little persistence, but she takes one now just fine.

magdusia

im sorry! it does get better.

have you tried an elimination diet?  Have you tried mixing formula and BM (slowly adding more formula each time)?  or will he not take a bottle at all?

hope he gets more comfortable soon!

BostonMama2011

I just have a question about diarrhea, how do you know that's what it is?  My 4 month old LO has had increased liquidy bowel movements the past couple weeks, but I read online that it's diarrhea if it's like 15 BMs a day, and she only has her regular 3 or so.  

pixel psd

He has diarrhea 1 to 8 times a day. It varies, ( I did the Dr Sears elimination diet for 4 weeks but I didn't eat only organic free range turkey. Maybe that's where I went wrong. LO will not take any bottle, thanks anyways.

amy21tom

pixel psd:

He has diarrhea 1 to 8 times a day. It varies, ( I did the Dr Sears elimination diet for 4 weeks but I didn't eat only organic free range turkey. Maybe that's where I went wrong. LO will not take any bottle, thanks anyways.

I was in your exact situation. What worked for us was using a dropper to get ds used to the taste of the formula. I kind of just let him chew on it and I'd slowly squirt a little in his mouth and I'd do it until he was bored of chewing. Also, what formal are u using? Ds takes elecare and the pedi nutrutionistw who works with our pedi GI told us we could mix a little vanilla elecare in with the regular infant one. Your drs office should have samples of this. I would call and see if they are ok with that. It was the onto thing that worked to get ds to take a bottle. 

I know what you're going through! It does get better! And go ahead and vent about it because the transition sucks!