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WWYD in this situation (sick baby & doctors' advice)
Andersen?s basically been sick since birth. Our pediatrician pretty much wrote off all the symptoms that concerned me. He treated him for reflux. We saw nominal improvement. He didn?t think it was MSPI, but turned out he was intolerant/allergic to dairy and soy. He still wasn?t significantly better, but the pedi didn?t seem concerned. I made an appointment with an allergist. Turns out he?s allergic to eggs, oats, tree nuts and peanuts in addition to the dairy and soy. It?s possible there are more allergies ? those are the only ones we tested for (and wheat ? but he was negative for that).
He?s still spitting up. A lot. And now instead of having frequent, mucousy stools, he?s constipated to the point he was impacted over the weekend and got hemmorhoids from straining for/passing the stool. That didn?t seem normal to me for a baby who?s breastfed and only getting fruits/veggies sporadically (no cereal, no formula, no iron fortified vitamins).
He?s been really fussy for the last week. Considering all his issues, he?s a very happy baby, but he just isn?t content these days.
He NEVER turns away a meal. He loves to eat. Over the past week, though, he?s gotten less and less interested in nursing. He acts hungry, but then seems frustrated or in pain/discomfort when he starts eating. The DCP just texted me and said he wouldn?t take his whole bottle. He ALWAYS drains his bottles. He only took a couple ounces.
The pediatrician isn?t concerned. He said to give him milk of magnesia 3x a day. His nurse said to give it a MONTH and we could discuss it at his next appointment ? in mid-September.
The allergist said DON?T give him milk of mag ? try apple juice. I?ve already been giving him apple juice and prunes with no change.
The allergist said before that he may have some GI issues in addition to the allergies, but when I asked both the pedi and the allergist if I should schedule an appointment with a GI specialist, they said it wasn?t necessary. I just feel like there might be something more wrong with his little belly.
Would you listen to two doctors or follow your maternal instinct and try to see someone else? Our current doctors seem to think our time and money are our greatest concerns. Really? There?s not a cost I could put on my child?s health and happiness.
I?m so sad for my little guy. Our DCP seems frazzled by his fussiness. My supply is dwindling and it?s the only thing he?ll eat (and that the doctors want me to give him). I?m *this.close* to quitting my job so I can provide him with the level of care he needs at this point.
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Re: WWYD in this situation (sick baby & doctors' advice)
Get the 2nd opinion from the GI and see what he says.
FWIW- I'm sorry AJ has these issues, poor guy!!! I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.
I think you should see someone else.
Its not fair that they have conflicting opinions and its left for you to decide which is right.
That sucks.
Alex (11/14/06) and Nate (5/25/10)
"Want what you have, do what you can, be who you are." - Rev. Forrest Church
I would talk to a GI, for sure.
Is it possible that he's just getting too many solids for his age though? I wouldn't do more than 2 small meals at that age and I'd only offer after nursing. He may just be dehydrated b/c he's not nursing enough and your supply would be affected by that, too.
But definitely call a GI!
I would probably switch pediatricians if she didn't take my concerns seriously. Being able to trust my pediatrician and her recommendations is very important to me.
In the meantime, I'd probably call my insurance company to see if I could get DS into a GI specialist without a referral. You have to go with your gut.
Hope your little man is feeling better soon!
Go with your gut absolutely. Just find a specialist on your own if you don't need the referral for insurance.
Listen to your mommy instincts on this one.
I don't want to sound discouraging about the GI but the one we saw was very little help (and I hear this quite a bit). And I'm afraid that a lot of the tests they might run aren't terribly reliable for babies/toddlers (the celiac blood panel for instance is notorious for false negatives in kids under 6).
I don't think you will ever regret trusting your instincts.
Warning, unsolicited advice below:
I know you have been through a lot and there is a whole lot more to know than what you post here, but I always get the impression that you don't have full confidence in your pedi and that he/she doesn't take your concerns as seriously as you would like them to. Someone here (Femme) mentioned a great way to find a new pedi. Call your local hospital's infant unit (nursery, whatever it called) at a time when you wouldn't think they'd be busy and ask the nurses if they have a pedi recommendation. Maybe tell them what A's problems have been and stress that you would like to find a pedi that will take the time with you and A that he needs t start feeling better.
I hope your little guy is feeling better soon!