As many of you know Dawson recently visited a GI specialist from the children's hospital in Charlotte. I never posted anything really about the visit or results...so I figured today would be a great day to catch up on some blogging before I reveal cutie patooties 6 month blog photos!
Thank the Lord Dawson does not have any serious GI problems and compared to many parents around the world his issues are so small in comparison to several babies! But none the less...anytime your child is struggling it is hard on you as a parent no matter how big or small the issue!
It all started when Dawson was 3 weeks old...He started having "colic" screaming fits at and after every feeding! My mommy gut told me it was all food related so I called the doctor 100 times it seems. His initial diagnosis was GERD...or gastro esophageal reflux disorder. He was prescribed axid to take twice a day. It helped during feedings but he was still in much GI distress 1-2 hours after feedings. He would wake mid nap screaming and not stop for hours. It was pitiful. After calling the doc we decided he had a "milk" allergy...not my milk but cows milk. I did a strict dairy free diet and it worked wonders. Dawson started being my sweet happy baby and less screaming. Although his symptoms were tremendously better...he never ever seemed to just have a "settled" stomach. Up until his GI appointment we have dealt with multiple night wakings from terrible gas and just writhing in the crib with tummy cramping. At first I thought maybe I needed to be more careful in my food selections... (sugar, veggies, fruit etc) but no matter how bland I was eating, or so I thought, he still had gas...not just baby gas that comes out....I'm talking loud...wow that had to hurt....gas! We were living on 1-2 hour sleep increments at a time and even a few nights of 30 minute stretches a time. Not only did this become a terrible problem, but Dawson started refusing to eat more than 2 oz. at a time....and nursing was just not happening! He would arch his back and just fuss after about 2 oz. every bottle....and if I dare tried nursing he would lunge backward and fuss! So for several weeks this stressed me out and finally I called and said that his reflux meds weren't working or something else is wrong. The pediatrician ruled out ear infection and then decided for us to see a specialist.
At the appointment we talked over everything we were experiencing and the GI discussed all of the "diagnosis" that his peds had made from reflux to colic to just plain fussy. After telling the doctor all of Dawson's symptoms he decided that the reflux had definitely flared up and we were in need of a PPI ( proton pump inhibitor) to reduce the acid in his stomach. He was put on Prevacid for the next couple of months to see how things go. So far I think it is working!
The other problem Dawson was having was waking from severe gas and sometimes not eating due to irregular bowel movements. I told the GI that we had been milk/dairy free for months and I didn't know what else to do. He said that most babies who have a milk protein intolerance also have a soy protein intolerance and that most likely his diagnosis should be MSPI or milk soy protein intolerance.
What is MSPI?Milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI) is a temporary inability to digest the proteins found in cow’s milk and soy products. MSPI is different from a traditional food allergy. You may also see it referred to as food protein-induced colitis or cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI). It may be related to other diagnoses, including eosinophilic gastroenteritis/ esophagitis, or allergic colitis.
Due to this new diagnosis, I have once again changed my diet to eliminate soy products also. The doctor is very hopeful that he will be able to digest these proteins within the next 3 months or so. He said that due to Dawsons weight and size he will clearly outgrow this by 12 months and be drinking cows milk! HALLELUJAH! I know how hard it is to feed myself and I truly sympathize for the families who have children who never outgrow the allergy. I had never heard of this before in my life! I can definitely say that having to go through the trial and error and elimination diets has been a truly stressful time. I am glad that we FINALLY have some answers!
Since the appointment Dawson has been taking Prevacid each morning and we are also giving him Gerber Soothe colic drops in his evening bottle. The GI doc suggested this to help in aiding digestions since many babies with GI problems are missing certain digestive enzymes and bacterias. I truly feel like the soy elimination along with the new medications are making a world of difference.
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