Allergies? Tummy Troubles? Need Advice Please

Updated on January 26, 2010
T.J. asks from Dallas, TX
15 answers

Hello,
I have a 13 mo old daughter. She was very very colicky-cried all day and night for about 7 months. She has always had a LOT of gas; to the point where the pain impacts every thing she does. I feel like her poor tummy controls our days. She also still spits up frequently and has has been congested since she was born. My doctor keeps saying she'll outgrow it. I feel terrible about how uncomfortable she is all the time and I was wondering if any mom's had any advice on what I can do to help her. I'm not sure if maybe she's allergic to something or just has a sensitive stomach. I've tried to stay away from dairy, but I'm not sure if that's even her issue. Thanks for the help!

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So What Happened?

Thank you all so so very much! I hate feeling helpless when she's so miserable; it breaks my heart. I appreciate all the advice and feel like I have some things I can try finally. Thank you. Happy New Year!

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N.W.

answers from Dallas on

Milk is the nubmer one culprit when it comes to ear infections and bowel issues. Soy and gluten are next. You can do an IgE test for food allergies and do an IgG test for food sensitivies.

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C.S.

answers from Seattle on

Hi,
I would highly suggest you ask for a referral to see a pediactric GI Physician. They could probabaly do something for her. Perhaps she has GERD. Make Sure you keep a diary of what shes fed and when she spits up. That will be helpful for a GI Doc to see a pattern. And I would definitley choose another primary Pediatrician.

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J.P.

answers from Dallas on

T.,

You've received very good advice from the other mothers. I would like to add another component, too. My grandson cried (uncomfortable & fussy) almost all the time when he was first born. He was only happy if either I or his mother held him. I kept telling my daughter to take him to our chiropractor. Although she grew up with our chiro, she couldn't figure how a chiro would help her son. After one of her friends told her this, too, she took my grandson to the chiropractor. She saw an IMMEDIATE difference! He was no longer fussy. His bowels moved regularly (he went from constipation to loose to constipation...) and he was able to rest. Our chiropractor is Dr. Dawn Hill in Irving. Her office number is ###-###-####. My daughter was so pleased with my grandson's change that she had our second grandson adjusted for the first time when he was about 18 hours old.

Good luck!

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

May just be an "intolerance" and not an alergy. My kids were all "intolerant" of something. Try an elimination diet...i would do dairy first (that is what it sounds like to me) Does she or did she have any "craddle cap"...sure fire sign of milk. Glutten is a possible one too...although my kids all suffered from this and there where a lot more serious symptoms...but all is possible! Allergy test are expensive and take a toll on the baby...try eliminating from her diet (or yours if breastfeeding)...it only takes 24 hours to see a differnce!

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T.L.

answers from Dallas on

I have a two-year-old daughter with Mast Cell Disease, a very rare disease. And therefore we have a ton of tummy issues and allergies. Because of her condition we are still on Prevacid, my lifesaver and Allegra twice daily to control her histamine levels. We did allergy testing at 11 monthes and the poor thing is allergic to soy, peanuts, watermelon, chocolate and bananas. Although mine does have a condition that causes all of these I am very familiar with dealing with a child that is uncomfortable ALL the time. I would suggest seeing a gastroenterolgist and an allergist to see if they would suggest something. T.

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R.R.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter has reflux. She's our first baby, and I just figured babies cry, and didn't think much of it. I made a tiny comment about her being a little fussy, especially at meal time and our pediatrician asked if, while she was eating, would she arch her back and throw her neck back (and she kind of kicks her feet also). She definitely does that! He put her on Axid, and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY. While she eats, I try to keep her sitting in as much of an upright position as possible, and I try to burp her frequently. I've also heard that reflux tends to cause a lot of gas because they are constantly swallowing. Have you tried Mylicon for gas? (I use the off brands; they are MUCH cheaper and, to me, are just as effective). For a while, I used that after almost every feeding to try to stop the gas before it started. Reflux is something they will eventually outgrow also, but I'm REALLY surprised your pedi wouldn't want to try SOMETHING, that would make me a little nervous. Crying babies make me sad! I hope it gets better!

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

Bless you mom I have been there as well my 2 year old grand daughter that was born preemie had some issues with terrible spit up, finally causing severe diareha to the point of being hospitalized. Yes they changed the formula to I dont even remember the strange name now but it was also $30 a can. she also was always congested and coughing her peditrician said she had done everything that she could possibly do and prescribe her what she could. Finally she referred us to a pulmonary doctor at presby and said she had asthma and allergies of which was causing some of the asthma. Talk to your doctor about allergy meds mine does inhalers and loratidine. It did the trick. Same as you I kept telling the doctor she has this weird sound. Kept telling me she to would grow out of it from being born 3 months early and having the tubes in her throat. Never went away till I saw the pulmonary doctor. Good luck mom if you get no response from the doc. then change. D. S.

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E.A.

answers from Dallas on

My response is not much different from the others. I echo their suggestions about seeking a new ped. and testing and the like. I just wanted you to know that I have a child with asthma/allergies (not food but cats and dogs and the outdoors) and one child with food allergies. Many of the symptoms are the same! I'd also take into consideration the dog factor. If a child is more allergic than others she is likely allergic to multiple things. You may consider washing your dogs in a shampoo that reduces the allergens and trying to reduce the allergens in your home. But I do think you need to pursue testing to confirm. You'll have to be her advocate since most peds. don't want to do this. By the way, it was my first son who has no allergies at all that was actually the one with the most trouble as a baby...doc. said it was the worst colic he'd seen in 24 years. He did outgrow it and is now my kid with no allergies and no health issues. Kind of funny that way. She may outgrow it after all! I'll pray for her!

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi T., I'm sorry I'm a little late but anyway, you should take her to a Pedi.gastric Dr. she could have reflux that can cause the congestion. It backs up in their little lungs when the sleep or lay and causes wheezing, congesten and other nasal problems.
My grandson now 4 had to have the valve in the bottom of his stomach dialated and was having a lot of the same symptoms she's having. He went from spitting up to vomiting very often. He was 17 mo. and weighed 17 lbs.
Wheather it be allergy related or gastric, she needs some releif and so do you.
Dr. Olgenmola ( I think that's how it's spelled) is a great gastic dr. assco. with Cooks in Ft.Worth.
I pray she gets better soon and you find the answer to her problems.
God Bless you and yours.

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B.L.

answers from Dallas on

You should keep a food diary along with your daughters symptoms to see if you can establish a specific connection. For her immediate relief Hyland's colic tabs and Baby's Bliss gripe water work wonders!

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S.

answers from Dallas on

I have two suggestions. talk to your pediatrician about switching to Nutramigen. One of my daughters had that issue for several months and it was my night nanny that suggested it; she said most of her babies were premature and had to have it. I had to force the issue with the pediatrician and she said, Well, yes, it will help but it costs a lot of money! Like I would trade my daughter's comfort for money. Almost instantly; well in a couple of days, it was like night and day. Also we made sure that she was always upright for about 20 minutes after each feeding (and during the feedings). that helped her digest the food better. The other suggestion, that we did not need, is to see a good Ear Nose & Throat doctor. I know a good one, and he has explained that he can help babies with reflux; his specialty is pediatric ENT. His name is Dr. Tim Trone at Medical City. Talk to your pediatrician about both these possibilities - push - be your daughter's advocate. Good luck.

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B.D.

answers from Dallas on

T.-
It sounds very familiar to me when my daughter was very young. I nursed her till she was 22 months. She was very colicky too and and it became more obvious as she got older around 2-3 that the symptoms became more severe. Her belly was distended, stools varied from constipation and diarrhea and had belly aches and lots of gas. She even had issues with the enamel on her teeth. I finally tested her for gluten intolerance with a lab that has very accurate results, www.enterolab.com. Testing the blood is not conclusive and biopsies too invasive. She tested positive and has been on a gluten free diet for the last 2 years. She is 8 now and very healthy and no more issues. This may not be the case for you but it may be worth checking into at least to rule it out. Gluten intolerance leads to Celiac and is more common than you my think.

Best of Luck-
B.

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K.F.

answers from Dallas on

I would also change pediatricians immediately. Do you try using Vick's at night? If not, put it on her feet with socks. Also run a cool mist vaporizer in her room and don't allow the dogs in the baby's room. Propping up the mattress so that the child is sleeping in a more upright position is also helpful. The congestion is allergies and you don't just leave the child to struggle, your doctor sounds like an idiot, whether the kid outgrows it or not.

Reflux is a possibility, there are definitely medical issues that should be checked out.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

It does sound alot like a gluten allergy. I would get her tested asap. Unfortunately most pedis do not know to do this. Dr. Rao in Carrolton is great for allergy testing. :) Good Luck!

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would definitely get her to an allergist and do some testing. Yes, she could grow out of the allergies but right now she is in pain. poor thing. One thing to try is getting her tested for gluten intolerance. Entero Labs in Dallas does gluten, soy, casein (dairy), egg, and yeast allergy testing w/o a dr.'s prescription. This may be a route to take if getting in to see an allergist takes a while. Good luck!

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