sensitivity, intollerence or something else? (tmi)

[EsJay]

hi ladies, i am desperate for some info, stories anything really as to what might be the issue with my 16week old, fully BF bub.

I previously posted a thread about her mucous poos that had seemed to be settled by me going off dairy, then i recommenced dairy in my diet and the poos returned. i seen a paediatrician who waved my concerns away saying if she had a dairy intollerence she would look sickly and not be putting on weight (she is putting on plenty of weight), but the poos were still present and in fact got that bad they started to burn her poor little behind. so i took myself off dairy 2 and a half weeks ago in the hope i could solve this once and for all, but it has not helped, in fact the poos have become more frequent if anything. so 6 days ago i took soy out of my diet, so far nothing.
I have been to the gp about it and he has sent a sample away to test for bugs, he agreed seeing the sample that green mucous and yellow diarrhea type poo is not right and should definately not be going on this long (since she was a week old), but he is stumped and honestly not much help at all, advising me to give up bfing and put her on a lactose free formula 'just to try'

I guess what im asking is there something else she could be sensitive/intollerent to, other than dairy and soy that has the same symptoms? she also has eczema on her face, belly & back, which isnt really getting any better either. or do i just need to give it more time on this dairy/soy free diet?
I am under so much pressure to FF her from family and now the GP suggesting it, im at my wits end with little sleep, if i dont get some answers soon im afraid ill be left with little choice. this diet is killing me, as no dairy creates havoc with my system (which is why i went back on it last time) and to see no results is very disheartening and frustrating.
Has anyone had a similar situation and its turned out to be something else? or been in this situation and it turned out to be nothing and thats just how their baby is?
She is on zantac for her reflux (which also doesnt settle with me off dairy, but the zantac has made a huge difference) could this just be a side effect of the refulx? the zantac? Ive had a reflux bub before on zantac, she didn't have these side effects, but maybe others have?
Im desperate for an answer, shes so unsettled, very little sleep, her poor bottom is burnt red raw and nothing calms it and i feel irl i have little to no support and noone seems to be able to shed any light, so any stories you might have would be great, ive done some research online and come up with nothing, just dairy and soy issues.
Thanks in advance and im sorry if this is all over the place and makes little sense, i'm a little all over the place and making little sense at the minute in general.

[bellany]

My friends baby had similar issues and he had allergies with nuts soy dairy eggs and wheat. She took him for allergy testing.
It can take a couple if weeks for an elimination diet to take effect and it to be out of your system too.
I wouldn't switch to formula as it won't solve the problem. You need to find the actual cause and then work out what to do

[onthefly]

If you reckon there's something else going on here, then I'd suggest talking to someone who specialises in this area. A dietician specialising in infants or an LC/dietician (Joy Anderson in Perth does does skype/phone consults)

If you suspect allergies or intolerances, I'm afraid formula would likely only make things worse. It wouldn't 'be a problem with lactose, either, as she really wouldn't be gaining weight at all if that were the problem.
It does take several weeks for these things to clear from your system, and then again, it could be that there's something else wrong. Again, switching to formula won't necessarily help you get to the bottom of the problem and I think what you need is help to figure out what the problem is.

So the doctor has done a test for infection? Has anyone else in the family been unwell recently? Sometimes funny poos like that are a symptom of general illness, also.

I hope you can get some help and answers soon.

[lady_neon]

My friend had to cut out everything red.. capsicum, tomatoes, strawberries etc while BF her 2 sons. She ate anythingvred they'd flare up in eczema so weird.

[onthefly]

Oh, here's a thought - have either of you been on antibiotics at all?

[leesha]

I don't have any experience but I'm a bit peeved the gp suggested to stop breast feeding
I would test for bugs first as she may have a gut problem...have u tried taking probiotics?
At 16 weeks they now say to start solids, not sure if you are going to but it may make a difference and perhaps experimenting with food you may find the cause? Just some thoughts

[onthefly]

The health department guidelines are still to begin solids from 6 months.
I understand what you're saying, but if a parent suspects serious food sensitivities, then experimenting with a baby's gut may not be the best idea.

[EsJay]

Im reluctant to start solids as id like to sort this out first rather than mask the poos with solids, im assuming solids will change the poos. I cant believe he suggested ffing either, i sat in the car & cried after the appt.
Noone has been sick other than colds, no tummy bugs or anything. I was taking a double dose probiotic till she was old enough now we both take inner health plus. Theres no family history of any allergies, intollerences, nothing. I get theresults thurs im going to ask for a referral to allergy specialist, he was very reluctant when i asked this week i guess ill have to demand one

[EsJay]

Yes i was on abs for mastitis but the poos were already happening before then & the mchn told me it was because she was a cs baby

[onthefly]

Well you could try an LC or dietician in the mean time, if you want, no need for a referral for those ones.
Maybe a pediatric gastroenterologist? To cover both bases?

I'm not sure about giving babies probiotics. Breastmilk contains precisely the right ingredients for optimal gut health in babies so adding to it may not necessarily be beneficial?

Is it possible that the early poos were from the c/s (I have no idea about that) and then recurred after ABs? A cold will give them these sorts of poos, too, sometimes.

But demand second, third, etc opinions, for sure. Hope you can sort it out

[leesha]

Is she in any pain at all?

[EsJay]

Ive been off the abs for 11 weeks surely it wouldnt still be that? The probiotic should have kicked in by now if it was? It was one of the things the mchn said cant hurt her to try. No she doesnt appear to be in pain, shes very restless sleepee when she finally does sleep throws her head from side to side whimpers, makes little noises she never appears to be deep in sleep itms. So i dont know if shes in pain & learnt to live with it but she doesnt cry like shes in pain, not since she started the zantac anyway

[onthefly]

oh yeah, probably. I don't know, hey

[leesha]

I'm with MB about trying a pead gastroenterologist and dietician. Then allergy testing perhaps? Sorry not much help but it's obvious something isn't right ;(

[EsJay]

Thanx ladies, ive contacted an allergy clinic waiting foe them to call me back to discuss it, am searching for a paed gastro in our area. I feel i best go armed with info & contacts to the gp or hell just keep saying its lactose & not look further into this.

[Razzberry]

Just noticed the username change!

When you talked about her sleep, it reminded me of DD. I know you said the zantac has helped and I thought it helped DD a bit too, but then when she started losec for the reflux - Thats when I noticed a big change, maybe talk to the gp about losec? or wait till you see a gastro paed.