Sorry if this runs long. So here is some history about my son. When we were still at hospital, he was less than 24 hours old, he chocked, turned blue, & nurses had to suck out his tummy by sticking tubes down to his tummy. We were at hospital for 4 days, due to part he having troubles & me having a bad epidural and had spinal headache, then 2 blood patch to correct it. In the 4 days they had to suck out his tummy 4 times. Nurse said it was amniotic fluid. Well, besides that he would spit up like crazy, looked like whole tummy. I only breastfeed him till 14.5 months old. So at 5 days ols took him into ped doc, and she said he had bad reflux, and put him on meds. Still he would spit up so bad, so back to doc. She put him on 2 meds, and said maybe dairy allergy, so I stopped eating all dairy. Still he spit up horrible. He also got hiccups lots, and around 3-4 months old if he cried for very long he would throw up, so bad I thought he would choke. Back to doc, & said that hiccups & throwing up is just part of reflux & he would out grow. At a year old he finally stopped spitting up everywhere,(think due to he was eating mostly solid foods). So we stopped meds. He still throws up when he cries hard, like once a week, sometimes he wakes up in middle of night, cries for 15 seconds, throws up, and back to sleep after cleaned up. He still gets hiccups almost everyday. Back to doc, and she said she thought he "learned" how to throw up from his reflux, so he does it on purspose. After going home & thinking about it, called her up & said nope, and back. She finally looked listen to me and said "yep I think maybe his body is fighting food allergy, (he has bad eczema) So we went to Allergy/Asthma doc. He did test, & came back negative for everything but strawberries & avacodo, both I suspected, so he did not get. He said go to GI doc. So off to GI doc, and she said something is going on. He gaurds part of his tummy when she pushes on it, he is off the charts for weight, he has always been small, but he keeps going down on chart, & now off chart!!!! She had blood drawn to check for celiac disease, & some other things. He went and had a ultrasoung done of his tummy, & now waiting to hear back,to see what steps are next. She put him on strong reflux med as well. Also, he had double ear infection, may 28. Got put on antibotics after trip to ER cuz he was screaming poor kid. Went to normal ped doc 12 days later to check on ears, & 1 still infected, so yet another dose of stronger antibotics for 10 days. Well, when we went to GI doc shed said ear still had lots of fluid in it, & she was concerend. Asked about history. He has had not sure exact but at least 5 ear infections. He is now 19 months. 4 months ago he had double in infection & bronchitis. :( GI doc said take him back to ped doc and ask to be seen by ENT doc that maybe adnoids need to come out. She said toncils are also kinda large. So today, I take him in, this is 5 days after seeing GI doctor, and my normal ped doc is out till next week, so saw other girl. She said ear looks pretty good, and that she thinks that reflux maybe causing his adnoids to be flared up , there for causing ear infections. Has anyone ever delt with this. She said NOTHING about giving me a referal to a ENT doc. She just said, we will wait & see what test results say about his tummy. I am getting very frustrated. Hate seeing my son sick, and feel like this doc office not listening. Why would GI doc say go see ENT doc for ears, adnoids & toncils, and NOT say a word about it having to do with reflux? Then I go to normal ped doc and she says its probably reflux, and NO referral to ENT, just lets wait and see game. I am tired of waiting! Also the ultrasound tech said his tummy looked normal, and did not show signs of reflux. I am still waiting on GI doc to call me about ultrasound & blood results. I asked ped doc about the ultrasound tech saying looked like he had no signs of reflux.She said no way is there to gtell if someone has reflux by ultrasound, all they would check for is blockages and things of that nature. So now just confused and frustrated! We have normal doctor appt with his "normal" ped doctor July 7th to discuss everything and weight check. Also, he is low on weight chart, and the nurse, not one I normally deal with, due to his normal ped doc being out, and she weighed him fully dressed, with shoes, everything! And wrote it down, I even asked, should I get him undressed like normal, how I am used to and she said nope, and weighed him. I am just upset cuz I know what his "true" weight is from 5 days ago at GI doc, where they weighed him naked. He today was a lb more, and know its cuz he was fully dressed and so it bugs me its not a correct weight, ugh sorry venting as well, just frustrated. Please any one who has dealt with any of this, info would be awesome!
With gosh no wonder why you are frustrated! Sounds like these doctors are just throwing you off on each other back and forth. Put your foot down momma.....you know your son and this is exactly what they do when they can't figure out something medically. Personally if it were me I would march my happy butt down to the pediatrician's office and I would ask for ALL of his medical records and find me a new pediatrician-maybe even a specialist. Sometimes a children's hospital is best-do you guys have one in your area? We have a Scottish Rite-Childrens healthcare of Atlanta and they are AWESOME! Actually when my daughter broker her arm guess who showed up at the ER? Usher's nanny! Anyways sometimes they are just better at that sort of thing. You can try to go to the ENT as well to see what they say but at this point you are playing merry-go-round with these docs which would have put a bad taste in my mouth for sure. So start over! I say start over with a children's hospital or a specialist of children if you can find one in your area. Geez momma! My twins have ALWAYS had HUGE tonsils and they did have issues with ear infections and had to have two sets of tubes and everytime they have ever been seen by any doctor that looks in their throats its always the same thing "Oh wow-their tonsils are HUGE. Then its always "Do they Snore? Do they have strep throat often? No, and No. The ENT looked at them and said yes they were huge but they weren't causing them any issues so to leave them in at this point. I feel ya-I would have already lost it with those doctors-time to get some referals if you can. I am fortunate enough to have a sister and mom in the medical community so I can get a hold of some great docs but you are just being passed around here and it might be because one is being lazy and doesn't care to find out or they just don't know and don't want to be bothered by it. Therefore the passing back and forth continues....I know in a sense they are trying to rule things out but even still after all this time you are no closer to an answer than you were before. Hey drive here to Atlanta if you have to in order to get those answers-they have a wonderful facility here. Another one too is emory............good luck momma and poor little guy! ;()(
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C.W.
answers from
Allentown
on
With so much going on and so many conflicting statements, I'd request a conference call with the ped, GI, and ENT. They need to compare notes in real time, and you need to hear the conversation and get your questions answered.
For what it's worth, skin scratch tests aren't likely to pick up protein "allergies", since milk/soy proteins don't often produce the same immune response as your everyday dust/mold/peanut/berry allergies. I've been told the only official way to detect MSPI is through a biopsy. (My son's diagnosis is based only on his response to eliminating all milk and soy proteins. We chose to skip the biopsy.)
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J.S.
answers from
Jacksonville
on
Sounds like you have a lot going on, poor little guy and poor mama! You might try to take him to a chiropractor for the ear infections. My husband has adjusted my daughter since birth and despite the fact we go swimming every other day she has never had an ear infection. Adjusting him might also help with the digestive issues. If you take him to a chiro find one that specializes in children. You will be surprised about how much the chiro's know and how they are much more willing to listen to you. Best of luck and I hope he feels better soon.
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L.P.
answers from
Pittsfield
on
IMHO, you should find a new pediatrician. Ultimately, you're his boss- and he should be fired. I found some reviews of some pediatricians in Boise. Maybe one of them would be more helpful. I wouldn't just go by this, ask around- but it may be a good place to start.
Ouch, wow. I'm so sorry. I'm really surprised to hear that he didn't respond well to the elimination of dairy, since reflux and chronic ear infections are just about THE indicators of a pediatric dairy sensitivity.
If you can find anyone in your area, I recommend consulting with a naturopathic physician. They are well versed in dietary sensitivities/intolerances, which often result in systemic problems but which usually don't show up in allergists' tests. There are major naturopathic med schools in Portland and Seattle (sorry, blanking on names) -- you might try calling them and asking for a referral to an alum who practices in Boise.
My best wishes to you and your little guy!
Mira
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C.W.
answers from
Washington DC
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Wow. I am so sorry you are going through this. The test that shows reflux would be an upper GI. My son had it done and it was relatively easy. The child drinks contrast dye and then they lay him down under a machine and watch the dye travel through him, or in the case of reflux, back up. An ultrasound would not show reflux, but maybe they did this test because he was guarding his tummy and wanted to see if his appendix was normal?? I have never heard of reflux causing adenoids to be inflamed, but my son snored like crazy and for several years I listened to the peds doctor tell me over and over to "wait and see." Finally at 3 1/2 I had had enough and she gave me a referral to the ENT. By that time his speech was not developing normally and he had failed a hearing test due to fluid in his ears that was blocked from flowing by his large adenoids. The ENT brushed aside my concerns at first saying they didn't look that large until he did an Xray, then he came back in and said they were the biggest he had seen in ages and definately had to come out. His tonsils were big too but he wouldn't remove them. Again, wait and see, and now at almost 5 the poor kid drools when he gets a cold because the tonsils flare up. If I were you, I would demand a consult with the ENT, I would ask for the Upper Gi test to see if he really has reflux, and I would look for a new pediatrician that will take the time to find out what is really going on.
