Inconsolable screaming

[askew]

My DD (6 mo) has been spending large chunks of the last 3 weeks screaming. Not only with DH and the sitter, but with me too. I have no idea what is wrong. She is totally not the same child as before Xmas. She barely smiles anymore, hardly laughs. Not really moving around much. Just laying on her back with her hands in her mouth screaming. People keep telling me it must be teeth, but I don't feel anything except some bumps where molars would be and bumps where the canines would be, but they don't get those first. She does calm down after Mortin, and then sleeps. Teething tabs don't do much, but we keep giving them to her anyway) I am starting to get really worried, she is just so miserable. We were just at the Ped two weeks ago and everything checked out okay, but I am thinking of going back tomorrow just to check again. Make sure we are not missing ear infections. But wouldn't she have a fever with an ear infection? She is a little warm off and on, but nothing major. DS barely noticed his teeth, and my mom said some kids take it really badly. Apparently I was a screamer too, but this just does not seem right. And if it is the teeth, how much longer is this going to go when I can't even see little bumps yet?

[BlueWolf]

*hugs* Momma, it sounds like teething. My DD is 6months too and she's been teething since 4 months with not a tooth in sight.

[kdescalzi]

If your lo calms down after motrin, I would say it is teething pain. My dd is 7mo and has been miserable for weeks. I have found that they seem to be in more pain before you see the teeth. Once the teeth pop through they are usually more happy. I would keep using pain control if that helps.

[askew]

Is it normal for them to be so miserable? She is just never happy lately. She seems really withdrawn too. She never smiles or laughs at DH, and barely at me. She can't be left alone with anyone without screaming the whole time. Literally, she will scream for hours before passing out. Nothing calms her down other than nursing. I just feel so helpless. DS was never like this!

[BlueWolf]

Originally Posted by askew

Is it normal for them to be so miserable? She is just never happy lately. She seems really withdrawn too. She never smiles or laughs at DH, and barely at me. She can't be left alone with anyone without screaming the whole time. Literally, she will scream for hours before passing out. Nothing calms her down other than nursing. I just feel so helpless. DS was never like this!

Sounds exactly how my DD was when she was going through a particularly painful teething week. She was miserable... absolutely miserable, and hard to live with!

[changingseasons]

Has she started solids? (If so, it could be a food allergy.)

[askew]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

Has she started solids? (If so, it could be a food allergy.)

Nope. She is not ready for solids, she spits out medicine and pumped milk in a bottle still. Can she have developed an allergy to something in my milk? I am not eating any differently but I do eat dairy, drink coffee, and drink wine. She has been gassy lately and she went from pooping every other day to a few times a day. I thought teething could also caused belly upset from swallowing all the saliva.

[CageFreeFamily]

This degree of teething pain can be a result of insufficient calcium.
We found great help in a teething tea made of equal parts Horsetail, Oatstraw, Lobelia and comfrey root. You can add a bit of peppermint and maple syrup to make it taste better.

[kamane18]

OP - sounds a LOT like my DS (little over 7 months). He too has big bumps where the top molars and canines would be. They've actually been there some time with teething symptoms off/on but last few days have been very rough. Night wakings (not hungry) from discomfort, very fussy, more tired during the day/needing more naps, fussy eating. Yesterday he had a low grade fever (100.1 temporally). Hoping this all means something breaks through soon. We do Motrin only if totally inconsolable - otherwise we try to ride through with a hazelwood teething necklace and homeopathics (including cell salts).

[zipworth]

If your gut is telling you something is off you should probably get it checked out

[dahlialia]

Originally Posted by askew

Is it normal for them to be so miserable? She is just never happy lately. She seems really withdrawn too. She never smiles or laughs at DH, and barely at me. She can't be left alone with anyone without screaming the whole time. Literally, she will scream for hours before passing out. Nothing calms her down other than nursing. I just feel so helpless. DS was never like this!

Personally if she is this bad I wouldn't write it off as teething pain without really ruling out everything else first. Your idea of going back to the ped is what I would do.

[askew]

My DD turned out to be having seizures! I am so glad I listened to my instinct and took her in.

[CookAMH]

To me, SCREAMING *seems* more than everyday teething pain. My DS seemed to tolerate teething well and hardly fussed, so maybe it's my lack of exposure, but I would expect more loud fussing and whining with intermittent crying rather than SCREAMING. Are there tears? Does her nose run? When DS is really upset and not just yelling or loudly fussing, his nose runs and his eyes get red and he has tears.

My thought was solids but you said she hasn't started yet. I don't really have any suggestions, but I might consider checking with a naturopath in order to consult with a doc who will really listen and consider options and not wave it off, in the event it really is something.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by askew

My DD turned out to be having seizures! I am so glad I listened to my instinct and took her in.

Oh my!! I just noticed this after I posted. Poor girl! I'm so glad you took her in, it just didn't sound right.

What did you learn? Can they be treated? How has she been lately?

[kamane18]

Originally Posted by askew

My DD turned out to be having seizures! I am so glad I listened to my instinct and took her in.

Oh my goodness! Do they know why? What are they doing? How is she (and you)?

[askew]

Originally Posted by kamane18

Oh my goodness! Do they know why? What are they doing? How is she (and you)?

She had a prenatal stroke, so apparently this set her up for these types of seizures. It was a shock as thus far she showed no effects of the stroke, was developmentally on track and all. We started a new drug today and we are praying that is keeps her seizure free. She is cranky still, but we are getting through it one day at a time.

[Icehockey18]

I hope the meds help! That just shows that your mama instincts are right on! (((hugs))) to you and your family

[CageFreeFamily]

I'll be thinking of her. I hope that you find all that she needs quickly and easily. to you family.

[Pavlovs]

Originally Posted by zipworth

If your gut is telling you something is off you should probably get it checked out

When my son was acting differently around 6 months old, people told us things like "it's teething, give him motrin" and/or "it's growing pains - totally normal". We listened to that and just didn't have anything to compare his behavior to since he was our first baby. Turned out he was very sick. A quick visit to your ped may set your mind at ease, or even unravel the mystery as to why your baby's behavior has changed.

ETA sorry, just finished reading the thread. Hugs to you - I hope the meds work beautifully. It must be stressful while you learn the ins and outs of this, but speaking from a mama with a child that has a life-long disease, you will learn and adjust. Your baby is so lucky to have you!