Extreme gas pain in BF infant??

[chlobo]

We have suspected for a while that DS must be reacting to someting in my diet due to a number of symptoms. I've gone on a TED and I'm down to very few foods. Since doing this he seems to have "bouts" of extreme discomfort. Two nights ago we woke in the middle of the night & wouldn't let us put him down. He used to be comfortable on his stomach (and sometimes still is) but would not go to sleep on his stomach. He ended up on DH's chest.

Last night wasn't so bad until about 4:30am. Tonight has been horrible. He woke at 10 and wanted to nurse. I nursed him and while nursing he'd have these "twitches" where he seemed to have a sudden pain. At around midnight he woke up with definite discomfort. DH is still trying to get him to go to sleep.

The thing is that now amount of massage, bicycle, bouncing, anything seems to produce any gas from either end. So could this be something other than gas?

Right now I feel like I'm poisoning my son. I'm about ready to throw in the towel. I've been reading the healing the gut, how not to have an allergic child, etc. but I can't seem to get this guy to a baseline where he isn't in distress.

Any thoughts?

[onlyAngil]

Merrr just what come to my mind...

1st ~ This sucks and I am very very sorrie for you.
2nd ~ Camomile Tea, you drink a bunch of it full strength, and give him 1-2Tbls cut with 1/2 water. Make sure it is PURE Camomile Tea, camomile is put with a lot of other things that his tummy may not like. You find it no prob I am sure.
3rd ~ If things get really bad you might try a just the little bit of yogurt, what you are really looking for is the probiotics to help the little ones GI track. I am not sure how much (if any, though I would think at lest some) of the probiotics are passed though breastmilk. So, I do not know to tell you if you should have it or him... I just gave it to my son *~* shrugs *~* it helped. I would say Plain Yogurt if you are thinking about giving him some. Then again if he is having a problem with milk this might not be a good idea, though a lot of people who can not have milk things can have yogurt.... go with your gut I am sure you will make the best call....

I hope something here was helpful!

~Angil

[meggles]

If the elimination diet isn't helping, I'd say take him to see his pediatrician. That's what they're there for. You want to make sure there isn't something physically wrong with your baby. If he's reacting to foods in your breastmilk, it may take a few weeks to clear up. I know it took my dd a couple of weeks to stop having gas after I eliminated dairy. But, when it doubt, take him in!
Good luck, I hope he feels better soon.

[JaneSmith1010]

Eliminate ALL dairy and Gluten from your diet. This should help. If not, you need to consult a doctor. my baby is celiac and was too young to be getting cow milk protiens in my BM so he was very colicky, fussy, gassy, etc. All was relieved when I eliminated dairy, I was already GF. He has improved even more since being grain free as well.

[chlobo]

I've been gluten/dairy free since the beginning of December. Hasn't seemed to help. Guess I'll call the doctor in the morning.

[Panserbjorne]

NO CHAMOMILE TEA!!!! It is in the same family as ragweed and VERY allergenic!

Please do a castor oil pack on your little one's tummy. It doesn't address the problem, but will be comforting and reduce inflammation which in turn will make BOTH of you more comfortable.

It sounds like he's still reacting to something. I think you really need to get some testing done. I know you are working on that, but really...it could be something you aren't thinking about at all. Have you done elimination of the top 8? Are you off soy, peanuts, dairy, gluten, nuts, eggs at the very least-or have you been off them all at once?

I'm just worried that you're doc isn't going to be much help. They often aren't-not because they are jerks, but because they just don't have the training. I have one mama I am working with that went to her doc and he put the baby on formula. I got her in for allergy testing and she tested allergic to several things she hadn't eliminated. She now has and the babe's stool is *so* much better. She just had testing a week and a half ago. I can't tell you how many mamas this has happened with. I'm not saying don't go in, I'm just saying that you should still try to find an ND as well.

I'm so sorry mama...the castor oil pack is all I have to offer right now.

[chlobo]

Well I thought he might be reacting so I eliminated pears & sweet potatoes since they seemed most likely. But I can't reallly eliminate more. I'm having trouble enough as it is eating enough right now.

Right now I'm eating chix, turkey, lamb, bananas & olive oil. No tea whatsoever. What would you suspect?

What kind of testing? Should I be tested or should he? I am seeing a naturopath on Thurday so I'd like to know what to ask. As to regular testing, it takes 2 months to get in to a traditional allergist. So I'm not sure that will help.

Last night was better. No screaming. Still discomfort. Bright red cheeks this am while nursing. Big poop with mucous this morning, although it was definitely more yellow than green. No visible blood. I guess I want to see if there is hidden blood. That's why the trip to the ped.

Has does one do a castor oil pack? Time to go to whole foods I guess.

[Panserbjorne]

http://curezone.com/cures/castoroil.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/castor_oil.html
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/castoroiluses.html

[Panserbjorne]

I would suspect the higher protein foods first...but many people have issues with bananas. Do you have a latex sensitivity by any chance?

I personally wouldn't bother with an allergist, but that's just me. I would go straight for the ND and ask what they're background is. I'd be looking for someone with a specific interest in gut health/healing, autism, food allergies and/or nutrition. Some specialize in herbs, some homeopathy, others chinese medicine. Find out what this one does.

[chlobo]

I've never had a problem with latex. However I guess it's possible. I only added bananas after giving up pears. Perhaps he's still recovering from something else.

[kjbrown92]

Gripe Water helped my kids while I was doing the elimination diet. It eliminated some of the stomach issues, and then I could tell the foods by the red cheeks, rashes, and eczema, which was less uncofmortable for them. You can make your own with fennel and ginger and baking soda, but I never figured out the ratios.

Are you just down to bananas, olive oil, chicken, turkey, lamb? That's it - no salt & pepper or seasonings? I feel sorry for you, that's for sure. I did the elimination diet when my daughter wasn't breastfeeding, and she didn't seem to care about the monotony of her diet, thankfully! I'm just trying to see if there's something hidden. Oh, are you taking any supplements? And have you checked those for allergens? My ds reacted to the "vegetable oil" in a multivitamin that turned out to be soybean oil when I called the company. And even that little amount set him off. Also lactose is in a lot of pills. Just a thought.

[mtn.mama]

He slept better without the sweet potato and pear? And only pink cheeks during nursing? Any other symptoms? That sounds like good progress. I wouldn't eliminate anything else right now- give him a few days to stabilize. But in my book bananas are suspicious 1.) because they made my mouth itch when I was a kid and 2.) they are high in natural histamines.
Lisa

[chlobo]

He seemed to sleep better but it was only 1 night so I'm not calling it a trend

I have an appt bwith a naturopath on Thurs. so I'll hold steady until then.