reflux/milk intolerance x-post

[mommy2naomi]

I need advice on this situation...
Jaclyn started really spitting up after every feeding and then wanting to feed more. I had no problem with that and she nursed from 7am until past noon without almost any break. Then I noticed that she would cry a lot even at the breast. I called my holistic practitioner/acupuncturist and she did some acupressure and gave me "tummy tamer" by Gentle Warriors. I gave it to her yesterday twice and she nursed/slept normally. Today I took her to the pediatrician and she told me that there is a little blood in her BM. Then she came back and said that she's got a milk intolerance. So she said to cut out all dairy and gave me a prescription for Axid.
I'm not a big fan of drugs but I want her to feel better. Would you continue doing the tummy tamer or just start the Axid? Anyone have any experience with something similar?

[NatureMama3]

I'd do the dairy detox and tummy tamer and hold on the axid for now, probably. Just know it can take up to 6 weeks to get dairy totally out. Look for things that say "vegan" to avoid having to nit-pick every label.

[NatureMama3]

oops, post hiccup

[Shanana]

nak

No blood in the BM that I'm aware of, but I'm not looking either. Definitely reflux here, and I'm suspecting dairy intolerance too. I get the constant wanting to nurse to ease the pain. She is frantic and fussy at the breast, but keeps coming back then spits up a ton. I figured out that bouncing on the birth ball really soothes her. So if I think she just wants to comfort nurse, I'll try that instead (to avoid overfull tummy, more spitting, more distress).

I think you posted on my other thread about slippery elm, so you know I'm doing that for the reflux. 3 drops, 3xday, but I let too much time go between last night's dose and this morning and really paid.

In addition, I'm rubbing castor oil and lavender oil on her tummy once a day to help w/digestive upset. Also wetting a bag of Tummy Comfort tea (by Traditional Medicinals) with warm water and placing that on her tummy (over the oils, then a cloth on top to protect her clothes).

And I'm cutting dairy from diet (had cheese yesterday for first time in several days and she has been fussy ever since).

I am not familiar w/Axid. How did ped diagnose milk intolerance?

I don't like to use drugs if I can avoid. If tummy tamer is helping, I would use that and cut dairy from your diet and see how things go.

[mommy2naomi]

Originally Posted by Shanana

nak

No blood in the BM that I'm aware of, but I'm not looking either. Definitely reflux here, and I'm suspecting dairy intolerance too. I get the constant wanting to nurse to ease the pain. She is frantic and fussy at the breast, but keeps coming back then spits up a ton. I figured out that bouncing on the birth ball really soothes her. So if I think she just wants to comfort nurse, I'll try that instead (to avoid overfull tummy, more spitting, more distress).

I think you posted on my other thread about slippery elm, so you know I'm doing that for the reflux. 3 drops, 3xday, but I let too much time go between last night's dose and this morning and really paid.

In addition, I'm rubbing castor oil and lavender oil on her tummy once a day to help w/digestive upset. Also wetting a bag of Tummy Comfort tea (by Traditional Medicinals) with warm water and placing that on her tummy (over the oils, then a cloth on top to protect her clothes).

And I'm cutting dairy from diet (had cheese yesterday for first time in several days and she has been fussy ever since).

I am not familiar w/Axid. How did ped diagnose milk intolerance?

I don't like to use drugs if I can avoid. If tummy tamer is helping, I would use that and cut dairy from your diet and see how things go.

I personally haven't seen any blood, she collected a sample of BM and then left the room for a couple of minutes. Came back and said she has a dairy intolerance.

Axid is just like Zantac but more palatable. Thats what she told us.

[Shanana]

Originally Posted by mommy2naomi

I personally haven't seen any blood, she collected a sample of BM and then left the room for a couple of minutes. Came back and said she has a dairy intolerance.

Axid is just like Zantac but more palatable. Thats what she told us.

I'm just wondering if she's speculating, or if there's a way to know for sure. My friend's ds had numerous food sensitivities (as well as reflux), and also had blood in his stool. She cut dairy and that didn't solve the problem. So I was just curious if the ped was saying "dairy" because it's a common culprit, or if there was some way for her to know for sure it was dairy. Just my curiosity .

[cj'smommy]

My first had a dairy intolerance pretty bad, his intestines were bleeding really bad by the time we found out. I cut dairy for a year and a half. I took about 2 weeks after to notice an improvement and 6 weeks later we had a different baby.

When H was born I cut dairy a week before he was born then was off of it for 6 months. After that he was fine.

My last day for dairy this time is tomorrow, we'll see how things go. I should have cut it sooner so it wouldn't be in my system but I didn't. I don't want to give this little guy any more problems then he already has.

Both of them had Reflux as well. They were on Zantac but it tasted horrid and was hard to get him to take it. I even had it compounded at a compounding pharmacy and it was bad. Axid was better. Honestly I don't know if the meds helped much.

You really have to read labels when you cut dairy, the proteins are hidden in so many things. The biggest culprits are Casein and whey. Don't be fooled by things labeled 'dairy free' because they can still have the proteins in them.

Hope that helps some , if I can help in any way let me know. Good luck and I hope it helps.

[cj'smommy]

I think with Connor it was a guess, form what I was told there isn't a 'test' that you can tell for sure other than the elimination. I cut it as a trial to see if it made a difference, it did so I stayed off it for a long time.

Sometimes blood in the stool can also me too much foremilk. That was my next step to look into if cutting dairy didn't work.

[mommy2naomi]

Originally Posted by Shanana

I'm just wondering if she's speculating, or if there's a way to know for sure. My friend's ds had numerous food sensitivities (as well as reflux), and also had blood in his stool. She cut dairy and that didn't solve the problem. So I was just curious if the ped was saying "dairy" because it's a common culprit, or if there was some way for her to know for sure it was dairy. Just my curiosity .

That's a good point, I'm not sure but she didn't seem like she was unsure.

[mommy2naomi]

Originally Posted by cj'smommy

Both of them had Reflux as well. They were on Zantac but it tasted horrid and was hard to get him to take it. I even had it compounded at a compounding pharmacy and it was bad. Axid was better. Honestly I don't know if the meds helped much.

Thanks for the information! I've started cutting the dairy out today and I have no issues with doing so, just not sure if the meds are necessary. We have a follow up appointment next week but I'm not sure that anything will be different since it takes a while for the dairy to get out of the system.

[smeisnotapirate]

Also in avoiding dairy, look for kosher labels. Anything that says Kosher-Parve has no dairy or dairy derivatives.

ETA: Here's a really simplified guide to the labels.