what is wrong!

[monaliza]

I have a three month old son and I have had nothing but trouble feeding him from birth.
I couldnt breast feed as I was on medication and was told I couldnt.
he was on farleys in the begining and he was up all night every hour hungry so we put him on the hungry baby food.only to find he was getting so much colic that the doctors thought it was a reaction to the milk.so thay put him on soya(whysoy sma) everything was fine but after 3 weeks he started getting really bad diarriea and being sick so I took him back to the doctor and he gave him nutramigen.but he just didnt take to it waking every hour hungry.then being sick so I put him back on the soya.the doctor has refered me to the hospital so will have to wait.but in the meen time he is so unwell and I cant stand to see him like this anymore.
so is he allergic who knows will have to wait till they do tests.
just seems so unfair.
lisa :unsure:

[lyndamc]

You poor thing, you sound very frustrated and upset, understandably so. When Megan was a baby she too was an absolute nightmare to feed, even on the breast she would wriggle and squirm and keep coming off, I spent more time latching her back on than she spent sucking, she would wear herself out and fall asleep. After about 3 weeks I just said enough is enough, and put her on Aptimil. Then I started noticing a pattern, She would feed contentedly for a day, then as feeds went on she would start squirming and wriggling, she would go days without passing a stool and feeding time would be a nightmare, then suddenly her bottom would 'explode' and she'd be happy and content for a few hours. As soon as she was on the bottle I would hand her over to anyone and everyone to feed her as I found it so distressing. I generally stood over whoever was feeding her and would be saying 'look she's drinking that but she's not happy about it, there is something in that milk that doesn't aggree with her' I'm sure people thought I was nuts, although my friends and family agreed she was awkward and difficult to feed. In between feeds Megan was never settled and would cry and scream holding her body rigid as if in pain. The only way we could get her to sleep for a while was when we lay her on her stomach! A very young Doctor I saw when I was having a particulary bad day told me that I had the problem not Megan and I was imagining it. I very nearly thumped him!!
Everywhere I went I would read the labels on formula milk to see exactly what they contained, then I came accross a report that said that 50% of colic is thought to be caused by the protein in cow's milk that lots of babies (and adults) can't break down. Thats why I gave Omneo a try at four months and suddenly we had a happy contented baby. She's fine with dairy products now, although I do limit them as she does seem to get constipated if she has too much.
How long have you got to wait to see a specialist? Keep looking you will find the answers but I understand the living nightmare you are going through, is your health visitor still visiting and if not ring her and ask for help, thats what she's there for, request another one if you don't like yours.
Best wishes and good luck
Lynda
ps. how do you feel about putting him back on the original formula, at least he wasn't being sick on that one, and see how he is with that one again?

[Pam]

I was fortunate that my daughter tolerated Wysoy ok but she was much the same as your baby on cows milk formula. It sounds like you need an urgent referral to the hospital otherwise your baby will lose weight and possibly suffer from prolonged use of unsuitable milk. It must be very frustrating for you not to get the answers you need. I hope your appointment comes through quickly. Go back to your doctor if you don't hear anything within a couple of weeks and keep visiting the baby clinic to monitor his weight, the health visitors might be able to push things forward for you if necessary.

[Mac]

I breast fed my little boy and he also was forever pulling off and screaming, then latching back on, swallowing and pulling back off again, my health visitor told me that this was reflux and arranged a prescription for Gaviscon. He was forever having what me and my husband referred to as a "purple ronny" where he would literally go purple during one of his crying attacks, it wasn't until he started getting blood streaks in his poos that it was suggested that I go to the hospital to see a paediatrician. She diagnosed Milk Allergy and told me to continue breastfeeding but I must cut out all dairy produce from my own diet.........hence me joining these guys on dairyfreeuk. This was three months ago, my little boy is now 7 mnths old, I was told to reintroduce dairy into my diet when he was 6 months old, but this did not work and he ended up in hospital with chronic tummy pains, while we were there the Dr told us that I must cut out all dairy from my diet again. I suppose I am lucky really that I am still able to feed him myself and that I don't have to worry too much about formula yet........although I have asked the question on this site already, as I don't intend to feed him for too much longer, specially now he has cut a couple of teeth!! ouch!! Pam is so right, you MUST keep pushing, phone your health visitor demand that she call to see you or maybe you could go round to baby clinic. Hope you get sorted out soon. Mac.

[Charlie]

I was having a lot of trouble getting a referral for my 15 month old daughter. It seems the only way to do it is to keep going to the health visitor and doctor and telling them again and again that you are worried. Health proffesionals seem very pained to acknowledge that children have allergies and you are not just being a neurotic mum. I hope you get somewhere soon. Just keep nagging.
I have only recently joined this site and have found the help and support to be wonderful. I hope that the support will help you at least feel that you are not alone.
Good luck. Charlie.

[kirstyh]

I was lucky when I needed a referral to the paeditrician that I got one within a couple of weeks. I would go back to your doctor and ask if he can request the referral as urgent. If you could get hold of the phone number for the children's clinic at your local hospital, you could try phoning them, letting them know how serious this is and ask if they can consider you for any cancellations.

Kirsty

[Bet]

The only way I got a referral to the dietician, and have my daughter prescribed alternative milk was to sit in the doctors room and refuse to move until they did something. I was called paranoid by both doctor and health visitor and told I was the problem not my daughter - 'all babies scream and mine was no different'. One HV told me I was passing my negative vibes onto my daughter and that was why she lay awake crying all night - Oh dont you just love them!!!

Anyway, persistance is definately the name of the game and a few tears in the eyes and a look of helplessness also helps - doctors arnt very good at dealing with emotions I've found. Its a shame you have to employ these tactics but at the end of the day if you sort your childs problems out then its all worth while!

[matt]

that or change your doctor. a bit drastic but at the end of the day what's the point being with a doctor who thinks you're nuts and won't help?

the threat might be enough for them to think twice and take you seriously. like anything though threats like this should be delivered in a calm rational voice not when upset. seriously it'll make them think if you are obviously calm and have come to a decision on that basis. you've nothing to loose.

i do sympathise with some doctors though as there are people out there who do upset their kids just for the attention. sick but true.