My Little One Has Been So Sick!

[imsohungry]

Hello everyone!

My three month old has to be the happiest baby in the whole world but ever since he had his immunizations three weeks ago, he has been sick!

I won't dwell on all the details...he got constant diarreah, became irritable, and stopped making eye contact with us for over a week. It was so scary! It was like he turned into a lump. Suddenly, the diarreah stopped and he had no bowel movements for days. I tried everything, and he finally went...only to become constipated again immediately. The doctor told me to switch him off of his soy formula (he was placed on this earlier in life after he had difficulty digesting regular milk-based formula). She now told me to try him on a Lacto-free formula by Enfamil. So I tried. He immediately vomitted and had diarreah; by that night he was at Egleston Children's hospital with a fever and continueing vomitting and diarreah. I was told he had a virus. Now, I have placed him back on his soy formula and once again he is constipated. I don't know what to do!!!! He is such a good, happy baby. It breaks my heart to see him writhing in pain. My pediatrician said to try the Lacto-free again because my son probably got sick from the virus and not the change in formula...but I'm scared to do that. Any mama who has watched her newborn violently vomit repeatedly can probably understand. What should I do? Any formula suggestions? Any suggestions for constipation? I just feel so helpless right now.

Thank you to anyone who answers! -Julie

[Ursa Major]

Julie, I am really sorry for what is happening to your baby. I am afraid that getting vaccinated has caused all this, and made him really sick. It is not likely that he got a virus other than what he got in the vaccines, they are the problem.

Soy formula is a terrible idea for babies. I don't know what else to suggest, though.

It sounds like your son may have developed celiac disease as well.

Sorry, I hope somebody else has better advice. I really am not sure what to do with such a small baby being so sick.

[Canadian Karen]

Julie,

Has there been any viruses going around in your area lately? Where did you take him for his vaccinations, the doctor's office? Perhaps that's where he picked up a bug....

Can't offer too much advice but I do know where you can get some great advice:

Open Original Shared Link

Awesome parents who really know their stuff! I have been a member there for years!

Good luck!

Karen

[imsohungry]

Ursula,

The doctor told me that his initial problems were caused by the rotovirus vaccine that he was given. However, she said that the side-effects should be gone after that first week. Like you, the vaccines were my first idea. He has not been the same baby since those dang vaccines. I'm dreading his four-month shots due in six weeks.

Karen and Everyone,

I'm not sure if a virus is going around, but it is possible. His fever broke after 24 hours. His diarreah stopped after two days. He continues to spit/throw-up more than usual and is constipated, but he is smiling again at us! (this makes mommy VERY happy)!!! At the ER, the doctor told us that he may need to see a GI specialist. Because of my Celiac/milk problems, lupus, sjogrens, and epilepsy, I am watching my little one carefully. Maybe my pediatrician will refer him to the GI without us going to see her (I am worried about Eli catching another illness because of his weakened immune system). He does have a heart murmur and sees a ped. cardiologist, but I don't think that this is related to his current difficulties. I just feel trapped in a "circle" of fighting to keep him well! He is my pride and joy...and has the most beautiful smile!

Thank you for reading and for your suggestions! Julie

[Guest Robbin]

Jules, both my children had similar problems as yours. My oldest was on soy formula and with my youngest I was fortuante to have plenty of milk to nurse him. Have you tried goat's milk? Sometimes babies do well on that. There are other formulas out there, but I am not familar with them (it's been a long time). I do know that vaccines can cause a lot of problems. I hope Alison/fiddle-faddle reads this and can let you know her experiences. You do NOT have to have the vaccines on the crazy schedule they tell you to do. Don't let any dr. tell you that it is mandatory. My boys were both way, way off schedule. I would wait until he gets completely well before I would stress his little system out. I kept my babies away from crowds as much as possible or had my mom watch them if I had to go out where there would be a lot of people when they were tiny. Their immune systems need to strengthen, especially if they are already having an illness to deal with, and god only knows what is floating around with so many people traveling world-wide. I am not saying become a hermit, but use caution when the little guy is so vulnerable. Please keep us posted, and I will say a prayer for your precious baby.

btw-they have gentle suppositories for babies for constipation-these are more of a stool softener and since they are not ingested, will not add to the tummy problems. I used them for my youngest, but I forget the name. You can break them into a smaller piece and they are safe for babies. Check with your dr. or pharmacist.

[Ursa Major]

Julie, I am so glad that Eli is smiling again, as vaccines can cause irreversible brain damage and autism. Mind you, some children's immune systems can absolutely NOT handle more than one vaccination (or any for that matter), and the next time it may be completely overwhelmed.

Any baby that has had a very bad reaction to the first vaccination shouldn't have any more, for fear of irreversible damage, even death. I don't mean to scare you, but I need to say this, for my own peace of mind. Because, if I don't, and hear in six weeks that your precious son is now mentally handicapped, or worse, has died, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for not warning you.

[KayJay]

I am sorry your baby is sick. Most likely he picked up the virus when you went to the doctors. I can however relate to you with having a sick baby. It took us 5 months to figure out Maddie is allergic to both milk and soy. They put her on Elecare/Neocate and now she can tolerate small amounts of Nutramigen. I am starting to give her a bottle of that every other day to see how she does on it.

I will say that our Ped. GI said that if you switch formula (or food) and the baby gets sick it is damaging their intestines. Then you switch to something else before they heal again the intestines stay damaged and the baby stays sick. (He explained it better than that) But basically we had to stop everything and give her just Elecare or Breast milk for 2 months and then try another formula if she got sick (and she did) we had to go back and do 2 months of the Elecare. She couldn't eat solids until she was 8.5 months old but has done fine with everything now when before she was sick on everything so I guess his theory pans out

I hope your baby gets better soon. I do recommend going to a GI for him. They know a lot more about baby diets than regular peds

[maggee]

You do NOT have to have the vaccines on the crazy schedule they tell you to do. Don't let any dr. tell you that it is mandatory. My boys were both way, way off schedule. I would wait until he gets completely well before I would stress his little system out.

Hi Julie,

I totally agree with Ursula and Robbin - please investigate vaccine reactions asap. Some kids cannot keep up with the "schedule" and some cannot tolerate them at all. I found info at www.mothering.com.

Good Luck and I hope your son feels better soon.

Maggee

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Hi, Julie, I'm so sorry you've been going through this. I know how awful and frightening it is. I agree completely with Ursula that it was the vaccines, not just a virus from the office, especially considering your own medical history and the fact that your baby is on formula (for which I do NOT judge or blame you!).

I would wait for several MONTHS before letting them shoot any more chemicals (vaccines) into your baby, and then only do one at a time (with a few months in between) , even if it means more frequent trips to the pediatrician's office than you would have originally scheduled. THERE ARE NO LONG-TERM STUDIES ON WHAT THIS MANY VACCINES DO TO BABIES, NOT TO MENTION WHATEVER CHEMICALS OR PRESERVATIVES IN THE VACCINES BESIDES FOR THE KILLED VIRUS CAN DO.

Is there ANY chance you can re-lactate and pump milk for your baby, even if you end up mixing it half and half with formula? I really think that will make a long-term difference, and also help him tolerate whatever formula better, too.

If not, do you know any nursing moms with celiac who might be able to donate some milk--even if it's only an ounce a day or so?

I know our culture and our medical system says, "Ewwww!" about donated milk, but sometimes it just might be preferable to something out of a lab that is sold FOR PROFIT (even though I will admit that we are lucky to have formula for moms who for whatever reason are unable to breastfeed).

All 3 of my kids have had reactions to vaccines, one much more so than his siblings. I will forever feel guilty that I didn't research this earlier and protect them from what were certainly well-meaning medical professionals--but well-meaning or not, they poisoned my children.

I am not anti-vaccine. At least, not yet. I accept that we need the polio vaccine, for instance. And, while rubella is not a dangerous virus to children, I understand it is devastating to the fetus of a pregnant woman who might be exposed. But what 4-hour-old baby needs to be vaccinated for hepatitis? And why do the medical professionals tell us that it's safe to inject our children with 26+ vaccines in the first 18 months of their lives WHEN THERE IS NO LONG-TERM RESEARCH TELLING US THAT IT IS SAFE, AND THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT IT IS NOT SAFE???

You have instincts--trust them. I hope your baby continues to improve.

[AndreaB]

Julie,

If you baby is now allergic or intolerant to soy you must not get the pneumococcal again. It has soy protein in it. My son broke out with eczema 1-2 weeks after his 2 month shots....I think it was the pneumococcal but can't be sure with all they give. He has not gotten any since and with me going on a gluten and soy free diet his eczema cleared completely up. I am still researching vaccines and have found a good book which is available at amazon .com. The Vaccine Guide by Randall Neustaedter OMD. It is a well balanced book and goes through the pros/cons and adverse reactions for each shot. There are many doctors (mostly holistic/natural I'm sure) that recommend spacing shots out. Dr. Blaylock who is a retired neurosurgeon recommends not getting any live virus vaccines (mmr and chickenpox) and spacing out shots to one every six months. If you want or need to get the live virus try to get the mmr separated and give on the six month schedule. The shot I will probably get next is the hib, although I still need to do more research before I make my final decision. He gets seen next month again (9 months) so I need to make up my mind before that appointment comes up.

[imsohungry]

Hi everyone,

You do not know how much I appreciate your replies. Thank you so much!

I am a first-time mom, and I just want to help my baby boy! I have read up on the immunizations, and I am really considering not allowing the second and third dose of the rotovirus vaccine to be given to Eli. It is a live virus. I read that children who get rotovirus have severe vomitting, fever, diarreah, and dehydration. I think my son got rotovirus from the vaccine! His symptoms were identical to the actual childhood virus (the very thing that I gave him the immunization to protect him from)!

Bless his heart, he has been so ill. My biggest fear was after the immunizations when he stopped making eye-contact, reacting to rattles, and his reflexes slowed. Like I said earlier, he just lost that "bubbly" part of himself. Luckily, in the last week, he has started communicating again and it's almost like he is making up for lost time...he is cooing and smiling non-stop!

Now that he's over the virus, I have some decisions to make about the immunizations. I also have to do something about the formula situation...as he is still constipated. Although this morning I fed him prune juice and he had a small BM.

I think I'm calling his ped. tomorrow about referral to a ped. GI. Thanks and blessings to everyone!

-Julie (P.S. I don't breastfeed because I am on many highpowered medications for my seizures and other health problems that Eli should not take into his system)

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Ursula has done much more research about soy and probably knows muchmore than I do about it. However--if constipation is the only problem, you might try giving him lots of "stone"fruits to eat: peaches, pears, nectarines, plums and mangos. Not the juices, the fruits--they have much more fiber, etc.

My daughter wwas breastfed, and she was very constipated--stone fruits worked beautifully.