12 Month Old...not Diagnosed

[maggiemom]

Just wondering if you have any suggestions for questions for my doctor. I have a 12 month old (checkup on Monday) who is not diagnosed with Celiac. However, I have some strong suspitions. She has never slept well (cries every time I put her in her crib and when she wakes up) and I have used every trick (cry it out, etc.). She seems to be dairy intolerant. She has had several ear infections and sinus infections and innumerable "viruses". But, since she is a good size the doctors I have seen always say she is fine. She eats like she is starving...for lunch today...2 hot dogs, melon and about 20 green beans.

Last Monday I took her off wheat...I'm not sure why I tried it. I didn't know much about Celiac's at the time and didn't realize I should try to get her off gluten all together. But, on Friday she actually took two naps and didn't scream herself to sleep at all.

I put her back on wheat this past Sunday because my husband thought it was a "fluke" that she was better. On Monday morning she had excema on her face, diaper rash, sneezing, coughing and runny nose. He again said this was a "fluke". So, I have her on wheat still and she seems crankier than usual. She got up about 45 minutes earlier today than usual and she was crying immediately when she woke up. She has red circles around her eyes and a red nose. She has already pooped 3 times (and it's noon).

What questions/test should I ask at the doctor? I have not had much luck having the doc's believe me that something is wrong...any suggestions...I would be so happy for any help.

[kevieb]

maybe start with food allergy testing. does your daughter have reflux?

[maggiemom]

maybe start with food allergy testing. does your daughter have reflux?

The only time she really spit up was when she was on a milk-based formula and then again when I attempted to give her dairy products.

[kevieb]

some reflux babies have milk-soy protein intolerance that either causes or aggravates their reflux. when we first took my youngest to a ped gi for her reflux the first thing he did was food allergy testing to rule that out as a cause of her reflux. alot of babies have silent reflux and hardly ever spit up.

[crittermom]

Hi Maggiemom,

My son had reflux, dx at 6 weeks, for two years. He would do many of the same things that your dd is doing. As soon as we put him down he would start screaming. He had constant diaper rash, many foul acidic bms everyday, and was just generally cranky and crying ALL the time if he wasn't held. Reflux babies will often over eat as well as an attempt to make their bellies feel better. They don't understand that the discomfort is pain not hunger, which causes more gas and more pressure therefore more reflux. Michael gained weight like a champ because he was CONSTANTLY eating! My ped diagnosed him with reflux and put him on zantac. The thing about zantac is that it goes by weight and if they gain just a little it doesn't work anymore, they also build up a tolerance for it, and it tastes terrible to boot! We switched to a ppi (proton pump inhibitor) which helped tremendously. I started keeping a 24 hour journal for him. I recorded what he ate, what time, and any symptoms he was having. I also recorded what I was eating as he was breastfed. I started to notice very quickly that he had problems anytime I ate dairy so I cut out dairy, then I noticed products with soy became a problem, I cut out that as well. With the restricted diet along with the Prevacid he was like a new child. No more crying, slept for hours on end through the night and was happy to play in any number of positions. I had a "reflux pod" for him in his crib. He slept on a wedge along with side wedges and a rolled blanket in a U under his butt to keep him from sliding down. Michael would sometimes gag on his reflux at night but NEVER spit up at all, and later when he was eating solids he never threw up. Mylanta Cherry Supreme, which I don't believe is gluten-free but I think other Mylantas are, is a life saver!!!! This would calm his tummy right down and it is safe to give them. There is a great forum for infant reflux that got me through that first 2 years of michaels life as this one has helped with Katharine. The address is www.infantreflux.org/forum

The website itself is helpful as well. You may be dealing with the same type of thing with wheat as we did with soy and dairy. You may be getting hit on both ends with Celiac and reflux. I would definitely go with some allergy testing for foods to get some answers to start. I know this forum isn't about reflux, but I had 2 years experience with it and I know how horrible it can be and how much pain it causes for babies. Feel free to send me a pm if you want some more info on what we did for Michael. I hope this might help a little. Good luck!