Finally Getting Some Relief But Still Questions...

[Mommyof2princesses]

Hi everyone! I'm Danette, 29 year old mom to 2 wonderful daughters aged 10 and 14 months. Let me give you some background. I've had problems with digestion problems for as long as I can remember and was extremely overweight for a long time. I have a larger belly, and flat behind. I also have GERD. Just in the last year did I lose weight, and boy it has been a struggle. I had my first daughter at 18, she was 7 lbs. and had no problems until 2 months when she was diagnosed with bronchitis/asthma and hospitalized. She was also diagnosed with GERD and put on Prevacid.It was soon after we realized her what we thought was lactose intolerance. So we switched to soy formula, she continued to be sick with recurrent ear infections, horrible diaper rashes, and severe constipation. This continued and we just learned to deal with it. She's always been chubby, big belly, flat behind. Fast forward, 3 years, I experienced unexplained infertility, but finally got pregnant. There were problems from day one. They thought there were many many things wrong with her. I spent a month in the hospital in my 7th month and had an amniocentesis for it to come back normal. I lost her at 27 weeks. The only diagnosis I was given was she had severe IUGR and a problem with the blood flow in the umbilical cord. My husband at the time and I had a lot of issues and got a divorce the next year. My oldest daughter was 5 at the time, and continued to experience the severe constipation, unexplained vomiting, and occasional diarrhea . She even had a colonosopy done, but they said everything was normal. I got remarried 2 years later, and again experienced unexplained infertility, went to a fertility specialist, underwent alot of testing only to be told they couldn't find anything wrong except some scar tissue in my uterus, he thought it would be helpful if it got removed, so we planned for the surgery, but 2 weeks later I found out I was pregnant. The pregnancy was pretty eventful with lots of testing, ultrasounds, and lots of scares. They watched me really closely because of the pregnancy I lost. Lilly was born 6 lbs. 9 oz., but we experienced feeding issues right off the bat. She didn't want to nurse, she just screamed, so 2 days later when we were finally released we tried formula. Similac Advance gave her gas, and she just stayed in fetal position all the time with cramps. She was constipated all the time, she had colic, and reflux and we started Prevacid. We went through Similac Advance, Isomil, Nutramagin, and most recently Similac Sensitive, as they diagnosed her with lactose intolerance. She's had an upper GI, but that is all the testing she's had so far. About 4-5 weeks ago, she started to experience extremely bad diarrhea, gray and pale sour milk or cheese smelling stools, even worse stomach cramping, thrush in her mouth, and bottom, severe blistering bleeding diaper rash, crying alot, not sleeping well, and throwing tantrums. She has weighed 18-20 lbs for 3 months. FINALLY, the dr. referred us to a pedi GI at a hospital about an hour away. We went for our first appointment on Monday. He ordered a bunch of testing. He says either food allergies, or celiac disease. So she has a lot of blood work to get done, and a sweat test for cystic fibrosis, which he said he wants to rule out. He also said he wanted to start her on Neocate. She's been on the Neocate for 3 days, and we have eliminated some/most of the possible allergens from her diet (no soy, dairy, wheat, gluten) and she has been a different baby! Her color already looks better, sleeping through the night, taking good naps, no cramping, and no diarrhea. It's amazing how much different she is...I'm sorry for the novel...but from reading these boards you all are pros and I can't wait to hear your opinions. For me it is hard to tell, because we have eliminated so much, it's hard to tell. Anything you have to say suggestions, advice, even if you think it's not celiac...I am just so glad she is finally getting some relief from all this. Please feel free to email me also...and THANK YOU so much for anything you have to say in advance!!!

PS.--Edited to add that my oldest daughter and I both have a rash on our arms that makes them feel like sandpaper, I take a daily prescription med for it, use a special shampoo 3 times a week, and a special lotion. I also have excema, and she has psoriasis. So far the baby has not shown anything like that except little red dot rash on her tummy, back, and sometimes face (around her mouth). Don't know if this helps, but thought I would add it just in case.

Danette

[swalker]

Danette, you and your girls are gluten intolerant. Gluten causes all of your symptoms and more. If after a few weeks removing just gluten hasn't made headway on all of your symptoms then, one at a time: dairy, corn, soy, eggs and nightshades are the next most common offenders but it sounds like you already knew that.

You and your girls are going to feel so much better soon!