Baby Strawbs - yet another illness.. Advice please

[Strawbs]

Firstly sorry its so long but Im feeling a little desperate..

To set the scene - a few weeks ago baby strawbs was quite ill, initially we put it down to nursery bugs / settling in etc.. In the end he had a cold / chesty cough / temps of 40 / very sleepy to the point where he would just lie on the floor and even if he vomited just wouldnt move /sickess and a runny bum for almost two weeks (doesnt sound like much on paper but living it was quite something altogether different).. We were sent to A&E twice by our GP and after a multitude of tests including chest x-rays they concluded he had multiple viruses at the same time and there really wasnt much that could be done. SO off we went home and just continued to ride out the storm..

Over the past 7 days he has been left with a lingering cough (fine not worried about that) and a very strange vomiting ritual. He has no temperature, seems happy during the day, eats ok etc but get to the afternoon / evening and he refuses his dinner and then the vomiting begins and I mean projectile exorcist vomiting, two nights ago he did 12 vomits in 60 seconds and literally purged every morsel from his body and this is happening nightly, his whole body stiffens and his eyes are bugging out of his head and he obviously then becomes very distressed. Its not milk related as exactly the same thing happens even if we dont give him a bottle. We are changing him and bed sheets 2-3 times a night. Last night it was so thick i had to hold him upside down to allow the vomit to actually fall out of him as he seemed to be choking on it. His vomit is brown which my friend's sister who is a GP said this could indicate a tear in his stomach lining so some blood is making it brown. He is a reflux baby with dairy allergies so Ive dealt with copius amounts of vomit since birth..

I called yesterday in to his gastro specialist's office and they finally called me today and I spoke to his specialist's nurse who is trying to get his consultant to call me but suggested I may need to take him back to A&E. The nurse initially suggested it was a stomach bug but then agreed with me it probably wasnt as he is only vomiting after 5pm!

He has lost over a kilo in weight (2.25lbs) and it is showing no signs of slowing down. I have an appt with my GP this afternoon so will see what they say.

I am completely confused as to why the vomiting seems to be on a timer i.e. only after 5.. I dont think it is over feeding either as it happens mostly when he hasnt eaten since lunch as an indicator for me has been that he is refusing dinner. its not a refusal in going to bed thing as he is exhausted and cant wait to get in to bed most nights, plus two nights ago we didnt even make it to bed time before it started.. One minute Im holding him walking down the hallway and then next he is literally spraying me, the walls and floor with vomit..

I am just hoping someone can give me a bit of perspective on the above apart from my own as Im genuinely starting to worry now..

thanks! x

[Otta]

I think I'd bypass the GP and just take him to A&E to be honest.

Good luck, hope he's okay x

[Saffron]

When the stomach is inflammed from a virus (and now from mechanical stress too), it can delay gastric emptying. Delayed gatric emptying in itself can then further irritate the stomach. If lunch is remaining in the stomach, followed by dinner refusal then vomitting in the evening, it may just be that the time lapse is what's required to generate sufficient irritation to the stomach to produce vomitting of the food which has remained in the stomach during the afternoon.

It may have started as a virus, but it definitely needs urgent speciliast attention, IMHO. I wouldn't hesitate to go to A&E. Let them see how bad the vomitting is. A specialist needs either to treat or to rule out eg acute inflammation of the stomach/stomach lining, or assess for other parenteral issues. Would they consider giving your LO an IV glucose drip for 24 h, with no solids, to see if the vomitting reflex occurs even on an empty stomach? Personally, I would be starting to worry a lot about dehydration too. Really, really, don't hesitate to be seen again by a GP or A&E, or both.

It's awful when LOs are sick like this. I hope you and your LO get some relief soon. xx

[Strawbs]

thank you both.. Im glad it's not just me worrying over nothing.. Im going to pack an overnight bag, I will head to my doctor first as the gastro nurse said to see the doc and have him call whilst we are there and then I'll head up to kings and wait until the vommiting commences..

thanks so much xxx

[Saffron]

That sounds like a good plan. Good luck. Definitely not worrying over nothing!! Prolonged vomitting in infants and children should always be seen by a specialist. xx

[Otta]

Saffron, you seem to always know quite a lot about the medical stuff, are you a medical professional, or just well read up on these things?

[Strawbs]

Otta - I agree she does! I was thinking the same and when I was posting it I was thinking to myself 'I hope Saffron responds'.. hehe x

[Otta]

I usually look out for Buggie's advise, because I know she is a paediatric nurse at Kings, but good to know if there are other medical professionals on here who are willing to offer advise.

[Bouncy]

Hello Strawbs...I'm afraid I'm not a medical professional, so can't offer advice, only sympathy...but I think you'd be totally justified in getting pushy in order to get you concerns properly addressed at this point. Good luck - it sounds really stressful - really hope you get some proper advice / treatment soon...

[cynthia80]

I would take him straight to A&E. Wouldn't have said this last week but my LO had a very nasty infection last week. Saw seldoc and was prescribed oral antibiotics, saw GP next day who prescribed different antibiotics. No better a couple of days later on a Sunday evening so we went to A&E. Were referred straight to paed surgeons. Thankfully got away with IV antibiotics and a short stay but could have needed surgery. Definitely wouldn't have got better with the oral antibiotics the GP's had prescribed. Spent last week kicking myself for not just taking him to A&E sooner but you assume GP's will recognise when it's necessary. It's a shame that the only way to see specialists is through A&E but seems to be the easiest way. Sounds like he's been poorly for a while so next vomiting episode I would be straight there. Hope he feels better soon. So horrid when they're ill.

[Saffron]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Saffron, you seem to always know quite a lot about

> the medical stuff, are you a medical professional,

> or just well read up on these things?

I'm an academic with a hugely varied background, so I have easy access to lots of full text articles and search engines that most people don't use. I've tried not to post my credientials online because, well, it seems a bit meaningless in the sense that anyone could be anything online. It's better to give people information and let them mull it over for themselves, than to have them rely on my credentials for its usefulness.*

I think it also helps that I'm on the computer a lot for work and to keep up with mates in far flung places. I often have insomnia (like now, sigh), and I don't smoke. So I tend to bumble about online instead of taking cigarette breaks.

*That being said, I'm always happy to meet in person for a cuppa (or a pint?), and you can judge for yourselves. Sadly I've never made it to any of the Family Room drinks. These seem to be cursed for me, as the two attempts at these I made ended in spectacular vomiting episodes (how pertinent to this thread!) from Mr Saff and Little Saff before I'd even left the house!! Needless to say I didn't make it to either, and now feel doomed that I never shall.

PS: Strawbs, I hope things are improving for your LO. Little Saff had a vomiting episode tonight (hence my insomnia) (and it wasn't even FR drinks night, FFS!), and I find it so upsetting. How do dairy products seem to defy the laws of physics so that 8 oz of milk become 3 L of curd? Now I'm faced with deciding whether she's really ill, or just over-tired... do I take her to nursery school in the morning or not?

[shaunag]

Hi strawbs

Hope things have improved.im not an expert but my lo developed a soy allergy after the dairy allergy-she had been projectile exorcist vomiting in response to dairy. To me it sounds like a gastric allergy given it is coming from both ends and is prolonged (if a bug unlikely to last so long and other family members likely to catch?) I saw one of the top paeds gastro specialists at Chelsea and Westminster-if you think it would help I can pm his details. As its happening at a particular time this may be an indicator of a food that is consumed at a similar time each day.if soy,it's a bugger as its In everything-we make our own bread. When you are next at gp a&e ask them to take a stool sample to test for the protein that suggests gut inflammation owing to allergy - calprotectin i think its called -this test it used more for adults,but I insisted on it after 3 weeks of diahorrea with my lo and being told it was bugs-it wasn't it was soy allergy and the inflammatory marker was off the scale when the test results came back. Really feel for you.hope little strawberry gets diagnosed and treatment needed soon (if not already obtained). Xx

[Strawbs]

Shaunag - thank you so much, that is super helpful! Ive got your pm and Im going to have a google now.. I will definitely ask re the protein in the poo.. Its gone a cream / beige colour and it is looking very strange at the moment.. x

Saffron - Id love a meet up whenever you are free! Happy to organise something if you are keen x

[midivydale]

I am learning so much from you ladies every day. Saffron i have said this to you before but i found your posts fantastic! Your responses are always so informative and supportive. I have learned so much.

Strawbs i am happy to meet tmrw as you suggested at dish & spoon. 9 am?

[Strawbs]

M - would you be able to be up and about by 8.30 or is that too early? If yes 9 is fine.. x

[midivydale]

Def but dont think they open until 9?

[Strawbs]

Just looked and you are right.. 9 it is.. see you then hon x

[Strawbs]

Update from me is this is still ongoing.. Under the care of babu who rushed through a barium test today for my mini strawberry which came back clear, his case was discussed today and the specialist spoke to my gp today and then called to tell me we can't wait any longer for any more appts so I have to take him to a&e tomorrow and have him admitted and get a barrage of tests done.. I am really praying we get some answers tomorrow as I am beyond stressed! X

[Belle]

Oh Strawbs, sorry the barium didn't provide any answers. Really hope he get seen quickly and sorted as soon as possible. As you say, you just need answers don't you. Poor you. Feel for you all 3.

keep us posted x

[Strawbs]

Thanks hon.. Keeping positive as best I can.. Will let you know how I get on tomorrow x

[Otta]

Best of luck for today!

[veryseriousgirl]

Thinking of you. Hope all is ok.

[Fuschia]

I hope your stay in hospital isn't too stressful

Toni and Guy ward is quite nice

Xx

[Saffron]

Really pleased for you that things are moving forward quickly with the specilalist. I hope tests will give you some useful information to get your LO well as soon as possible. xx

[Strawbs]

Hi all.. We are back and no further forward *sigh*... A very stressful day with baby strawberry not coping well with blood tests and having to sleep on me instead of his cot (hates sleeping anywhere else other than home), the docs and nurses were very good (was nice to see you buggie!).. They confirmed he has not got a tear in his stomach but do not know what is causing it or why his vomit is brown regardless of what he eats.. We have to have the impendence test but were told again to wait for a date but that they are moving calendars around trying to find an urgent appt.

A nutritionist from babu's office came to see us but didn't have much to input outside of keep doing what we are doing and possibly reduce his morning bottle.

I totally recognise that everyone was working very hard for baby strawberry today but I am frustrated to the point of tears as there is no end in sight!

Baby strawberry is in bed and I'm running a bath to try and soak myself to calm!

Thank you everyone for your messages, it means a lot x