My Tummy Issues

From Mommy:


So we finally got our GI appointment today. It was good and bad. Good: The doctor 100% agreed with my assessment that Grayson's issues are from the drug exposure. He doesn't think at this time that he is going to need any other intervention. He does think the chronic usage of antibiotics from his ear infections also had a huge impact. So, now that he has the tubes, that should be eliminated. He explained all of it to me, but honestly, I didn't get it all. Kicking myself for not getting my BFF, the dietician, to go with me.

So basically, he didn't really explain how, but the drug exposure does a number on the digestion system. So, I was wrong on it being fibrous food causing him issues. He said it is actually the sugars in food. (This might explain why he has not had a single issue with meat.) He was perplexed, as I am, on how pureed carrots didn't bother him but textured did. But, in retrospect, that exposure may have been the same time as an antibiotic experience.

SO, un-exposed babies have enough good bacteria to properly handle the sugars. Grayson doesn't. And the antibiotics make it even worse. So, the Bad: We just have to keep at it. There is no magic bullet. He said we can keep on doing probiotics, but to avoid anti-biotics as much as we can. I have to keep on introducing the foods but very small amounts. (I usually do about 2oz on an initial exposure.) 

He thinks that he will grow out of this but it will take time. No raw food (veggies, etc.) until 2 or even 3. No peanut butter until 3. So, keep on doing what I am doing and with hope, his body will catch up and get a healthy array of bacteria. So basically, I was right about his rashes not being a rash. He is getting chemical burns. That is the sugars. Because the bacteria can't process them, they get surrounded by bile acids and pass right through. (I of course am paraphrasing because I don't understand all of what he explained.)

The really PIA piece of this is that he is supposed to start the "state recommended meal plan" at daycare Monday. And, well, he can't. So, the GI doctor told me to have the pediatrician write the letter that the daycare requires. 

I have to admit, I was soo looking forward to not having to pack food and sippy cups, but nope, not for us. He wants Grayson to still get 60% of his nutrition from milk until age 2. So, they only give 1.5 cups of milk over the course of the day so I will have to keep packing him more. He doesn't think that we should have issues with dairy, but he did say to hold off on yogurt for a bit longer. Not sure why, I should have made him clarify that one. 

Anyway, so, for all of you out there taking care of the drug exposed babies, these digestion issues are a known issue, despite the fact that Grayson's neonatal doctor was dismissive of the connection. You'd think that they would know since they deal with drug exposed babies often.

It is funny, I have been giving him bananas a lot and I thought that was helping him, because I was on the fiber thing, and now he is having the opposite issue. So the doctor said "what we often see is they go from a week of horrible D to a week of C." And I said "yes! I have seen that with him but just thought it was from me changing his diet so much."

So, I do feel better that I am not crazy about these issues. And of course I will do what I have to for my little guy, but we may be looking at 1-2 more years of this, if not longer. :-( I am going to see if I can find a source of probiotics cheaper than Walgreens. Of course, for foster children, you'd probably have to get the doctor to approve that, not sure if we'd be allowed to give those to foster children. 

Tomorrow is Grayson's first birthday so we shall see how he does with cake. We start milk on Sunday. I didn't want to expose him to dairy on his birthday in case he has a reaction. (The cake will be dairy free.)