Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (UPDATED)

DD is 22 days old. She was put on Similac Advance in the hospital but was having terrible gas pains...constant screaming, etc., so we switched her to Enfamil Gentlease. After a few days on Gentlease she startedhving mucousy stools, and then we saw blood in it. Her pediatrician had us bring in her diaper and there was indeed blood. He said that she has a milk protein allergy and told us to put her on either Similac Alumentum or Enfamil Nutramigen. That was last wednedsay (1 week ago today).

I put her on Nutramigen b/c it was on a big sale and Alumentum was not. She was doing well for a few days, although still blood in her stool (and the formula smells just awful!). Two days ago the runny, mucousy bowel movements started again...and the blood seems to be even more noticeable than before. She was taking between 2-2 1/2 oz at a feeding, but yesterday she started taking 1 oz at some feedings, 2+ at others. Then after taking 2 1/4 oz last night she threw up (it was a LOT more than regular spit up). She seems to be gassy and cranky today.

Her pediatrician gave us kits for stool samples to bring in to test for blood, but he doesn't want to test until nov. 1st b/c he said it would be normal for it to take that long everything to sort itself out. I can understand that, but I feel like she should be starting to get better after a week on Nutramigen, not getting worse.

Did anyone have more luck with Alumentum than with Nutramigen? How long did it take for it to work on your DC?

TIA


UPDATE: I heard back from my pediatrician and he was very understanding. He said that it can take up to a week for the proteins from the previous formula to work their way out of her system. He also said that in the process of working their way out of her system they can irritate her more, which can cause bleeding for another week or so after that. That is why he didn't want to re-test her stool until Nov. 1st, and doesn't want to switch her formula until then...he said you can't even tell if it is working properly until then.

He also said that he is leaving her chart out on his desk. He wants us to take her temp at her next diaper change and if she has any fever at all call the office ASAP and have him paged.

So, I guess it is a waiting game right now. She is sleeping right now which he said is a good sign...he said if it was something more serious she likely wouldn't be able to sleep at all.

Thanks for all of your help

Message edited 10/24/2007 5:32:09 PM.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

Bring her back to the Dr. I noticed a difference very quickly. There was still blood in his stool, but the poops got better, and he was eating more, and not grunting.

There might be something else going on, espeocally if DC is vomiting.

Have you taken DC to a GI Dr?

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

Also are you using powdered formula or RTF?

I have heard that some kids are allergic to the powder but not the RTF since the powder has corn in it.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

same thing happened with hannah, and she was ultimately put on elecare, which is an elemental formula.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

We are using the powder b/c the RTF was so much more $$ and we were told that if the insurance will cover it they will only cover the powder.


The strangest thing to me is that she wasn't phased by throwing up at all...never cried or anything. She really only cries from 2 things, when she has gas and when we try to put her to sleep at night



That is why it is so difficult for me to figure out what to do here....she is cranky, but not crying throughout the day. There is noticeable blood in some bowel movements, but not others. I'm confused

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

IMO - if she still has blood in her stool in the Nurtramitgen I don't think that formula is right for her either. You may have to look in to Neocate formula. I would take her back to the Dr.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

There are other formulas to try. Obviously the Nutramigen is doing the trick.
Ask for a prescription for Neocate or Elecare.

's

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

I went through the same thing with my youngest. The alimentum helped for a couple days then the blood came back along with everything else. My doc said to wait 3-7days to see a difference, but at after the 3 day mark, the blood came back and we only knew cause we were testing it. I didn't even see it, but i knew something was wrong cause of the screaming and gas pains.

I'd bring her back to the doc, if you are seeing blood especially.

DD was put on Neocate-prescription formula and it made a world of difference.

Nutramigen and Alimentum i think are the same formula, they still have some broken down chains of milk protein in them.

Neocate is amino acid based.

def bring her back to the dr and tell them you are not going to keep your baby in pain and bleeding for another week.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

IMO get an appointment to see a GI. Even if it is only a milk protein allergy, see a specialist. If DC was getting better then I would say wait, but if you think it is getting worse, see the GI dr.

My insurance covered the rtf, since that was all Apria had.

Good Luck!

Message edited 10/24/2007 11:49:08 AM.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

Thanks for all of your advice. I had never heard of a milk protein allergy before 2 weeks ago...who knew so many infants have it?

I put a call in to my pediatrician at about 2:30 so I am waiting to hear back. Of course at this exact moment DD is asleep in the stroller, but I still want to speak with him. I'll see what he says, and then I'll decide if we should go to a pediatric GI.

Those of you whose' DC has a milk protein allergy, when did they outgrow it, if at all?


Thanks so much!

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (LONG)

Ryan did outgrow it after 1 yr and it also took 2 weeks for him to stop crying after we switched to Nutramigen.

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (UPDATED)

My son was born at 32 weeks so i think it was more of an immature digestive system but in the nicu they diagnosed him with milk protein allergy...we have been on alimentum ever since.......smells horrible....burping is gross but it works and my insurance covers it. They will send either rtf or powder...we use powder bc we give extra calories...good luck! We are actually trying milk in a dinner this week.....9.5 months old

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (UPDATED)

Re: Milk Protein Allergy- formula questions (UPDATED)

We had the same problems- we went through 7 different formulas before we ended up on Neocate- it is a perscription only formula. I had a totally new child almost immediately after switching!!!!!!

Oh and bonus- my insurance paid for it AND delivered it to my door every month!