Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Well DS has been crying through feedings to the point where I end up crying. Even after several burps, it's a nightmare. So I called the dr and they told me to go on Similac Alimentum - the most expensive freaking formula on the market. Anyway, I was surprised they just said to jump to that. We have already switched from Similac Advance to Nestle Good Start and it seems that DS is not liking the Good Start - his poop is green and he seems to be more gassy and unhappy than he was the first day he was on it. My friend's DS was on Nutramigen, which I hear is the equivalent to Alimentum and she is willing to give me a few cans to try it out - hers is 100% covered by insurance so it's not costing her anything to give these to me. My dr said he has to be on it at least 3 weeks before they will try to get it covered by insurance for me. I'm just worried that it will not be covered or the formula will make him worse!! When I asked why they did not suggest a "one level up" formula such as Similac Sensitive or a soy, the nurse told me that they just go for the best since the soy might bring on a whole new set of problems such as constipation.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these formulas? I'm so frustrated and upset over this - DH is not much help, he thinks DS "is fine" and we should keep him on Good Start (been on it 12 days), but he does maybe one feeding a day if any, and does not deal with most of the crying fits. Please help, I'm ready to lose my mind!!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

DD has been on Alimentum since she was about 2 months old...

We had tried Similac Advance, Gentlease (terrible for DD), Good Start and finally landed on the Alimentum...Since then, she's been great - after about a week, she started pooping regularly, she slept better, she didn't cry all the time...it was a totally different child!!!

Our insurance company covered it 100% until 12 months. We still have her on it, as we had a bit of difficulty switching to milk. I know a few girls on here have kept DC on Alimentum past 12 months (usually about 15 months) and then switched with no problems...

What insurance do you have? (FM if you want)...

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

DS was put on nutramigen and he was STILL unhappy. HE too, had green, watery poop and was pooping like 10 times a day!

We switched to Soy and it was a world of difference...Nutramigen and Alimentum are still milk based (I believe).

And you should not have to wait 3 weeks to get formula through insurance if it is covered, not for the Dr to make that call. If it's medically necessary, then if it's covered, it's covered. All you need is the Dr to send a prescription for the formula stating it's medically necessary to the insurance company (again, IF they will cover it).

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Our dr never reccommended the sensitive either. I don't think it can hurt to try it. If it doesnt get batter then try the alimentum. Our ped reccommended the soy and it didn't make much of a difference.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

We did a whole bunch of switching - we switched to soy on our own and what a MISTAKE!! I found out that DD is highly allergic. We're on alimentum now and it's been great. I must be the only idiot who didn't get it covered by insurance though..

And I started where you were - DD crying through feedings, taking forever to finish a bottle.. I would cry during her feedings too - it was awful. But no problems in the last 5 months with Alimentum!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Both DS' were on Nutramigen. Worked wonders for us.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Our DS is on Alimentum (pre-made) because our Dr. recommended it after he tested positive for a milk-protein allergy. It is easier for him to digest and has made a world of difference. Our insurance is supposed to cover it but they sure aren't making it easy. We are currently out of pocket and damb its costing us like $10/day to feed him.

If your insurance covers it and the Dr. recommends it you have nothing to lose.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

My son is on Alimentum. We had started on Similac Advanced, then Enfamil Gentlease and finally Alimentum.

Ds had constipation problems and acid reflux. After a week on the Alimentum, we noticed an immediate difference. He now poops with no problems at all and poops every day, around the same time each day.

We got it covered by our insurance within the first day of calling them. I can't believe that it's going to take 3 weeks before the insurance will cover it. Are you sure about this? Did you call your insurance company yourself? That's what i did.

My doctor told me that it would only take a week to notice a difference so if it's been 12 days and nothing has changed, you might want to change formula's.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

trnity44 is selling 30 bottles of Alimentum for $5 a piece. They're normally $10 a piece so that's a good deal. Maybe get a few from her and see how it goes.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

My DS developed a ton of gas & had some acid refux on the similac advanced formula. I was just about on the brink of losing it until his doctor suggested Similac Sensitive RS. Its a rice starch based formula that is sensitive on the babys tummy. I noticed an immediate difference once he started with that.
HTH. I've been there & completely understand your frustration

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

I'd have your PED give you some stool tests to do testing to see if there's blood in your DC"s stool. Sounds like it could be a protein allergy.

My youngest had the same symptoms, including the watery green poop for weeks, i just knew something was wrong..it took us 5-6 weeks to get her some relief and after she went on prescription neocate, a whole new baby emerged.

Even though alimentum and nutramigen are hypoallergic formulas, they are still based off of milk proteins, they are just partially broken down, and good start is whey protein, and if a baby has a protein allergy, they are most likely allergic to milk, whey and soy.

good luck and trust your mommy gut

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

DD is on Alimentum and it made a huge difference. She *was" colicky and has gastritis. We tried Similac Advance, Similac Sensitive (constipated her), and Gentlease. Nothing worked until Alimentum and it was almost immediate! She also takes Mylanta for the gastritis.

She used to scream every waking minute, spit up large amounts, spit up an hour after eating and it looked digested, had terrible smelly gas that made her scream, etc. After the switch she would only cry for a few hours at night (which was like a miracle at the time) and she had actual periods of time where she was happy. Around 12 weeks the crying just about stopped altogether and now she is a much happier child altogether.

Our insurance also covers the Alimentum 100% and it is delivered by the case(s) to the door. We only had to wait a week for the doctor to put it through. Try whatever you must to make your LO better!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

After 3 formulas, DD is finally on Alimentum. We started with Advance, went to Sensitive and finally the dr. recommended Alimentum. She didn't have the symptoms you are describing, but she NEVER pooped. That was her only problem. She'd go 7 or 8 days like it was nothing. Once we switched, it took a little more than a week to get her going but now she has been on it almost 3 weeks and has been pooping every day!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Gosh this sounds similar to what i went through. My DD started out on enfamil lipil in the hospital and 4 days later started with the whole colic mess. I too tried the goodstart and it was worse!!! After a few dr. visits and phonecalls my ped. said to skip the soy too and go right to allimentum or nutramigen. I chose nutramigen ready to feed to start off.......that has been a life saver! I thought to save money by putting her on the powder version of nutramigen and the whole colic mess came back.. ic ouldnt believe it.. so i put her back on the RTF cans... then i got wic to approve the concentrate nutramigen and could you believe it too caused her to scream and cry in pain.. so we have been back on the RTF yet again and wic wont approve that. I want to switch her possibly to allimentum since that is approved by wic, but after everything we went through, Im still hesitant. I tried through the insurance to get it approved and that didnt work. If you could maybe get WIC, try to get either the powder or concentrate cans of nutramigen or get the allimentum ready to feed. The nutramigen ready to feed cans have saved my DD's life and MINE! I would cry when she would have her bouts and it was so awful. Tonight she was gassy, i guess i didnt burp her enough.. and she is 3-1/2 months old now and i swear if i took her off this now and tried goodstart again, i think she woudl still be colic. If you have any questions, feel free to FM me.. I understand what you must be going through.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Posted by pumpkinpye517

Gosh this sounds similar to what i went through. My DD started out on enfamil lipil in the hospital and 4 days later started with the whole colic mess. I too tried the goodstart and it was worse!!! After a few dr. visits and phonecalls my ped. said to skip the soy too and go right to allimentum or nutramigen. I chose nutramigen ready to feed to start off.......that has been a life saver! I thought to save money by putting her on the powder version of nutramigen and the whole colic mess came back.. ic ouldnt believe it.. so i put her back on the RTF cans... then i got wic to approve the concentrate nutramigen and could you believe it too caused her to scream and cry in pain.. so we have been back on the RTF yet again and wic wont approve that. I want to switch her possibly to allimentum since that is approved by wic, but after everything we went through, Im still hesitant. I tried through the insurance to get it approved and that didnt work. If you could maybe get WIC, try to get either the powder or concentrate cans of nutramigen or get the allimentum ready to feed. The nutramigen ready to feed cans have saved my DD's life and MINE! I would cry when she would have her bouts and it was so awful. Tonight she was gassy, i guess i didnt burp her enough.. and she is 3-1/2 months old now and i swear if i took her off this now and tried goodstart again, i think she woudl still be colic. If you have any questions, feel free to FM me.. I understand what you must be going through.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Posted by dreambaby

Posted by pumpkinpye517

Gosh this sounds similar to what i went through. My DD started out on enfamil lipil in the hospital and 4 days later started with the whole colic mess. I too tried the goodstart and it was worse!!! After a few dr. visits and phonecalls my ped. said to skip the soy too and go right to allimentum or nutramigen. I chose nutramigen ready to feed to start off.......that has been a life saver! I thought to save money by putting her on the powder version of nutramigen and the whole colic mess came back.. ic ouldnt believe it.. so i put her back on the RTF cans... then i got wic to approve the concentrate nutramigen and could you believe it too caused her to scream and cry in pain.. so we have been back on the RTF yet again and wic wont approve that. I want to switch her possibly to allimentum since that is approved by wic, but after everything we went through, Im still hesitant. I tried through the insurance to get it approved and that didnt work. If you could maybe get WIC, try to get either the powder or concentrate cans of nutramigen or get the allimentum ready to feed. The nutramigen ready to feed cans have saved my DD's life and MINE! I would cry when she would have her bouts and it was so awful. Tonight she was gassy, i guess i didnt burp her enough.. and she is 3-1/2 months old now and i swear if i took her off this now and tried goodstart again, i think she woudl still be colic. If you have any questions, feel free to FM me.. I understand what you must be going through.

Thanks for all the info - I have a stupid question, what is WIC? It is so frustrating this whole formula thing. Today, DS did very well on the Good Start, except for one feeding earlier today, but I think he had gas, so DH wants to keep him on it for at least a few more days until we finish out the can. My friend is going to give me 3 cans of powder Nutramigen that we will try if he does not improve or if he gets worse on the Good Start.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Did you try asking the ped for some samples to start off with? My ped was always trying to give us Alimentum to take home but I always had it covered by insurance. DS came home from the NICU on it so they covered it right away..

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

We started on Similac Advance, then Similac Isomil Soy and now DD is on Similac Sensitive RS. She hardly spits up anymore and this has done a world of good for her.

HOWEVER, it is so hard to find! I stalk 3 BRU's on a weekly basis looking for it!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Similac Sensitive is what Landon is on. He was so fussy and gassy on Similac Advance. Now I have zero problems. It is the same as Similac Advance but lactose free. Give it a shot!!! It is not soy based so you don't have to worry about a soy allergy.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

I would def. try anything to get that formula covered.. i spend $300 a month b/c wic won't cover her nutramigen RTF. Any assistance is indeed helpful. I've even heard people going through their insurance companies to get it approved. That didn't work for us either. :( Goodluck with it all. Oh yeah, and if you sign up with enfamil they send you $5 checks and I use them when I buy the formula and im constantly receiving them. HTH!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Alimentum worked for my DS. he is now 8 months and has been on it since he was a about a month old. he also took meds for acid reflux, but he outgrew that and no longer needs the medication.

I got the Alimentum covered at 90% by my insurance with the help of Apria. I heard about it through LIF. they deliver the formula in monthly shipments. I needed a note from the pediatrican saying that the formula was medically necessary and they covered it. Send me an FM if you need more information.

Good luck- I know these first few months are hard!!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

I just switched DD to Similac Sensitive b/c she is very gassy and has been fussy and overtired at night due to the gas keeping her up.
So far its been great.

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

Alimentum is a dream! but the insurance company will put you thru the ringer trying to get it covered! I have been denied 3 times even though medical management dept says it should be covered, it's very hard b/c you have to have everything just right. the billing #, the provider (home delivery) etc. I and fighting still on my 4th authorization from doctor now. They need me to find a home delivery place to deliver the formula that will except insurance coverage. I am praying to find that out very soon so all this can be over!

Re: Similac Alimentum & Emfamil Nutramigen - I'm ready to cry!

my son did better on soy than he did on nutramigen AND the insurance we were on covered soy also because it was medically necessary

nutramigen and alimentum are still milk based, so if he has a true milk allergy, those formulas will make him feel horrible