Going to the doctor today

[Athena-Nadine]

I didn't get any sleep last night again.

Last Saturday night Alessa threw up an entire feeding 10 minutes after eating and part of the one before it. I didn't call the doctor then because she showed no other signs of illness--she had no fever, wasn't lethargic, had plenty of wet and dirty diapers, and was eating fine through the night. But since then we've been having issues. She's been getting fussy on and off during the day, usually right after eating, and has started dry heaving in the evenings. Now she won't sleep during the day or at night. She's been up since 7:30 AM and it's 11:10 now. She's yawning and keeps almost falling asleep but wakes up and starts fussing and squirming around. We hold her upright after her feedings and burp her and she has no trouble passing gas but she curls herself up and grabs and claws at us until she draws blood with her fingernails.

Last night she was up from 6:30 until midnight and then woke up at 2:30 and didn't go back to sleep until almost 5 AM. Then she woke up at 7:30 and has been up since. So I called her doctor this morning. They want me to take her in this afternoon because they think she might have reflux. Robert did and was on baby Zantac for a couple of months until he grew out of it, but I don't know if she does.

She can lie flat and doesn't arch her back or not want to sleep like that. She just takes a long time to fall asleep and fusses on and off the whole time, sometimes crying, but will sleep for 2 hours or so when she finally does. I don't know. Maybe it does bother her to sleep lying down and she just passes out from exhaustion. But she won't sleep partially upright now either. She won't sleep in the swing, she won't sleep on an incline, and now she won't sleep in her Papasan. She dozes off almost every time she eats but wakes up 5 minutes later and starts fussing and sometimes crying again. But she doesn't spit up that much, maybe once or twice a day. But she didn't used to spit up regularly at all. Until this week, she only spit up maybe twice in her life.

She's gained 3 pounds in 5 weeks, but she went from gaining almost a pound a week to only about half a pound a week. She's still having enough wet and dirty diapers, and wants to eat almost constantly this whole week. I was putting it off to a growth spurt but that doesn't explain everything else.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just too tired to see the signs properly right now, but I keep thinking I'm going to go in to see her doctor this afternoon and I'm just going to feel silly because there's going to be nothing wrong with her.

[Lunacie]

If there is nothing wrong with her (and I hope that's the case) then it won't hurt to have someone let you know for sure. No one can think clearly when they're not getting any sleep. Hugs and sleepy, restful energies for Alyssa and all of you.

[Athena-Nadine]

Thanks. :hugz: I really do hope it's nothing, but if there is something wrong I just hope they can figure it out so she can get whatever helps she needs to feel better.

She finally fell asleep. I really hope she sleeps for a couple of hours.

[RainInanna]

Just want to say I feel for you. I had Baby in for reflux, pyloric stenosis, and blood in his diaper, and he was just colicky. Luckily all the Dr's and nurses reminded me over and over that a mother senses problems and it's best to check just in case. Seems he was (and is still) sensitive to the workings of his digestive system. It can never hurt to check.

[Seren_]

Both of mine had reflux and each one suffered in different ways from it. Rosie was your typical pukey, re-enacting scenes from The Exorcist baby, but Tom sounds like Alessa. He hardly slept, fed constantly and was generally just not happy about anything. When we finally got him to the doctors and they gave us some medicine for it, he slept for over 24 hours, with breaks only for feeds - he was so tired and that was making it all worse, until we got the medicine. Blessed relief!

I hope the doctor can find a solution for you. If you have to deal with a sick child, then it always helps when you know what's wrong with them at least. Trust your instincts. As Lunacie said, even if they don't find anything wrong then at least it might give you some peace of mind. Doctors are often there for reassurance as much as they are for diagnosis when it comes to babies, I think.

:hugz:

[Lightning Strike]

Here are two links for you Athena-Nadine.
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/infant_colic.html
This one is about Colic, it tells of possible treatment and diagnosis and has statistical information within.
http://www.medicinenet.com/gerd_in_infants_and_children/article.htm
This next link is about Acid reflux in Children. This also has a good amount of useful information within.

These are very common in children, my child suffered Colic, but does not seem to be troubled by it so much now. Perhaps you may like to look over these links, and definitely see your Doctor. Don't worry, most children will grow out of it, however, there are a very very small number of children who remain throughout their lives with varying degrees of either one. I hope this helps.

[wolfjan1]

Here are two links for you Athena-Nadine.
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/infant_colic.html
This one is about Colic, it tells of possible treatment and diagnosis and has statistical information within.
http://www.medicinenet.com/gerd_in_infants_and_children/article.htm
This next link is about Acid reflux in Children. This also has a good amount of useful information within.

These are very common in children, my child suffered Colic, but does not seem to be troubled by it so much now. Perhaps you may like to look over these links, and definitely see your Doctor. Don't worry, most children will grow out of it, however, there are a very very small number of children who remain throughout their lives with varying degrees of either one. I hope this helps.
Very good sights, I bookmarked them for my personal emergency book. Since I am getting ready for this recession over here in the US, I am making out binders full of home health information to go along with my herbal and healer books.
Athena-Nadine, It might be something simple. You might just need the infant gas drops.
My Mother always took gassy babies, put them on her knees face down, with a towel underneath to catch pukies. She would rock them back and forth gently and rythmically pat their back/bottoms. All kinds of things would happen. they would burp, puke, fill their diapers AND pee sometimes. After all that, she would give them some baby gas medicine, clean up the mess and feed them about ten minutes later. She had them sitting slightly or completely upright and cuddled closely. Ounce at a time and burp, like when they were newborns. A day or two of this, and they were calmer and slept well. And ate like little piglets.
Good luck at the Doctors.
Blessings,
WJ

[Chesna]

Let us know how it all turned out!!
:hugz:

Chesna

[Morr]

*hugs*

[Athena-Nadine]

Just want to say I feel for you. I had Alex in for reflux, pyloric stenosis, and blood in his diaper, and he was just colicky. Luckily all the Dr's and nurses reminded me over and over that a mother senses problems and it's best to check just in case. Seems he was (and is still) sensitive to the workings of his digestive system. It can never hurt to check.

Both of mine had reflux and each one suffered in different ways from it. Rosie was your typical pukey, re-enacting scenes from The Exorcist baby, but Tom sounds like Alessa. He hardly slept, fed constantly and was generally just not happy about anything. When we finally got him to the doctors and they gave us some medicine for it, he slept for over 24 hours, with breaks only for feeds - he was so tired and that was making it all worse, until we got the medicine. Blessed relief!

I hope the doctor can find a solution for you. If you have to deal with a sick child, then it always helps when you know what's wrong with them at least. Trust your instincts. As Lunacie said, even if they don't find anything wrong then at least it might give you some peace of mind. Doctors are often there for reassurance as much as they are for diagnosis when it comes to babies, I think.

:hugz:

Here are two links for you Athena-Nadine.
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/infant_colic.html
This one is about Colic, it tells of possible treatment and diagnosis and has statistical information within.
http://www.medicinenet.com/gerd_in_infants_and_children/article.htm
This next link is about Acid reflux in Children. This also has a good amount of useful information within.

These are very common in children, my child suffered Colic, but does not seem to be troubled by it so much now. Perhaps you may like to look over these links, and definitely see your Doctor. Don't worry, most children will grow out of it, however, there are a very very small number of children who remain throughout their lives with varying degrees of either one. I hope this helps.

Thank you. And thank you for the links. My mother was told that I had colic as a baby but she now thinks I probably had reflux. But it was the early 70s and these things weren't found as much back then, I don't think.

Robert was the exorcist baby. I guess that's why I didn't really pay much attention to Alessa's behavior at first. Plus, I just figured she was getting to that fussing stage that most babies seem to go through around her age (she's 5 weeks old now).

I know it could be either reflux or colic or something else entirely. The trouble is that it's so difficult to figure these things out sometimes since babies can't tell you what's bothering them.

[Athena-Nadine]

Very good sights, I bookmarked them for my personal emergency book. Since I am getting ready for this recession over here in the US, I am making out binders full of home health information to go along with my herbal and healer books.
Athena-Nadine, It might be something simple. You might just need the infant gas drops.
My Mother always took gassy babies, put them on her knees face down, with a towel underneath to catch pukies. She would rock them back and forth gently and rythmically pat their back/bottoms. All kinds of things would happen. they would burp, puke, fill their diapers AND pee sometimes. After all that, she would give them some baby gas medicine, clean up the mess and feed them about ten minutes later. She had them sitting slightly or completely upright and cuddled closely. Ounce at a time and burp, like when they were newborns. A day or two of this, and they were calmer and slept well. And ate like little piglets.
Good luck at the Doctors.

Blessings,
WJ


Thanks. :) I've been doing those things all week and it hasn't made a difference. That's one of the things that prompted me to call today. She has no problems passing gas, thankfully. She's definitely her father's daughter! ;) :lol:

[Lorrie]

When it comes to the health and safety of such a little one, being cautious is always best.

[Athena-Nadine]

Let us know how it all turned out!!
:hugz:

Chesna
I will. :) Her appointment is at 2:45, so a little over an hour from now.

*hugs*

:hugz:

[Pagan Warrior]

Hope the baby feels better soon, it's so VERY frustrating when you have a sick child (specially the very little ones). You get irritable from lack of sleep and irritable from not being able to help. Never hurts to go see a Dr. just in case. Keep us posted :)

[Pagan Warrior]

Just an FYI my 3 year old suffered from a virus that caused some pretty nasty sores in her mouth. Boy was THAT a frustrating few days. The Dr. perscribed lidocaine but most of her sores were back in her throat ... and I wasn't going to gag the child just to get the lidocaine in nor was I really too comfortable with mixing it with any sort of liquid. So, thanks to Grandma, she was administered chloraseptic throat spray. She hated it cuz it was "ucky" but sure helped the sore throat ... and the Childrens Benadryl helped get her to sleep the first couple nights.

[wolfjan1]

Well, I guess that all I can say is that you are one heck of a Mom and are right about going to the Doctor. I am glad that you know these procedures and can pass them on to NEW moms that are at their wits end.
Many blessings and may Allesa feel better very soon.

[Athena-Nadine]

Thank you. :) Robert had stomach troubles so I had to learn them all for him. :)

[Suzette]

I'm sure all will be well... You have a beautiful family :)

:hugz:

[Ceres]

How'd it go?

[Athena-Nadine]

Thanks again, everyone. :)

I just walked in the door. Her doctor thinks she might have some silent reflux so the acid doesn't come all the way out to cause her to spit up. She gave me Axid to give her twice a day and told me to stop giving it to her and call if it doesn't seem any better in 7 days.

Also, my little girl is a chubby little thing now. She was only 6 pounds 9 ounces at birth and now, at 5 weeks old, she's 10 pounds! :D

[RainInanna]

Way to grow, Alessa!

Hoping the meds help.

[Brigid Rowan]

Good luck with the meds, and glad to hear she is getting so plump!

[Lunacie]

Fingers crossed that the med helps and everyone can finally get some sleep.

[Marcasite]

:hugz: I hope your baby feels better soon!

[Brightshores]

:hugz: Hope your sweet little baby feels better soon.

[RainInanna]

Alright, I'm taking mine in to the Dr again because I still suspect reflux.

He's still screaming and crying if I feed him more then 1/3 of any jar of stage 1 veggies or fruit.