Monday, May 24, 2010

Quick update

Well, the honeymoon is over. Caroline has MSPI. :(

I've been on the diet, but I wasn't hardcore, i.e. I wasn't being super strict about not eating foods that could be cross-contaminated. So we're working that dairy/soy out of Caroline's system right now.

Her symptoms: She has reflux, but we're able to control most of that with medication. (And the reflux should hopefully improve as the dairy is worked out.) After eating, her projectile spit-up is quite impressive. She also has a lovely (not!) rough rash on her cute little cheeks and chest. And, she has periods of crying hysterically, i.e. colicky behavior.

But, she's improving! The next few weeks will be kinda rough, but we'll make it through and will be much happier on the other side!

9 comments:

Denise said...

Well that sucks!!! I was hoping she wouldn't! It's tough isn't it? I keep wanting to try and see if our newest has outgrown hers yet since it wasn't as severe as her sisters...but each time I decide to...I chicken out. Sigh.

Hoping your LO feels better soon!

Jamie said...

Bummer! At least you are the right Mama for the job! You've got this mspi thing down. I hope she out grows it by a year. Thanks for carrying the torch for all the mspi mama's out there!

Deanna said...

Well darn! At least she has your expertise in this matter! She's such a little cutie pie!

Amy said...

Hi Andrea, I am a mom of 3 kids and am dealing with MSPI in my 3 month old. My oldest (now 5) had MSPI but the flecks of blood in her stool didn't resolve until she started solids at 6 months. She was BF and I was on a strict dairy and soy free diet. My middle child had no issues but my third baby's symptoms seem worse than my first's. He was very spitty and fussy as a newborn and then we noticed flecks of blood in his stool at 6 weeks. I immediately eliminated all dairy and soy. But now at 12 weeks the bloody stool actually seems worse than before. His spitting and mood are much improved and he is gaining weight well. Still fussier than my girls were! I am eating some things processed on shared equipment with dairy, so maybe that is the problem? We have an appointment with a pediatric allergist next week and I feel like he will want us to trial a hypoallergenic formula. Did you ever try that? Or know anyone who has? I am very set on breastfeeding but I am on a restricted diet for Crohns Disease that doesn't allow grains or complex carbs so it would be very hard for me to do a real elimination diet. I feel so frustrated! Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Andrea said...

Amy: So sorry that you're having trouble with things. Having a fussy baby is NO FUN! I was fortunate enough to not have to use elemental formulas. Doing the regular MSPI diet was sufficient. Definitely be careful about eating the foods that are processed on shared equipment. Kosher symbols have been so helpful for me in finding foods that are completely milk-free. You might also try keeping a food diary, so you can correlate reactions (bad diapers, fussiness, reflux, etc.) with what foods you are eating. That might help you find the culprit. I've heard from other MSPI moms that taking beef out of their diets was a huge help, too. Good luck!

Shannie-K said...

Hi. Thanks for keeping us on your journey.

I am trying to be MSPI++ and have been for 3 weeks dairy and two weeks soy (still eating lecithin). Babe is much improved but keeps flaring up and eczema and yucky mucuos diapers remain. When trying to sort out other foods, how many hours past consumption do you expect the reaction? I've heard 4-24 hours but that doesn't help much when you're in detective mode!

Elaine said...

Interesting, I'm coming back to this blog again with another newborn with MSPI, and reflux. And I thought having gone through it once it would be easier, but I forgot about all the cross contamination stuff.

Anonymous said...

Do any of you take Metamucil? I stopped taking it and my LO improved dramatically. I thought she had a dairy issue but I don't think so now. She was colicky, had mucous bms, screamed, and very gassy. I was lost when my dr said avoid dairy and soy. Your blog taught me how to cook without dairy and I'm very thankful for you. I hope your LO feels better soon. Those 2 wks seem to drag. At least we all know it passes. :)

Anonymous said...

I just noticed the date! I'm sorry!