Help - Doc says starve dd for 3 days, how can i manage it???

[mmmmchocolate]

DD has had runs since last friday, it got worse on sunday, still has them today. My third visit to gp this week and been told to only offer juice for 3 days. How can i do that? She is 10 months old and has been screaming for her bottle since 7pm... finally rocked her to sleep. Hoe am i gonna be able to do this till saturday???? ANY HELP OR ADVICE REALLY NEEDED? XX

[Nemo1977]

why only juice????????????

[morningpaper]

JUICE? That sounds like odd advice.

[emmatmg]

3 DAYS?????


DAYS.....FFS she's only a baby, 24 hrs maybe but surley not 3 days.

[mmmmchocolate]

He said water with baby juice diluted, and to give her dirolyte mixed with it. She has never drunk water since being consipation at 4 weeks the hv told me to give her diluted juice and since then she won't touch water.

[mmmmchocolate]

3 days i know, thats what i think... At time it didn't register as DD was crying so much.. But DP was with me taking it all in..

[jamiesam]

Must confess I'm slightly shocked. DS had bad diarhoea (sorry, sp) at 1 yr. Drs were very cautious about cutting out milk (or indeed anything) and very reluctantly agreed that I could use soya milk after around 3 weeks when it was obvious that he'd developed allergy to milk - proved to be temporary gut reaction. In the meantime, I'm amazed that you're told to only offer juice - I wouldn't drink only juice if I had the runs. Sorry, I can't help, and feel awkward at disagreeing with what your Dr says.

[Ladymuck]

Have you (for this occasion only!) tried giving her the water/juice etc in the bottle - it may in oart be the sucking that she gets comfort from?

It is hard, isn't it? Mine never enjoyed this treatment, but it does seem to clear bugs.

If she is hungry rather than just after milk, then I seem to remember that dry toast apples and rice where all fairly neutral foods which could be introduced earlier.

[mmmmchocolate]

wHAT SHALL I DO?

[northender]

I sympathise. I'm in an almost identical situation with dd (8mo) who has been ill since last Fri (temp and vomitting) and had the runs since Mon. Second visit to GP today who advised to give only juice (due to sugar and salt content-acts a bit like dioralyte so he said?)and then to introduce small amounts of quarter strength milk and build up from that. Poor dd hasn't eaten since last Fri and can hardly muster up energy to cry. I feel awful I guess if she starts improving by doing it then my mood will improve!

[Betty1970]

I was always under the impression you should continue to give milk (when dd had the runs we tried lactose free formula) and water. I am amazed by your GP's advice I have to say. My cousin who is a GP would just cut down on the level of formula he gave his dd's when they had the runs, i.e. 4 oz,s formula plus 8 oz's water IYSWIM. I also thought as long as the child wasn't vomiting, that you should still give them small amounts of dried toast or banana - something that has a bit of a blocking effect.
I hope she makes a speedy recovery.

[nannyjo]

gosh i'm going for a scan tommorrow and i can't eat for several hours before and i'm worried about that. Now that makes me feel silly. 3 DAYS!!!

[hakunamatata]

change doctors. This one's a sadist. my dd has had gastric problems so often & it's always the same drill... no dairy products, no raw fruit (except banana) or veg, no fat. rice & broth to begin with, lots of rehydrating solution from chemist (pedialite or whatever to replace lost salts & minerals & glucose). rusks, toast, cooked carrots, applesauce... tiny amounts of food, lots of water. VITAL to keep baby/child hydrated! Also try what we call Bioflorin, which basically restablishes the correct bacterial balance in the gut.

[MrsDoolittle]

I really don't know the answer but I would be really unhappy about this too. I mean at 10 months!
When dd had this at a similar age the advice was dilute her milk (that should be easy if your dd is having a bottle) I think it was make up her milk normally and then add the same amount of water again.
I can't imagine how you are going to do this, you really do need a second opinion. I really feel for you.

Try ringing NHS direct??

[mmmmchocolate]

Think i am gonna call the NHS help line in morning and if she wakes in night screaming i will give her a diluted bottle. I feel bad as i am the kind of person that if some one liek doc etc gives me advice then i follow it to the end, but i can't see how i can do this, it may clear her tummy up but will distress her and myself so much. I am near to tears at the though of doing it to her.......

[Twiglett]

NHS helpline is 24 hours if you want to call now 0845 46 47

sounds like crap advice to me BTW

[hakunamatata]

Please don't give her any dairy products... even diluted is not a good plan!

[MrsDoolittle]

haku - I have heard that before - my father is a GP.
However, I went with the diluted milk because I thought "Well my Dad doesn't have to listen to her crying!!!! (sad)

[GeorginaA]

I've always gone for the BRAT diet (Bananas, plain boiled Rice, Apples and Toast) during a stomach bug episode and it has never failed me. Once you think everything seems "stable" then you can start adding stuff back into the diet (bland things first - potatoes, water biscuits, "easy" veg that you first started weaning with) with dairy products being the very last. Hope she feels better soon

[mmmmchocolate]

Hakun - Why do you say that???

I need all advice i can get..

[Ladymuck]

hakunamatata, why is the doctor a sadist? No dairy (and in severe cases no food) is fairly standard advice for these symptoms?

[GeorginaA]

(the toast being dry toast with no butter or anything on it btw - have also done this diet on myself if I get a stomach bug - it's strangely comforting to a dodgy tummy!)

[mmmmchocolate]

Doc also said to bring milk back in in 3 days along with yoghurt.. So thats conflicts the no diary food????

[mmmmchocolate]

Lady muck have you had to do it?? I just think 3 days is a bit much for a 10 month old???

[GeorginaA]

The reason they say no dairy is that dairy products feed the bug and keep it going far longer. What you want to do is "starve" the bug out (without starving the child, preferably ) and make sure that you don't irritate the stomach lining further (hence the very bland foods offered). Plenty of fluids to replace what's lost.

If you are going to use juice, avoid citrus as this can irritate further and try and get some baby apple juice or dilute pure apple juice by at least 1 part juice, 4 parts water (preferably even weaker than that - just give it flavour so she'll take it). To be honest, if she's feeling poorly and thirsty, she'll more than likely take the plain water anyway.

[hakunamatata]

believe me, giving dairy will only make things worse! I've done it for the same reason as you; can't bear to have dd crying from hunger but it can be catastrophic to give milk or ordinary formula. give her lots to drink & prepare yourself for what may be a sleepless night. Then, 1st thing tomorrow, get a 2nd opinion. Do you have an all-night chemist nearish? there are products for babies who can't tolerate lactose, for example.