Very ill Baby and no idea what to do

[Wineasaurous]

My 13 month old baby is really poorly.
He's gone off and point blank refusing anything but water. Can't get any milk into him or food. He's lethargic and very clingy. He suddenly won't sleep through the night, won't nap at usual times, bad cough, diarrhoea, runny nose, temperature etc.
Thing is before he got poorly, he is a very independent baby. He loves to play and explore, eat everything, slept through the night and regular nap time. I rang 111 because every time we try to feed him food or formula he vomits it back up. Effortlessly. It just pours out of him. 111 told me to get him to the hospital who just sent us away. We went to the GP who checked him over and sent us away but I'm worried. It's been since Christmas Eve and he's just getting worse. Any advice?

This is the full guidelines you can probably just skip to the nutrition and rehydration bit

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/assetlibrary/Research/Clinical%20Effectiveness/Endorsed%20guidelines/Diarrhoea%20and%20Vomiting%20Under%205%20%28NICE%29/Diarrhoeaaandvomitinggunder5.NICEE_guideline%5B1%5D.pdf

when introducing usual food it's customary to start with white, low fibre foods just for the first meal or two so things like white rice, chicken fillet etc very low in fibre and then can go back to normal diet.

Sorry that link didn't work hopefully this one will https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg84/documents/diarrhoea-and-vomiting-in-children-under-5-nice-guideline2

you will need to scroll to advice for parents and carers.

Oh OP this is horrible, I'm so sorry you're going through this.
My DS had a stomach bug a few months ago - not as bad as your son, just diarrhoea. Like a PP said, it took him an awful long time to get over it. In fact it's only in the last couple of weeks that his stools have been firm again - he first got ill beginning of October! He was off all food and milk for a week or so at a time and although it was hard for us worrying about him, he was absolutely fine. Reintroducing food was literally the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce & toast.
Just wanted to reassure you a bit and also warn you that he might not get back to normal quickly. Hope he starts recovering soon x

How is your little one today?? Hope everything is better!

We're back in A&E. He hasn't had a wet nappy in over 12 hours now so have brought him back in.
DH thinks I'm overreacting and suggested we just keep giving the ORS and keep trying formula but the moment he's taken any formula he is being badly sick and retching even when there is nothing more to come up

You’ve done the right thing. Hope everything is ok.

Well done on going back
So sorry to hear he’s still sick
OHs never truly get if a kid is sick of not imo - mums do just seem to be better tuned into this stuff
Always better to be safe than sorry isn’t it
Fingers crossed you see improvement soon

Oh no, that's rotten. Hope you don't have a long wait. No wet nappy in 12 hours isn't great. Both my dc had admissions with vomiting before they were 1.
Both of mine once they stopped vomiting bounced back, but they need support until that happens. Good luck op.

Hope little one better soon op

Poor you and poor him.
I hope he’s getting some good treatment. You definitely did the right thing here.

We've got a 4 hour predicted wait before we are seen

Have you been assessed by a nurse or to physically see anyone

It’s not what you want to hear but be thankful you’ve not been triaged and sent through to majors - a long wait awful and hard and tiring - but does mean your child isn’t the worst there
Hope you get home tonight with some idea how to make him better

Been triaged and sitting in paeds now. Triage nurse was amazed that no one has taken a urine sample and mentioned that we would get a nappy pad... I did point out that he hasn't urinated so a pad wasn't really helpful at this stage

Oh dear - sounds like it might be a long night

Thinking of you @Wineosaurus, have been there and it's so scary.

You are doing right thing.

You said you tried him bfing but he has forgotten how to feed from boob - can you pump some? Would be great nutrients for him/antibodies etc. Just if you think you are able to get some milk out. Breast milk is high cal too. Might be worth a try? I have never breastfed so I don't know if it is possible to pump after not fed for thaat long but even a wee bit might be good? Loads of breastfeeding experts on here might be able to help.

Hope wee one is better soon. x

I don't have a pump anymore and tried hand expressing and got literally a couple of drops. I rubbed it on his gums like I did when he was in SCBU originally. He was 6 weeks prem

Is the maternity unit in same hospital? Could you borrow one?

Hope he is ok and you are.

Yes can you ask to borrow one. There are prob ways you can increase supply a bit by regular pumping. I am not a breastfeeding expert at all but I do know there is a lot of advice and stuff out there if you wanted to try that route.

Hope they are being thorough at hosp.

I didn't even think about asking for one tbf. That mat unit it a few buildings over so I don't know if it's possibly to borrow one. Will ask

Sending unmn hugs. My youngest went through similar when younger and it was horrid.

Awwww sorry to hear he's still so poorly. Here to handhold. Is there anyone around to help you too - especially as dh will have to stay away from hospital if he has gastro too.

My DD2 has awful gastro when she was 14 months - vomiting bile and continued to vomit even after the suppository anti-sickness meds. She was sick for hours. Anyway, after it finally stopped, as a PP said, she was severely lactose intolerant.

We had to switch her to lactose free formula, and lactose free cows milk/yoghurt/cheese etc. Any lactose at all and her poo would go like water with brown flecks in (sorry to be so graphic but I wanted to give you a comparison!) her stomach lining had been so badly damaged by the vomiting - we tried to reintroduce every month or so but she has remained lactose intolerant and in fact is now completely dairy free at the age of 4 as it seems to flare her eczema.

I don’t know if any of that will help you, and I do hope you are being seen and LO gets better soon - the feeling of utter helplessness is horrendous. Well done for being so persistent. You are that tiny human’s only advocate. Good luck