It goes on and on................I need more advice PLEASE!

[CliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

Been having trouble with ds's poo for 6 months or more. It is like liquid at times and very very smelly. He has had around 5 solid poos since the day he was weaned and he is 2 years old.

Went to GP who said he had a gut infection and prescribed us medicine, the medicine seemed to work a bit but when it finished, his poos went back to normal. So took him back and the GP said he had a problem with his bowels, gave us same medicine but for a longer period. Same thing happened. Took him back today and the GP said he has a cold (yeah?), we said what about this poo thing? Even his creché are telling us that something is not right, it's not normal! But GP said, "Oh, it's ok, just wait until he's 5!" then as an afterthought he has written out a prescription for Coproculture, looked that up on Net and it seems to be a bacteria. Thing is I don't want to be giving him a bacteria if it might make things worse.

How can the doc go from saying he has an infection, to a problem with his bowels, to there is no problem at all! I've no confidence in him, it's close to Christmas and I doubt we'll be able to do anything till after Christmas now. So should I give him this Coproculture? Without a proper diagnoses I'm uncertain whether to risk it or not, but dh thinks we should.

Any advice please?

Insist on a referral to a paediatrician immediately. GPs are exactly what they say they are - general practitioners that don't have specialist knowledge about something like the digestive tract of children (although I'm very surprised that after all this time he is still finding excuses for what sounds like a significant problem).

We go back to England on Friday so we don't have time to get him referred. Whatever it is will just have to wait until after Christmas now.

A food intolerance may only manifest itself in poo form, you should see my dh if he eats pizza (well, I can assure you, you should not). Very windy, painful tummy and explosive at the end. Does your ds seem in good spirits?

You're right. A wheat intolerance would be hellish in France - my French friends have been completely mystified when we've been visiting. If you're back in the UK for a few weeks it might be easier to eliminate it whilst you're here, other than the hassle of when you'r'e travelling. Wheat-free pasta and bread are easily available in any big supermarket. Might be worth a shot? I would be less confident about excluding dairy because of the need for little one to get his calcium, although I am sure the wise MNers could advise on that.

The fact that you're in France might explain why doc has not considered a food intolerance, to be honest.

No, the thing that is steering me a bit away from the food intolerance theory is that he does not have excessive wind or any other symptoms, he is fine in himself. Dh says his poos seem really yeasty, pointing to a bacterial thing.

I'm not eliminating food intolerance, I'm just being cautious. I have no idea about intolerances and I am in a country where the language still baffles me, so unless the other routes have been investigated, I'm holding back a bit on a restrictive diet.

we had exactly this with DS - it was actually brought on my his single mumps jab but it lasted literally months.

Have you tried probiotics? (sorry if mentioned earlier) the powdered ones really do help anything like this or any immune problem

probiotics for children we use the BioCare one that she mentions, it's very good.

another vote for trying some probiotics, we use solgar or higher nature powder.

Ok, I need symptoms everyone, in great detail, so I can compare.

Ds's could be linked with the anti-biots he got at 15 months for tonsilitus. His poos are like a smooth compote in consistency, sometimes very very smelly, sometimes the smell isn't too bad, kinda yeasty smell really, like bread. He has no other symptoms, he is not losing weight, he loves all food and does not show a dislike for wheat or dairy products, quite the opposite in fact.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?

yes. was exactly how DS was after his mumps jab. I then read something about it effecting his immune system, tried the probiotics and it sorted it out.

Ok, here's my new battle plan of action!

Will get pro-biotic pills as soon as we land in England (do they do them at Manchester Airport I wonder?), I'll try them for 3 weeks, if there is no improvement then I shall consider eliminating dairy products from his diet. And of course there is the lab tests - when he does a poo tomorrow I have to drive it straight to the lab!

So, how many pills do they take? Is 3 weeks long enough?

they come in a powder, you add about half a teaspoon to milk/yoghurt/and cold food, it is tasteless.
you need to go to a health shop, or get online.

where do u live?

France.
Will find a health shop as soon as we get back. Do Hollands and Barratt do it?

yes, get them online. The Biocare powder is very good. They need to take it everyday for at least 3 weeks (if not longer).

dont think H and B do any of the better brand, not sure though

No, online not an option. Christmas post and all that, where do I send them to? To dh's parents where we will be staying for 2.5 weeks or to our home in France? Do they post to France? Would much rather buy them tbh.

if you email solgar they will tell you where nearesat shop in france is.

here

should be very easy to get in manchester (is that where you are going? or just arriving at that airport?)

I would also ask for a referal to a paediatrician, preferable one who specialises in food allergies/intolerances. My youngest ds (17 months) has been having alot of mushy, smelly, mucousy nappies for about 4 weeks now. My eldest ds (4) has been having bad gut/poo problems since June, but has always had what we were told was toddler diarrhoea. Both children seem to be thriving (as thriving as my youngest can be with his medical probs!) We are seeing a paed tomorrow with the youngest to discuss alergy testing, we already know that he is milk/egg allergic. We also want to have them both coeliac screened as it is a serious condition, we at least need to rule it out.

I am going to try probiotics too, so wish you the best of luck. I really hope that you can get to the bottom of things (no pun intended )

Where in Manchester? I don't want to sound stupid now, but why is this not offered in most of the health shops? Why do I have to shop at these exclusive shops? Why can't I just pop into Boots or something?

Are these not the same thing?

those ones are for adults.
babies and children have different bacteria in their gut. the ones i have mentioned are especially for children.
You might get them in a chemist like boots, but Im pretty sure you can only get them in a health shop.

not sure why boots don;t sell them TBH as they really do work. A lot of the crap that is sold as probiotics is just useless. If you like I can buy it for you, have it delivered here and post it on?

Ok, so I can go to any health shop right? I don't have to buy online do I? Hate it when you can only get things online! I do not shop online, not if I can help it!

Thanks Katierocket! If you come to the meet you could bring them with you???????????????

cliff,
I had the bacteria inbalance thing myself at one time. Those probiotic tablets did nothing for me, they werent strong enough. If he has got yeast in his gut, you would expect lots of wind (ever made home made wine??)

If it is a reaction to milk, you should see results within 2 weeks if you cut milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt and processed foods with milk in, out of his diet. Ditto wheat. Intolerance to milk or wheat does not necessarily cause wind.

You could try a specialist doctor in France, for food allergy tests. Be aware though, that a milk intolerance won't show up on a skin test, because it is not an allergy. It is usually an inability to digest milk, caused, for example, by a deficit of digestive enzymes.

hth

Blimey! I'm getting all confused now as to what I should do for the best! His poo does smell very yeasty, that is obvious.

WTF do I do?