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Original poster

How long without food?

26 replies

mairimac · 18/04/2006 08:45

My DS 6 mo old, has had D & V since Friday night. Eventually by Sun am took him to the hospital, doc says just tummy bug. To stay off food for 24hrs. We tried milk again yesterday am, but vomited, so back to clear fluids. This morning 48hrs later we tried milk again and he vomited a very small amount? Do I keep trying with the food now or back to nothing? Very worried as he's so hungry and it's been 2 full days now! Any suggestions?

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ItalianJob · 18/04/2006 08:46

If he's hungry, I would try him with a little toast, see if he's okay with that.

blueteddy · 18/04/2006 08:52

Try him on very dry food like toast, baby rice cakes etc.
My DS1 had a bad D&V bug when he was 7 months old & the doctor suggested keeping him off milk for a few days & trying him with plain foods first.
Lots of fluids are most important.

Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 08:53

Thanks. He's not tried finger foods yet and before the D & V he wouldn't even touch toast or rice cakes. Do you suggest staying off milk for longer? He's lost so much weight already!

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ItalianJob · 18/04/2006 08:54

just noticed that your DS is only 6 months so may not be eating anything as solid as toast! if he's only on purees I would go for something bland - say an apple puree or carrot puree.

blueteddy · 18/04/2006 08:57

baby rice mixed water is good as well.

Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 08:58

Baby rice I've been trying, takes one spoon and then gives up. Do you think veg and fruit okay? What about the milk - stay off altogether or try small amounts?

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blueteddy · 18/04/2006 09:03

I would keep off fruit & veg at first.
I don't know if he is breast or bottle fed, but I was advised to start off with watered down milk. It was double water - scoops of milk. Not sure if they still advise that though, as my DS is now 6 years old.
Baby ricecakes are very good. Do you have any of those?

blueteddy · 18/04/2006 09:05

Saying that, if he started with it on Friday, he may be ready for a bit of pureed fruit & veg - but small amounts.

zebrama · 18/04/2006 11:39

When you say "clear fluids" was it really just water, or did you try anything else (diluted fruit juice would still be bad, for instance). "Clear fluids" is suposed to mean water, and maybe dioralyte. Nothing else.
It should not matter what you start with; it's tummy bugs that causes the V+D, not what they eat. I'd be phoning NHS direct because if he really only had water for 24 hours he should be all over it by now.

Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 14:00

Well the doc at the hosptial said water, or water with touch of apple juice or water from boiling rice. That's all he had for 24 hrs as wouldn't take the water on it's own.

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Tutter · 18/04/2006 14:05

poor you and DS Sad my DS (11mo) had the v&d bug 2 weeks ago and went 6 days without eating. it is alarming how quickly they appear to lose weight but try not to worry - he's been making up for it since and got his tummy back in a couple of days! keep offering bits and pieces but don't push him - he'll eat when he's ready. focus on fluids instead. good luck.

zebrama · 18/04/2006 16:00

I really think the hospital doctor's advice was rubbish, then marimac. Clear fluids means "water" or dioralyte (or breastmilk) and nothing else. There's enough calories in the apple juice and "rice water" to keep feeding the tummy bug. That's why he's not entirely over it, yet.

Of course I am not a doctor, so you can ignore what I'm saying, but I can usually clear a tummy bug in less than 4 hours so I know that what I do works. I'd be really worried about a 6 month old still having a tummy bug after 3 days.

Have you tried NHS-direct?

tortoiseshell · 18/04/2006 16:04

The other thing you could try is pureed banana. Or try diluting a little bit of ribena in water just to get a little bit of energy into him.

Ds had a horrible bug at 12 months and lost SO much weight - it's really frightening when it happens, and we did the ribena/banana until he was totally over the bug, and then started building him back up again. Took a long time to get him back on track though. Hope your little one is better soon!

Kathy1972 · 18/04/2006 16:08

If you're not giving dioralyte, definitely get some. I wouldn't worry too much about food to be honest - the main risk is dehydration and proper rehydration salts like dioralyte are by far the best way to prevent that.

Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 16:14

Thanks all. Zebrama - do you suggest just water or dioralyte for 24 hrs or less?

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Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 16:19

meant to say tried NHS Direct, she suggests small feeds more often but if not okay by tomorrow go back to the doctors. He's not dehydrated as yet.

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Original poster
mairimac · 18/04/2006 16:36

... me again, another thing is that if he has pureed rice or sweet potato he doesn't vomit, only when having the milk. Is this still a sign of the bug? I'm completely confused now as to where to go and what to do.

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zebrama · 18/04/2006 17:38

I'm just guessing that you've mostly starved the bug out, but it's taken so long because of the ongoing (if low) calorie input. If you keep giving small amounts of food he may be ok; the fact he only vomitted a little of his milk the other day was a good sign, at least.
If he doesn't vomit on sweet potato, I'd be giving it in a heartbeat because poor mite needs to keep his strength up. Just try to keep to small frequent amounts... and keep the fluids (dioralyte if he won't take water) no matter what.
I don't know when to start the milk, but if the sweet potato stays down in small frequent amounts I would think back to small amounts of milk tomorrow mid-morning, slowly build back to normal.
Hope he's better very soon.

karapar · 18/04/2006 17:53

Hi, I've just joined the group and saw your messages. My experience is that after my son had a tummy bug he often developed a cow's milk intolerance that could last for quite some time after he seemed better and would vomit milk up.My GP confirmed this was a common problem and we used to buy some of the soya milk formula which he seemed to tolerate with no problems and then gradually get him back onto regular formula.

mairimac · 18/04/2006 18:58

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Original poster
mairimac · 19/04/2006 13:15

I hope someone is still watching this threat. Started small amount of diluted milk today but he has just vomited a whole lot of solids and milk all over the place and the diarrhoea is back! Where to from here? Have phoned the doctor and they are of the opinion to just stop the milk altogether but the poor guy is starving and was awake 3 hours in the night screaming from hunger:(

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zebrama · 19/04/2006 17:30

HIV positive mothers in Africa still breastfeed to 6 months. Then they wean very quickly, in a few days, not to formula, but to a maizy-watery gruel. Makes me think that some sort of milk would be ideal in a baby's diet at this age, but it's not always possible or absolutely necessary to babies, esp. for your bubba right now.
If I were you I'd plunge ahead with as much watery solids as he'll take, plus a bit of juice, try a soya-based formula, and talk urgently to HV & GP.
I really hope he's better soon, this is not on.

tortoiseshell · 19/04/2006 17:32

All dairy can be irritating to the stomach/bowel, especially after an upset tummy - I would avoid dairy completely for a couple of days, then gradually reintroduce it very gently (e.g. watered down milk) to get him used to it again!

Original poster
mairimac · 19/04/2006 20:43

thanks. Went to the doctor again, sort of said the same thing as zebrama - that milk is not essential if he will take solids. Just to increase his solid intake and water inbetween and give dairy a miss. Thinks that my ds has possibly developed a slight intolerance to dairy due to the tummy upset and should avoid it. Said I could try soya formula if I was worried but if takes enough solids and water, not critical. Also said NOT to give dioralyte unless dehydrated as too much salts for babies who don't need it. So am going to stick to the solids for now, have got some soy and will possibly give that in evening and morning when most hungry. Will keep you posted.

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Original poster
mairimac · 20/04/2006 12:15

today seems to be going better, have started on the soya formula which he seems to tolerate without vomiting. Also keeping down solids, but reluctant to drink water / juice now I've introduced the soya formula. Any ideas on how long the intolerance can go on for and when I should re introduce normal formula etc?

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