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Original poster

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

70 replies

mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 21:38

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

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GeorginaA · 06/07/2005 22:15

No food and just water/diaralyte for 24 hrs is common practise (and extremely effective) but haven't heard 3 days before, I have to say.

Heathcliffscathy · 06/07/2005 22:15

zebra where are you...you offerred me great advice about this...i think she said that you basically waited until there had been no runs for 4 hours before giving anything other than water. then you start with a tiny bit of something really really bland like a water biscuit...wait and see what happens, if is all ok, after 3 hours give another tiny bit of something else...oh arse, can't remembedr the proper advice...zeeebbbbra!

really weird that your dr should advise this as nhs direct no longer advise fasting at all....try phoning them?

hakunamatata · 06/07/2005 22:17

Ladymuck, anyone (but especially a doctor) who would consider starving a baby for 3 effing days is a sadist. It's not necessary & it's not ethical.

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:18

She is ok in herself, very happy until the stomach cramps kick in and she has a bad hour every few hours where she just wants to be held and walked around, but in between she is as happy as anything. Went to doctors at 5, and she had had bottle at 3 so i think she will manage tonight ok, but it morning i am dreading..... I couldn't go with out food, surely she will get hunger pains????

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Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:19

i want to cry!!!

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hakunamatata · 06/07/2005 22:20

mmmchoccy, if that baby is deprived water, essential salts & minerals & glucose for 3 days, she will end up in hospital on a drip at the very least!

somebody back me up, please!

Ladymuck · 06/07/2005 22:21

mmmchocoltae, yes I have had to do it, though frankly I haven't kept track on the precise number of days/hours etc! And ds1 in particular was a milkaholic, so was badly affected.

Maintaining liquids is vital.

Do you feel that she is hungry, or is she particularly missing milk? I assumed the latter from your first post? When was her last nappy? Are they clearing up yet?

jamiesam · 06/07/2005 22:24

On the advice about cutting out all food, including dairy - mentioned before my ds had the runs at 1yr - granted I wish I'd cut out formula and moved to soya more quickly, but never entertained cutting out everything except fruit juice. Also, I'd expect fruit juice to irritate the stomach as very acidic. Must admit that my sisters solution to the runs (in an adult) which works very well is dry toast and black coffee. But I'd never put such a young child as 10mths on such a fast.

Ladymuck · 06/07/2005 22:25

Diarylte is made up with water and contains sugar and salts (which is what mmmchoc's dr has advsed her to give!). It has been a standard treatment for years!

The dd has had the runs for 6 days. A day or two of diarolyte won't harm her and should clear up the bug.

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:25

todays nappies have been slightly less, prob about 6 in total compared to 12 on tuesday... Her nappies aren't really that wet, just watery poop! I think she misses her milk but i think she was slightly hungry as she has had nothing since 12pm, and i would be hungry by then. She has always eaten really well, adn i know she is gonna be upset tomorrow

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Ladymuck · 06/07/2005 22:28

mmmmchocolate make sure that you are comparing how she feels with how you would feel after having diareahea for 6 days.

If you're still worried, and she hasn't been vomitting, then how would she usually react to dry toast?

I'm assuming that any juice she is having is of the very dilute kind?

lunachic · 06/07/2005 22:31

recently my doctor told me to feed as normal for a tummy bug as it would make a difference to the length of time that it lasted-that was for a viral infection
hope your dd is better soon
havent read thread but i hope you can get a second opinion of another doctor/nurse

lunachic · 06/07/2005 22:32

sorry meant it would make NO difference to the length of time the tummy bug lasted

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:33

yeah diluted..

I know she is starting to feel hungry as she is crying, and she never cries only if she hurts herself. She kept pointing at the ktchen too.........

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Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:49

just looked on nhs websire. Says Do not starve your child??!?!?!?!?!? I am more confused now x

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hakunamatata · 06/07/2005 22:51

mmmchoccy, what is there to be confused about? the doctor the one who's confused, to say the least. poor little mite! give her a nice bit of plain white toast to chew on.

essbee · 06/07/2005 22:56

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:56

i am gonna go with my heart, was gonna call NHS Direct but gonna go to bed soon and will have to wait for there call back, so i will call first thing tomorrow..

Thank you everyone for your advice. I am glad its not just me who thinks this is a bit harsj for a 10 month old x

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Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 22:57

seem everyone gets different advice!?!??!? suppose depends on doctor but that then makes me think they don't know...

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essbee · 06/07/2005 23:01

Message withdrawn

elastamum · 06/07/2005 23:02

Oh Dear, poor dd and poor you! 3 Days with only juice sounds excessive and rather risky, did he really mean no food at all?, i would get a second opinion as you run the risk of having a child so weak she could end up being admitted. If she is getting only water it will be really important to keep giving lots of small amounts every 5 or 10 minutes during the day as there is a real risk of dehydration in little ones with chronic diarhoea. We had this with DS1 once and we only just avoided him being admitted by introducing a rehydration programme. Lots of little sips are better than one big drink as it is less likely to upset her

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 23:03

i can't do it... will see in morning what poppy is like. But i know she will want something.

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hakuna · 06/07/2005 23:05

yes, elastamum. you're bang on. I remember feeding dd cold water from a teaspoon one time. the water had to be cold... don't remember why.

Ladymuck · 06/07/2005 23:06

Hmmm when a 10 month old wants to get into the kitchen....

Personally I would hold off until tomorrow and see how the nappies are in the morning. I would start if I had to with the BRAT combination set out below somewhere. But I would probably want to feel that I had done 24 hours on the diarolyte first, or have seen some success on the nappies. But I'm not a medical professional! If she has taken the diarolyte and is still unsettled tomorrow, then yes I would personally offer food.

Original poster
mmmmchocolate · 06/07/2005 23:11

She too hates dirolyte.... Only manage to get 1 oz down her since 5pm. had to give 2oz of juice to give her a drink.

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