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Original poster

Gastroenteritis - Advice?

33 replies

chargedproton · 18/05/2019 15:18

My husband had gastroenteritis last week and my baby who is 8 months old seems to have caught it.

He’s had it last Wednesday. We have recently moved to a new area so in the process of changing doctors. Therefore I rang NHS who basically weren’t really interested. They said if he’s drinking some, that’s all that matters.

He’s been throwing up 2-3 feeds out of 5 daily since then. Not all of it but I’ve been giving him smaller amounts. 4/5oz instead of his usually 8oz.

He’s been having 2/3 explosive diarrhoea nappies a day since Wednesday.

He’s still alert, just still abit poorly.

I was surprised they weren’t interested in not even seeing him.

They basically said we have to ride it out.

He’s gone off his food so he’s not even getting nutrients from that.

I try to give him sips of water every 15 minutes or so.

I feel so bad for him. How long does it last? Shall I take him to A&E or will they just send me home?

OP posts:
Original poster
chargedproton · 18/05/2019 15:19

*since last Wednesday

OP posts:
Blueberrycheesecake1 · 18/05/2019 18:31

Lots of breadsticks and rice cakes and other plain foods. Forget about nutrition for a while! I had to revert to bf but not sure how that would work with ff babies as i think dairy is to be avoided?

Blueberrycheesecake1 · 18/05/2019 18:36

And lasted about a week all in I think. He was 12 months old though so a bit older

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rubyroot · 18/05/2019 20:03

Just fluids for at least 24 hours. Milk can really irritate their gut. Gastroenteritis is inflammation and you need to give the gut a rest. Milk can make it worse and some babies can develop temporary lactose intolerance when poorly.

I did this with my son, when he didn’t drink much water we also gave him Ella fruit pouches as he would t touch water or food. That was enough to keep him hydrated. He was poorly for a week and also got a bad cold so stopped eating for a while. We went with it and he’s as fat as ever now! The nurse at a and e said babies can go about ten days without food

Original poster
chargedproton · 19/05/2019 14:50

Well I ended up in A&E this morning. They said to continue feeding and should become better in a few days, they weren’t concerned.

I asked if he is/would become lactose intolerant and he said, you’d see that from birth.

Who told you that ruby root?

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Chartreuser · 19/05/2019 14:55

charged it's not unusual to develop temp lactose intolerance as the gut recovers, only for a few days.

DS is nearly 14 now but had c diff at 12 weeks old and was FF. Hospital advised us to make his feeds up half strength to try and rest his gut a bit. Not sure if the advice has changed but certainly helped.

Hope he's feeling better soon

rubyroot · 19/05/2019 15:30

At 9 months they won’t die without milk for a day.

A friend had been told to continue with milk during gastroenteritis but baby still vomiting as soon as they decided on their own to drop the milk, baby recovered.

On this basis, and the fact a and e said do what I felt right when I asked them- I decided to just give my boy water for 24 hours. Worked a treat, vomit and diaroeah stopped once everything was through his system. For the next 24 hours he was offered bland food but wouldn’t eat it so gave him Ella’s pouches and then back on milk after 48 hours. He healed in no time, unlike my boyfriend who thought he felt better, had a greasy burger and was terribly ill for the next theee days Grin

Original poster
chargedproton · 19/05/2019 15:35

He cries for his milk which is what I am worried about. He won’t take water and is refusing food, otherwise I would stop the milk.

Doctor told me to mix the diarlyte with his milk??? It says you shouldn’t do. I might do it once but feel uncomfortable with doing that. Why would a doctor say that when it says you shouldn’t do it?

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rubyroot · 19/05/2019 17:28

Not sure- but I bet your baby will refuse to drink milk mixed with diarolyte- mine wouldn’t touch the diarolyte they gave us. As long as a few wet nappies a day then he’s not dehydrated. Can see why you’d give the milk. My baby wouldn’t have food or (much) water so I gave him Ella’s fruit pouches which he did accept. If milk the only fluids he’ll have than if course it’s essential.

rubyroot · 19/05/2019 17:35

I think it’s aupposed to be mixed with water as it’s priven to be effective with water and perhaps not proven to be effective with milk. If dr has advised it then I can’t see it being harmful. Someone else may come along and better advise.

Original poster
chargedproton · 19/05/2019 18:15

He threw up the milk mixed with diarlyte unfortunately. He hasn’t had a explosive nappy today just small diarrhoea.

I think I am going to try the no milk option. How long did you to it for?

What did you give for bedtime? He associates his milk bottle for bedtime so worse case I may just have to dilute it. 1 scoop for 8oz water or something.

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rubyroot · 19/05/2019 19:07

I'm lucky that my boy stopped drinking milk at bedtime around nine months- he uses a bunny to sleep.

Diluting it seems a good idea. Can you try him with ellas pouches as the fruit ones are full of water and we kept little one hydrated with those- he had small sups of water, but not really enough.

We stopped milk for 48 hours. But I would play it by ear as you need to make sure he is getting fluids. Hope he's better soon- it's awful when they're poorly

Mintypea5 · 19/05/2019 19:15

When my baby had it over Xmas he was about 6 months. We ended up in a&e twice. They said to keep feeding milk but as he was just puking up so much we had to do the fluid challenge ... 3ml via a syringe every 5 mins for a set period

Took about 10-12
Days to get over it I think? As they as they're still having wet and dirty nappies they're ok.

usernamepinched · 19/05/2019 19:45

When my daugher was very sick we were advised to give her sips of weak applejuice every 15 minutes. She still ended up in hospital on a drip as she just couldn't keep even the smallest amount of fluids down. Hope your little one is soon on the mend.

Original poster
chargedproton · 19/05/2019 20:09

Well he happily drank the black currant diarlyte - 6oz of it. But he then threw up 1-2oz of it. I think I got so happy he was drinking it that I made him drink too much. He happily drink it from a bottle.

I gave him a fruit pouch today and some toast.

I’ve tried putting him to sleep but he’s screaming for his milk Sad

So think I’m going to have to make him half strength (2 scoops in 4oz). I want this to go away.

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rubyroot · 19/05/2019 21:10

That’s really good about the diarolyte. Little and often sounds like a good idea. Diluted milk tonight and then just mainly fluids tomoz might heal it. Let us know how it goes- it truly is horrid, but he’ll be okay I’m sure x

Original poster
chargedproton · 20/05/2019 21:59

I’m at my wits end.

I tried the half strength formula, he became constipated. I went back to normal strength and he had diarrhoea and vomited.

He’s drank 4oz of diarlyte today. I don’t know what to do about the milk Sad.

He won’t eat anything and he wants his milk but I feel like I’m making him worse.

Will it just eventually go away?

I use the Perfect Prep machine. Could it be that?

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rubyroot · 20/05/2019 23:45

How do you know he’s constipated? Surely it’s nit been long enough to judge?!
If it was me I would not have offered milk at all esp if he is drinking diarolyte.

But that’s me and how I’d approach it. I’d rather he be better than keep giving milk. And if there’s a chance it’d work I’d give it a try.

Why don’t you give it a try (as long as he stays hydrated and take to dr if any changes etc) and if not better after you’ve tried it you will know it’s not the milk at least!

Original poster
chargedproton · 21/05/2019 06:04

Because of his face, he was struggling to poo and then when he did, he had a hard pellet like poo in his nappy.

He only has diarlyte if he has milk first.

He woke up an hour ago shaking and crying for his milk. I tried giving him diarlyte first but he screamed proper tears. So I gave him 4oz milk, then he had 1oz of diarlyte before realising he didn’t want it so I put some cooled water in the bottle I used to make his milk so it has a bit of taste of milk. He’s only had a bit and he’s realised what it is so isn’t entertaining it.

Is constipation better than diarrhoea? Shall I ask the HV?

Unfortunately I’ve still haven’t heard from the doctor to say we are registered yet.

Sad
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rubyroot · 21/05/2019 16:03

Oh have you recently moved- so can't go to drs?

My son had constipation when he recovered from diarroeah when he had gastroentritis. I think it can happen to go from diarroeah to constipation, but diluting milk won't have caused it. Could be down to less fluids or just whatever you've been feeding him. How's the vomiting now?

If you are worried then do seek advice. I always think its always best to be on the safe side, though I always judge it by how my son is in himself. Your little boy still relatively happy?

Original poster
chargedproton · 21/05/2019 16:37

He has had 3 5oz full strength feeds today so far with only one diarrhoea nappy which wasn’t explosive. That’s good right?

He’s drank all of the diarlyte from yesterday (kept it in the fridge). I will make some more up.

He’s really happy and himself, especially since the diarlyte. He’s trying to crawl so the only thing that’s annoying him is the frustration of not being able to.

The diarrhoea and vomiting doesn’t bother him as much as it does me.

It seems like it’s getting better?! Not sure.

Maybe I was overloading him with his normal 7-8oz milk when he just needs a small amount more often.

He still screams when he only gets 5oz so I have to add some cooled boiled water into the bottle which he hesitantly drinks.

He’s happily eaten some toast and a rice cake today too.

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Chartreuser · 21/05/2019 18:17

When you say diarrhoea nappy is it actually or is it runny as he's not eating solids to bulk it out?

Sounds like he's definitely improving, rather than up his milk I'd add solidsin. I assume you give him water with meals anyway? I'd carry on with that to counteract any potential constipation but it doesn't sound like he is tbh

Hope he carries on improving

Original poster
chargedproton · 21/05/2019 18:42

No definitely diarrhoea. It’s reallt watery and easy to wipe off. He is still eating solids but more purees as apposed to finger foods and lumps that he normally has.

He had toast for lunch and dinner today as I wanted to give him something dry. He ate it all. He seems really hungry but don’t want to overload him yet.

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rubyroot · 21/05/2019 18:53

Sounds positive!

rubyroot · 21/05/2019 18:55

I also wouldn't up milk yet as it is probably the milk that means he's taking longer to heal. Dry solids like toast will irritate him less than milk. Try Ellas fruit pouches to ensure he gets fluid and keep offering water and diarolyte

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