I'm so frustrated I could seriously cry. Or hit things. (Don't worry- I mean solid things like walls or windows not soft things like husbands or babies.)
Okay, so Dr. P said to get Nutramigen AA. Sounds simple. But nothing in my life is EVER simple, so I don't know why I ever thought it could be.
She said Wal.greens could get it.
A helpful friend found a helpful pharmacist at a Wal.greens across the city. He offered to order it despite my local Wal.greens acting like I'd just asked if he could order Martian piss. I asked if I could have it sent to my local place for "convenience." (Really, that will be funny later.) He said that any Wal.greens with an employee not too lazy to look it up can order it. (He said it only slightly nicer than that.) He even gave me the UPC so as to not tax said lazy employees.
I called my local Wal.greens and asked. They still acted as though I was ordered Martian piss, but said they'd order what I said. "Call tomorrow."
Of course, you can guess- it never got ordered.
I chewed the ass of the store manager and was assured it would be taken care of for Friday.
Friday they tell me it's in.
The husband goes to pick it up after work. You guessed it- wrong stuff.
Again, I call and complain. I'm told I gave them the wrong UPC.
Ummm. Well, see, the trouble with that is that the UPC I gave them doesn't remotely match the UPC of what they gave me. (Nutramigen DHA)
They call and say it'll be ordered correctly- FOR MONDAY. Because, of course, no one delivers on the weekend.
I made another couple of calls to see if someone else can get it, but no one can find out until Monday.
Fun times.
Okay. So today it finally comes in.
FIFTY FREAKIN' DOLLARS for a not-very-large can of it.
But hey, if it cures the boy, I'll whore myself on the streets if need be. (Uh, Internets? Anyone know of streets where rich men like fat lactating women?)
You guessed it- he WON'T EAT IT. Maybe it really IS Martial piss.
I don't mean he won't eat it in the usual "he doesn't eat much" way. I mean, I can get 15-40 ml of plain breast milk into the boy at any given feeding. (Keeping in mind he should be eating more like 90-120.) I managed to get three, YES THREE, ml into him. I waited until he was REALLY hungry. He chowed down like you wouldn't believe. Got it in his mouth and hid his face.
I tried the bait and switch with the pacifier. Half a suck and he'd squirm again. In the end he just cried hysterically.
Finally I gave him a bottle of breast milk and he sucked down a little more than an ounce in about 10 minutes (That's REALLY good for him lately.) and passed out.
My plan is to try to sneak a little formula in during some night feeds where he's pretty out of it, but I'm not hopeful.
It honestly smells like ass. Sort of like what a bowl smells like after it's had fish in it and been washed once. It's lovely, really.
I can't blame him.. sweet, wholesome breast milk or 3 day old fish tint? Which would you choose?
BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO?
I've been pumping him full of Mylanta thinking that if he does have a food allergy and his insides are torn up maybe that will help soothe it. And he has been eating slightly better. (Instead of 15-25cc, I'm getting 30-40cc into him. Obviously still not enough by a long shot, but it's SOMETHING.) Which makes me feel like something IS going on in there. But now what? If he needs the hypoallergenic stuff, how do I MAKE him eat it?
Do we have to put a G tube in just to pump him full of nasty stuff?
I don't know what to do. I'm so, so, so, so frustrated. I could cry but it would do no good.
Please pray for patience. Pray for numbed taste buds. Pray for healed insides. Pray for good eating.
Just pray for us, please.
--Trish
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15 comments:
Evan was on that...and it was a nightmare. Good luck.
How awful. I really hope you find what Robbie wants to eat soon.
Trish- long long time lurker, first time poster here.
Have you tried the health department? Since he is a preemie & has FTT, they will pay for expensive not easily affordable formula. HOpe that helps.
Also, have you tried mixing some of the formula with breast milk? MM (my daughter) was on special formula & it was HORRIBLE as well. She would not eat it. I had to mix it with breast milk until she gradually got used to it. I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. You & Robbie are in my prayers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poi_%28food%29
I have been reading your blogs for a long time and pray for ya everyday....the link about is about POI its a hawianin remedy used for babies with food allergies or bad digestive tract i thought i may help it could not hurt just thought i would pass on what i know good luck to all of you big hugs
Always always praying for you and Robbie. You're never far from my thoughts.
as always you are in my prayers!
I just discovered you blog recently but i've been following it because I can totally sympathize with your situation. My situation was a little different, but just as frustrating.
My lo breastfed fine for the first 8 weeks of her life and then suddenly became fussy, refused the breast or bottle. We say many doctors and finally they decided that it must be a protein allergy/intolerance that was bothering her gut and giving her pain while eating. They suggested Nutramigen which she HATED! In the meantime I had begun the elimination diet (you can google it) to clear my breastmilk of potentially harmful proteins. It took a few weeks but we finally were able to get her to breastfeed again without pain. She had been refusing both breast and bottle and we were only able to get her to eat at night when sleepy.
If BM is working best right now then I would keep giving it instead of Nutramingen. Look into the elimination diet, it can only help. As I told my doctor "I'll stand on my head and snort pixie sticks if it will make my kid better".
Oh...she took Prevacid to help heal her intestines.
Good luck to you. There is a solution for you.
Thinking of you and Robbie, Trish. I hope Robbie develops an appetite soon--the Mylanta sounds promising. I hope it's a clue that leads somewhere.
Definitely hit something if it makes you feel better. Maybe a Walgreens employee.
You and Robbie continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you guys are able to work something out soon. I can't give any wonderful advice because I have not been there so I won't even try. Just know that my thoughts are with you and I hope Robbie starts eating better soon. *Huggles* -Amy
PS I agree with the other comment that hitting a Walgreens employee might help. LOL
My daughter is on the Nutramigen Lipil. I mixed it with the breastmilk at first. I know your afraid to waste it but it may work.
You get used to the smell. Good luck
Ugh, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. My son hated his formula too, it was soy and smelled nasty! I know I mentioned this before and I don't know if it would be worth a shot or not, but we added grape pedialyte to his formula to change the flavor and then he would eat it. He never ate well but at least we could get some in him since the flavor was better.
You got it. I am so sorry.
Alice hated formula and would only drink it if it was really, really, really warm. Like, almost too hot. I've mentioned that to other moms of EBF babies and they said that it worked for them, too. Worth a shot.
Oh, for F sake, I can't believe they didn't have a sample to give you to tide you over until it was ordered and make sure the baby liked it before you committed to a can of the stuff. Bleargh. I'm sending you multiple hugs.
- dr.girlfriend
Tessa was/is on Nutramigen, and I still can't believe how badly it smells. I'm surprised any baby will drink it.
Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
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