For a while there she seemed to be keeping food down to the degree that the hospital was getting ready to discharge her…right up until she discharged all the food in her stomach at 9 AM today.
Understand that for the last two days Beth has been saying, “Why not do a GI workup?” while the doctors have been insisting that her condition is viral. So this morning they said to Beth, “You know, we think it would be wise if we did a GI workup on her.” She practically had to bite her tongue not to say, “About freakin’ time!”
I mentioned to Beth that between the website and private e-mails, I’ve gotten at least six diagnoses of what’s wrong. She suggested I start a pool. I told her she had to be kidding. She said no, she was serious. Again I said she was kidding. She said no, she really wasn’t kidding.
So okay.
Little girl, one year old, not keeping anything down. Disposition is okay, eats eagerly, but then barfs stuff up until the stomach is empty. No fever, and still has bowel movements. Not the first time she’s had unexplained bouts of vomiting, but certainly the most prolonged.
Diagnosis?
Beth says once she knows, she’ll tell me and I should tell you. In the meantime, all you GI Joes and Janes out there…go to it.
PAD
• 
SOME SORTA FOOD ALLERGY?
I checked out http://www.medlineplus.gov and found a candidates.
Something called “cyclic vomiting syndrome” is described at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cvs/index.htm and has a web page at http://www.cvsaonline.org/
If this doesn’t help, rummaging about http://www.medlineplus.gov might still be useful
My friend’s baby had similar symptoms; turned out to be a problem with her diaphragm — too tight? too thick? Sorry, the details are hazy. A minor surgery corrected it.
best wishes for a speedy recovery.
NOt having any kids yet, all I can come up with is really bad flu or she got her hands on something she shouldn’t have and swallowed it, now it’s causing some sort of obstruction.
Hopefully Emma’s age will work to her advantage (kids are pretty tough and bounce back pretty well) and at least it sounds like Emma’s mom is keeping her spirits up if she suggested the pool in the first place. Positive attitude around the crumb cruncher can’t hurt.
Keep the good vibes coming and hope they reach Emma.
Hopefully the full GI workup will provide some sort of (correct) answer so they can effectively treat her. Have they gotten an IV to stay in her so they can keep her hydrated, at least?
-=- Em.
I think that you were right, Peter. She has got to be kidding. I really wish I could help you, but I’m afraid that the closest I can get to accuracy is “Boo Boo in her stomach.” I’ll keep sending good thoughts to the Big Guy for her, as that’s the closest I can come to any help.
I am doing my best to recall all the details, but my little brother(he is now 30) had a very similar illness as a small child. It turned out to be a kink in his intestine, and while the enema fluid was pushed into his lower body to get the GI series pics ….the dye actually straightened the kink. no surgery needed, just a fluke kinda cure, my highest hopes are that something like that works for Emma.
Please send my best wishes to her family.
This reminds of me of the circumstances surrounding me as a little one. It was right around that age that I wasn’t able to digest food properly. I got really weak and sick. Some minor corrective surgery was done and viola, I was healed. It wasn’t anything viral and I was able to eat just fine. But nothing would stay down. I still have the scar from the surgery. Sometimes even minor things can have a big impact. Hopefully this all turns out for the best.
Gotta love your sisters attitude. I think it is just a nasty virus, she cant get rid of.
Except for the fact that this
doesn’t happen every time she eats, this reminds me very much of the story of the baby in M*A*S*H (the Høøkër novel). Perhaps Emma has a milder form of the problem, since she has had unexplained vomiting before?
Linda,
As I recall, the baby in M*A*S*H had a fistula (a connection that wasn’t supposed to be there) between the esophagus (food pathway) and the trachea (air pathway). Every time he ate, he turned blue and spit up.
From what PAD’s reported, Emma eats just fine — it’s keeping it down that’s the problem.
Sounds exactly like something a friend of mine has. It’s called “gastro paresis,” basically her stomach is paralyzed. Any food she eats just sits there because the normal contractions that push the food along just don’t happen, until vomiting occurs.
They did a stomach emptying test on my friend, where she ate “radioactive eggs” and watched them go through her system every 15 minutes for 4 hours.
I really hope this isn’t what is happening, because she’s on a powerful stimulant that’s not exactly the safest drug in the world.
My friend also suggested that her stomach might be twisted. That’s what they originally thought with her, and it’s something that can be fixed relatively easily. An upper GI should find that, though.
Best of luck to Emma!
My friend’s baby had similar symptoms; turned out to be a problem with her diaphragm
I’m sorry. Call me a prude if you must, but I just feel that infancy is too young an age to be going on birth control. I’m sorry to have to preach like this, it’s just the way I feel.
Not sure if it is gastroparesis — does Emma have signs of diabetes or vagus nerve problems? — but just in case, there’s a useful link at
http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/gastroparesis.html
Lists treatments and medications.
This sounds like what I had as an infant. I was born a month premature, and went to the Children’s Memorial Hospital in chicago, was in there for months, in an incubator and on an IV. I don’t know all the details of what it was, but I have a 4 inch scar on my upper right stomach where they had to operate. I believe it had to do with a malfunctioning valve in my stomach–the one that leads to my small intestines. It was blocked, or did not work properly to release chyme (sp? If I remember my biology correctly) when it was ready to be pushed into the intestines. As someone else mentioned, blockage elsewhere in the small intestine could cause this too; basically, the food is ready to go on into the intestines to be absorbed, but a physical problem with the lower stomach valve or the small intestines prevents it from going through the rest of the digestive system, which means eventually it has to come up, because it can’t go out the other end.
I wish I had more details, but I’ve been sorta estranged from my family and I have nothing from my childhood, not even medical records, otherwise I’d give more information. Sorry.
I also had an incident about 3 years ago at 18 where I ate something that I think got lodged before that same valve in my stomach; a few hours after dinner I got really bad cramps. I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t sit. Standing hunched over a counter gave a little relief, but not much. I think I started to cry at one point it was so bad…so I went to the ER about 1 am. (dinner had been about 6, which is why I’m thinking my valve was blocked; the food was trying to go into my intestines but couldn’t, so hurt like hëll). My stomach became fine some time after I went into the ER, but I don’t think the ER did anything–shortly before I went in I threw up. I wasn’t truthfully nausious, but the way my stomach felt like it was eating itself and twisting I figured I should get whatever the heck that’s in it out and see if that helped. By the time I got into the ER and saw the doctor, I felt better, and everything went on as normal. Doctor agreed with me it could have been blockage.
So…my vote for what’s wrong with Emma? Possible blockage of some sort, either from a blocked or malfunctioning valve, or later on in the intestines. I’m not positive that that is it, but it is one possibility.
Although I don’t know anyone who has had these symptons, a friend’s dog actually did….vomiting, stool, needing an IV to keep hydrated, no fever, etc. It turned to be pancreatitis. According to
http://www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/pancreatitis/index.htm#children
it is rare in children and caused by trauma or heredity.
Anyhow, my prayers are with you and your sister’s family.
Ciao
We went through much the same thing with our son 11 years ago. They never got more specific with it than gastro-esophageal reflux. Essentially it’s a weakness in the lower esophageal sphincter, and an exaggerated form of what happens to us when we have heartburn.
They ended up treating it with drugs like Reglan, to speed up the action of the stomach and so speed its contents into the intestines, and ranitidine (Zantac) used to reduce the output of stomach acids and so not only reduce irritation in the stomach but to reduce naso-esophageal damage during any additional refluxing.
They seemed to view it as something between a momentary biochemical imbalance and a problem in physiological development. To put it another way, it was something he would (and did) soon grow out of, though we had to keep him on the meds for a while.
As mentioned in the earlier thread, I wish you all well in this. I don’t recall those days with any happy feelings aside from being glad they’re over.
Last year, my then-20 month old daughter started vomiting uncontrollably. Every time she had so much as a sip of water she would throw it up. It turned out to be a nasty stomach flu; thankfully she recovered eventually without having to be hospitalized. I don’t know if that’s what Emma has, but as I think it’s the least worrisome diagnosis it’s what I’m hoping for.
Has Emma been on any antibiotics lately? My goddaughter was recently hospitalized for GI problems leading to severe dehydration, and they traced it back to an allergic reaction to her Augmentin, which they apparently prescribe for just about any child with chronic ear infections.
My heart and my prayers go out to Emma, Beth, and the whole family (and especially Sarah — I know how hard this can be on older sibs at home). Best wishes for a speedy recovery for her.
As a lifelong EMS professional (27 years and counting) I’ve always been taught that when an infant can’t breathe, there is probobly a blockage, because they put EVERYTHING in their mouth. I’d first look at this, substituting the “digestive tube” for the “breathing tube”.
However, don’t let my credentials impress you. I’ve also always been taught that opinions are like elbows, ‘most everybody has one or two. To wit: 2 EMS professionals were standing in the woods over a set of tracks. The argued their position unyeildingly, one saying that it was bear tracks and the other insisting that it was deer tracks. Both were so stubborn that they argued into the night as the train hit them.
Here’s my internet diagnosis based on the fact that we are talking about a Baby. Good Luck PAD.
Pyloric Stenosis, a disorder in which the pylorus, the valve between the stomach and the small intestine, becomes so thick with muscle that it blocks the flow of food.
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/10899.html
If they don’t find anything with the GI workup I suggest Beth write to The Matchmaker, 150 Custer Court, Green Bay, WI 54301-1243. It’s a newsletter for parents of special needs kids. They publish letters from parents looking for a diagnosis. Email is mums@netnet.net. Website is http://www.netnet.net/mums/
I just wanted to say that I am sorry to hear about this and I hope that she gets better soon. 😀
i bet the kid just read the last issue of spawn.
My little sister was born two twists in her intestines (at least, this is what Dad told me). Every once in a while, to this day (she’s 17), she occasionally has time periods where she can’t hold anything down. Not sure what they do for it, but Dad said that if there had been one more twist or one of them was more severe, they’d have had to opperated on her. As is, she’s miserable every once in a while, but gets past it (may be as she’s grown taller the twists aren’t as bad?). Someone else suggested something like this before, so just seconding it… I’ve never had a GI workup, but I’d think that’s how they catch that sort of thing… huggles & good wishes to the baby from my baby.
I’m no doctor (though I do some of the easier medical transcription — mostly psychologists!), but the first thing I thought of when you described the symptoms was “allergies”. Do either you or your wife have any allergies? Emma could have them, too. They could be obvious (milk, wheat, corn, soy, etc.) or hidden, as many common foods are made with ingredients that aren’t easy to decipher on lables (milk, sugars, soy, etc.) and in medicines (like mercury in vaccines or allergins in drugs). Maybe you could do some Googling (great verb!) for some ideas.
I’m thinking food allergy too. All those immunizations kids get these days, while certainly necessary, play havoc with the immune system. The number of kids today with severe allergies to the most common foods is staggering.
And Beth is way cool for embracing the absurd like this! Best wishes.
PAD: Unexplained vomiting could be a side effect of otitis media, your basic ear infection.
Hope she does better, quickly.
Hi Peter.
Not knowing the nature of the food the baby has eaten makes it difficult to diagnose the cause of the problem. The most likely thing could be either an allergy to some specific component of the food, or even possibly a lactose intolerance.
I hope this helps you out.
It;s called stomach flu. I had it when I was younger. You can’t eat anything solid or you’ll throw it up. I bet that’s what it is. This is what it sounds like to me.
allergies do not make you throwup. I have allergies and it doesn’t do that to me. I have it bad in the Spring. I’d bet my bottom dollar that its stomach flu. You dont get fevor or anything like that. It’s like motion sickness.
Where you can’t keep down what you it. I suggest you ask your sister to ask her doctor about it.
It sounds like Gastropariesis from here (a condition I’ve had for a couple years now), which was described earlier. It’s usually associated with Diabetes (which I also have). I hope it’s “just” a stomach virus, though.
I hope she’s feeling better.
Well, I AM a doctor (not a gastroenterologist or pediatrician, though, just a simple family doctor) but I also thought “Pyloric Stenosis” the minute you described the symptoms.
Apparently you can feel the thickened muscle bulge of the pylorus when palpating the stomach of the child. (Never encountered the condition myself, so I’m just reporting what I remember from Medical School…)
However, I believe that’s probably one of the first things any doctor would rule out, especially since she’s been in hospital for a few days, and probably has had an abdominal ultra sound scan. So I am inclined to believe that I am probably wrong here, and therefore would otherwise think of some kind of infection as well.
The other conditions mentioned here are rare – not too mention that I abhor self diagnosis via internet (In most cases… Heard of a patient who diagnosed her diabetes herself by looking up her symptoms on Google, but in most cases it just causes unnecessary panic and makes my job so much harder… anyway, but I digress).
In any case, I sincerely hope she gets better soon. Best of luck!
Marginally relevant medical testimony follows, please skip as needed.
Originally posted by Dee @ 02/26/2004 11:00 AM
ET:
allergies do not make you throwup. I have allergies and it doesn’t do that to me.
Depends on the allergy, actually, and on the patient in question. Not only will irritated immune systems leave the product of the war against the allergen in places that might be quickest emptied by vomiting, but some people (I’m one of them) are physically very sensitive to the too-much-bad-stuff-in-bloodstream sensation that a strong allergy attack can cause, and will have every symptom that could be construed as “trying to get it out of the body RIGHT NOW!!”
Even more entertainingly, I have a special variety of allergy called “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”. Well, a doctor wouldn’t call it an allergy, exactly; it’s a collection of problems I experience that include an allergy to MSG — a.k.a. “hydrolyzed soy protein” or “other natural flavors”. And, yes, my body’s reaction to this particular part of the IBS does sometimes include vomiting with no warning at all.
Oh, and Gorginfoogle, you were jesting when you suggested the baby is too young to have a diaphragm, right? Without that, she couldn’t breathe. Let’s not wish the poor girl any greater troubles.
Oi, hope she gets better soon…x.X I agree with those who believe that it’s a blockage or something to do with one of the valves in the digestive system. I doubt it’s the flu because there is no fever…and I doubt it’s allergies or your sister would have made the connection between what Emma has been eating and when she has these episodes.
I hope it’s not anything too horrible…>.>
I still cant see it being a food allergy tho or anything like that. When I had the stomach flu for a week I couldn’t keep anything down either and It makes your stomach ach. Very painful. You have to eat mush to try to keep food down.
I had a similar problem as a small child (although not as extreme). The doctors could find nothing wrong. My mom insisted it was an allergy, so she cleaned the house. I kept losing my food, so she’d clean some more. Turns out that I was allergic to aerosols. So, the more she cleaned the sicker I got! Interesting, but probably not that helpful. Actually, probably not that interesting either.
“Not the first time she’s had unexplained bouts of vomiting, but certainly the most prolonged.”
Peter,
I don’t know if this helps or not. My kid would spit up all the time, and we could never guess when or why it would happen. And if it wasn’t coming out the top, it was coming out the bottom.
Nobody could figure out what was wrong. We just had to make sure we always had towels with us everywhere we went.
Eventually, it just stopped. Go figure.