total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

DD is EBF has had mucus in her stool for some time and is testing positive for blood (I can't see it). Her ped had me off dairy, soy, and nuts for 2 months--no change. I tried wheat too but only made it a week before I caved--I was starving! Since then she's allowed me to add dairy, nuts, and soy back because we know it's not the culprit. I'm still not having straight up dairy--just not worrying if it's in a processed food like bread or cookies. She has no other signs of an allergy--no rashes, no congestion, no red bottom, no colic. She used to seem uncomfortable at times, but that seems to have gone away. She's generally a happy baby. Her ped always says that she doesn't seem like a baby with inflammation in her intestines.

Today we saw a pediatric GI. Since I already eliminated the top offenders, rather than torture me with a TED, he suggested a sigmoidoscopy to check out the tissue. This will tell us if it's an allergy (though not which one) or if it's something else. He mentioned something (lymph-something?) that self-corrects as she gets a little older. Or if I don't want to do the procedure, he said I could go on a trial of formula and store my milk. But if the bleeding persists, he's going to want to do this procedure anyway.

So here's my dilemma:
If I do the procedure and find out it's an allergy, I may have to do the TED anyway. The doctor said if it looks mild, I may not have to change anything since she doesn't seem bothered by it. But it stresses me out to see mucus and know there's blood!
I really wanted to meet my goal of 6 months of BF (and longer if it worked out), but I just don't know if I can handle TED. Call me selfish, but a partial elimination was hard enough. I was starving. I just don't know what I'll eat if I have to eliminate that many things!

My big fear is that I go on formula and this bleeding persists--if it's the thing that self-corrects (I can't remember the name). Then we stopped BFing, when it was finally getting easy, for no reason. The doctor mentioned that this does happen to a lot of BFing moms.

So would you do the procedure? DH doesn't want to. And I have a feeling my ped is going to tell me to do the TED. She's very pro-BFing and so far hasn't once suggested formula.

I haven't had the easiest time with BFing. I had oversupply and OALD, which made DD a very fussy eater. About a month ago, I told my DH that I wish someone would tell me I had to stop. I felt too guilty to stop on my own. But now, a month later, my supply seems to finally be under control and I feel like we're just hitting our stride. I'm so close to my goal of 6 months. But at the same time, she can't keep bleeding so I can make my personal goal.

Ugh, WWYD? Do the procedure, go on formula, or the dreaded TED?


ETA: Also, if I do trial of formula, I feel like that will be the end of BFing, even if it turns out I can go back to that. After weeks of bottles, I fear DD won't want the boob anymore!

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I am on a TED for about 9 months now. I have to say, it gets much easier once you're in a routine. How old is DD? If she is under 6 months, I would definitely do the procedure to make sure it's allergy-related.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I went through the same issue with DS and actually had the sigmoidoscopy scheduled. We tested his diaper one last time the day before the test and it finally came back negative. We put the test on hold and checked his stool a week later and it was still blood free. It just took longer than the usual time being dairy and soy free for him to fully heal. For my DS, I needed to eliminate ALL traces of dairy and soy from my diet. the few times I slipped, I saw blood specks.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I wanted to add that DS is 11 months and we just now got his first negative stool test since he was 3 months old. At 6 weeks I eliminated dairy, he still had blood in his stool. At 9 weeks I eliminated soy, 3 months egg, 5 months almonds, and at 6.5 months I went on a total elimination diet meaning no dairy, soy protein, soybean oil, soy lechitin, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, fish, and shellfish. He kept developing more allergies, but I refused to stop BFing because that gives him the greatest chance of outgrowing these allergies. Is it hard? Yes. But now it's a breeze, going out to eat can be difficult. I'm even doing weight watchers with this diet!

Your DD could be allergic to dairy or soy or BOTH, but also have other allergies that you're not aware of. If it were me, I would go on a total elimination diet, and once you get a few negatives start adding foods back in to test for a reaction. In the meantime, I would definitely do the procedure to rule out anything else. If you want to continue BFing, I think your best bet is the TED and not going on formula. Feel free to FM me with any questions, especially if you decide to go the TED route.

What GI are you seeing?

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I would do the procedure to see if this is allergy related.

I did TED for a year and I am still on it by choice. It really gets easier. I learned a lot and lost a ton of weight doing it.

However, if you can't be completely committed and it is an allergy, you really should do formula. There is nothing wrong with formula!

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I had DD tested so I knew what her allergies were at 6 months. Once I eliminated egg and dairy her her stools were normal. I EBF her for 11 months. Now with DD #2 i am doing the same.
How far did you go to eliminate the dairy and soy? I also know some soy products have dairy in them.
I don't know the test that you are referring to since I had the blood test and skin prick test done, but if the test is easy I think I would have it done sooner than later.
Also, I assumed that blood in the stool meant dairy allery, is that not the case?

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I eliminated every trace of milk/soy from my diet--I wasn't really eating processed foods and if I was, I checked the labels. That's why the dr also isn't positive it's an allergy.
I'm seeing Dr. Gold. He said because she's not showing any skin issues, a skin test wouldn't work--but that wouldn't mean she doesn't have an allergy.
I want to do the procedure, but DH doesn't. There's a very rare risk of preforation and he's clinging to that. There's no sedation, no fasting--just half an enema.

I think my biggest issue with the TED is my history with disordered eating. I had issues all through college and after. It took me a long time to make peace with food. But even now, I just don't do well with feeling restricted. Like I said, I was feeling oretty miserable just eliminating dairy, soy and nuts. I just can't imagine adding corn, eggs, seafood, and wheat to the mix.
Do you ladies eat a lot of substitues? How do you eat out or at someone's house?

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I don't know much about the TED but could you try the formula and continue to pump to keep up your supply? If you are afraid of her rejecting the boob when and if you go back to breast feeding, maybe you could wean her off breast feeding- alternated bf and pumped bottles and then replace with formula bottles and if it turns out that the formula doesn't help you could wean her back on. Not sure if this makes sense at all or even helps!

Good luck!

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

To ME BFing is not a big enough deal to put the baby through a procedure to continue it - I'd switch to formula.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

I had a similar situation. I went on a TED also and like Michelle-lost a ton of weight. It was really hard to go out to eat. I also read labels and did not eat anything with any form of milk, whey, casein etc. My baby was still having symptoms. I was bf'ing my twins so I eventually took Declan off BM at 12 weeks and started him on Nutramigen AA(amino acid formula) and continued to pump for my other son until 6 months when he went on good start.

Re: total elimination diet, sigmoidoscopy, or go to formula--WWYD? Sorry this is long.

my dd has a reflective sigmodoscopy (2x) and is currently going for another (hopefully her last) it is more hard on you thinking about what is happening. it is in and out (15 mins) the wake crying but not bad and you go right home and your child is fine..no pain, nothing..DD has had the blood in stools more than once, has allergies and such. know its scary to know that your child is going under a procedure that your are not too familiar with BUT its better to sometimes go in and get a better perspective (IMO)and yes u may still need to so the elimination diet ( been there too) BUT u will get answers and on your way quicker to get your child better ..GL

if your still unsure go for a second opinion and see what that dr says..