Dairy free formula crew please help!

[Puddlelane]

Ds3 is like the other 2 dairy free.
He is 4 months old and has Nutramigen Lipil 1 formula. We are under consultant care and was seen last week.
She said he is fine, thriving (I agree) and not to worry about the gagging cough and mucus in his throat. He rattles with it bless him. He gets ever so upset about gagging and rarely brings anything up ever. I can see the mucus in his throat when he is coughing and gagging.
Consultant doesn't seem bothered.
I have tried saline nasal spray at feeds, doesn't work.

Any thoughts on what this could be. It's not a cold or bug this is persistent and he has been seen by several doctors and all say he is fine. I don't think he is.
Any kind words?

[freefrommum]

Babies with allergies do tend to be very mucousy (something to do with irritation of the oesphagus I believe) and while my DS didn't have the cough you describe, he did always 'rattle' or sound like a loud cat purring. He also used to vomit a lot, even after we'd eliminated all the foods he's allergic to from his diet. This went on until he was at least 2.5 and was due to a combination of delayed reflux and mucous (both linked to his allergies). It was very distressing as I'd spend ages getting him to eat his food only for him to throw the whole lot back up, usually just as he'd had the last mouthful. However, none of the medical professionals were ever interested in these symptoms because he was otherwise well and his chest always sounded clear according to them. These symptoms did gradually improve over time and he's now a very healthy happy 5 year old.

Of course, your DS's symptoms do sound a bit different to mine and if you're still worried then don't give up, keep on at the doctors until someone takes it seriously and investigates further. Mums know their children best and there's a lot to be said for mother's instinct :)

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Has he got reflux? That was my first thought.

[r3dsquirrel]

Id second the reflux question. There's a strong link between allergies and reflux.

[Puddlelane]

He is never sick or cries during or after feeds.
It's just this blinking stuck mucus!
Is this a symptom then?

[Puddlelane]

Have just read a bit more on reflux. I would say not reflux.

[Puddlelane]

Have emailed consultant and we are trying gaviscon. It's at that 'let's eliminate everything' stage. Poor DS.
I had no idea reflux could present itself like this.
Not sure consultant is convinced but hard to read between the lines.

[freefrommum]

Milk allergy can cause an increase in mucus production so as long as you're sure he's 100% dairy free then maybe it just needs time to settle down?

[Puddlelane]

He is only 4 months old and never had any dairy at all.
This is why I'm confused by the mucus production.
I've seen countless doctors and consultant doctors but no one can give me any answers. He isn't ill so to speak so I'm just left to deal with a baby who wakes up gagging and coughing all the time.

[r3dsquirrel]

Theres a condition called silent reflux where babies don't vomit but exhibit other symptoms. The only symptom my baby had was coughing during feeds. It settled completely on medication for reflux. Constant acid reflux can irritate the oesophagus and cause excess mucous production as a protective response by the body.

[Puddlelane]

Ah I see. Well hopefully we will have the meds today and we shall give it a go.
He coughs and gags all the time and has a horrible sounding rattle. It's just in his throat though.

[freefrommum]

Have to say, it does sound like silent reflux so hopefully the gaviscon will help. Good luck

[Puddlelane]

Me too. Still no meds here so hopefully tomorrow.
I just want him to stop sounding like he is on 60 a day and gagging when he lies down.
Luckily it only seems to bother us not him.

Will update.
Will results be immediate after a few feeds?

[freefrommum]

Wish I could say results would be immediate but in our case it took a long time. I think others had quicker results but still think it took at least a week.

[Puddlelane]

I thought as much. Will stick with it and give it a go for a couple of weeks and see how he goes.
Thank you

[Notquiteinsane]

Another little point to add....Nutramigen although it is very broken down, is still cows milk based. My DS eventually moved on to Neocate and finally stuff started clearing up. (Having said that, is currently drowning in mucous...but he DOES have silent reflux too...so that is a definite contributing factor)

[freefrommum]

My DS also had to switch from Nutramigen to Neocate

[Puddlelane]

Hmm I think I will make a doctors appointment. The coughing fits has stopped but the noisy rattle is still there and now we have constipation.
I will ask to try neocate, wonder how hard I will have to fight for that, I know it's expensive.

Thanks all

[Notquiteinsane]

If they won't prescribe it, then ask for (demand) a referral to gastro paed! Bit of a bargaining tool and either way, you should end up with the answers. Downside to referral is the wait, BUT you then have specialist advice.
Good luck!

[Puddlelane]

Thank you, we already see an allergy paed but tbh I really question her advice.

[Puddlelane]

Posted too soon!
I will demand a referral if I don't get the milk. I'm hoping we will. Even just one tin to see if it makes any difference.

[Puddlelane]

Spoke to the paed consultant yesterday and have a prescription for Nutramigen AA to try. No fuss and she could have not been more helpful :)

[Puddlelane]

(Am also looking into re lactation as I'm dairy free anyhow, looks a long road but something to think about)