[teranga]

Just wondering if anyone's child has a giant distended stomach. It appears to be gas related (at least partially) b/c when he lies down, he farts (sorry guys!) like crazy, and by the time he's done w/nap or night sleep, his stomach is much flatter (and his room STINKS!). I'm thinking it's food related, but I cannot figure what is causing it! I've tried eliminating just about everything in his diet at one time or another and nothing seems to change it.

I've addressed this w/his pediatrician and several specialists we had to see for another issue he had (which has been resolved) and none of them are concerned, but it is HUGE. And hard as a rock.

Anyone's child have this and figure out what it is??

Thanks!
Teranga

[LMA1959]

To me, from work in orphanages in Haiti, it sounds very much like he might have a parasite. Does he cry from the bloat,sometimes, too?
Get an anti-vermin remedy from the doctor. If it is a parasite, it will expel it, and if it is not, it willnot hurt him, only clear the intestinal tract.
Good luck,
L.

[teranga]

He doesn't cry from it...doesn't seem to bother him. And I've had him tested for everything under the sun (giardia, amoebas, worms, and many more). Had the tests done several times. Always negative. Having had amoebas and giardia myself when living in Senegal, I insisted on treating him empirically even though he was negative. No change....so I'm totally out of ideas!!

Thanks for the response. Let me know if anythign else comes to mind!!

[sak9645]

Have you considered lactose intolerance?

Talk to your pediatrician about whether dairy intake needs to be restricted.

Sharon

[teranga]

Yep, covered that one too...he's totally off all dairy and all soy (gets diarrhea with both).

[evarynn]

Just a shot in the dark...

Have you checked for gluten intolerance? If dairy bothers him, I know that gluten intolerance can sometimes go hand-in-hand with lactose intolerance. I know several people who have had gluten intolerance, and would get bloated from it.

Good luck! Hope you figure out what the issue is.

[adoptethiopiablog]

Yup. GIARDIA. My daughter came home at 20 months with a HUGE belly. We tested her for parasites THREE times--nothing. But still she had gas and (sometimes) diarrhea, and a strikingly enormous belly. Finally the doc said, let's just try the flagyl. Within three days the diarrhea was gone, the gas was gone, and her stomach was down.

Definitely giardia in our case, despite the lab's inability to spot it under the microscope.

[OkieDokie]

Sorry to jump in here, but have you tried switching to Nutramigen? My daughter had the same thing, and it turns out she has a milk protein allergy. The nutramigen formula breaks everything down to the basic amino acids which makes it easy for the body to digest.

[teranga]

Thanks everyone for your input! I think I'm going to take him to a Naturopath and see if they have any ideas...

It's not giardia. Having had that myself, I was SURE that was it and insisted on having him treated (twice!) after he tested negative multiple times.

He has been to a GI specialist, Infectious disease specialist, allergist and numerous other specialists. So far, he's clear...yet still the stomach!

He does have a milk allergy or intolerance of some sort so he is off milk (all dairy and soy) entirely. (He also has a soy "issue.")

Thank you everyone for trying!!

[ocracoke]

Teranga,

Sounds like my daughter. Can't do soy or dairy. Normal stools. Huge belly. Really bad gas. Everything checks out negative. If you find an explanation let me know.

Samantha

[adoptethiopiablog]

I've heard that parasites can make kids much more reactive to dairy. also, many labs see parasites so rarely that they are not good at spotting them....

[teranga]

Samantha,
Have you had that tested?

We have, several times (both in Addis and in the U.S.).

The Infectious Disease guy here actually had our son put under General Anesthesia and took biopsies of his upper and lower GI tract as well as stool samples from inside the tract while he was in there looking for inflammation and several possible reasons for the distended stomach and diarrhea (which turned out to be milk and soy sensitivitiy. His stools are normal now). They sent the biopsy samples to somewhere in Binghampton, NY (I think??!!) to have them checked for parasites and giardia and various other "3rd world" afflictions. All negative.

He was also tested for CF (for the diarrhea). His allergy tests all came back negative, but once we removed soy an dairy, his stools became totally normal. Stomach did not go down however...

Poor little guy has been through a lot!

I've just made appointments with a Naturopath and an Acupuncturist. Western medicine has many, but not all, answers!! Hopefully a different approach will make a difference. I'll keep you posted samantha!

[JaneAustenFan]

Bloated bellies are a symptom of gluten intolerance. I would ask the naturopath about it, as he/she should have some ideas/suggestions. Best wishes!

[csw]

My daughter doesn't get an enlarged belly from wheat/gluten..but her entire personality changes if she eats so much as 1 goldfish cracker..its a shame..she was fine before her vaccine overdose in 2004..now she can't tolerate wheat or dairy..
I am hoping to adopt from Ethiopia someday..

[kimmom]

have you had any updates?