[irinam]

Hello!

I thought I would post and give you some info if any of you have had any of the same issues as us. Emma (from Moscow City in 05) has always had very little appetite. When we came home, I expected her to gain right away, but she did not. In fact, it was a struggle to get her to eat period. I spoke at length with her pediatrician, but I felt he wasn't considering she may need more than "making food fun" or "cutting food in to shapes"...she just wasn't hungry. She weighed 19 lbs still at almost 3. Please keep in mind he considered her as failure to thrive, and we were doing bloodwork to ensure her protein levels, as well as glucose, vitamins, everything were fine. I think he felt that even with weighing so little, her bloodwork was perfect and she was completely healthy other than her weight.

Finally, after taking her to an after hours clinic one weekend, I got this dr. to giver her a GI referral. Emma had H. Pylori (cleared up after our 2 week treatment). Her appetite did not get better after that. Although I had asked my regular ped. for over a year for something for her appetite, he had given me nothing. This dr. put Emma on a medication called Megace. It is a medicine frequently given to CF patients (who struggle with appetite)

It has been a miracle! Emma is still little at 4, but she weighs 31 lbs now!!

No one else may have had this problem, but I have seen how sometimes a pediatrician may not be able to understand issues our babies may have! He had no idea about this medicine. So, if any of you have had or do have this problem in the future, you do know of something to discuss with your dr!

[TweetyMom04]

Kudos to you for pursuing after the med community to get answers!! Glad to hear she is doing much better, gaining weight and coming around.

Here is another weight gain problem.

I just went through nearly 2 yrs of battling socialized med and finally went private for resolution. Couldn't get any GP's to listen and mostly ignored or turned away from getting any help.

In our case DS-G had the problem with food, couldn't swallow, gag and spit back out food. He rarely gained weight and maybe a few ozs each month. He's always had problems breathing, day version of sleep apnea, holding his breath, couldn't control it. The response from GP's about his breathing "he should be a scuba diver!" Instead of helping, insulted us!

Problem: Enlarged Adenoids. Finally had the surgery and now he eats everything in sight and can breath normally. I'd read that this problem (Enlarged Adenoids) can stunt growth and weight gain. (BTW the Surgeon was 'stunned' at the size of his Adenoids, calling them impressive. It clicked with him that I had been pursuing a serious problem for my Son all along.)

[angelkisses0102]

Thanks for sharing! I love hearing about mom's who fight for what they know is right for their children...even when the doctors don't believe us!!

We have fought the food/eating battle since day one. Finally DS is gaining weight...at age 4 years 10 months he is all the way up to 33.8 pounds! A gain of 3.8 pounds in 10 months is huge for him..actually most of it has been in the last few months. His issue (now) in sensory issues...but we start private OT next week!

[momraine]

Thanks, I will ask our doctor about that. My son is never hungry and so is tiny.