Guest guest Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the first four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, hearing problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after bringing her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. She turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like mama, up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used to translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from a non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day now. After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as apraxic/dyspraxic both orally and verbally. My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet coughing. Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't seem to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is there something else I should be looking for here? We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. I just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to help her with these other problems? Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group resource. This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and I appreciate the help/advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Look, I don't know for sure, but I do think you mentioned some milk-related issues like: drooling, past vomiting, bad breath, bronchial, ear and adenoid stuff. Milk may be involved. It is not just a diarrhea thing. I am not ommitting other problems just pointing out that milk may be involved in this stuff. At least with us some of those things were involved and disappeared with the milk. The ENT and gastro seemed to confirm the association as did the new pediatrician. Liz wrote: >I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted >internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the first >four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia >episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs >tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a >specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously >untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, hearing >problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after bringing >her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. >She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > >Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. She >turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like mama, >up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used to >translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her >earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from a >non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late >talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day now. >After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I >didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the >evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as apraxic/dyspraxic >both orally and verbally. > >My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of >GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells >like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems >(like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet coughing. >Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of >these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't seem >to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did >try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is there >something else I should be looking for here? > >We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. I >just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to >help her with these other problems? > >Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group resource. >This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and I >appreciate the help/advice. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 It is so hard to take an email and give reasonable advice, but here's a little bit that might help. If you ignore the international adoption part, all those medications are a big red flag. While necessary, they can really do a number on a little growing body. She might have a leaky gut, which can lead to a variety of problems. You don't mention what country she's from, but she obviously came here vulnerable and weak, perhaps malnourished, perhaps over-exposed to heavy metals like mercury. She might still be suffering from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals or be loaded with environmental toxins. The phlegm is troubling. I think food intolerance or allergy is a best-case scenario, and one that I would pursue. It could also be a serious problem like cystic fibrosis, but that might not be common for her ethnic group (it is relatively common in caucasians, less so for other groups). I think you need to see some more experts. A good allergist, especially one with knowledge of CF, would be a good place to start. A doctor that follows the DAN (Defeat Autism Now) protocol would be even better. (They see non-autistic patients, too.) They take a different approach to food intolerances, do lots of lab tests, and have seen a lot of quirky stuff (like the bad breath thing). A good DAN doctor will be able to help you nail down some causes, design a good treatment plan, and refer you to other doctors if necessary. While each child is different, drooling is a fairly common apraxic symptom, and children with all sorts of neurological disorders are found to have leaky guts or other GI issues. The phlegm and breath are not common symptoms, as far as I know. One final thing to keep in mind is that apraxia can be a primary diagnosis or it can be a secondary dx to another medical or developmental issue. It often coexists with autism, but is just as often the only problem for a child. Email me offline if you have any questions. in NJ > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the first > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, hearing > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after bringing > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. She > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like mama, > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used to > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from a > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day now. > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as apraxic/dyspraxic > both orally and verbally. > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet coughing. > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't seem > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is there > something else I should be looking for here? > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. I > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > help her with these other problems? > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group resource. > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and I > appreciate the help/advice. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Great Advice , I just wanted to add that bad breath can come from milk. My son's was sooooo bad that the school even complained to me about it. Embarrassing to say the least. It completely went away with eliminating the milk. Thank the Lord for he was stinking us all out of the house! Phew! Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Hi , I'm usually a lurker here and this could be my first post here! I thought what you wrote was important enough for me actually get in the conversation! It sounds like your daughter has had a rough time of it. You mention the GERD that has left bronchial scarring, my son has that too. You also mention the questions about drooling and the phlegmy cough having anything to do with apraxia. What your describing sounds much more back to the reflux arena. If she has bronchial scarring from the GERD, (I'm sure you know all this) that means she has aspirated the stomach acid (extra esophageal reflux) and if she has a wet phlegmy cough, I'd be concerned she's aspirating again. GERD can be silent sometimes, and even children can get used to the pain that they've had and kinda assume it's normal. The bad breath definitely can go with GERD. My son has issues with reflux that are very complex but he's had stomach acid go all the way up into his mouth, leads to a bad taste and some kickin breath. Did your daughter have a fundo? You mentioned vomiting and it made me wonder. I would go back to the GI and let him or her know exactly what is going on--there are a lot of components to reflux, especially the more severe kinds. My son is now 5, has bronchial scarring and after a biopsy of his esophagus was diagnosed with a rare Eosinophilic Disorder. Milk can be a factor for reflux kids, but so can a lot of other things so my suggestion is to get back with your GI and find a good dietician (ours has been invaluable to my son) to find out what's really going on and maybe try to rule out some things. Good luck and I hope that helps a little! > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the first > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, hearing > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after bringing > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. She > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like mama, > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used to > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from a > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day now. > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as apraxic/dyspraxic > both orally and verbally. > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet coughing. > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't seem > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is there > something else I should be looking for here? > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. I > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > help her with these other problems? > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group resource. > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and I > appreciate the help/advice. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 My daughter is from China and she came to me with a " cold " according to her paperwork. She had rhinitis like crazy and a nasty cough that caused retching and vomiting regularly. I didn't see that much puke in college even (grin). However, it seems like a lot of docs have poo-poo'd us because she has never exhibited any signs of " failure to thrive. " She was the largest kid in our group and now, at age 2, stands 33+ " and weighs 31 lbs. Thank you for your input. I'll keep reading the other posts and respond. Again, thanks to all of you, > > > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the > first > > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, > hearing > > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after > bringing > > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. > She > > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like > mama, > > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used > to > > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from > a > > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day > now. > > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as > apraxic/dyspraxic > > both orally and verbally. > > > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet > coughing. > > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't > seem > > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is > there > > something else I should be looking for here? > > > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. > I > > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > > help her with these other problems? > > > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group > resource. > > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and > I > > appreciate the help/advice. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Thanks a lot . My daughter did not have a fundo. They treated her reflux with Prevacid only. She's slept at an angle since I brought her home and we avoid acidic foods like orange juice and tomatoes and stuff like that (which means no pizza, which can suck for a kid in daycare). There is sure a lot of advice about removing milk from her diet. My pediatrician said that if she didn't have any diarrhea then she probably wasn't allergic. What can I do to find out if she has a milk allergy other than going to Almond milk and cutting out other milk stuff? My kid LOVES cheese. It would really suck to have to remove that from her diet. Plus, being a daughter of a farm family, we cook with whole ingredients like butter and heavy cream! Eeeek! Again, thanks, > > > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the > first > > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, > hearing > > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after > bringing > > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. > She > > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like > mama, > > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used > to > > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from > a > > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day > now. > > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as > apraxic/dyspraxic > > both orally and verbally. > > > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet > coughing. > > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't > seem > > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is > there > > something else I should be looking for here? > > > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. > I > > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > > help her with these other problems? > > > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group > resource. > > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and > I > > appreciate the help/advice. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Interesting comment on " leaky gut " . I googled it because I had never heard of it before. My daughter tends to have a voratious appetite and is a VERY large girl for S. Chinese standards. She has what appears to be a skin tag on her anus and has (very infrequently) passed red blood with her stool. Would that be related? I ordered the Houston Nutraceuticals probiotics someone else recommended on the site and am going to switch to Almond milk to see if I see any changes at all. It also sounds like it's time to see a GI doc. We were sent down the ENT path because the GERD symptoms were chronic lung infections (from aspirating stomach fluid). The doc that first diagnosed her was a pulmonologist. The ENT doc took a look at her throat with a scope and was the doc that said she had some bronchial scarring. She was also the doc who took out her adenoids and put tubes in her ears. What supplements do I need to give a 2yo that is no longer drinking milk? More doctors visits to look forward to - what fun! > > > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the > first > > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, > hearing > > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after > bringing > > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. > She > > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like > mama, > > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used > to > > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from > a > > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day > now. > > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as > apraxic/dyspraxic > > both orally and verbally. > > > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet > coughing. > > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't > seem > > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is > there > > something else I should be looking for here? > > > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. > I > > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > > help her with these other problems? > > > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group > resource. > > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and > I > > appreciate the help/advice. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 My older son (non-apraxic) has severe grass pollen allergy. He use to cough till he was throwing-up. I had to take away the milk because that did make the phlegm worse for him during the pollen season. He has allergy induced asthma and has to be on inhalers and asthma meds. when the coughing starts. With him there was none of the usual sneezing, or itchy eyes, etc., so the doctors were treating his symptoms like it was a virus instead of an allergy. You didn't mention if this happens all the time or seasonal, but I would definetly seek an allergist to help you along with the other experts mentioned below. Tina > > > > I just found and joined the group. I have a daughter adopted > > internationally that I brought home when she was 10mo. In the > first > > four months home, she was consistently ill. She had 2 pneumonia > > episodes, 5 ear infections, and 4 bronchial infections. The docs > > tried everything - inhalers, prednisone, antibiotics... We saw a > > specialist who finally diagnosed her with severe, previously > > untreated GERD that left side effects of bronchial scarring, > hearing > > problems, and chronically inflammed adenoids. 5+ mos after > bringing > > her home, she had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. > > She then spent the next 6mos on Prevacid. > > > > Fast forward one year later. My daughter says barely anything. > She > > turns 2 in a few weeks. She can say some repetitive words like > mama, > > up, buh-bye... None are very distinguishable but I've gotten used > to > > translating and can understand her fairly well. Because of her > > earlier problems with her ears and the fact that she came here from > a > > non-English speaking country, everyone told me she was just a late > > talker and that she'd catch up and start really talking any day > now. > > After battling with the decision internally for a few months (I > > didn't want to overreact as a new mom), I decided to seek out the > > evaluation of EI where my daughter was diagnosed as > apraxic/dyspraxic > > both orally and verbally. > > > > My daughter drools constently. She no longer vomits (a result of > > GERD) and is not on any meds. She has TERRIBLE breath that smells > > like poopy diaper. She has never had any other digestive problems > > (like diarrhea) but she wakes up with a lot of phlegm/wet > coughing. > > Sometimes this can lead to her retching and vomiting. Are any of > > these symptoms a common part of the apraxia? Since she doesn't > seem > > to have any of the tell-tale signs of problems with milk (and I did > > try a stint w/out and it didn't seem to make a difference), is > there > > something else I should be looking for here? > > > > We have started speech therapy and I think it's going well so far. > I > > just wonder if there is more I can do nutritionally or medically to > > help her with these other problems? > > > > Thanks for any advice. I'm really glad I found this group > resource. > > This has been a scary experience for a first time single parent and > I > > appreciate the help/advice. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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