Can't Gain Weight in Child

[Heathmcmi]

Our daughter was diagnosed with failure to thrive a little over three months ago. She went from 50% to 3% to 0% in a matter of 3-4 months. She went through periods of having an aversion to food, to eating and still not gaining. We have seen a gastroentronologist, hematologist, endrocrinologist, and an cardiologist. All we know is that she has a moderate size hole in her heart (ASD). It will require surgery but because of her poor weight gain they are pushing it off. Two weeks ago she was 17lbs and 2oz; we had taken a two week break, because it was a mental strain and needed the break. (we go for weekly weight checks) Today she weighed in at 17lbs 4 oz. She is eating an average of 900-1100 calories a day in pediasure alone. She eats throughout the day as well. Her pattern is breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner. Her pediasure is offered at every meal and she happily drinks it. Everyone is scratching their heads and is at a complete loss. We don't know where to go from here. We plan on getting all second opinions as well. Any ideas is more than welcomed! Thank You!

[Heathmcmi]

Thank you to you both.

She's been checked for both celiac and gluten and both have come back negative. I didn't think about minerals being off or low. She has been checked for reflux and they're running another stool sample for infections. She also does have chronic loose stools, and it's not a problem to get her to eat, its for some reason her body soaks it up too much or not at all.

[ggreg]

Also, have them run a blood test to check her vitamin and mineral numbers, see if any of them are off, and they will prescribe a supplement for any she's low on.  

[patient915]

I would have thought it might have been something like celiac disease or lactose intolerance but if she is only drinking pediasure, which if I remember correctly contains neither gluten nor wheat, and she is still not doing well then that doesn't seem to fit.  Has she been checked for infections and reflux?  Does she have any other symptoms like diarrhea?  If her case gets severe enough, you can talk to your doctor about a feeding tube.