Baby won't stop screaming... PLEASE HELP!

Ok... so I've gotten some advice from nurses that I am not sure what to think about and need some help here!  My only local healthcare option for my DS is... well, what can I say?  Not the best.  Anyway, so DS strained and strained trying to poop since Wednesday.  We had tried a little Karo syrup on Saturday, to no avail.  We upped how much to about 1 tsp a day on Sunday and then he did poop- it happened while we were changing him.  Upon watching this, it was as if it (sorry if TMI) hurt going out and pushing the poop along, so he would clench up to stop it, but we had given him Karo syrup and he hadn't gone for so many days that it had to happen and so it did.  There was a small amount of blood on the wipe after all of this straining and pooping- not in the stool, but on the wipe.  Anyway, DS has been upset and screaming.  Not non-stop, sometimes he's happy.  I don't know if it is diaper rash or not, but he has a big red splotch on his bottom like diaper rash, only it is very red and a little splotchy.  He has a low-grade temp of 99.5 and has since yesterday.  

The nurses on the phone suggested a 20 minute bath in baking soda... didn't work.  They suggested putting vaseline on a rectal thermometer and moving things around up there- that idea I didn't do because well, that just doesn't sound right.  They suggested just giving him more Karo syrup.  They said he may have an anal fissure and that if it wasn't better by Wednesday he should come in.  He could go in today, but due to car problems and even more snow, I opted to do the Wednesday check thing.  However, I also wanted to run it by some experienced moms on here and see what you thought.

Help!

[kellym]

I am soo sorry, that has to be terrible. I'm going to have to say I might would try the thermometer. I have heard that about the rectal stimulation but other than that I'm no help, good luck!

[Waiting4myprincess]

Wow. I honestly don't know what to say about what is going on with your DS. It seems like you should get him in to see his doctor as soon as possible. Blood in the stool is never a good sign. I know you said it was on the wipe, but are you positive that it was not IN the stool?? He is obviously uncomfortable. Poor Guy! I have actually done the rectal thermometer on my DS when he was little and it did work. It helps to get things going and it also make it so there is some lubrication so it doesn't hurt as much. How old is your DS? Is he old enough to give him some apple juice mixed with water? I certainly hope that this fixes itself soon. I feel for him. Also the rash does sound like diaper rash. I would just make sure you keep desitin or whatever you use for diaper rash on it at all times. Let us know if he gets better tonight. I will say a prayer for him.

xoxoxox,
Danielle

[AndiJ78]

It does sound like an anal fissure, which would account for the blood on the wipe. The rash could be yeast or regular diaper rash. I learned the hard way that diapers like Pampers and Luvs can cause nasty rashes that do not go away, so if you are using either, try switching to a diaper that is completely unscented, slather on a good thick layer of diaper cream (think old school desitin, not the creamy c-r-a-p) and ditch the wipes for a spell, use baking soda water to rinse him off. Let him air dry as much as possible and if you have any handy, try a light dab of yeast cream (nystatin, lotrimin, etc) If it is yeast, it will react very quickly. I literally have only ever had to apply it once to see improvement.

I am not a fan of syrups myself, I know what it feels like if I eat something that is full of sugar, it burns my bottom coming out (TMI) so I imagine is isn't much better for kiddos.

[BearHitch]

Thank you all for your comments- I think I will try the thermometer thing.  Right now he is happy, and doing fine.  He is 4 months old... we tried some baby tylenol to see if that helps with that temp, and then we'll be doing the thermometer here tonight to see if that helps.  Plus lots of diaper cream.  I am 99.9% positive the blood was not in the stool and I have not seen any since that one time.  I forgot to mention in my first post that when this all started, we switched formulas. Discovering what a BIG seemingly mistake that was, we switched back... do you think that would do anything with the constipation?

[maddysmommy]

hey..my ds just had this issue...his dr said to give him pear juice striaght...like 2 oz..we did and within 2 hours he was moving his bowels.  he also had an anal fissure..you just apply vaseline to the clean area and it will heal soon enough...also warm baths worked well for the pushing the bowels out..it ended up in messy bath water..but he didnt cry while doing so..wow this is just a gross post lol..anyway..try the pear juice..and the thermo thing works well also..and yes switching forumlas can deft cause const.  good luck

[Nicole624]

Switching formula would definately cause constiaption. It happened to Evan and he was miserable!!! I know its hard to do the thermometer but it works!! You can also try the Glycerin Suppositories for babies. Those are a miracle! They usually go within an hour of using them. Good luck!!

[jd1419]

My son was this way on formula--we had to put the dark karo syrup in his bottle until we took him off of formula...if we missed even one bottle it would stop things right up....but now that he is three and has a good diet he is very regular---when little even had to use the suppositories on him...made himgo but was a mess...I think that is why he was such a sullen little baby---good luck....as for the diaper rash you could also use bag balm--worked wonders on my guys and really helped with their bottoms.

[BearHitch]

Thanks all for your posts... as an update, this morning Isaac was just miserable and screaming and we just couldn't take the questioning anymore- took him to the doctor.  The doctor said he didn't have a fissure or anything, but had very bad diaper rash which on Monday and today got incredibly bad- in fact, while changing him at the doctor, his poor little bum was bleeding where the rash was!!!  Couldn't believe it!  Anyway, he told us to let him be naked a few hours at a time during the day to help it air and to change him more frequently- so, hopefully that will make things better!  Thanks again!

[kjbutcher]

i think I read that you put 1tsp a day in his bottle.  My doc said to put 1tsp in EVERY bottle.  It didnt work great but it was much better.  He didnt go every day but when he did go it was not as painful.  The first bit would be hard but after that it was normal looking.  I dont know how it works if he was a premie but at 4 months you can start carrots or pears and that is what worked for us.  We did the karo for a month and a half and we havent used it since his 4 month check up because the food worked well.  AJ also had the bit of blood but it could be how far open the anus is when he is expelling.  You probably noticed this when he went while you were changing him.  One day I actually had to help him get it out.  You could feel around the area that it was all hard.  The constipation can definately cause the crankiness!  As someone else mentioned, the creamy diaper rash cream doesnt work nearly as well regular desitin, balmex, or even equate diaper rash relief ointment.

[maddysmommy]

try a mixture of a & d and desiten..mix them together in a cup...this is what they used on him in the nicu..worked well...there's also this diaper rash cream you can get prescribed or maybe in the pharmacy..its pink..and go figure i cant find the name of it..when i do ill repost but it healed up the rash in hours..good luck

[AndiJ78]

Calmoseptine? Or something like that, I know it is behind the counter or can be special ordered from many pharmacies. Good stuff.

[maddysmommy]

yup that's it Andi...it works wonders!!  

[AndiJ78]

I used that on Bub when he was a baby. All fo that and it turned out it was the diaper causing it. But that stuff it good.