IM Rochephin

An Ear infection, on April 25th, meant antibiotics.   Antibiotics run a risk of disturbing his gut flora, and risk of reactions from ingredients.  We had been advised to use IM Rochephin (IntraMuscular injection) if a time came for an antibiotic need.   Intramuscular is what he got at birth as well, IM ampicillian.    I expressed concern to the Resident Pediatrician who had later advised me that she miscalculated his ampicillian dose.  The hospital protocol for IM Ampicillian was lower than the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommended dose, which is what she had followed.   Both 'safe' doses, just that they would be skipping one dose to allow his body to catch up.   Would this affect his gut flora?  I wonder if he should have a probiotic?  Or should I up my probiotics?    I remember very well getting that "look"...."this is intramuscular injection and does not affect his gut" was her casual response.   I knew better but I let that settle as ok because I had just become a mom to my 4th baby and had a few others things on my mind!    I now wonder if that antibiotic dose is what carved this FPIES course we are now on, this complicated/atypical FPIES course....

So, being in the place of needing an antibiotic, is concerning.   Antibiotics will still affect gut flora, regardless of if it is taken in through the gut or an intramuscular injection.  But, as I mentioned in a previous post, this may be something that could help- if we can control this "reset" of gut flora and guide the "good" microflora into re-gaining their healthy control role.  

Now, with stool studies in hand, I begin to see why he has had such good responses to the one probiotic we started with: CD Biotic which is: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, lactobacillus plantarum, and a saccharomyces boulardii.   It is like it is made for him.   He needs lactobacillus as he has no growth in that (on stool studies), so it would appear he has no/very little "resident" flora of lactobacillus.  Without a pre-biotic to help the probiotic "feed off of"- explains why he seems to plateau on it.

The rochephin takes care of his ear infection almost immediately.  We are relieved for that.  His fever drops, he begins eating more again, and he sleeps (and doesn't need to be in our arms, upright, to do so).  We restarted his "safe" probiotic by adding it to his formula (so that it is in each bottle).   He appears to respond well to this throughout the day.  I skip the next day of adding the probiotic to each bottle, to see the difference and he has disturbed sleep, very fussy/whiny/clingy and seems to be having tummy pain (kicking legs, gassy, wants to be held standing up only....).   Add it back in the next day and much less fussiness, less stomach pains.  He even tried a banana.....