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11/29/2005
This one's just gross, y'all.
I am waiting for my small son to empty his bowels so that I might harvest the yield and take it in for analysis.
Because the collection process last time was so odious, I have chosen to try my doctor's recommendation of Saran Wrap.
As a consequence of his unremitting diarrhea, Charlie has diaper rash, so we have applied a layer of A&D ointment to his bare bottom.
Rash-dappled baby's butt. Thin glaze of unguent. Custom-cut rectangle of plastic film. Every time I pull out the waistband of his diaper to check for any issue, what I see looks like something you'd find in a supermarket refrigerator case.
Maybe I should take a friend's advice and augment the A&D with zinc oxide and hydrocortisone. Maybe it will then be not so much a salve as a tasty rub which will impart a delectable flavor to the ass of my son. Maybe I should have added garlic and rosemary.
Maybe the reason he hasn't yet let fly is because the cream and the wrap have formed an impermeable seal around his nether vent.
Maybe, when I take his sample — a wad of foul crumpled plastic crammed with cooking tongs into a specimen cup — in to the hospital lab, I will drop it off and simply...keep...driving.
Paul just came in to report that Charlie has finally deigned to fill his Saran Wrap.
May God help us all.
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Well, I can't say you didn't warn me. But I've just been overwhelmed by the memory of the smell you're facing. And I just finished lunch.
Good luck honey.
I feel for all three of you. Good luck. I hope it gets better soon.
When this happened to us, the pedi had us give DD Similac's DF formula, which is soy with psyllium for bulk. Once the diarrhea was turned off with this stuff, we could clear up the rash. Ours happened this time of year, too. There are some nasty gut bugs that make the rounds near the holidays. Hang in there! It's completely awful.
oh julie
my christmas wish is that charlie gets better before, well, christmas...
PS- the desitin works much better for us at clearing up rashes than the a&d ointment. i personally like the ointment better than that white crapola, but i go with the flow...
Thanks for sharing. :-)
Some assvice from the Queen of Butts (two in diapers): If the rash is of the raw-meat, screaming-during-diaper-changes, bloody variety, try putting some Lamisil on it...even if the pediatrician doesn't think the rash looks "yeasty," I've found that when mine get the runs they almost always get thrushy from it (and if it wasn't thrush the Lamisil wouldn't work so well), and that HURTS. We've tried all different OTC fungicides, and Lamisil starts to work within hours.
Oh Julie yuck. I am so sorry. Poor little Charlie. That's no way for a handsome yungun' to celebrate a birthday. Yuck. I feel for all of you.
I didn't just read this post.
I didn't just read this post.
I didn't just read this post.
Lalalalalalalalala.
unsolicited advice for diaper cream: This is the BEST stuff I've ever used. The "recipe" is from our pediatrician and it has worked when nothing else had a chance.
4 parts zinc oxide, 1 part hydrocortisone cream, 1 part clotrimazole.
mix together. I use a small disposable ziplock bowl. or maybe it's gladlock. I don't care - I use it up and throw it away when it's gone.
Use generously, and use often.
I use generic for all ingredients.
I'm serious. My little guy had the worst rash I'd ever seen, and he's my third. The BBR as my husband calls it - the bleeding butt rash. Scary looking but this cream clears it up every time.
Delurking to say that my son had the runs for several months after a bought with Coxsackie virus 17. When he got rashy, our pediatrician recommended two separate mixtures (one is more for the yeasty type the other just soothes your garden variety raw meat butt rash). For the yeasty, equal parts A&D, lamisil, and maalox. For the non-yeasty, equal parts A&D, maalox, and baby powder (I used gold bond). We would alternate between the two because the lamisil won't hurt. The maalox helps with the burn when he pees.
P.S. I can't believe they make you retrieve the sample in such horrible fashion. We were permitted to bring in the entire soiled diaper, preserved in a gallon ziploc. The lab did the rest of the work.
We've used bag balm (in the square green tin. Yes, that stuff for cow udders.. also works on nipples as long as you don't forget to WASH IT OFF before nursing), and we've used eucarin cream, which works really well. It's what my mom used to use, and it doesn't smell nearly as bad as the Bag Balm.
And are you gonna post pictures of the harvest? Cause I think I'd rather not be here when it happens.
Poor Charlie (and poor Julie & Paul).
I hope Charlie feels better soon.
Thanks, I almost forgot to look up a marinade for my brisket. Good Luck and I hope Charlie feels better soon.
Been there, done that.
Here's some more assvice, which per this post, would seem appropriate: even if you have a wonderful recipe for the diaper rash, it's only half the battle. Max had nuclear diarrhea at that age on a number of occassions. Making our own wipes is what saved his tushy from turning into hamburger. You just need good quality paper towels, baby wash (or cet@phil) and baby oil. The way we staged our final product, they would dispense like the pop-up clor@x wipes. If you're interested in the details, drop me an email.
Also, they don't want the solid stuff, they need the liquid, which usually contains the bug. That's why a soiled diaper doesn't usually do the trick. No offense to rc.
Meg, Paul has forbidden me to post a picture of Charlie's clean plasticated buns. DON'T THINK I DIDN'T TRY.
Delurking to say that a probiotic similar to acidophilus called Florastor is more effective for c. difficile. http://www.florastor.com/
Sorry if inappropriate, I just know about it from personal experience. Lots of pediatricians and GIs work with it, so maybe worth asking
Hope Charlie feels better soon
think about this one...we could make a fortune...selling pneumatic tubes for doctors' offices! drive-up sample deposit windows!
did your baby make something too disgusting to carry in? hit the send button and drop it on by! you don't even have to get out of the car!
The fact that you TRIED to post a picture is why we love you so.
Um, yuck.
And if you really want the rosemary-scented butt route, no need to apply yourself. Its actually an ingredient in the Burt's Bees diaper rash cream (my personal favorite due to its lovely aroma).
Best wishes for a speedy resolution to Charlie's GI problems. Sounds awful.
What works best for my babies butt is Lansinoh Lanolin. It's in a purple tube and is said to be used for nipples, but works GREAT on diaper rash, shaving rash, and any other kind of rash you can think of.
Delurking to say that Butt Paste works the best for me. Bought it at CVS here on the East Coast. My son was in the hospital for 10 days with what they thought was menegitis.. they pumped his 6 week old body full of antibitics and that gave him the.worse.diarrhea. and a hamburger butt. Butt Paste worked better then what the doctors made up for him. I love that stuff! Like DD aid.. also change the wipes.
I have been told that equal parts Maalox and your basic cold cream works wonders... it is a bit messy but the cold cream soothes while the Maalox does its job on the "outside" the same way it does on the "inside"...
delurking as well to add our favorite combo for fighting terrible rashes: Boudreaux Butt Paste (oh yes it IS called that) and Gold Bond medicated cornstarch baby powder. Both are MAGIC for treatment and prevention. I keep a case of each on hand. Hugs to poor Charlie!
Does the diarrhea from this smell as bad as the diarrhea from Rotavirus? Cuz that smelled BAAAD. And the collection (even with the Saran wrap) was not fun. Hey nurse, YOU try scraping liquid avacado green poo from Saran wrap into this little collection container. Oh, and nurse? make sure you get enough in there - even if it means squeezing the Saran wrap like a used washcloth. Gag.
Well, at least you'll soon know what's really going on in there :-P
I just missed having to do this with my daughter, as I was given a 4 day "if it doesn't clear up in four days, bring in a smple" limit, and she just squeaked in under the limit.
Nothing worked for my baby's diaper rash. Butt Paste, Bag Balm, A&D, you name it, we tried it.
Finally the doctor suggested dabbing his bum with Pepto Bismol or Maalox, and then a thin layer of Lansinoh. Expensive, but it works like a charm.
Oh- I will *never* look at my roll of Saran Wrap the same way. Ugh.
Now this is an oldie but a GUARANTEED GOODIE for clearing up diper rash quickly and effectively.
After trying EVERYTHING on the market, and whinging about how all these expensive creams don't work very well...I was told by 2 people (one was a homeopath and the other an old, italian lady) that I should be using PURE OLIVE OIL and thats it!!! and you know what, I've NEVER gone back to cleans and that was 2 years ago!!!
apparently you could aslo use a pure vegetable oil like almond but I've only ever used OLIVE OIL. I put it on liberally with a cotton ball soaked in it. and the rash would go in a day or 2 depending how bad it was.
Also, LANSINOH is the best cream for your nipples (made of pure Australian Lanolin) and WALEDA (from New Zealand) makes the best range of Pure baby products (just divine). & I think you can order WALEDA online now.
but GIVE the OLIVE OIL a go 1st. You'll all be thanking me for this tip I'm sure....
xClare
OMG, these two sentences just made me laugh till i cried, and made my family wonder if i had finally, for good and all, lost my everlovin mind:
"Maybe it will then be not so much a salve as a tasty rub which will impart a delectable flavor to the ass of my son. Maybe I should have added garlic and rosemary.
Maybe the reason he hasn't yet let fly is because the cream and the wrap have formed an impermeable seal around his nether vent."
You have such an ineffable way of putting stuff, Julie. My God. Anyway, i'm glad it all, um, came out ok in the end.
I agree with Lydia. Especially about the "nether vent" reference.
I am not going to give you any assvice about diaper rash creams or ointments since it seems you have quite a variety to choose from . I do day care and was a pediatric nurse for 13 years, but I don't have any idea what the best thing to do is. ;)
If your doc will prescribe it try nystatin/triamcinolone cream twice a day, with whatever diaper rash cream your choose at each change...I'm a lover of Boudreaux's personally...not as thick and clumpy as some and doesn't smell as bad as others... If he won't prescribe it try lotrimin OTC + OTC hydrocortisone mixed together 3 times a day plus the Boudreaux's...nothing's uglier than a bleeding hamburgerized baby butt...EXCEPT possibly a bleeding hamburgerized baby butt wrapped in Saran Wrap....
Good luck!
More diaper rash advice no matter what you do try make sure his whole diaper area is dry before you start. If lotions and goos dont work try painting him with Mallox straight from the bottle let it dry before putting his diaper back on. Its better to just rinse him with wather instead of wipes the soap left behind can dry the skin and cause the rash to crack and bleed. We went thru this for months one cold and flu season.
Malox ... however it is spelled is the stuff they use at my moms daycare for bloody rashes, or almost bloddy rashes, so maybe it would be worth a try, we use it when it gets ugly.
Good luck and hope everything gets back to normal for you.
When all else failed, Triple Paste was the only ointment that every did anything with a bad diaper rash. It is sold in pharmacies and sometimes is behind the counter so ask the pharmacist for it if you don't see it. Hope it clears up soon!
Another vote for Triple Paste here. In one town we've lived it was behind the counter (but *over* the counter) and in another it was on a shelf. Def. worth looking for - we had our own endless bout of the runs and the memory still (four years later) makes me shudder. I, too, fished bits of fecal matter out of diapers with wooden drink stirrers. Oh, the humanity.
Having the King and Queen of Diaper Rash, I just had to chime in. For the boy, I tried everything (and I really do mean that - was practicing as a ped and had every drug rep with samples trying to help me out) and finally discovered Calmoseptine, which I either ordered online or had the grocery pharm order it for me. Loved it and had success with it every time... until the girl arrived this past July. Apparently toxic poop is genetic as she also had it. Still have tubes lined up - Flanders Butt Balm, Boudreaux's, Bag Balm, Calmoseptine, Vaseline, Lansinoh.
Okay, your impermeable seal comment forces me to confess another treatment. My DH kept asking why we couldn't use liquid bandaid to seal the really oozy areas and I couldn't come up with a really good reason other than it didn't sound like a good idea. Well, I finally caved and used it. First application seemed to go great. Reapplied a second time and this time it stuck tot he diaper, so the area was re-injured when the diaper was removed. And... oh, I'm so embarrassed to admit this... some dripped down and glued her butt cheeks together. So, that's why you shouldn't use the liquid bandaid in case anyone ever asks.
Then a friend sent me a sample of Dyprotex. And it worked in 24 hours. We had a relapse, I used it again and it worked again! But, here's the best part - it comes with an applicator! So you don't have to put your fingers in the gunky stuff and then smear things on icky bottoms. Great stuff!
He's still pooping despite a round of treatment for c dif? That stinks - which one did they do and are you heading to GI next? I hope they can get this under control.
Triple Paste is the best for rashes.
Also, try to get an acidophilus culture product called Bio-K. It is a very potent cultured milk product. I buy at Whole Foods supermarket. I had a recurrent c diff infection (very hard to treat even with antibiotics) and this product was the only thing that cleared all my symptoms. They have a website: http://www.biokplus.com/
There is a store locator feature on their website. I truly recommend it.
Oh, poor bleeding behind Charlie! My own was there a few months back.
Our ped had us put the little gal on a different formula (I think it was Enfamil Lipil free) to give her gut a chance to calm down. Apparently if they get a stomach bug, the consequent diarrhea then is exacerbated by the milk enzymes in formula. And he had us put Boudreaux's Butt Paste on the gal--worked like a charm. I also got Triple Paste (white gold, I tell you, at $10 for the small tube) which worked too. The thick creams mean they stay on the butt better and help form that 'impermiable seal' Charlie may have been sporting briefly before his eventual evac.
We also gave the girl a lot of naked time (on a sheet with waterproof lap pads under her) and blew her butt with a hair dryer on cool setting to help dry out the weeping rash. It was nasty but cleared up in about 4 days--perhaps the longest 4 days of my life.
Good luck...hope that bum gets better soon!
Two weeks ago, I got to scoop up soupy, watery, chicken-bit filled diarrhea into little collection cups from my daughter's diapers.
May the "force" be with you.
Hahahahahahaha gaaaaaaaah.
hey just double checked in my medicine cabinet and I made a spelling mistake earlier. IT's really called WELEDA and it comes from New Zealand and they make great Calendula products for babies. I like their calendula ointment best of all. and yes, they have a website. But before anything else, you all simply must try OLIVE OIL first. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg, it isn't allegic in any way, it's natural, easy to find in a grocery store and it forms a nice barrier that doesn't rub off or become compromised by poop... Go on, give it a go... IT WORKS I TELL YOU!!!
Even though you didn't ask, I have to give another vote for Triple Paste. A friend recommended it when I was still pregnant and we tried it - never tried anything else. 19 mos later we still have full tubes of Desitin, A&D, whatever else we got at the shower. My boy never had a rash that bad, but we put the Triple Paste on at the first sign of a rashy butt and it's all clear by the next diaper change. Like magic.
Poor baby and poor parents. Here's another unsolicited rash tip that I don't think was covered - white vinegar in the bath. If there's yeast involved, which there probably is, this is incredibly effective and super easy. It sounds awful but it doesn't burn or hurt at all and works miraculously and quickly. Just dump 1 cup of cheap white vinegar into the bathwater and let him hang out.
Good luck.
the poor boo!
Oh, no! Still fecal collecting? I hope this all clears up soon...
Wow, this has gone on forever. I feel sorry for your garbage man.
Okay, this sounds gross but it WORKS...really.
Mix one part Maalox (sp) and one part A&D ointment into a mixture, spread it on his bum. It is magic.
Good luck.
I have two things to say:
1) Ew, and
2) I'm wishing you all the luck in the world.
Oh, and despite 1), keep us updated.
Gosh, and they say guys are squeamish. Just peel off the saran wrap and its cargo, stuff it in the specimen jar and hand off to J.
The rash has been clearing fairly nicely, thanks, except for a few spots. (Whoever tried to use the liquid bandaid stuff, doesn't that give you a buzz when you put it on? Always did for me.)
Julie, I don't know what to say about the diarrhea, but I do know what worked for my baby when he got bad diaper rash. Yes, we used some sort of ointment -- I think A&D -- but honestly, can't remember. However, what really made the difference is that we started to use a blow dryer with hot air on his bottom after every single diaper change. You hold your hand just above his skin, and hold the blow dryer so that some of the air is blowing on your hand too -- that way, you can test the heat and make sure that you aren't holding it too close to his skin. Not only did he LOVE it, but the diaper rash cleared up shortly after we started using the blow dryer. This tip was passed on to me by a friend whose baby also had a diaper rash that wouldn't go away, and it worked for her too.
Good luck!