My newborn is frantic without a pacifier?

My 10 day old son loves his soothie, so much that when he doesn't have it he is frantically flailing his arms and looking for it. Once he's asleep he doesn't care where it is but he gets really irritated and upset when he's awake and doesn't have it. I thought at first it meant he needed more to eat or was hungry again but if I offer my he will eat for just a minute to comfort himself then won't take anymore milk. Is it normal for a newborn to be so dependent and attached to his pacifier? I didn't want to use a pacifier when he was born but the first few days he literally almost killed me with his crying that nothing but sucking could soothe. He gets so frantic I have to calm him down before he will stop moving enough to get a grip on the pacifier. If he were hungry, wouldn't he spit it out and look for something else, or get frustrated milk doesn't come out? I have to put it back in his mouth every 5 minutes it seems!