Can your GP really help reflux?

[sadeyedlady]

Is it really worth going back to GP about babys constant reflux. I went 2 days ago and he prescribed bubs baby gaviscon, which did nothing. He said if that didnt work he'd prescribe carobel food thickener. So I went out and bought SMA Staydown and Dr Brown bottles but the vomit is still there. Im buying carobel tomorow and combining it with aptamil to see how he gets on. I dont know what more I can do! And yes he is getting the wind up no problem as he's taking Infacol before feeds, he's being fed upright and is being winded after every ounce. Has anyone had any help from their GP or HV or am I just supposed to wait until he "grows out of it"?

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated as Im going out of my mind at this stage.

 

[MrsRabbit]

Reflux needs a medication to stop the refluxing or curb the acid in the vomit.

My daughter takes Prevacid and her brother did as well.

There is no reason a baby should vomit all the time and suffer in pain until they 'grow out of it'. Also the stomach acid can damage their throat, esophagus and even their teeth if left untreated.

I would go back to the doctor and ask about something for the stomach acid, something like Zantac [antacid] or Prevacid [protein pump inhibitor] to cut down the acid. If your child's GP doesn't seem willing to treat this as a real condition you may have to ask for a referral to a Ped or a G.I.

My daughter didn't find real comfort until we found the right combination of meds and formula. She's allergic to standard formulas. My oldest didn't stomach refluxing [as proved by Upper G.I swallow studies] Until AFTER he turned 3. He's only recently gone off medication but we're still battling failure to thrive.

 

[bump_wanted]

its definatley worth going to the doctor like previous poster said reflux needs medication to treat it...we've been lucky comfort formula along with gaviscon has been doing a great job here tho over the last week i feel he's getting worse tho he is teething but from reading on here alot of people go thru the mill 1st but please dont try and battle this yourself it will drive you mad xx

 

[sadeyedlady]

Today's been a tough one. He hasnt pooped in 5days and today has been refusing his bottle, taking only 3oz (at the most) of his 5 oz bottles and also projectile vomiting at least an oz of that. He's been howling in pain all day also. Im assuming all this is due to the reflux. Tried giving him cooled boiled water with prune juice in it but it just doesnt seem to be helping at all as he's vomiting that up aswell! It brakes my heart to see him like this ): Taking him back to the Dr for the 3rd time tomorrow...

 

[LittleMadam]

Ask about Pyloric Stenosis if you haven't already. I cut and pasted these symptoms from a website. But it could be just reflux, which can be more severe in some babies than in others. Best. xx

What are the symptoms of pyloric stenosis?
Symptoms typically begin in a baby 2-4 weeks old who is otherwise healthy. In some cases, first symptoms can take up to two months to start.

Vomiting after a feed is the main symptom. The vomiting often starts like a 'normal' vomit and milk just dribbles down the front of the baby. Sometimes the vomiting is forceful and milk may be vomited quite a distance like a fountain. This is called 'projectile vomiting'.

The baby remains hungry and will usually feed well - only to vomit the milk back soon after feeding. The vomiting tends to get worse and worse over several days. The milk in the stomach often curdles before the baby is sick.

Little food or drink passes through the narrowed pylorus which gets narrower over time. This means that little or no food reaches the bowels so babies often pass little faeces (motions). Affected babies do not gain weight and are in danger of quickly becoming dehydrated (lacking in body fluid) and seriously ill if the condition is not treated.

Note: it can be very common for newborn babies to vomit. The vast majority of babies who vomit do not have pyloric stenosis.

 

[MrsJD]

You need to get this checked again. My little lady is seeing a specialist 3 weeks today to rule out a hernia.

 

[bump_wanted]

ano everyone's baby will be slightly different with it but in my experience and a few other mums ive spoke to about this the sick was most clear like water with little white bits in it usually and it smells different to milky sick and when baby crys they usually go stiff with legs straight (like a surfboard)
hope you start to get answers from your doc xx

 

[Mellage]

GO back and demand to either have your medication changed or be referred to a paed

 

[AimeeM]

How did you get on? We have tried everything and nothing has worked. We are seeing the pedi on thursday and going to request further tests.

 

[sadeyedlady]

SO it turned ou that he had pyloric stenosis. He went from 12lb to 9lb 1oz in seven days. He got severly dehydrated and had turned ghost white. We were sent immediatly to hopsital were he was left to fast for 3days till his blood stabilised(that was heartbraking). He went in for surgery to thin the pylorus muscle in his stomach. He eventually pooped after 8days. Now that hes home he's like a new baby, guzzling down 6oz and has gotten back his chubby face

Please please please anyone thats worried request an ultrasound! GP wont do anything about it until their weight begins to deteriorate. Dont let your baby suffer like mine. It brakes my heart to think of how he was.

 

[MrsJD]

Oh mrs, I'm sorry to hear about this

i'm glad he's now on the mend.

XXX