Reflux Help & Support Thread

[aliss]

Evan was diagnosed at 4 weeks old. From 3 weeks onwards he basically cried all the time if he was awake. He'd go to sleep and be crying within half hour. He was constantly sick during, straight after and hours after a feed. I was at my wits end and phoned HV who said it sounded like colic.

I called my GP and got an appointment straightaway. He diagnosed reflux (along with saying he didn't believe there was such a thing as colic!!) (

I agree with your GP to be honest. I find it hard to believe that any baby would scream endlessly for hours for NO reason at all - there's got to be an explanation somewhere. They may never find it, but there must always be a reason.

 

[anna matronic]

I am the same. Colic is a blanket word for babies crying! My What to Expect book says Reflux is the most common cause of colic. Colicky babies to me seem to be windy babies! Evan sometimes gets awful trapped wind and farts and cries (this has died down luckily) that's classes as colic, but it isn't it is trapped wind

 

[Princess86]

This is a great thread, maybe it should be sticky?

Anyhow, i don't know if my LO has reflux or colic? I don't even know the difference. Infact i was going to make new thread asking if the symptoms my LO has are related to reflux? Lizzyxxx I hope you don't mind me asking in your thread? x

Ok so my LO has been spitting up milk after every feed. I'm bf'ing him.
If it's not milk, he brings up saliva mixed with blotches of milk.

His stomach makes like a rumbling noise when he has his feed.

He always seems to have the hiccups, and tends to choke on his own saliva at times.

I've rung the HV today she said I was probably overfeeding him, since it was on demand. And its normal for babies to bring up excess. & she said as long as he's gaining weight fine and content i wouldn't worry!

Can someone tell me are these signs of reflux? I shall be making an appointment to see a DR n see what he says.

Well, colic is technically 3 hours of crying per day (and usually more, LOL) for 3 weeks (I think?) or more. It's unexplained crying, not just gas like many mistakenly believe. If you KNOW it's just gas, then that's not really colic.

Many babies written off as "colic" do actually suffer from reflux (typical reflux with projectile vomiting or silent reflux with no projectile vommiting).

When this is happening, does he show signs of PAIN? Reflux is, in a simple way, his tummy acid coming up and burning the throat (among other things). Babies with reflux are in pain when they feed.

If he is not in pain then I would say he has bad gas. You may need to burp him/wind him more than once on each boob. Is there any chance he might be taking in air from his latch?

Thank you very much for your response, that has definitely put my mind at ease. Since my LO doesn't seem to be in pain, he just seems to be a little fidgety. DH was also thinking its trapped wind/bad gas. But i kept saying no he keeps spitting up it must be reflux as i keep seeing posts on bnb with this symptom. Ok so thats for sure it's not colic because touch wood he doesn't cry too much, and touch wood he sleeps well.
He does seem to be bring up quite alot of wind, so i maybe just need to burp/wind him more often.

appreciate your reply hun! x

 

[AP]

Those bibs with the pockets to collect food at the bottom are blessings when we are out, saves clothes at least! Tota lreflux must have lol!

 

[Lizzyxxx]

So how would i make this thread sticky?
Im seeing doc friday for his 8 week check and jabs, i will mention this reflux again.
Yes Lucas's tummy grumbles also when i feed!!

 

[wigglesnemoe]

finally took us 5 months to get hayden sorted out when we were saying from just 4 days something was wrong all we got was its colic

then in sept 2010 he was rushed in to hospital in a critical condition as his breathing wasnt very good and turns out he was drowning on his stomach acid that had gone into his lungs he is now 8 months old and he has suffered from chest infections since then we are currently going through bronchitus with him again this is now number 8

 

[Lizzyxxx]

finally took us 5 months to get hayden sorted out when we were saying from just 4 days something was wrong all we got was its colic

then in sept 2010 he was rushed in to hospital in a critical condition as his breathing wasnt very good and turns out he was drowning on his stomach acid that had gone into his lungs he is now 8 months old and he has suffered from chest infections since then we are currently going through bronchitus with him again this is now number 8

Thats not good hun!! How bad was his reflux?
I hope we can all improve our LO somehow.

 

[bathbabe]

finally took us 5 months to get hayden sorted out when we were saying from just 4 days something was wrong all we got was its colic

then in sept 2010 he was rushed in to hospital in a critical condition as his breathing wasnt very good and turns out he was drowning on his stomach acid that had gone into his lungs he is now 8 months old and he has suffered from chest infections since then we are currently going through bronchitus with him again this is now number 8

Aw i hope hes better soon x

 

[wigglesnemoe]

his reflux was so bad that it travelled into his lungs we were in hospital the whole of sept and we nearly lost him twice

he would also cry from 7pm till 4am every night

finally got meds for him in october and so far the meds are working but his lungs have been damaged from te acid and therefore weak and this time of year he is getting all chest infections really need the good weather so he can enjoy being a 8 month old crawler/walker

xx

 

[AP]

Wigglesnemoe omg just read that out to my hubby and he was shocked!

Your story is one that people should really hear, doctors are way to quick t palm it off, say it will get better in time, which is crap, because I have an 18 month old!

 

[OmarsMum]

Hiii ladies. Big hugs.

Omar was suffering from reflux. His reflux started at 3 weeks. He used to projectile after every feed. As his weight gain was not affected, they refused to give him any medication. He was also suffering from colic which started at week 2. We started by using infacol, then gripe water, both made his reflux worse.

After lots of research & changing formula several times, we started using AR/Stay down formula & it really helped in easing the pain & controlling the projectile vomitting. He used to throw up 1-2 hrs after every feed. Milk spits went on & on.

We were advised to start weaning at week 20. We started with baby rice, it helped a bit but he went off his formula at 5 months & we had to stop weaning. We started weaning again at 6.5 months when he started to maintain the min of 18 oz. He was good with lumps & chewing food in general, but a single gag at the end of his meal always meant throwing up all what he ate during the day. He didnt have control on his gagging reflex. At 7.5 months milk spits stopped, & at 9-9.5 months he finally started to control his gagging reflex. He's not a big eater or drinker.

We started using follow on formula at 7.5 months mixing it with his anti reflux formula, then we started reducing the amount of AR. At 11 months he was fully weaned off AR & at 13 months he was weaned off formula.

He had some problems with toddlers milk at 1st & throwing up started again, so we had to mix it with formula. After few days he started to take it with no problems, & now he drinks cow milk & toddlers milk without any throwing up.

what helped us in easing his pain & reducing his throwing up when he was tiny:

- elevating his cot using a pillow under the bedsheets
- feeding him using a pillow on our bed to elevate his upper body
- Tummy time to reduce his pain but it involved lots of milk spitting
- swaddling while sleeping
- Tummy & feet massage with warm olive oil after his bath & before his bedtime bottle
- Switching to AR/stay dowm formula & Dr. brown bottles
- Holding him upright for 30 mins after his feed
- Using his bouncy chair when he's awake & never laying him flat.
- Using his carseat instead of the pram when we go out, then we switched to the push chair at 4 months & elevating it 1 level up.

HTH xxx

 

[Samemka]

I've just read through this thread cos I'm at my wits end.

I've been waiting since last Friday for the result of the lactose intolerance test to come back for Katie. To be told today it needed to be taken directly to the hospital within an hour - no one told me this - so we now have to wait until Monday for the results. This isn't good enough so we're seeing the Dr again in an hour cso Katie is so much worse than last time.

She screams after EVERY bottle. Sometimes in the middle of it, sometimes at the end, sometimes 20-30 mins after. She seems in so much pain, like she either can't get the milk down or like something has suddenly hurt her. Seeing her look in so much pain is literally tearing me apart. We've tried infacol, dentinox, gripe water...nothing works (because it's not wind!). She is rarely sick, so it must be silent reflux. I'm convinced it's reflux though. She can scream from 30 mins to anything up to 6 hrs at it's worse....I feel I can't take it anymore. I can, but what I mean is I can't take not knowing what the cause is just in case it's something bad!!

 

[Lizzyxxx]

I've just read through this thread cos I'm at my wits end.

I've been waiting since last Friday for the result of the lactose intolerance test to come back for Katie. To be told today it needed to be taken directly to the hospital within an hour - no one told me this - so we now have to wait until Monday for the results. This isn't good enough so we're seeing the Dr again in an hour cso Katie is so much worse than last time.

She screams after EVERY bottle. Sometimes in the middle of it, sometimes at the end, sometimes 20-30 mins after. She seems in so much pain, like she either can't get the milk down or like something has suddenly hurt her. Seeing her look in so much pain is literally tearing me apart. We've tried infacol, dentinox, gripe water...nothing works (because it's not wind!). She is rarely sick, so it must be silent reflux. I'm convinced it's reflux though. She can scream from 30 mins to anything up to 6 hrs at it's worse....I feel I can't take it anymore. I can, but what I mean is I can't take not knowing what the cause is just in case it's something bad!!

Thanks for sharing, i feel for you too. Lucas cries after his feeds too! I tried the Gripe water and i think it made his Reflux worse...as its not wind, its use is to bring up the wind but it must be irritating his stomach, bringing up sick and acid.

 

[Samemka]

I've just read through this thread cos I'm at my wits end.

I've been waiting since last Friday for the result of the lactose intolerance test to come back for Katie. To be told today it needed to be taken directly to the hospital within an hour - no one told me this - so we now have to wait until Monday for the results. This isn't good enough so we're seeing the Dr again in an hour cso Katie is so much worse than last time.

She screams after EVERY bottle. Sometimes in the middle of it, sometimes at the end, sometimes 20-30 mins after. She seems in so much pain, like she either can't get the milk down or like something has suddenly hurt her. Seeing her look in so much pain is literally tearing me apart. We've tried infacol, dentinox, gripe water...nothing works (because it's not wind!). She is rarely sick, so it must be silent reflux. I'm convinced it's reflux though. She can scream from 30 mins to anything up to 6 hrs at it's worse....I feel I can't take it anymore. I can, but what I mean is I can't take not knowing what the cause is just in case it's something bad!!

Thanks for sharing, i feel for you too. Lucas cries after his feeds too! I tried the Gripe water and i think it made his Reflux worse...as its not wind, its use is to bring up the wind but it must be irritating his stomach, bringing up sick and acid.

I never thought about that! Infacol worked for us at first, then it didn't. Same with gripe water, but that only worked for a couple of days. We're now gon dentinox drops which I pop into her bottle....not sure if they are doing anything, she's been calmer today but I think that's probably a consequence of her 8 week jabs and she's sleepy.

I saw the Dr who basically said there's no point in doing anything until we get the results back to see if she's lactose intolerant. I asked what if she wasn't and he said he'd refer me to paediatrics because it might be a hernia or something. I'll be mentioning reflux to him too though because I can see a lengthy wait for an appointment from paeds and I'm pretty convinced it is reflux! What could he prescribe if it is reflux?

 

[lozzy21]

My Lo has reflix but the GP wont give her anything because its not affecting her weight but its affecting her sleep. Shes one of these babys who can usualy go to sleep awake in her cot but tonight she was tired straight after her bottle, (its usualy 30 mins after her bottle she goes to bed) but she couldent settle, every time she would doze off she would get a bout of refluz and wake her up. She wasent crying but she was uncomfortable, i ended up picking her up and she eventualt fell asleep in my arms 30 mins later exhausted.

Im starving but dont want to put her down incase she wakes up again

 

[wigglesnemoe]

for haydens reflux he is on Domoeridone (cant spell it) and Ranitatine and they work really well

xx

 

[Sarah10]

Does anyones LO cry when you try to wind him/her, then instead of a burp they throw everying up about a meter away?

 

[OmarsMum]

Does anyones LO cry when you try to wind him/her, then instead of a burp they throw everying up about a meter away?

Omar wasnt a crying baby, but he used to whine & pull his body out while burping him, then he used to throw up. I used to lay him on his tummy on my chest to burp him as it was more comfortable for him, he used to bring up lots of milk on me, but I didnt care

 

[Sarah10]

lol, you get used to the messy milky clothes! i remember changing him 6 times within a hour, so tiring! x

 

[aliss]

Mine would squeal like a piggy (weeeeeeee! weeeeee!) and arch back & forth like a madman!