Reflux Help & Support Thread

[gilz82]

I know there will always be times in your life you could dwell on how you'd have done things differently with hindsight but reflux is such a massive one.

Noah was diagnosed while he was in HDBU and still the hv insisted when he came home that his screaming and back arching and groaning etc was normal not reflux or intolerance . So me being a first time mum just left it. Of course it didn't get better, also I would have pushed to see a gastro specialist at 2 months instead of 4 months as our standard paediatrician just thought reflux was jumped up colic to the point he didn't even diagnose the CMPI Noah clearly had.

While the thought of having another baby with reflux is a scary prospect I feel like it's a problem I'd have a level of control over second time round

That said Aliss and Kelly I whole heartedly hope that neither of your LO ones have reflux when they arrive. Im sure you'd agree that dealing with this disease is bad enough just once

Happyface so glad things seem to be going well for Katerina off the ranitidine. Is that her only med or does she have other things to stop as well?
x

 

[happyface82]

She was only on Ranitidine for reflux the past few months but is also still taking an antihistamine every night for her allergies. We were told to stop that after ranitidine and see how she is. Doctor is 50/50 about that! Fingers crossed! did you get your results back?

 

[lilbumpblue]

we have had James results today from his barium swallow and he is defo refluxing...no shit Sherlock didnt need a scan to tell me that! Lol! X

 

[gilz82]

No biopsy results yet the consultant said it would take 10 days at the most which was today. If I've not heard by lunchtime tomorrow I'm going to phone. I'm really struggling to get Noah to take milk now. After his reaction to weaning he dropped from 32oz per day to 24oz. Now I'm struggling to get him to take 20oz and he's now teething on top of that. He's not gained any weight in the last fortnight so I really want it sorted before he starts losing again.

 

[lilbumpblue]

Aww gilz its awful isnt it big hugs x x

 

[happyface82]

Aww gilz I am so sorry this is so difficult. I know I've been there.

Is there anything on solids he can have to help with the weight? Smt you are certain he is not allergic to? I know he is not 6 months yet but it could also potentially help with the reflux?

 

[gilz82]

There's nothing I'm totally sure he's not got a problem with as the dietician told us to try each food for three days at a time but when we saw the gastro specialist he said we should have been doing at least four days preferably five as a reaction can occur up to 72 hours after eating. Things started to go wrong around the 5th day of weaning and by day 10 they were a nightmare but not sure what caused it to turn to crap basically.

I'd like to think the initial food we tried which was plum four grain baby porridge was ok as that was days 1-3 but if it was a delayed reaction the that could have been the problem. It's so frustrating

 

[happyface82]

I know its really difficult to tell. We had the same problem, Katerina would usually react on the 3rd day or even later. I'm trying to think, things like mashed carrot or potatoe for example is very unlikely he is allergic to? Maybe offer him some before milk see if it helps to stay down a bit? Or maybe smt like gluten free oats in case he is allergic to gluten? Or is he too young for oats? You make it with water, this is what I do. Not sure I'm helping really!

 

[lilbumpblue]

gilz has noah had a barium swallow yet my friends lo had extensive allergies or so they thought, he would scream in pain after eating and then be sick and they discovered he had a floppy osophegous (sp)! X

 

[prgirl_cesca]

What milk is Noah on?

Luca only drinks about 20oz a day and they're not concerned by it. He's on neocate which contains loads of calories so doesn't need to drink as much, but I can't remember what Noah is on.

 

[gilz82]

I know its really difficult to tell. We had the same problem, Katerina would usually react on the 3rd day or even later. I'm trying to think, things like mashed carrot or potatoe for example is very unlikely he is allergic to? Maybe offer him some before milk see if it helps to stay down a bit? Or maybe smt like gluten free oats in case he is allergic to gluten? Or is he too young for oats? You make it with water, this is what I do. Not sure I'm helping really!

During the 10 days of weaning all he had was porridge (gluten & milk free), pureed carrot and then carrot and parsnip puree. That's why the decide to do the endoscopy because as you said they are such basic typically safe foods and he still reacted to something

gilz has noah had a barium swallow yet my friends lo had extensive allergies or so they thought, he would scream in pain after eating and then be sick and they discovered he had a floppy osophegous (sp)! X

They've said just now they don't need to do a barium swallow as the endoscopy he had showed there were no structural anomalies. I'm not sure if they'll change their minds about him having one in the future.

What milk is Noah on?

Luca only drinks about 20oz a day and they're not concerned by it. He's on neocate which contains loads of calories so doesn't need to drink as much, but I can't remember what Noah is on.

Noah is on neocate and has been for two months now. The problem is he was happily drinking 32oz per day for six weeks of that time until the weaning turned into a disaster. I'm now having to cajole him into taking 20oz a day. If I left him to it I honestly think he'd be happy with one bottle a day he is so disinterested. The day of the endoscopy for example they screwed things up and by the time he was taken in he hadn't had any milk for 12 hours and he didnt cry once or give me any signs he was hungry at all.

It's like after the weaning it finally clicked for him that if he eats it's sore, therefore he's not eating anymore. The gastro paed has said while 20oz does cover the bare mimimum a 12oz per day drop in milk intake isn't good and the fact Noah isn't gaining weight anymore means it's not enough for his body.

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Oh bless him. Just try and take it slowly with him, if he refuses any more of the bottle just relax and try again in 20 mins or so. Also have you considered dreamfeeding him? That may be your chance to get some more milk into him.

Luca doesn't show any hunger signs either - first thing in the morning 12 hours after his last feed he isn't interested in his bottle but is getting better at taking it.

Obviously Noah has a lot more issues than my son but just take it gently, do you do anything that he loves like singing? Maybe whilst feeding him if you sing to him or smile at him he'll soon learn to enjoy feeding and once he's on the right medication and it stops hurting then it will all fall into place again.

I know how it is though, I get so stressed out if he doesn't finish his bottle and I burst into tears at baby group last week because he left about 50ml of his bottle.

 

[happyface82]

I was right. I didn't help at all! I'm sorry this is so difficult! Katerina was the same. She hadn't had any milk for 24 hours before her endoscopy and I was soooo worried about it, she never complained once!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed you get the results today and can work out a plan of action with the consultant! Let us know how it goes!

 

[gilz82]

Thanks prgirl_cesca and Happyface

The bottles thing isn't pain anymore. He used to refuse because of the pain so I've been through the cycle of distraction techniques but now it's literally he'll take a couple of oz and then clamp his mouth shut and won't be convinced to take anymore.

I've tried offering bottles more often but he won't take one at all if it's sooner than 3 hours and he doesn't sleep long enough for me to be able to dream feed

Sorry for the mega whinge, just crabby that Noah will be six months old on friday and once again we seem to be going backwards.

 

[prgirl_cesca]

Have you tried a bigger teat?

 

[gilz82]

Yeah tried 3s and variflows and all it meant was he gets it faster so throws up more and quickly. I was taking the teat out of his mouth and the sick was literally straight behind it.

I did persevere for three days in the hope it would get better but it didn't.

Spoke to the consultants secretary just after lunch and she said she'd get him to call me but not heard anything yet. I hate waiting.

Also on a different topic, how unnecessary is all the teething drool! Noah constantly has a bib on anyway because of the sick but today he's been through 8 bibs, soaked through three t-shirts and two vests. Where does it all come from

 

[happyface82]

on the drooling!! Hope you hear from the doctor soon!!!

 

[amand_a]

Gilz I hope you hear something, its awful waiting for doctors, they seem to take forever to do anything.

to everyone with feeding and weight issues. We are so lucky that DS is a porker, I dont quite know how tho? I know he comfort eats when hes in pain but when things are under control he really isnt that interested in his milk at all.

I have a bit of an issue. I switched DS to soy 5 days ago, and so far we have had good results. Still waves of pain and crying but no night choking and he is actually sleeping thru

But its giving him tummy aches, constipation and wind. And I am also a little frightened of all research about boys and soy. I am nearly finished this tin and dont know what to do. I know I really should keep him on it for 2 weeks but if its not agreeing with his tummy I dont know if i should. Trying to get into a different Dr to see what they say....

 

[happyface82]

I thought soy is not suitable for under 6 months? Maybe I'm wrong. Katerina suffers from multiple allergies and most her symptoms are tummy pain, and gas. It doesn't sound that bad but it gets worse and worse so I wouldn't give it to her if you see symptoms like that!

 

[amand_a]

I thought soy is not suitable for under 6 months? Maybe I'm wrong. Katerina suffers from multiple allergies and most her symptoms are tummy pain, and gas. It doesn't sound that bad but it gets worse and worse so I wouldn't give it to her if you see symptoms like that!

I have heard that too for other countries. Here soy formula is suitable from birth, but not advised for general use until 6mo. So It can be used for allergy etc from birth but not just because you want your baby to drink soy if that makes any sense lol

We had a normal poo today which was pretty exciting (how sad). Am going to see a new doctor to see if I can trial DS on a hydrolyzed formula. I know it can be tricky getting a script tho, so it could be interesting.