Reflux support thread

[nikki79]

Hi everyone, I have a reflux baby too. He had all the symptoms you mentioned in the first post. He cried up to 13 hours a day from 5 weeks old until 4 months and they just kept saying it was colic. Eventually they diagnosed silent reflux and suspect he has a cows milk protein intolerance. He is breastfed and I am on a totally dairy free diet. Tommy is on gaviscon and ranitidine for silent reflux and the ranitidine seems to have stopped working over the last week or so and we are back to square one. I'm hoping the dosage just needs adjusting and that'll sort it out. I can't bear the thought of things going back to how they used to be . We've just started weaning too now he's 6 months and I'm pretty nervous about it.

I find it gets ineffective when the dosage needs correcting, wouldn't think a tiny amount would make much of a difference but it seems to!

Weren't you advised to wean early? We had such mixed messages, with two HV saying oh you need to wait till 6 months (one when he was 4 months and I said I was thinking of weaning early) and a HV and GP saying I don't know why you didn't start weaning him at 17 weeks, that's what we normally reconmend for reflux babies! We started at 20 /21 weeks and are now trying for two meals a day!

:

Thanks, that's useful to know about the dosage. I hope that sorts him out as he's back to being such a miserable boy again lately.

We were told to wait until 6 months to wean and then take it very slowly with him.

Floofymad, the doctors started off with gaviscon for us and then ranitidine and gaviscon together and then we were referred to a paedatrician. We are still waiting for that appointment but if we needed any different medication the doctor said the paedatrician would decide. What I found first and foremost was that I had to push and push to get anything. I was at the doctors about 14 times before I got anywhere. I broke down in tears in the surgery in the end and showed them a video on my phone of his inconsolable screaming and that was the day they prescribed ranitidine.

This is a link to a thread I made about our struggles and got some useful advice off people that you may find helpful.
https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/baby-club/903208-cant-handle-colic-anymore.html

Who was it told you to wait to wean? I think it's obvious some of them just don't have a clue, they just go by the 'guidlines' even though the guidlines do say that weaning early is reconmended for medical reasons - eg reflux!

We're going slowly, he's just started two meals a day (was having once a day for about 3 weeks), not acidic fruit in the morning and introducing a veg for dinner.

It's sooo messy!

Nikki, I wouldn't go long if I were you and I'd definetely try to see a different doctor. Ask to try gaviscon and see how that goes, did you go to the GP after you knew he had dropped a centile?

HV's can be useless with this stuff, mine was mind you, so were most of the doctors

I went to the doctor first as to be honest i thought it was just wind and only went with the cough as it had gotten worse since his jabs and thought that might be related. HV told me not to worry about dropping a centile as he was in the 25th when born.

Nikki

 

[Jchihuahua]

Who was it told you to wait to wean? I think it's obvious some of them just don't have a clue, they just go by the 'guidlines' even though the guidlines do say that weaning early is reconmended for medical reasons - eg reflux!

:

I kept asking about weaning him early but 3 GPs and 2 HVs told me to hold off. I think it was more to do with the cmpi than the reflux though. I just wish my poor boy, and all our LOs, could be okay. Its so hard having them go through this. It has been 5 and a half months for us so far .

 

[smiley330]

How is everyone's LO's? Floofy, how are u getting on? I really hope it's eased a bit?

We managed to get the ranitidine yesterday (hooray) so he's had 3 doses now and I really think it is helping! He slept like a log from 7pm until 7.45 this morning, with one wake for a feed at 2. So is the best night we've had by a mile!

And this morning he is so much more settled. He even had a lay down and play on his mat - we havent had any content awake time in a very long time.

Don't want to jinx it, but praying it continues. We'll see how he goes for the rest of today though.

x x x

 

[AngelUK]

smiley330 that is excellent! Glad for you and your LO! FX it continues

 

[floofymad]

Smiley that's great. Hope it continues! LO isn't great tbh she's still really unsettled. Got 8 week check and injections on thurs so will monitor until then and ask doctor. I felt a little more like I could cope when the milk was helping but now finding it incredibly hard again I know it's not her fault but I just want to help her and have a happy baby...

 

[lalila0007]

My little one actually spit up most of her ranitidine dose last night and we had an awful awful night! She spent most of it gagging and choking and spluttering. We were up every hour from 11 pm on. I have to be up for work at 4:40 AM so at 2:30, I just let her sleep upright on my chest so we could get a little bit of rest. My poor little girlie.

She took her medicine just perfectly this morning though and is having a fantastic day at the sitters....so, hopefully she'll take it this evening as well and we can all get some much needed rest.

 

[hereishoping]

What a great thread. It is so hard getting other people to understand the problems. So many other parents have said that problems with clingy and only napping on me are because I picked lo up too much/to soon when he was first born and that I should just let him cry and he will go to sleep eventually. Well I know my baby and I can assure you that that just does not work. He is currently on ranitidine and gaviscon but they are not working at moment. Doctor is going to prescribe the nutrimigen next week so really keeping ny fingers crossed for that to work.

Keep your chin up ladies. We are all doing the very best we can in difficult circumstances.

 

[oh my belly]

DS has been on ranitidine for a week now and we are seeing some great changes! He's a happier baby, smiling more often, and is more content to lay flat. We originally had problems giving him meds. but he no longer spits it up and is getting used to the taste.

It's been such a relief.

 

[AngelUK]

My boys don't seem to mind the taste but they do sometimes spit it out a lil so I usually just shove the dummy into their mouths just after giving the ranitidine, so they have to swallow. Seems to work ok

 

[lalila0007]

My boys don't seem to mind the taste but they do sometimes spit it out a lil so I usually just shove the dummy into their mouths just after giving the ranitidine, so they have to swallow. Seems to work ok

If only! Haha. Lilli HATES a paci and will gag herself to throwing up if I even try it.

 

[AngelUK]

If only! Haha. Lilli HATES a paci and will gag herself to throwing up if I even try it.

Oh dear! How does she react to having your finger in her mouth? I know some babies love suckling on mum's/dad's finger? If she does too, then maybe that would be a solution? Good luck xxx

 

[floofymad]

Hi ladies. Can we discuss napping? I'm currently sat here with LO napping on me for second time today. I'm trying to work out if it's a comfort thing due to the reflux or whether she's taking the mick! This has been happening mainly in last couple of wks as reflux has got worse again. Hubby refuses to acknowledge problem. Earlier she was sound asleep on me so I put her down and had about 30 secs b4 she woke, looked confused but then woke up fully rather than going bk off... When I can see she's tired I pick her up, cuddle her and see her drifting off, on and off for while until she's asleep. However she often squirms, kicks out, grunts and goes red in face. It's almost like she's trying to escape. This happens every time on and off until she goes to sleep. It's defo not wind. I'm thinking either maybe pain in stomach, being uncomfortable and wanting to go to sleep another way or something else I've missed?!
I'm pretty sure she won't go to sleep just laying down and she'll only sleep on me, which I know is my fault.

Also meant to add that if I do put her down and then she wakes up it wont be long before she's sick. We're at the stage again where we keep her upright cause we know she'll be sick laying down. It doesn't matter how long it's been since feed there's always sick.

 

[lalila0007]

This was my first couple of days back to work and Lil's sitter was able to get her to nap in her swing. However, when she's with me, she will only nap if held. Of course I don't have her swing at my house. We keep it at the sitter's.

At home she reacts much the same way as your LO when she's put down to nap. Not sure if its a reflux issue or a "mommy has spoiled the baby" issue with us.

 

[smiley330]

Hi ladies. Can we discuss napping? I'm currently sat here with LO napping on me for second time today. I'm trying to work out if it's a comfort thing due to the reflux or whether she's taking the mick! This has been happening mainly in last couple of wks as reflux has got worse again. Hubby refuses to acknowledge problem. Earlier she was sound asleep on me so I put her down and had about 30 secs b4 she woke, looked confused but then woke up fully rather than going bk off... When I can see she's tired I pick her up, cuddle her and see her drifting off, on and off for while until she's asleep. However she often squirms, kicks out, grunts and goes red in face. It's almost like she's trying to escape. This happens every time on and off until she goes to sleep. It's defo not wind. I'm thinking either maybe pain in stomach, being uncomfortable and wanting to go to sleep another way or something else I've missed?!
I'm pretty sure she won't go to sleep just laying down and she'll only sleep on me, which I know is my fault.

Also meant to add that if I do put her down and then she wakes up it wont be long before she's sick. We're at the stage again where we keep her upright cause we know she'll be sick laying down. It doesn't matter how long it's been since feed there's always sick.

Hey, we were in the position that he would only nap on me but since having the medicine he is going for naps again in his bed. If we had put him down before he would wake up shortly after screaming - though I found if I held him this didn't happen. It must be due to the reflux as he is able to nap now (although, only in his bed and on his tummy). I imagine though if I was always holding him for naps he would eventually get used to this and only want to nap like that? So probably ends up a bit of both!

Girls - has anyone used Carobel?? I am putting Gaviscon in his bottles(swtiched from bf to ff this weekend) and i'm just concerned that Gav has a high sodium content, just wondering if anyone has found Carobel to work well for silent reflux? x

 

[smiley330]

Floofy - I've just seen your other thread Hun, please ring up your doctors and try get an appointment today. I know you have one on Thurs - but if you can get in sooner you may be able to get prescribed something sooner. Even a few more days feels like a lifetime when you have a reflux baby, they must be able to give you an emergency appointment? x

 

[floofymad]

Floofy - I've just seen your other thread Hun, please ring up your doctors and try get an appointment today. I know you have one on Thurs - but if you can get in sooner you may be able to get prescribed something sooner. Even a few more days feels like a lifetime when you have a reflux baby, they must be able to give you an emergency appointment? x

I've rang and have to go down later, but can't see the person I saw before. DH won't be happy at all. He says it's nothing to do with reflux

 

[smiley330]

Why wont he be happy? Surely it wont hurt to see if it is to do with the reflux? (Which I can't really see why it wouldn't be?!) Just make sure when you go there you go in with the "i'm not leaving until you help" attitude, don't let them fob you off x

 

[floofymad]

Why wont he be happy? Surely it wont hurt to see if it is to do with the reflux? (Which I can't really see why it wouldn't be?!) Just make sure when you go there you go in with the "i'm not leaving until you help" attitude, don't let them fob you off x

He says it's just the way she is, or she's 'just a bit under the weather' or 'she'll settle down soon' He blames me and says I need to find reasons for things, and 'want' her to have a condition so I have a reason for why she is like she is.
You have no idea how long it took me to convince him to let me take her to the doctor in the first place... I think I'll get in a lot of trouble if doctor gives her medication.

Oh and now he will say that one bad night doesn't equal reflux again etc etc. He doesn't see how it's been deteriorating.

 

[smiley330]

Oh it's not normal for babies to be like that - you just "know" when something isn't right and of course you are going to try and find out what the reason is. Then if there's something you can do to help her you will do it!!

To be honest, I dont think OH's can see things as much as we do. They are not with them all the time like we are. My OH wouldn't have had a clue about reflux or anything but now that he's on the medication he can see how much more settled he is.

If the doctor gives her medication and it helps then I honestly do not think he has a leg to stand on. If it's also effecting you as much as it is now then you have to try what you can! He will see this when he has a happier baby and mummy

 

[steph1505]

Floofy - Smiley is exactly right! This behaviour isnt normal for babies! Mothers instinct is an amazing thing, trust it! U know ur baby better than anyone! My OH wouldnt even kno reflux existed if it wasnt for me! So please dont let him make u think ur wrong! U need to do whatever u can to get ut baby better!

Ur daughter wont remember this but u will! And the longer u leave it and hope that she calms down on her own, the worse u are going to feel! Please take it from me, i was in ur position a few weeks ago!

But once u find something that works, u will slowly gain confidence to put her down awake! Oliver will now lie in bed and fall asleep on his own! A few weeks ago i had all these images of me still rocking him to sleep when he was 40!!

My hv gave me the advice of "do what u need to do to get through the day" if that is letting her nap on u, then do it! If i didnt have a toddler too, i would have sat on the couch all day with Oliver and never put him down!

Xxxxxxx