Reflux and on gaviscon, still sicking up?

[kumber]

As the title says really, he's been on gaviscon for almost a week but he's still being sick quite a lot. He does happily lie down now but he's still very sicky and upset. I'm also currently dairy free and have been for just shy of a week but i know it takes a while to leave both of our systems so I don't know if that could be causing the pain.

I'm finding it so tough, he just won't settle and spends about 60% of the day being upset, crying, screeching, etc. I just want to have a happy baby

 

[caseysmummy11]

I found gaviscon worked for keeping the sick in but didn't help the reflux at all. Lily was still a very upset baby 90% of the time. We thought she had a cows milk allergy as she came out in a rash too but when seen by a specialist he said it was severe reflux and prescribed rantidine. Within 3 days it was like having a different child as it doesn't just keep it down it reduces the acid also. It took two weeks in total for her to stop arching and crying completely it had burnt her oesophagus? But now she can sit up alone she doesn't need anything anymore. Gaviscon may not be enough. I would go back to see your gp hun xxx

 

[Goat]

Hi Kumber, my little girl had reflux and was really sick 3-4 times a day and the biggest instigators were caffeine, citrus and spicy food. Citrus and caffeine being the worst, especially tinned tomatoes in pasta sauces. I cut those out and after 2-3 days she was like a different baby, didn't even need to use gaviscon. Not sure if you've already gone down these sorts of avenues and I do know that what works on one baby may not work on another but its worth trying just in case.
Really hope it gets better very soon. Also have you heard of the laid back/biological nuturing position? That's meant to really help babies with reflux, I hadn't heard of it at the time but I now volunteer in some bf support groups and a couple of the mums have sworn by that too.xx

 

[Starlight1986]

Hi Kumber,

My wee one was on 1 sachet of gaviscon from about 8 weeks, we found it worked great for a month or so then all of a sudden it stopped. The doctor advised we had to up it to two and that worked again. I found that it stopped her being sick 90% of the time but she still got her wee tummy pains. At 10 months she seems to have grown out if it x

 

[russellmuscle]

Gaviscon can constipate, its known for it. Hows his bowels?

There was a milk thickener my nephew was on, Carobel. He had pyloric stenosis and had to have that for a while after his op. His was found when he was much younger though so dont think itll be Ps but the milk thickeners helped keep stuff down. He had previously been like Emily Rose, wee lamb.

Hope your wee boy gets releif soon xxx

 

[Charliebump3]

My LG was put on gaviscon 2 weeks ago she is still sicky but its so much better. We ran out today and I gave her one bottle with out it and Omg I had to change her and me twice!

Maybe they could try ranitadine for your little one. Do you have to wait for a paediatrician or is your GP happy to prescribe! Xx

 

[kumber]

Thanks for the replies ladies.

Goat, I have cut out EVERYTHING, it's ridiculous all I eat is plain meat, potatoes, frozen veg, homemade bolognese on occasion and bread!!!! No caffeine at all, no dairy I appreciate the suggestions though, I'll google that as a different hold might help my poor battered arms from all his punching!


He's currently on 2 sachets a day and is still being sick and is in pain. I'll ring the GP in the morning to get an appointment to review on it all cus something is not right.

Thanks again all

 

[Charliebump3]

Its good your GP will help. Mine won't get involved he just says talk to the pead!

 

[kumber]

I don't think they will help tbh, the one I saw tried to tell me didn't think it was cmpa as she didn't think he had a lactose issue based on symptoms. I just looked at her thinking "well no it's not an issue because lactose isn't a protein....". I don't know how else to go to tbh.

 

[Jolly81]

Hi Kumber,

My 11 month old has had terrible reflux. She was originally on gaviscon and it didn't do anything, neither did ranitidine, then we had to wait 3 months for hospital appt and after various dairy free trials and a Barium swallow xray she was diagnosed with severe reflux and prescribed lansopazole (acid blocker) and erythromycin (anti sickness). By 8 months she finally stopped being sick as much and now she's never sick unless we forget her meds.

Morale of my story is you know your baby and if you feel the prescription isn't right then hound your doctor. There's a big difference between a sicky baby, as I was told I had, and a baby that suffers 24/7 with reflux so just trust your instincts. Also, if you do have to try different meds then definitely five them at least 14 days to work as it does take time.

I hope he stops being sick as much soon, i had a truly horrendous year from it and would never wish the same on anyone x

 

[caseysmummy11]

I would try to see another gp. My gp went on Mat leave and I actually saw a locum and he didn't hesitate in referring us. I really thought lily had an allergy to cows milk or lactose as she had most symptoms I was convinced she was so unhappy all the time it was such hard work. Nothing made her happy. I know now the pead got it right and it was severe reflux xxx

 

[kumber]

That was slightly more positive. I've been advised to up his doses to 6 a day and to bring in a stool sample which they'll test for cmpa/cmpi. I have an appointment for next Thursday where we'll review test results and come up with a more definite plan of action.

 

[Ella1979]

Sounds as if they're really trying their best, which is good. My son was on gaviscon for supposed reflux (diagnosed at 6 weeks old) and we switched to Carobel as he started getting problems with constipation. He would still be sick, but no apparent pain. When he was a year old and had started nursery, they commented on the fact his poos looked a funny colour and were runny and I felt awful - they'd always been like that, but I hadn't really given it a thought! He started whole milk and the problem got worse (diarrhoea, more sick). We eventually switched to lactose-free milk and everything went to normal (no sick, no weird poos). Slowly starting to introduce lactose again (he's now 2) and so far, so good...

It really can be anything from reflux to lactose intolerance to CMPA. I hope your GP is able to find out which very soon x

 

[kumber]

Thank you I've booked in with the same doctor we had today, he was lovely. It's frustrating seeing him so uncomfortable and it's so distressing hearing him wail, I just want to fix him! I really hope we get a diagnosis next week, do you think they would test for lactose intolerance as well with the stool sample?

 

[Charliebump3]

Eva was diagnosed with lactose intolerance at the age of 12 weeks. From about 2 weeks old she would scream with every feed. She would have some and then refused any more! She would scream for hours after. I went to the gp and the health visitor to no avail. She ended up dropping 2 centile before they took notice. She was switched to lactose free milk she has been really really happy and steadily gaining weight x keep trying hon mither them to death and don't stop until your happy and baby is happy x

 

[JD.Deedee]

I'm at 2,5 now sure our reflux and colic issues come from something in his mouth.. He's bad with textures, he used to throw up alot during weaning times which put him off food rather then enjoying it and it still a struggle to get him to eat now.. He's speech is delayed, he'd always been funny with certain non free flow cups and only ever wanted a particular bottle and dummy.. Tongue tie perhaps but am sure there's something with his mouth that's causing it all.. I'm waiting to see paediatrician next month... In the 2,5 years trying to figure out why he was showing symptoms of colic and reflux I never been encouraged to go back to the docs because they're not really the right place for it and my doctors don't like referring anyway as if they've gone far passed a target they shouldn't go passed! I got my referrals from the nursery nurse in the health visiting team.. It perhaps is an idea to book an appointment to see that person within your district get some referrals to the right places and rule everything out first.. Reflux is easily found by checking the PH in the breath but I just see my doc prescribe some meds before they would do that!!

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I'm at 2,5 now sure our reflux and colic issues come from something in his mouth.. He's bad with textures, he used to throw up alot during weaning times which put him off food rather then enjoying it and it still a struggle to get him to eat now.. He's speech is delayed, he'd always been funny with certain non free flow cups and only ever wanted a particular bottle and dummy.. Tongue tie perhaps but am sure there's something with his mouth that's causing it all.. I'm waiting to see paediatrician next month... In the 2,5 years trying to figure out why he was showing symptoms of colic and reflux I never been encouraged to go back to the docs because they're not really the right place for it and my doctors don't like referring anyway as if they've gone far passed a target they shouldn't go passed! I got my referrals from the nursery nurse in the health visiting team.. It perhaps is an idea to book an appointment to see that person within your district get some referrals to the right places and rule everything out first.. Reflux is easily found by checking the PH in the breath but I just see my doc prescribe some meds before they would do that!!

I read something you posted the other day and was going to suggest tongue tie. My lo had terrible problems feeding - he would cry and could only take small amounts at a time. I ended up feeding him practically every hour as each bottle took 1.5-2 hours and then he'd want the next at 3 hours. He also had loads of colic and reflux symptoms (arching back when feeding, bobbing on and off, wind, scary apnea episodes). Hospital diagnosed silent reflux at 3 days old and prescribed Gaviscon which brought new problems. Went back to the GP several times who wasn't concerned as he was gaining weight but I was desperate and paid to see a lactation consultant (IBCLC) at Milk Matters and she diagnosed and cut his tie. Babies with tongue tie can struggle to move food around in their mouth as their tongue can't move freely - with my lo he was quite noisy when drinking from his bottle and leaked milk at the sides of his mouth which are key indicators. The NHS in my experience are very poor on tongue tie and only believe it affects breastfed babies. I'm not sure if a peadiatrician can diagnose tongue tie as its an area which certified IBCLC's specialise in but hopefully they can or will refer you. I wouldn't rely on a check by a GP, health visitor etc as they aren't sufficiently trained to diagnose and posterior ties are much harder to see. There are two assessments where lo one is scored on various things to confirm tongue tie and the severity. Hope you get sorted xx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

It might take longer for the dairy to leave your system, I would give it a couple of weeks. Gaviscon doesn't work in all reflux cases so lo could need meds but I would agree with trying to rule out the milk allergy theory. I had a breakthrough with my GP as my lo is sick a lot and has eczema - he prescribed nutramigen for cows milk allergy. Unfortunately it tastes very different to normal formula and my lo won't take it! Going to try and mix it with his normal formula and gradually up the scoops until he takes it. I've read this works for others so fx. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone, were still struggling with this and hopefully we'll both find the answer soon xx

 

[kumber]

Thanks hun, it's so frustrating. He seems better since putting him on 6 doses of Gaviscon a day but since he didn't poo this morning his follow up appointment will now be in the new year so we're still a few weeks away from a diagnosis but at least there's some progress.

 

[caseysmummy11]

Gaviscon does give bad constipation hun. Lily could have it with every bottle and they ended up giving her lactolose to help for a little while xxx