Hi Roz, adn others

I've had Zoe on Losec now for 17 days. While we've had some improvement we're still having crappy days. I thought the meds had kicked in at the beginning of last week as after a visit to the Osteopath she was a delight (smiling, cooing, actually sleeping in teh day) but that only lasted until New Years Eve. At 2am that day she did an enormous chuck (and generally she doesn't chuck (not like my son used to). The rest of the day involved accumulating enough cloths, clothing (mine and hers) etc for two loads of washing. And she's returned to not sleeping in the day again (as when she's lying down she is uncomfortable - thus screams after a min or two and doesn't wind down even if I leave her for thirty min). So, it's been three days of this. Yesterday morning, while at a friend's house, she was comfortable but didn't fall asleep despite being fed etc. At least she wasn't crying etc.

So, my question is how long should I leave it before returning to Dr to presumably up the dose? What other options do I have to help her feel comfy? It's so hard to carry her around upright when I also want to be giving my 2 year old plenty of attention too. She hates the sling. Front pack is ok if she's sleepy but still rather difficult to run around after a toddler like that.

I'm completely dairy free and I've reduced my gluten intake (cut the major items like bread and pasta). I'm keeping a food log and can't see anything different in last few days.

Sounds like to me that she is recovering from the big chuck a few days ago. Have you tried using gaviscon as well?

Tried Gaviscon and just made her so constipated that she was then in pain from that. But I must admit that I am thinking about putting her back on it - what works best with a BF baby to keep the constipation and bay?

I would give the doseage a good 3weeks to a month before returning to the Dr.... I remember reading somewhere that it can take up to 3weeks.

As for your diet is can take quiet a while to Gluten stores to clear from your body and then your childs so again I think you have to give it 3 weeks to know for sure. But it is a great idea to keep a food diary so you can try to connect any foods to an increase in the reflux symptoms.

Losec can take three weeks to work.
Is she still vomiting large amounts? Dairy free needs to be trialled for at least two weeks. Gluten in breastmilk we know a little bit less about but I suspect that it will have to be a total removal for it to help, and I probably wouldn't worry about it just yet. Gem could tolerate gluten in my breastmilk but not in her diet, but I needed to be dairy free.
Gaviscon may be a good idea. Give it to her before a feed. I think that Lactulose works the best for constipation.

Hi Megamac, your situation sounds similar to mine... I have a two year old and a four month old.

No reflux issues for the toddler but my four month old son has been on Losec since 18th December. Things have definitely improved but we are still having loads of crying and very little sleeping horizontally (as much as reflux babies are horizontal, more vertical in our case!).

The paed also said that he had colic and gave me something called merbentyl which was to be given as required - which has been pretty much every day for us.

I am going back to the paed on Jan 10th (one week and counting) so will post what he says. I am not dairy free as I am vegatarian (and have been forever) and am not mad keen on being vegan! But will do it if it helps... have you found that it really helps? Do you need to completely eliminate or just reduce? What did the paed say?

I have also taken my son to the cranial osteopath and i think it works wonders but I stopped going when he got a cold (my god the symptoms of reflux increase then huh?) and I think you need to keep going to get real benefits so we will be going back this year.

Lynne

ps megamac, I am getting the exa-saucer back from a friend I lent it to, that should really help keep ds upright so I can do things around the house and play with my daughter! Also the jolly jumper but I put him in it this morning but he pretty much just hung there, jumping sporadically in a puddle of spew (tmi sorry) so I think we'll re-think the jumper option!

Roz - she's only vomiting smaller amiounts now so it was only full on power chucks for 48 hours. I've been dairy free for almost four weeks. Last two days been better. She hasn't been sleeping in the dsay but less crying and grizzling. Thanks for the info re gluten. I find I feel better without the big gluten stuff so I'll keep it going for my own health. Just out of interest what affect does gluten have on Gem. I'm just wondering if Fin still has some issues related to that.

I will trial Gaviscon again

Lynne - very similar situations, even the vege bit. I'm not vegetarian but hubby is strict so by default I end up being. The dairy free hasn't been that hard but we're a soy milk household anyway - I've gone for complete elimination. I think it works as I accidentally ate some cow feta a couple of weeks back and it affected Zoe. It's hard to know what has helped the most - I suspect a combo of meds, osteo and diet.

Re: jolly jumper, I remember having to put towels under Fin for the same reason. I'm looking forward to when Zoe big enough for exersaucer

Hi Lynne
About one third of infants with gastric reflux disease have a problem with cow's milk proteins. If this is the case, you need to trial a completely dairy free diet for at least two weeks. Allergy testing often doesn't pick up these gastrointestinal allergies/intolerances so the only way to find out is to try.
Osteopathy does help some and the osteopaths are usually honest with how much they can acheive and when they have done what they can. Sounds like it might be worth another visit to see what they have to say.

Sounds like the Losec might be starting to kick in right on cue!

If you are feeling better with less gluten yourself, then if you haven't had any blood screening done I would recommend you get it done now so that you have more information about yourself. have a look at http://www.doctorgluten.com as the testing for gluten sensitivity is often not understood by some doctors. The National Coordinator is in Hamilton and has arranged this for one of her family so you could give her a call on the 0800 next week. On to Gem's diagnosis: She had diarrhoea and a burnt sore raw and infected bottom with thrush which coincided with teething. When I gave her first weetbix at one year it went straight through her and I finally clicked that everytime she had teethed I had probably given her a gingernut hence the diarrhoea. We discussed it with her paed. and trialled gluten free. Within three days the diarrhoea had stopped and her reflux symptoms improved. She doesn't get diarrhoea so much now if she has gluten by accident but her reflux does seem to flare up and her stomach can be quite distended. Gluten sensitivity seems to be something that creeps up rather than something that shows up in the first few days after introduction. Fin is old enough to have the testing done also, and it would really be worth looking into this. Have you read the Gluten can cause GORD article (which covers a whole lot more than just this) in the food section of Crying Over Spilt Milk? It is worth a read.
There are four of us that are gluten sensitive in my family, and between us we have a wide range of symptoms. We also have a variety of other food allergies or intolerances so cooking can be interesting. Discovered tonight that the Alison Holst slowcooker Cream Brulee works just fine with rice milk and coconut cream!

Roz - thanks for all that info re gluten sensitivity. I will read the article on the website. Fin still has very loose poo (though not full on diarrhoea) so I wondered if it was diet related. It's not like he has a crazy amount of fibre so I wondered if it could be gluten (or something else). I think it's a great idea to get us all tested (hubby included). I certainly have issues with dairy (flares up my asthma and gives me hives) and hubby can't deal with most fats, meat, and cow's milk so I guess wouldn't be a surprise if Fin (and Zoe) have issues too. HUbby also had bad colic until he was 7 (to the extent of days off school doubled over in pain). My sister had reflux as a bub, I have two uncles who had Pyloric stenosis (needing operations to correct it) plus talking to my grandma two of her daughters sound as though they had reflux symptoms so I guess not surprising that we have some issues with our bubs. I had no idea of this history until I started asking family (just recently).

Just thought I'd update. Well, as you said Roz the meds should kick in around the three week mark. The last three days have been really good. She's been sleeping in the day and at night as well (though not as long I'd like but that'll come lol). So, for now, it seems the meds plus my dairy free diet (and the osteo too) have made a great difference. I recognise there'll be up and down days but so nice to have more ups.

Thanks for your advice and support.

GREAT!!! Good news.

Sorry, completely new at this and not exactly sure what I am doing. I would really love some good advice and help.
My son has silent reflux and is now 3 months old. He has been on Losec for 5 weeks now 20mg a day. While there has been small improvements life is still pretty miserable and I am hoping surely it can get a lot better than this! He is still very aggitated, doesn't sleep during the day, basically hard work. Can anyone who is going through this or been through this please advise me on what my next step should be? He is on thickened formula but we haven't tried anything else. We are waiting for a referal for a paeditrician. Meanwhile can anyone suggest anything???

Hi Hollyberry
Take a good read at the crying over spilt milk website it has heaps of useful information.
One of the things it talks about is Cow's milk protien allergy/intolerance. 1/3 of reflux babies have this. My DD never came right until we had the combination of medication and I was Dariy free while brast feeding her.
here's the link
http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz
Claire

Oh Megamac good to hear that things are a bit more settled as you place with your DD
Claire

Hi hollyberry
The Losec should be working by now. Our first recommendation would be to try a non-dairy formula. http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/MedicalTreatment/SilentReflux.htm Medications alone won't help if he also has a dairy allergy. Soy isn't recommended usually as a sole source of nutrition so not appropriate at his age. Goat's milk is a bit controversial with the allergy experts but may be worth a trial whilst you wait to see the paediatrician who can organise an hypoallergenic formula if they think it is needed. Thickened feeds isn't recommended until the pain is under control as it can prolong the reflux episodes.
Have you been referred to a paediatrician already? If so, and you haven't heard from them about how long it will be, phone to check they have received your referral and to get an estimate. You can say that you are happy to take a cancellation, and if you aren't happy with the wait see your GP again and ask them to let the paediatrician know if things aren't going well.
Also have a look under the advice and tips section of the website as simple things like raising the head of the bed, loose nappies around tummy etc can make a big difference.
Good luck