Reflux....which medication

[mum2two]

Hi, I have an 8 month old boy. From birth he has been to put it midly unsettled. We had him initially on Zantac but after 9 days at tressillian changed him to Losec. He is on 4mg. He has it compounded and is on 4.5mgs 2x a day. In the beginning the losec worked really well and I saw an improvement within 4 days. In the last month he has gone back to screaming none stop. He has started on solids I thought that this would improve his reflux. Is there anything else I can do as I'm so concerned for him.

thanks

[RISA]

Hi mum2two,

It sounds like things are really tough for you all right now. Dealing with reflux can be very overwhelming, and it isn’t unusual for families to not get the support or understanding they need. Are you coping okay, and are you able to take time out to look after yourself? It’s really important that you do that, as well as looking after your kids.

I presume you have been back to speak with your doctor about this, but if not, that would be my first recommendation. They could check him to ensure there are no other problems (such as some kind of infection), or may review his medication. With bubs with reflux, there can be a lot of trial and error involved to find out what works best for them, so it may be that he needs his medication increased, or perhaps others need to be considered. (some babies need to take quite high doses of medication)

If you have been back to the local doctor and they are unsure, then perhaps going to see a paediatrician or paediatric gastroenterologist could be helpful.

Sometimes it can be really difficult to figure out what is going on, so it may just be a matter of trying a few different things to see if it makes any difference. I can suggest a few things though, which will hopefully give you some ideas.

What solids does he eat, and have you ever noticed any problems with any specific food? Solids can often improve a baby’s reflux, but for some, it can have the opposite effect (confusing, I know). Did you notice a deterioration in him when he started solids, or did that happen a little while after you started them? Does he get diarrhoea or a lot of wind?

Could he be constipated, especially since starting solids? Constipation seems to be a common occurrence in refluxers (that or diarrhoea), and can make them reflux more, simply due to the pressure on their tummy. If so, once that is addressed, his reflux may settle.

There can be a lot of things that flare reflux, which could have contributed to this last month being so bad also, and it may help for you to know some. It is really common for the hot, sticky summer months to be a bad time for refluxers, with a lot of them flaring at the moment. On top of that, his reflux can flare when he is teething, has had vaccinations, has an illness (even just a cold can be enough), is overtired or out of routine. Also, a lot of babies deteriorate when they crawl or start trying to crawl, as they are horizontal more often during the day. All of these factors can cause stress on them, which can make things go horribly wrong very quickly.

How long has he been taking Losec? I have heard that the Losec suspension can sometimes be less effective towards the end of the bottle, so I thought I would mention it in case that was a factor as well.

I hope I have given you somewhere to start as you try to figure out how best to help him.

Glenda

[mum2two]

Hi Glenda,

I am seeing my GP tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for your help I will bring up your points when I speak to her tomorrow.

Ness

[mum2two]

Hi Glenda,

Just wanted to say WOO HOO.
MY Little guy's night sleeps are improving. The last 3 nights he only woke up twice but was easier to settle taking 5 mins each time. This is a huge improvement from waking 5 -6 times and taking 30 min's to 1 and a half hours previously.

I have been consistent in his medication and fully shaking the bottle. Just being consistent and making sure that he took it all has made a huge difference.

I wanted to say thankyou for taking the time to read my post and actually responding in such detail.

Usually when I tell someone how bad he is all I got was let him cry it out. As I previously posted we tried that at Tresillian for 9 days. It is very frustrating being a mother of a constantly screaming baby and people seem to think I am doing something wrong is frustrating. My first was a great sleeper and eater & to go from that to my one now is a huge challenge.

But I know it's not me as my first never had these problems.

But thankyou for your help it came at a time when I really needed someone to listen.

[RISA]

Hi,

Thank you for letting me know how well you are all doing!! I am so pleased, and also really pleased to hear that we were able to help (esp, as you say, at a time when you really needed it)!

I am still blown away by the fact that most people just do not understand reflux, and the impact it can have, not only on the child, but on the entire family. They may offer 'advice', but when there is no real understanding of what life is really like for the family, the advice often falls very short, and often ends up making the mum feel inadequate, that she is doing something wrong (or just plain confused!).

I'm glad you were able to follow your own instincts despite all that, and continue searching for the answers he needed! Well done for persevering, and thanks so much for letting me know.

Hopefully you can all enjoy your bub now