In tears over this issue.

I've posted many, MANY, times about my girls' projectile vomiting before/after/during feedings. I've been to the pedi SO many times over this, I've been to the GI pedi as well for this. They all give me the same line: it's reflux and they'll grow out of it. Ok, I can deal with that. Little bit of Zantac and occasional spit up isn't so bad..However, you mean to tell me the 3.5 ounces my infant just vomited (I literally measure it) is from reflux? Balony. No, I'm not a doctor but this just ins't right. I sit here in tears because the poor thing was so hungry and I fed her 3.5 ounces and it literally came right back up. I'm so tired of going to the pedi and spending $30 just to walk in the door and her look at me and say "it's just reflux and they're fine." How the hell are they fine? The poor thing cried her brains out and then throws up all over the place, she can never sleep for more than hour at a time because I have to move her so many times because the first place I put her to sleep is now soaked. How is she fine, and it's just the sphincter muscle at the end of her esophagus and when the reflux occurs it brings vomit? All I want to do is hold her after she vomits this much, she just gives me this look like she hates life and she doesn't understand why she has to go through this.

Someone help me, give me some words, tell me it will be ok.

Mom to Marleigh & Ryleigh 8 weeks old.

 

:hug: :hug: I'm so so sorry Momma.

I was in your shoes EXACTLY and it got me very down. :hug: I had the same problem with my ped. and the GI doctor. I went in many times and it was almost like they didn't believe me and sort of talked to me like I was the crazy, first time mom. :nea: My son was not eating and if he was he'd throw it all up. It was really hard seeing him this way. Has your dd been on any other meds other then zantac? I know for my son, he tried many meds until we found his "miracle" drug. It was prilosec. The GI doctor did tell us it was the muscle at the end of his esophogus and that once he started crawling/pulling to stand it would strengthen and the reflux would go away, and that is when it did for my ds.

I would keep on going to the doctors and don't let them bully you around. The specialist we went to see tried blaming a million other things before saying it is indeed reflux AND it was bad enough he needed meds. Don't give up, you are the only one who can speak up for your babes. :hug: You'll get through it, hopefully soon.

 

QUOTE(TwinLove @ Apr 27 2009, 10:47 AM) [snapback]1289984[/snapback]
:hug: :hug: I'm so so sorry Momma.

I was in your shoes EXACTLY and it got me very down. :hug: I had the same problem with my ped. and the GI doctor. I went in many times and it was almost like they didn't believe me and sort of talked to me like I was the crazy, first time mom. :nea: My son was not eating and if he was he'd throw it all up. It was really hard seeing him this way. Has your dd been on any other meds other then zantac? I know for my son, he tried many meds until we found his "miracle" drug. It was prilosec. The GI doctor did tell us it was the muscle at the end of his esophogus and that once he started crawling/pulling to stand it would strengthen and the reflux would go away, and that is when it did for my ds.

I would keep on going to the doctors and don't let them bully you around. The specialist we went to see tried blaming a million other things before saying it is indeed reflux AND it was bad enough he needed meds. Don't give up, you are the only one who can speak up for your babes. :hug: You'll get through it, hopefully soon.


Did the prilosec help with his vomiting? I just called the ped and asked if we could switch medicine and shes going to call me back.

 

We didn't really have reflux, but had to keep them upright for 30 mins after eating b/c it would come back up enough to make them stop breathing...super scary. I am SO sorry you are having to deal with this (and your little one is too). I can't imagine the stress it adds to your day. Like being a mom of twins isn't hard enough. I have no advice, just wanted to give you a big :hug: and hope this is all over soon!

 

I'm so sorry!!

We had to change meds a few times to find one that worked for Alice. Zantac if I recall is like the first line medicine. Prevacid is what helped Alice out. How old are your babies?

 

:hug: :hug:

We went through a short bout of Acid Reflux with DD2. I felt so bad for her, but it was nothing compared to what you're going through now. Hang in there mama, I don't have any advice for you. Just wanted to send hugs your way

 

ugh! I am so sorry.
I agree about changing meds. ALso, I would bring her in for frequent weight checks to see if she is losing weight. :hug:

 

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. My son has reflux, but no where near as bad as you are describing. I do however feel like it is effecting his weight gain, but my doctor doesn't seem concerned even though I am. I did how ever buy this pillow and it has helped alot. The other products for the bed where like a slide and he kept sliding down. This one has straps to keep him in place and he doesn't seem to mind it. You can also buy extra covers to change when they spit up. Also most insurance cover it and you can submit it to your insurance company. I hope this helps. If you buy it go online for the directions since the directions online are much clearer.

http://www.arpillow.com/

 

Prevacid was our miracle drug. We went through exactly what you described and nothing worked until we started that!! Many, many :hug: for you!! Reflux is so hard! I hope she is able to get some relief soon!!

 

I can totally relate. One of my sons also had severe projectile vomiting in his first 4 months and still does it on occasion now. It's very frustrating because it seems many pedis just don't think this is an issue to address. I was told the same thing, "he'll grow out of it." Our pedi was very reluctant to offer him meds, she just told us to keep trying to make sure he eats enough, feed him again if he vomits up his feeding, etc. She told us to keep him upright for 40 minutes after each feeding, to burp him every few minutes during a feeding, and to have him sleep in an inclined position. It's sooooo hard on the parents! It was heartbreaking to watch him twist and turn and cry out during and after feedings and sleep for him is still an issue.

I keep wondering when babies grow out of this. I finally talked our pedi into prescribing some Zantac for him, but she gave us only a few week's supply with no refills. We ran out recently and it was like pulling teeth to get a refill. I had to go through a different pedi to get it.

It's so heartbreaking to watch our loved ones suffer like this, to watch them throw up all their nourishment and watch it come out so violently from both mouth and nose. I remember feeling like a terrible mother one day when I heard him crying and I waited a few minutes to go to him so that I could finish changing the laundry. When I went to him, I found him covered in his own vomit, all over his face as it had obviously come out of his nose, all over his hair, all over him, all over his bassinet. I cried, too. Then I fed him, again.

I wish I could tell you that your babies will grow out of the reflux soon. I can offer hugs and understanding, though.

 

sounds like exact same symptoms as my kiddos but until they were on zantac AND prilosec did the symptoms subside. Your little one shouldn't have to go through that. My twins never projectile vomited but if they were laying down (even if it was 30 minutes or more after a feeding) they would wake up SCREAMING and we would find them looking like they were drowing..foam would be coming up out of their mouths and noses and they would be gasping! They would scream DURING bottles and it was like we were torturing them..it was awful..then my 3 little guy also got dx with it and he was a projectile vomiter and would also cry during bottles! All 3 need to be on zantac, prilosec and we put cereal in their bottles with the hopes of weighing it down. All of this including them sleeping on an incline, waiting at least 30 min. before laying them down at all, browns' bottles all seemed to help. They were all off the meds by 6 months or so..just when they started taking baby food. I know how scary and awful it is watching your little one go through this..be persistent with your pedi..asking for some other type of med or maybe find another pedi.
ps- we tried other meds but b/c we had trouble with the small "pellets" not going through the nipple we went with prilosec.

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Apr 27 2009, 11:57 AM) [snapback]1290125[/snapback]
Prevacid was our miracle drug. We went through exactly what you described and nothing worked until we started that!! Many, many :hug: for you!! Reflux is so hard! I hope she is able to get some relief soon!!



Both my son's went through this same thing. . . Dealing with twins is tough enough and then when one of them is a refluxer with severe vomitting is VERY hard. . .We finally have my DS's reflux under control with PREVACID. . .My pedi was also apprehensive about giving him anything other than Zantac and I asked for a referral to a ped GI doc and I love my ped GI doc. She gave him PREVACID and he is a completely different (and happy) baby with meds!! Just know that meds do NOT prevent them from spitting up, the meds really just help with the pain associated with the reflux. Now my ped GI suggested that I add rice cereal to DS's formula and that has helped TREMENDOUSLY with his spitting up. Like your LO, my DS was spitting up a LOT!! and it became very projectile where he was spitting up to 2 feet!! It was scary! If you do not need a referral with your health insurance, I would find another ped GI doctor in your area for a 2nd opinion. . .It's so hard when you are with your child all the time and see how miserable they are, and then have docs who don't know what its like and give you the brush off. . .

Reflux is very hard to deal with, but you can get through it!! There is a great site you can information from that I used. . .it is www.infantreflux.org

Good Luck with getting your LO some relief. . .

Laura

 

It will be okay :hug: They will outgrow it and it SUCKS big time. :hug:

 

Afraid to say that it sounds just like BOTH of my twins for about their first year.

We tried all sorts of meds. Reglan is the only one that is actually supposed to help reduce the spitting up - it speeds the passage of food through the stomach so there is less to spit up. It's tricky, because you have to give it 30 minutes before feeding.

The other drugs are all supposed to ease discomfort, but not reduce the spitting up. We tried Tagamet, Prilosec (which they couldn't even keep down), and finally Prevacid which seemed to help the most.

Both of mine had x-rays to be sure there was no sort of physical blockage, which there was not. Then the doctors basically said that as long as they were gaining weight they did not consider reflux a medical problem (they called it a "laundry problem") Of course they weren't the ones who had to listen to screaming babies all day and all night.

The thing that seemd to help the most was to hold them upright and walk around with them after feedings - particularly hard with 2 (and also difficult for us because they were on a strict 3 hour feeding schedule for several months, and it often took them well over an hour to eat, so feeding them and walking with them was pretty much a 24 hour/day committment.

The only good thing I can tell you is that they DO grow out of it eventually.

So, you really are not alone (not that it helps so much to know that)

Good luck!

Rachel

p.s. - just adding (after reading the post that was posted while I was writing mine) that we added all sorts of things to bottles. I was pumping breast milk because they were terrible nurses, and to this we added powdered formula (to increase caloric value and nutrition, polycose (a supplement also to increase calories), and rice cereal (to thicken). Believe me, this stuff was thick. And they could still throw it up and nearly hit the opposite wall.

 

i am so sorry you are going through this, it is so hard. DD has reflux and dealing with it has been the hardest thing i have had to do as a mother. there were many many many days when i just cried along with her while she was trying to eat, it was obvious that she was hungry but was so afraid of the pain that she would just scream when she saw the bottle. there were lots of times when i was completely overwhelmed and emotionally destroyed by her feeding problems. it is so easy for the doctors to say that they will grow out of it, they aren't there every day watching your child suffer.

thankfully, DD's reflux is finally under control and her feeding aversion has lessened, it's not gone, but it is bearable. we finally got a referral to a pedi GI and he increased her dose of prevacid to 15mg a day. for a while she was on prevacid and zantac but i finally stopped the zantac, she wouldn't swallow it anyway so i figured it wasn't helping her. she still vomits on the prevacid sometimes, but not as much and it doesn't bother her at all.

i agree with the pps that say you should try to change meds and switch doctors, pedi and pedi GI if you have to. you have got to find a medical team that is going to listen to your concerns and do what is necessary to help you help your child. doctors work for you and if they are doing a bad job or not taking your concerns seriously, you should fire them.

i know it doesn't seem like it now, when things are at their worst, but this will pass and your life with your babies will be so much sweeter. just keep your head up, and your tissues handy and keep fighting for your LO. :hug:

 

we're back in the weeds with reflux again. we were using prevacid but it gradually lost its effectiveness so now we're working with a GI specialist to start them on nexium, but during this transition they're in terrible pain. crying and coughing while eating worse than ever before. it's terrible to watch.

have you been screened for pyloric stenosis? my guys lose entire bottles all the time, so i know how it goes. we did an ultrasound early on just to make sure there wasn't anything structurally wrong. if you can do that and rule it out it might go a long way towards easing your mind about how "normal" this is. if your doctor doesn't think it's necessary pressure him to give you a referral. you're in charge, not the doctor.

 

:hug: Some questions if you don't mind:

What does your feeding schedule look like?
What formula are you using?
Are you adding cereal? If so, how much?
What kind of bottles/size flow nipples?
How long do they take to drink their bottles?
How long after a feeding are you leaving them upright?
Where are they sleeping?

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Apr 27 2009, 03:41 PM) [snapback]1290503[/snapback]
:hug: Some questions if you don't mind:

What does your feeding schedule look like?
What formula are you using?
Are you adding cereal? If so, how much?
What kind of bottles/size flow nipples?
How long do they take to drink their bottles?
How long after a feeding are you leaving them upright?
Where are they sleeping?


There's Becky I've been waiting for you to reply!

Ok, here's the answers:
What does your feeding schedule look like? We feed every 3-4 hours. They don't go more than 6 hours overnight without a feeding. And during the day I keep them eating every 3 hours, 4 at the most.
What formula are you using? [/COLOR] I am using Alimentum. I've used Good Start Soy and Enfamil AR with no improvements either.
Are you adding cereal? If so, how much? I have tried Gerber rice cereal and Beech Nut rice cereal and neither helped. I was adding 1/2 teaspoon for every ounce.
What kind of bottles/size flow nipples? I use Playtex air vent bottles and medela medium flow nipples. I've tried slow flow and it doesn't change anything. I've also tried different brands of slow flow.
How long do they take to drink their bottles? It depends. If they're really hungry, about 15 minutes. But if I woke them up to eat and they're not too hungry, as much as 30 minutes.
How long after a feeding are you leaving them upright? This is obviously difficult with two, but when my DH is home we put them on our chest after feeding for a good hour- and we are sitting striaght up. If he's not home I prop them up on the couch with pillows so they're sitting up for as long as they'll let me- they usually start to fall asleep and scream until they go in their cribs. Then I put them in their cribs and they sleep for a little while and then they wake up screaming because they are covered in vomit and then we begin playing musical spots in their cribs.
Where are they sleeping? We co-sleep a lot actually, mainly because they sleep better- we sleep better- and their vomiting sometimes seems better while with us for some reason. Other times they will sleep in the swing, or in their boppies in the bassinet.

 

I'm no Becky, but I'm gonna jump in :lol:

QUOTE(Kaie05 @ Apr 27 2009, 04:59 PM) [snapback]1290531[/snapback]
We feed every 3-4 hours. They don't go more than 6 hours overnight without a feeding. And during the day I keep them eating every 3 hours, 4 at the most.


I would feed them smaller meals more frequently. That could potentially help with the large amounts of spit up. I could be that they are really hungry and sucking down a bottle fast and that can exacerbate the reflux. Try feeding at least every 3 hours and see if that helps.

QUOTE
I have tried Gerber rice cereal and Beech Nut rice cereal and neither helped. I was adding 1/2 teaspoon for every ounce.


I would go back to adding at least one teaspoon per ounce of formula and see if that helps. We were doing 2 teaspoons per ounce per our Ped GI and that dramatically reduced the amount of spit up per bottle. It was actually like magic. We were using the Dr. Browns bottles with the variable flow nipple and that worked really well.

I am sorry that they are spitting up so much. :hug:

 

we had a minor issue with our girl, our pedi didn't even call it reflux... but sometimes when I would let her nurse over 15 min. she'd let out a little yelp and then she'd throw up. ugh. it smells bad, and gets all over you too! for us, that seemed to make her feel better after she got it out and we held her. Since the pedi kept saying it "was normal"... I just started cutting her off at 10 minutes and she seemed fine. We were on a 2 hour nursing schedule for over 3 months... so I wonder if like some of the prior posters if you were able to feed smaller amounts a little closer together... maybe her tummy isn't big enough?

I hope that you get relief soon, its exhausting to have little ones in pain... nevermind all the extra laundry. big hugs to you.

 

A few things I thought of...

1. Add the cereal back in, and make it thicker. I would use the Beechnut, it works better, IMO. We were adding 2.5tsp per oz. That is really what is going to help weigh that formula down and keep it in their tummies since that muscle is not working properly yet. I wouldn't steer you wrong here! All 5 of my kids were refluxers, and I had to thicken feeds with all 5. Thickened feeds=less barf=happier babies=happier momma.

2. Feed them every 3 hours like clockwork during the day, even if they take in less. That is actually a good thing in refluxers. You want them to not be stuffed, then puke the whole bottle as a result.

3. One thing I didn't ask is how often are you burping them, and do you get a good burp every time? My kids were SO hard to burp, but I knew if I didn't get a burp, the whole bottle would come up shortly afterwards.

4. Keeping them upright for at least 30 minutes afterwards is great. Be careful in putting them in any kind of sitting position, for example, their carseats. It pushes their legs towards their bellies, pushing that food up, making them reflux.

5. Tummy time. It might cause more spit up in the beginning, but from what I understand it helps strengthen that muscle that keeps the food down.

6. Left side. When they aren't on their tummies or upright, try to place them on their left sides as much as you can(within reason, no flat heads!) as it helps keep them more comfortable. Something about the position of the stomach. Of course at an angle. Always lay them at an angle, never flat.

Thicken, thicken, thicken. :hug:

 

I was about to write almost exactly the same post as RachelJoy. Reglan and erythromycian are the only medicines that help with the actual vomiting. Zantac, Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec - those all change the acidity level in the stomach so the vomit is less painful. So even if you find a medicine that eases the pain and helps your DD eat, you'll probably still have to deal with the puking until her system matures enough to keep food/liquid down.

One of my daughters had (still has) severe reflux, and we did a combination of things to help her get better. We tried Zantac, Prevacid and finally settled on Prilosec. We also thickened all the bottles of breast milk she drank with rice cereal. Finally, we kept her upright almost all the time and she slept on a specially designed reflux wedge. Oh, one more thing, and this was the change that made all the difference: we eliminated all dairy from my diet because I was pumping, and when we supplemented with formula we used Nutramigen. So many many many babies with reflux have milk protein sensitivities, and many pediatricians don't think about that when they're telling you to just deal with the laundry.

If I were in your shoes, I'd call the pediatrician's office and demand a stronger medicine. If the pedi isn't willing, I'd find a new doctor. Then I'd buy the reflux wedge (www.tuckersling.com) and eliminate all dairy, including switching to Nutramigen or Alimentum. Some insurance companies will pay for this type of formula if you have a doctor's prescription, so check that out.

With all of the things we did, Piper still spit up frequently and had projectile vomiting until she was about six months old. But she wasn't in pain, so it did become an inconvenience more than a heart wrenching occurrence where we had to listen to her wail.

Hang in there... it sure sucks to be in the midst of reflux hell... you have many of us here to gripe to whenever you need.

Edited to add: A lot of people will tell you to have your reflux baby sleep in their car seat or on a bouncy chair, but those can sometimes make it worse because of added pressure on their stomachs. There are quite a few companies that make reflux wedges/pillows. They're truly the only thing that works for kids with severe reflux.

 

We were told that the meds help with the pain but not the reflux. Only time cures the reflux which really sucks!!

Our home health care nurse suggested tuckerslings: http://www.tuckersling.com/

We bought two of the wedge/sling combo (insurance might cover if you get a prescription) and they really have helped. Her other suggestion was to feed them smaller amounts more frequently (I started to nurse/bottle feed every 2 hours during the day instead of every 3). Its a bit of a pain but it does seem to help with the vomiting.

I hope you find something that works. I've been in tears over the reflux more than once so I understand completely.