I so didn't need this...UPDATED

[LBW]

Quick Update:
Last week was ridiculous. I planned to take Conor for the GI scan, but after speaking to the radiology supervisor, I discovered that they'd have to use a feeding tube to get the barium into him, and that the tube affects the test results. (Of course, it took 3 days of phone calls to get this information.) No thank you. So...basically I cancelled our follow up appt with the Ped GI, gave his office staff an earful about the way he treated us (and the insanity of ordering a useless test - he knew they'd need to use a tube since Conor never takes a bottle), and called my pediatrician. My ped spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me, and in the end, prescribed the prevacid that I had wanted all along. Conor's been on it for a few days now. He's sleeping much better - he actually managed a 2-hour nap today and a 3-hour nap yesterday. Before this week, I was luck to get 2 hours of daytime sleep out of him ALL WEEK! He's also much happier and more comfortable when he is awake.

Keep your fingers crossed that he keeps improving. Thanks again for all of your advice, kind words, and support!
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First, the background:
My 7-month old baby is such a challenge. He's a sweet, gorgeous guy, but he's been very fussy and challenging since birth. I breastfeed, and honestly nearly every feeding is difficult. He eats for only a few minutes per feeding and comes off the breast crying or fussing most of the time. He's hungry an hour or two later. He rarely naps during the day, cries when I put him down, cries even louder if he's flat on his back, and wakes up 3-4 times every night. I'm a very tired mama.

I'm glad I can BF him, but honestly, I'm exhausted and would love it if he'd take a bottle every now and then. But he refuses bottles. We've tried different brands, freshly pumped milk, frozen milk, formula, different people, feeding when he's tired, feeding when he's hungry. Nothing works. My mom even spent two days trying to get him to take a bottle. One day he screamed for most of 7 hours. The next day it was about 6. In the end, I just fed him because we were all exhausted.

A little more than a month ago I realized that most of DS "problems" could be explained by reflux. I spoke to his ped, he agreed, and we started on Pepcid. DS has improved, but he's still having eating, screaming, and sleeping issues. The ped didn't feel comfortable adding more meds, so he referred me to a ped GI. The first available appt was a 4 week wait. Finally saw him today.

And finally, the point of my post:
Since Conor looks healthy, and weighs 20 lbs, the doctor obviously didn't believe he has a problem. Guess what, he's healthy because I feed him all day and all night. He's basically attached to my boob all the time. Oh, and the best part? After I explained our bottle issues he said, "You know you really have to get him to take a bottle. What will happen to him if something bad happens to you?"

The doctor ordered an upper GI scan, but there's a 4-week wait for follow up appts. I also got him to admit that even if the scan is positive for reflux, he won't prescribe anything else. He doesn't believe in prescribing prevacid.

I left the appt in tears. I was actually in tears about 2/3 of the way through. I had been looking towards getting some relief after the visit, but now it seems as if there's no hope. I'm just going to have to wait until he grows out of it.

[egoldber]

I'm so sorry. I would call your ped and tell him that you are MISERABLE and ask for a trial of Zantac. I don't get it, that is just classic, classic reflux.

If he doesn't respond I would find a new ped. Seriously.

[s_gosney]

Ah, big hugs. That really stinks. Have you tried reading/posting at infantrefluxdisease.com? I think one of the mamas here is a moderator over there. Maybe they could offer some suggestions? I sure hope you get some answers soon.

Sherri
dd 10/03
ds 05/08

[LBW]

Thanks, guys! I must have an invisible sign on my forward asking people to do what they can to make my life difficult. I don't know why I'm still surprised when it happens. I should expect it at this point.

I love my pediatrician, but he's cautious and refers us to specialists if he feels like it's necessary. I usually really appreciate that about him. This time, the specialist is just a complete DUD. He actually had the nerve to tell me that reflux doesn't cause any systemic problems. Yeah, dude, I know his leg's not going to fall off, but I would just like a baby who eats and sleeps normally and who's not miserable all the time.

Beth, I think Zantac and Pepcid are a similar class of meds, right? Since Conor's already on Pepcid, I was hoping for the addition of Prevacid or another proton pump inhibitor. The idiot told me that Prevacid wasn't recommended for children under 2, so he would never prescribe it. I pointed out that Pepcid isn't recommended for kids under 1, but he's okay with prescribing it. He just looked at me like I was nuts.

Sherri, I have been lurking a bit on that board, but now it's depressing me to read it. No one else seems to have a problem getting a prescription from a doctor! I am trying a lot of the tips I've read about though - eliminating dairy, caffeine, propping up after feedings, etc. Maybe they'll start to help soon.

[ThreeofUs]

My DS was the same way. Big, healthy, and ... unable to sleep, wouldn't look at bottles, etc.

We put him on prevacid at 4 months, I think it was, because his ped recognized the symptoms. The ped gave me some of the best advice I'd heard: do what you need to do, but always sleep when the baby sleeps. Pretty standard advice, kwim?, but I needed to hear it.

Go get another pediatrician! You will need support with this, and it sounds like your ped has no idea what he's doing OR what you're up against.

Btw, the only way DS would sleep was on his tummy - on us or on the bed. (I was so scared by this that we started co-sleeping all the time.) Until we realized this, DH and I were on 4-hour shifts with DS.

Also, and you may already know this, although the meds do stop the acid, they often cannot stop the reflux itself.

Good luck!

[MamaMolly]

Tara, I'm so sorry that you are going through this, and I'm so angry with that GI on your behalf! DD had reflux and was on Axid for nearly a year. She wouldn't take Zantac at first (too minty?) but the Axid was like a miracle. Night and day baby!

I'd go back to the ped and explain that the GI did nothing to help and that you'd either like a trial of Zantac, Axid or a referral to a GI that has a brain.

Also, look at a Tucker wedge or Tucker sling. They are supposed to help with the reflux, but we never used one because we raised one end of the crib mattress.

Good luck with this, don't stop until your kiddo gets relief!

[gatorsmom]

I just felt so bad for you reading your post!!! Greenbean is about the same age as your little sweetie and he was showing symptoms of reflux for quite awhile too.

I just wanted to add 3 bits of advice: first, if he is always nursing and you aren't getting any sleep, have you considered cosleeping with him at night? I mean, lay on the bed, position him next to you to nurse, and then try to go to sleep like that. He can nurse as much as he needs at night and you will get some sleep. However, if you are like most cosleeping moms I know, it won't be a deep, heavy sleep. But some sleep is better than none, right? I did this with my last 3 babies and it kept me sane.

I also wanted to suggest, if he wants to be held all day, you might want to look into a sling/wrap/carrier. I love my Moby Wrap- keeps the baby close to me but keeps my hands free. Also, since it keeps the baby upright next to your chest, you could fall asleep in a recliner with him up against you. Greenbean loved that too.

Lastly, the ped GI IS an idiot and wrong. It is NOT healthy for your relationship with your son to be this miserable. And it's certainly not good for you to be so rundown and sleep-deprived. Insist to your ped that he refer you to someone else. You both need some relief. If your ped doesn't want to prescribe some Zantac, find a different ped. Our ped didn't hesitate to prescribe it for both SiSi and Greenbean when they were 8 weeks old.

Big hugs!

[firsttimemama]

I sent you a private message!

[Nooknookmom]

I have your baby.

DD is 14 mo old and I knew from day 1 in the hospital that something was wrong. She wouldn't burp. Dr. insinuated I was an indiot and couldn't burp my kid. Actually she was wet burping from reflux and air couldn't get through.

I know how HARD a reflux baby can be. DD wasn't diagnosed until 3 months b/c the ped's again said I was over reacting. Nope.

I was prescribed Zantac at first & it did not help us at all. Finally another ped ordered an upper GI. It immediately showed that every swallow came right back up the esophagus, along w/ the acid.

*Explained why she pulled off after hardly nursing, we couldn't lie her flat to change a diaper, different bottles caused her to scream after a feeding, she screamed EVERY night from 5-10 until 4-5 months old. *

I was then referred to a pediatric GI, Godsend. He put her on Prevacid and after a few months of adjusting the dose she was a different kid. Not a super easy kid but better.

I learned to side nurse her at night, seems weird b/c we were lying down but it kept her comfy and sleeping.

PLEASE, like everyone else said, get a second opinion. You need a ped. GI badly. They know what to look for and will help your son (and you).

DD is still on Prevacid at 14 mo. and be warned that some ins. have a deductible before they will pay for it. I had to pay 250 out of pocket but every penny was worth it.

A reflux baby is hard on the entire family too!

Feel free to pm me if you need any tips or just a shoulder!!!

ETA: It also happens that DD is MSPI, from birth but we didn't know until about 6 months or so.

[niccig]

Find another doctor. We were visiting my SIL and her friend, a ped. was over for lunch and she said there's no research that reflux meds help babies. So I asked why DS went from screaming to happy on the medicine and anytime we tried to wean off, he went back to screaming until the medicine was started again? She had no answer. I'm not one to give unnecessary medicine, but I've had reflux and it HURTS. SIL's baby had really bad colic for months and months, screaming, unhappy etc. DH and I think reflux, and he got no relief until he grew out of it.