GP says it's not reflux and I just have to wait it out for a month

[FingonTheValiant]

Following on from here

Saw the GP this morning. When I initially explained how he feeds and the HVs concerns he was going to send me to the Child Assessment uUnit so that the consultant paed could look at him and run some tests.

Then he looked in the red book and decided that actually DS is fine, doesn't need to be assessed and that it's definitely not reflux as DS doesn't vomit lots. Apparently it's just colic and I have to get by until he grows out of it at 4 months.

I am however allowed to take DS back in 2 weeks after he's weighed to check he hasn't carried on slipping down the centiles.

So, is there anything I can do to make feeding a better experience for me and DS?

God, I feel like breastfeeding is hell, but I keep struggling on with it and sometimes I wonder why (obviously I know why, but sometimes I just hate it).

Thanks all, sorry for the rant at the end.

[TheVisitor]

Yes, go back and ask to be referred. Your GP cannot tell if it's reflux or not just from looking at his red book.

[FingonTheValiant]

Ok.

Is he not right about the vomiting thing though? Apparently it's the combination of that with the fact that DS has only crossed one centile line, not two.

Actually I'm a bit dubious about him. He asked about DS's bowel movements (sorry, tmi) so I said it's about once every 5 days. GP seemed concerned so I said that I'd been told that was normal for BF babies. "No no no", says he, "in fact the opposite is true for BF babies. Please keep an eye on it and let us know if it continues".

On the basis of advice on here I've just booked a cranial osteopathy appointment for next week. I figure the only thing that it can hurt is my wallet

[TheVisitor]

You're right about the bowel movements, as there's less wastage in BM than FM. He sounds a bit old fashioned, tbh! A baby can have silent reflux where they're not sick, but some gps don't believe this exists. Now, one thing, these centile charts are made for formula fed babies, not BF who tend to gain wait at a slower rate. Definitely try the CO - I've heard really good things about it and seen friends' babies become a lot more contented afterwards.

[TheVisitor]

weight not wait! This pedant is now banging her own head against the wall for that typo.

[FooffyShmoofer]

Referral or second opinion definitely. Just because baby isn't vomiting by NO means rules out Reflux. Unfortunately, I can't advise on reflux remedies for BF baby as I FF BUT there has to be something. I wouldn't leave it be.

[witchwithallthetrimmings]

my guess is that that he looked at his weight gain, saw that he was still gaining and therefore decided that it wasn't reflux. Many babies do, however, thrive even with reflux but they are in loads and loads of pain.

Do try following your babies lead though and feed little and often. 5 or 10 minutes every couple of hours IS nornal and this may make him more settled. Too much milk at once does make reflux much much worse.

[FingonTheValiant]

Ok, I'll try to get another appointment and be firmer about what I want. I'm not sure how to convince them though, the GP said it was classic colic, the HV said it didn't sound like colic and was classic reflux (bar the vomiting) - aargh!

Fingers crossed the the CO works, it'd be much easier.

TheVisitor, DS is on (or rather, below) the 9th centile though, so he's low even for a BF baby.

Fooffy, what did you do for a FF baby? I might be able to use it somehow.

Thanks again.

[FingonTheValiant]

witchwithall, thanks for that. I'll try sticking with little and often.

[pushmepullyou]

Agree with previous posters. My DD had silent reflux - it definitely does exist. Gaviscon helped her enormously.

Wrt bowel movements they could range between 5 per day to once every 5 days easily with no problems and forno apparent reason. Iirc they were frequent for the first couple of months but became nearer weekly around 3 months ish.

[FooffyShmoofer]

After doing what your GP has done and taking the wait and see approach we ended up with DD basically vomiting what looked like water.It was pumping out.

THEN, he decided to prescribe infant gaviscon to add to bottles. Thinking on it now it can be given to BF babies. You make it up with boiled water in a bottle. I know that introducing a bottle when BF isn't the most advisible but needs must.

It was a God send to us. Had he prescribed it at the first appointment it would have saved DD and us a lot of heartache.

[FingonTheValiant]

DS takes bottle quite happily, we were told we had to give him EBF in bottles in the first few weeks when he crashed down the centiles, so that wouldn't be a problem.

Ok, I'm going to see what I can do to get them to listen. The way I see it, if we at least try treating him for reflux we'll know if it's that or something else.

Can I tell them that I think it's silent reflux, or will they have me down as a neurotic mother?

[pleasethanks]

Oh my god Fingon I could have written your post. I have been to see the Dr about the same thing and basically go told that because she has not lost weight there was no issue and it was colic which she would grow out of. Okay, but my daughter cries when I try to feed her and sit straining and crying, but everything is okay? Argh

[GingaNinja]

Go get a 2nd opinion. And do mention silent reflux - you know your own child best. DD had silent reflux and Gaviscon stopped/eased her pain and saved my sanity. Our GP still rolls his eyes - but he can feck off (he's been very good apart from that). Good luck!

[FooffyShmoofer]

Weeelll, you could mention what you think it is but in their professional capacity they will do what they want regardless in the end. Maybe take your suggestion on board or alternatively buck against it.

Watchful waiting has it's place but IMHO I dont see what would be wrong with trying Infant Gaviscon. If it works then great if it doesn't it's really no harm done.

[FingonTheValiant]

What are you going to do pleasethanks? Have you come up with anything that helps?

Can I get Infant Gaviscon over the counter? Or do I have to persuade a GP to get onboard?

I hate trying to persuade GPs, I need to be more assertive.

[FooffyShmoofer]

YES YES YES! Superblue.
Works like a dream for every baby I have met with reflux.(unless the reflux is very severe then you will be prescribed more effective meds).

I have 3 that have all had reflux but gained weight ok.
Its also very painful for the child just as we can suffer from heartburn.

Get GP to give the Gaviscon and hopefully you will see a massive improvement.
Some helpful hints-
With reflux babies be really gentle just after you have fed the child, keep the baby upright while burping ..getting a burp really can help too I find that mine throw up if they havent managed one, but dont stress about this for ages. If no burp after a few mins just leave it.
Your baby needs to be kept more upright than other babies. Put a wad of towels under the mattress to raise his head while sleeping. Also I find they sleep really well in those bouncy chairs too during the day. The car seat is good too.
Hope this helps.

I found this on a very old thread from 2006.

Also, I know its a pain but it would be better if it was prescribed by the GP. They do sell it behind the counter but won't sell it for a child that young and it's a tricky route to go down buying something like that without GP approval.

I know it's all so contradictory.
There is no harm at all in suggesting reflux and Gaviscon to your GP. What's the worst that can happen? He can say no. But at least you put it forward.

Yes you are a Tiger.

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Please go back and demand a referral to a paediatrician

My dd has silent reflux, and my story goes thus...

At about 6 weeks old, I'm looking around and thinking "why is my baby the only one to constantly cry?", and I'm not talking normal upset, but hysteria! Mentioned it to a friend whose ds also had silent reflux, and she pointed me to my gp, as the hv is worse than useless. Gp and hv continually tell.me its colic... Long story short, gp also tells me cranial osteopathy is rubbish, silent reflux doesn't exist and makes me out to be losing the plot... I demand a referral, get one, and what do you know, at 15 weeks our problems are solved when the paed consultant prescribes Ranitidine and infant Gaviscon together, we are now at 21 weeks and a different baby... I am quite annoyed that I had 15 weeks of sheer help, with everyone robbing me off, my baby didn't have colic, wasn't being sick and was slowly driving me mad with 24 hr crying, I love her so much, it annoys me that being told to potentially ruin the first 4 months of your time together, just to "see" if they grow out of it, when its a real condition, grrr!

Your within your rights to ask for referral, and demand an urgent one too x

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Ps, I also ebf and my dd has never gone to the loo regularly, but now on less does - odd!

Gaviscon is a pain, but we give with a syringe and boiled water between breastfeeds and it works for us a treat with the Ranitidine x