Advice desperately needed - 5 month old son diagnosed with reflux disease

[MarieEmma]

My son was diagnosed reflux disease finally last week after a long battle with NHS support. I would really appreciate any advice you could provide following your experiences. I?m having to take one day at a time at the moment as the sleepless nights have caused exhaustion. My husband works long unsociable hours so I?m left doing the majority of the work caring for my son. Although he had to take a week off a month ago as I totally collapsed. I?m finding it really tough at the moment as I appear to still be living in the routine that I expected for a couple of weeks once Alex was born. The local mother and baby groups seem to be full of mums with babies who have been sleeping though the night between 9 and 12 weeks. I?m having suggestions thrown at me from people who just don?t have any experience. I?ve found my friends and family to provide little to no support and if anything add to my stresses. Any tips to help my isolation would be so appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[RunningOutOfIdeas]

Reflux is so tiring to cope with. DD only started consistently sleeping through at about 18 months. What medicines is your DS on? DD started on ranitidine at 8 weeks. This worked ok for her until 11 months then she needed omeprazole.

There is a really useful reflux thread somewhere in childrens health. Sorry I can't do a link - I am using a phone.

I also found the website cryingoverspiltmilk really helpful. It gives good details of symptoms and treatment. I know some people have printed info from this site and taken it to their gp to get the necessary treatment.

For DD I found never letting her lie flat helped. So her cot, change mat and play mat were all elevated at the head end. Try to have as much time upright between the last feed and bedtime. Also, I know this is a controversial subject, but DD was much better after weaning.

Hang in there. It really does get better. DD is nearly 3 and apart from frequent hiccups, there is really nothing left of the reflux

[FriggFRIGG]

DD had reflux,it got better when she learned to sit,and went away entirely when she started to walk.

coping strategies:

buy a sling something like this absolute life saver,as you will either be carrying your DC or hearing them scream IME.

buy an electronic swing i had this one
the first day we got this was the first time we had slept for more than 15minsat a time in two weeks!she slept for 5 hours!!!!IN A ROW!!!!

rope in anyone you can to hold the baby whilst you shower/eat/sleep.
or get them to make meals etc,if there is no-one,do online food shopping,get pre made/easy food to prepare.

only do what is nessesary to survive each day,sod the cleaning.washing,ironing.it can wait.

and repeat mantra :

this too shall pass

((hug))

[sparkle101]

DD has got reflux, although it is getting better now that she is weaning and she can sit up more. Although I can remember the rubbish of reflux well. (DD diagnosed at 6 days old)

She has been on ranitidine and on dairy free formula since (if you are BF you can try cutting out dairy as it seems to aggrevate (sp?) it).

If you can sit them up after feeds for about an hour that helps to settle, also we raised the head part of her moses basket up a bit so that the reflux wasn't sitting on her chest and causing her pain, the swing was also a lifesaver for us as well. The meds should help ease the symptoms, if they don't it may be that you have to try a couple before you find the right one.

I have heard people say cranial oestopath are meant to be really good but have had no experience myself.

It will pass - I myself have just had to rack my brains to think of what I did to ease the symptoms as it has gone so gradually I haven't had to change things again, so it will pass!