pyloric stenosis??? any paediatricians awake??????

[Doublebubblebubble]

my son is already under investigation for this.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense...

My very basic question is - what does projectile vomiting look like??? I have found a few videos on youtube that claim to be of projectile vomiting (and are exactly what my son does) but the Drs who are investigating have said that it needs to be the type of vomiting where it would go from one end of the room to another (like the exorcist)...

Basic history


He was 12 days overdue. Emcs due to lack of progression, poor position and meconium. He is an ebf baby. My letdown is quite fast. He eats for about 20 minutes every 2 hours or so. Alternate breasts. Very gassy (burped regularly) and a bit fussy during a feed.

He is 25 days old (today) at about 18 days old he started vomiting (what I would call projectile but I wasn't sure... I have posted on here previously with regard to this...) because I asked on here and because he is ebf I was very very concerned and got him seen by the on call Dr who subsequently sent him to the children's day unit at my local hospital.(this was when he was 21 days old-Friday) They palpated his tummy, got us to get a urine sample (fun) took blood from his heel to check its alkalinity... All was fine at that time.(we have open access until the 14th and we are aware that he could potentially go on to develop ps later...) He actually vomited after a feed at the hospital (the Drs/nurses didn't see the vomiting "style" just how much he had vomited) they sent him home with a clean bill of health and basically said that he may have early P.S, he may just be a very greedy baby and posseting (sp??) (didn't think that it was possible to over feed a bf baby but the drs said that it is) or that he is wanting comfort and advised us to give him a dummy - but he will NOT take it!!

he was 10lb 1 @birth, 10lb 6 at 10days and 11lb 7 at 21 days. He has shown no signs of weight loss, has wet and dirty nappies. Is happy in himself, alert and has a good colour.

Soooo does anyone have a diagram or a video of CLINICAL projectile vomiting because I don't want to drive myself crazy looking at what lay people would call projectile vomiting. (I know when I have been sick previously I would of called what I was doing pv just to be dramatic when it wasn't) Also he has just been sick - feed at 5am vomited about 15/20 mins later. I am going to attempt to video for the next time if I can just so I can show the Drs. The vomiting It is not after every feed (atm)

Please believe me when I say I am very very concerned for my sons health and the thought of him being so little and having a major operation terrifies me but I would rather it be sorted when he's tiny before it develop into anything scary...

PLEASE HELP US!!!

[Doublebubblebubble]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_health/2500745-projectile-vomiting-bf-bubble

My previous thread...

[IjustGotmy2016diary]

The Dr's won't operate unless it is absolutely necessary. At the moment your son is putting on weight and appears well in himself. I personally don't see a clinical need for any surgical intervention at this stage.

Also because he is well in himself that maybe why the Dr's don't want to diagnose him with PS as he doesn't completely fit the clinical diagnostic guidelines.

The actual op itself is very minor. Tiny incision on the tummy. All care would be given by consultant surgeon and consiltant anaesthetist.

[zoemaguire]

I'm not a paediatrician but can tell you pyloris stenosis isn't the only reason for projectile vomiting. My DD had bad reflux and spent her first four months or so sending feeds flying at the wall. It was so stressful and disheartening - I'd spend hours breastfeeding her and it would all come up again. If your son is well in himself then focus on that. My understanding of pyloric stenosis is that it'd make a baby very ill indeed.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

My son had pyloric stenosis (as did I). He never projectile vomited.

He did vomit all of every feed (I would have to change my clothes several times a day as I got soaked). I suspected pyloric stenosis because of the family history, but when I asked the health visitor about it, she told me that babies posset and I was being over-anxious.

When he was about three weeks old, he vomited a small amount of blood. The incessant vomiting had caused a small tear in his oesophagus. He was admitted to hospital and I told the paediatricians that I suspected pyloric stenosis because of the family history. They said it was likely to be something else because he had a slight temperature. They did a chest x-ray and lumbar puncture. Eventually they decided to do an ultrasound of his abdomen, which showed very obvious pyloric stenosis.

[Bovnydazzler]

It's quite early days for pyloric stenosis, the normal range is 6-8 weeks I understand. If concerned you should request a barium scan (nothing scary, baby drinks a little water with dye so sonographer can see whether flow through stomach is blocked). My son was suspected pyloric stenosis but it was reflux in the end.

[Doublebubblebubble]

second so sad that the medical professionals didn't take you at your word. How frustrating. I am trying to keep "this is just reflux" at the forefront of my mind but ps is always going to creep in. I really wanted them to do the barium scan when he was at the hospital (I understand it is still very early) I just wanted reassurance. I have the hv coming Wednesday so I will see what she says. I didn't realise bf bubbles could even get reflux. Xx

[PotteringAlong]

But medical professionals don't take parents at their word because they've had a minimum of 5 years medical training and parents have, in most cases, done a google search.

If your baby is putting on weight and is well in himself then why are you determined to prove them wrong? Is it worth speaking to the health visitor about your anxiety levels?

[Doublebubblebubble]

pottering I'm not determined to prove them wrong. I want it to be or not be. For fairly obvious reasons, i think. I think you're absolutely right but if not for google I may have just left him be and not had him looked at (the duty Dr was very concerned and glad i called as were the paeds to get him seen - they wouldn't have liked to risk it.

The reason for asking the hv would be for reassurance (and just general reassurance) that this could be reflux (i have had pnd with my DD6 so that is why she is coming this early. I feel that i am keeping it together with regard to this problem (my anxiety with my DD was awful) Dr google is very bad but in some cases it can be good! X

[PotteringAlong]

I hope it goes well with the HV today.

[zoemaguire]

I think though that there is a tendency to dismiss parents as overanxious as a default, pottering. I remember my HV saying 'oh don't worry, all babies posset'. Providentially, my DD chose the next minute to spectacularly projectile vomit an entire feed. The HV had the grace to say 'ohhh I see what you mean, that really isn't just a posset is it!'. But even then, I don't think she took it seriously enough. My early months with DD were absolute hell, and, as she was my first, I had no idea that reflex that bad was absolutely not within the normal range, and that there are actually treatments available. If she'd been a second or subsequent child, I'd have been banging the doors of the GP down, but I was totally clueless. Breastfed babies certainly can get reflux!!

Chances are, since your baby is well, that it is nothing serious. But having said that, they have also given you open access for a reason, and if you genuinely feel that your baby is becoming unwell, you certainly shouldn't let a history of anxiety stop you getting him seen. Nowadays I find a good rule of thumb if I am getting panicky (I don't have anxiety, but my first two children had serious health issues in their early years and we had a number of (fully justified) rushes to a&e), is to sit down and have a cup of tea before I do anything else. If after an hour I am still desperately worried, then I seek urgent assistance. More often than not, the panic subsides and I realise they are fine. And if the vomiting continues, ask in any case about reflux treatments!! Good luck.

[zoemaguire]

reflux, not reflex, sorry!

[Daffydil]

I had PS 38 yrs ago. No one believed my mum then either! Primarily because I was female and presented really early.

The operation is a lot easier these days though. I have a massive scar across my tummy, rather than a teeny tiny keyhole.

I hope it's not though.

[Doublebubblebubble]

Thank you pottering and thank all of you for your experiences. I really just want a yes/no answer. He's soooo little and the thought of him having something potentially wrong is worrying. I think because he is my 2nd child (5th pregnancy - I have a horrible obstetric history too - I am definitely a lot calmer than I would have been... I know I shouldn't (cant help it) but I am reading that sometimes reflux can be caused by what I'm eating. Hopefully all goes well Wednesday - the paeds gave myself and my dh a list of signs to look for (and to even bring him up if there was even the slightest concern which is great for me) - I cannot wait for him to, fingers crossed, get past the danger stage (for ps) and just be a happy healthy baby xx

[zoemaguire]

In my case, it turned out DD was allergic to dairy. But then I was feeding her and still eating dairy products myself well after she stopped having reflux, so it can't have been the only issue.. I think you could drive yourself mad trying to work out exactly what food is causing an issue. I had a friend who essentially lived off only lentils after she'd excluded everything else she thought might be the problem food, which wasn't healthy for anybody!

[randomsabreuse]

My DD (now 3m) had some impressive "fountain" vomits - whole feed, often curdled mostly only her lower body was wet but whatever she was on/above was soaked. Her definite triggers are eggs and broccoli. Egg also causes colicky symptoms as well as fountain voms. Still cautious about tomato sauce in any quantity and chocolate other than white chocolate.

CMPI can cause reflux type voms from my reading as well

[Doublebubblebubble]

Well just heading up to the cdu. Ds has been sick twice (yellow colour) is comfort sucking though not really eating and appears in pain every time he eats... Really want this sorted today x

[Doublebubblebubble]

Well just heading up to the cdu. Ds has been sick twice (yellow colour) is comfort sucking though not really eating and appears in pain every time he eats... Really want this sorted today x

[PotteringAlong]

Hope you get some answers

[Doublebubblebubble]

Thank you x he's just had his nose suctioned (had bloods and urine checked and they're all clear... ) as they believe he may have rsv... He could still have ps, he could still have reflux or there is nothing wrong and he's just greedy... Il find out his results in 48 hours x

[Doublebubblebubble]

Thank you x he's just had his nose suctioned (had bloods and urine checked and they're all clear... ) as they believe he may have rsv... He could still have ps, he could still have reflux or there is nothing wrong and he's just greedy... Il find out his results in 48 hours x

[PotteringAlong]

It will be such a long wait for you but hopefully you'll know then.

[Doublebubblebubble]

Got the results back earlier today. Negative for rsv/bronchilitis (thank goodness) x

[poocatcherchampion]

What is causing you to think this is PS rather than reflux or just new baby windy/too much milk chuck up?

[zoemaguire]

Glad he is ok. I must admit I am wondering that poocatcherchampion. I thought ps tended to involve 'redcurrant jelly' blood in stools and a seriously unwell baby.