Silent reflux - Help!!

[mags021210]

Hi looking for some advice, my son is 5 months old and has had silent reflux since 4 weeks old. He has been on gaviscon and then eventually ranitidine (which helped slightly in the beginning and eventually was no good). Paed has now prescribed us Neocate to rule out cows milk intoerlance. Only on it for 2nd day and as usual with his FF he takes the first 3-4oz no bother, then it is a total nightmare. He did this with his normal formula so not sure if we need to stick with it and hope for an improvement as i know necoate is horrid to taste. He is also being prescribed other meds (domper and oz something!) but not on them yet.

I am just at my wits end, I feel so sorry for him during feeds as he is just so upset. We also started weaning which he seems to accept but not sure if this will aggravate his silent reflux!

Any advice welcome!!

Hi mags your story is very similar to mine! My 5 month old daughter is currently on ranitidine, carobel (gaviscon made her vomit) and nutramigen (as she has cows milk allergy). She has silent reflux also.

She has been in and out of hospital and I know how wearing all this is.

I wonder why your doctor has gone straight for Neocate as this is entirely synthetic formula whereas Nutramigen is more 'natural' but they are both for the same allergies.

To be honest if 4 oz is his limit that may be his limit, some babies just take small feeds (my Mum told me I never took more than 4 oz ever!) I know what you mean though about worrying about how much they are taking in. My DD can take 3 oz one feed and 5 oz the net there is no rhyme or reason for it.

I am sure you know that ranitidine is weight dependent, did your doctor do regular recalculations to ensure the dose was correct?

Apparently weaning will help (my DD is not there yet as I feel I want her to settle properly on the milk and allow her digestive system to get back to normal!) so take heart.

Hi Munkii, it so worrying about how much they take, it was just frustrating as he was draining 7/8oz bottles so it is a major step back. It is only during feeds that we have major problems, I know we are very lucky as he is a great sleeper so we have never had to buy any props to help him keep upright etc. I am about to try the other meds today so we will see how this goes. I have started weaning about 2 weeks ago, just with porridge, pear, apple and sweet potato, so far he has been great but it is a very slow process! Im not sure why the paed gave me the milk right away, she advised that the only way to make sure he is not cows milk intolerance is to try this milk and she felt she has had more sucess with neocate than other milks?

I just hope he grows out of it, but you kind of feel like you just get left to get on with it! I hope your little one gets there too, its a long road but hopefully it will improve.

Nottirednow - thanks for the tips just hope the new milk helps if not it will be back to the drawing board.

Reflux babies need to have smaller yet more frequent feeds. So you might be better off giving 4oz bottles more frequently until he can cope with bigger amounts or until he weans and needs less milk.

When weaning, be careful with solids that are acidic and allergenic as he could react to those too!

hi Iggly,

Yeah thinking we will need to go down this route, it is just that he doesn't ever seem that hungry! I already have a list of acidic and non acidic food stuffs so I know what to try and what not too as you say the could react to those also! It is just constant, there seems to be such a surge in babies with reflux problems now.

thanks for the advice

I think it's partly as mums are more aware of the signs of reflux.

It's frustrating and difficult but it will get easier I promise! DS is 19 months and life is a lot easier.

Hi there,

quick update, we started the neocate and only lasted 4 days!! He just won't drink it. so had to go back to normal formula, but wondering if we should try again, it is just so hard to get him to feed anything now. And now that he isn't eating enough he is waking up during the night screaming! HELP only just started the meds on thursday so they won't have kicked in yet.

Can you gradually mix in the neocatre? So start with 1oz of neocate mixed with usual formula (make each one separately then mix), then increase by an ounce a day to get used to the taste?

hi Iggly

sorry for the very very late response we did do that but no improvement, but since the drugs have kicked in (omperazole/domperidone) it is like a different child at feeding time! So far so good, its been 2 good weeks so fingers crossed x thanks for all your advice x