Can a baby with Silent Reflux who is unsettled all day sleep OK at night??

[rowanrowow]

DS is 6 weeks old,. screams and cries all day, very very rare moments of contenment Yet at night time, after much back arching, pulling off feeds, crying, dummy sucking goes to sleep and sleeps OK til next feed 3 hours later. How does he do this when day time sleeps are a night mare? I am desperately seeking a diagnosis for him, he is so so unsettled every waking moment. Can't feed without back arching, going red, gagging, crying. Yet when he does posset it doesn't seem to to cause him any pain. Help what's going on?

Rowan, when we eventually went up to the hospital with our one, whilst waiting for the paeditrician a children's nurse saw him arch his back coupled with a high pitch scream whilst appearing to be in pain, told us that this was classic reflux symptoms.

Keep badgering the Dr about this as your HV doesn't sound to be very supportive. Just remember that it will pass.

Hi Rowan, lots of good advice here. Your HV is talking complete rubbish, please ignore her. It's astounding how little is understood about reflux, silent reflux or CMPI. I was 'lucky' as my DS was premature so I got regular appointments with a specialist. I have yet to find a HV or GP who really knows what they are talking about on this subject. I just asked my GP for certain meds that I had read about, which wasn't ideal. To get Aptamil Pepti I had to get the hospital to ask for it as they wouldn't prescribe it.

Someone suggested buying a formula and trying it out. That's a really good idea, they can be hard to track down but if you try it and it makes a big difference then you could confidently demand it. I would really try to push for a referral to a dietician.

I am sorry you are having such a tough time. Your HV has said some things that are dreadful and so unhelpful. Trust your instincts, of course you are not loving him too much.

Also, I FF because I could never get DS to breastfeed, he was too young and then his reflux made it impossible, you just go with the flow of what's been dealt, don't beat yourself up about it.

Sorry, I was also going to say, ask the GP for Omeprazole. I did manage to get this prescribed. It blocks stomach acid so if it is silent reflux it will help. You need the tablets, the liquid is impossible and less effective. You dissolve half a tablet (5mg) in a small amount of boiled water, then get a 1ml syringe and suck up the liquid and dissolved tablet (the important thing is to get the little grains up) and give it to your baby. It sounds like a faff but that's the best way to do it and it should really help you.

You've had some great advice here, and as the Mum of a DD (now one) who had silent reflux in the early months, I know exactly what you're going through. The reflux support thread is always really good.

I would probably be mainly repeating what others say if I gave any advice here, but I did want to say to you.....he won't remember this, and it does pass, it's now a distant memory for us, thankfully. But it's horrid going through it. Get to the Drs, and keep going back and back, and stamp your feet if you need to, to get the right help for him.

D

I'm convinced my 3 week old has this. But she won't settle at night at all. Have seen GP, HV and nurse practitioner - none of whom seem concerned that she's obviously in pain for around 20 out of every 24 hours as dc is gaining weight and not vomiting. Only stops crying when upright, so have used sling for a little while today which has helped during the day. Have also come off dairy, so fingers crossed that helps. Worried that all the crying and sleep deprivation will damage her developing brain, so planning to return to GP on Monday and beg for medication.

Mine was the same, not happy (understatement) and no sleep in the day but out like a log at night. Omeprazole stopped the pain and made her happier in day but sleep was still rubbish. Would only have two 40min naps in day.she outgrew this when she went down to one nap and would do 1.5-2hrs.
We were able to stop meds just before 6months as she outgrew the silent reflux.

Sorry just noticed zombie thread

Reading all the comments here, especially yours rowanrowow, has made me feel better and understood. I was starting to think that my baby is the only one who cries and suffers like this as no one in my big circle of family and friends had experienced or heard of anything like this, nor did any of the numerous health professionals I came across mentioned the possibility of reflux making my baby so miserable. Feeling helpless to make your baby feel better, while family and friends being oblivious to what a normal day was for baby and me, was really hard.

I do not know if my baby's cry is due to reflux. I just (today) managed to get my GP to admit reflux could be a cause (after reading online forums such as this) and has thus prescribed Gavison. Either way, I feel not alone anymore.

Sending my love to all the mums and dads who are dealing with something similar.