Hello. My 7mo is meant to be having a pH test for silent reflux on Monday, and we're in a real dilemma about whether to go ahead with it or not.
He has been a shocking feeder from day 1, pulling off, arching his back and crying whenever I feed him. Being distracted with a 3 year old, I didn't realise he also wasn't putting on any weight. When I did, I went to our very nice GP who diagnosed silent reflux and prescribed ranitidine, and also suggested I saw a breastfeeding counsellor. The breastfeeding counsellor realised he was very tongue tied and arranged for it to be cut.
Things improved a bit, but he still found feeding hard and wasn't putting on weight, so we were referred to the children's hospital. They suspected a dairy and soya allergy, so I excluded those from my diet and things again improved a bit, but he would still wake every hour/hour and a half through the night, often in pain.
At our next appointment at the hospital, I asked if there was a different reflux medicine we could try as the ranitidine didn't seem to be working as well as it might. He was changed to omeprazole, but the paediatrician also said she wanted him to have a pH test, which involves putting a tube into their stomach for 24 hours to monitor the acidity levels. Things still aren't normal (whatever that is) but the omeprazole seems to be making a noticeable difference - for the first time ever he has slept a few 4 or 5 hour stretches, he's dozed off a few times while feeding (I had a little cry the first time that happened) and generally seems a more content baby.
I have tried to talk to the consultant to ask if we still need to do the test given the omeprazole seems to be working, and have been told if we don't go ahead we will be discharged from the hospital. I don't want this to happen - among other things they are monitoring his calcium levels which I think is really important given he isn't having any dairy.
The consultant told me that the reason they want to do the pH test is to confirm silent reflux either way. The problem is from what I understand it quite often comes back inconclusive, if it comes back positive they won't be able to do anything differently because he is already on the strongest medication they can give a baby, and if it is negative they may want us to stop the omeprazole even though it has made a definite difference. I've spent all week trying to talk to the consultant to ask her what would happen if the results are negative or inconclusive but have had no answer.
Is there anyone out there who has been through this? I'd find it really helpful to hear anyone else's experience of going through this. Thanks so much - and sorry for such a looooong post!