Could silent reflux be waking her?

[Laurenypops]

My dd of 8.5 months was diagnosed with silent reflux at 10 weeks, and has been on gaviscon since. We are currently 2 months into weaning, and for the majority of that time she has woken about an hour after going to bed, in what appears to be pain. She eats well, although has just started with slight gagging, and always settles herself to sleep from awake without a problem. We have given her calpol in the past, assuming that it could be teething, and this often soothes her instantly. Could this be soothing the burning in her throat? I can't remember a night when she has slept right through since she was 6 months.

Any thoughts or experiences would be gratefully received.

Hi,
My view would be that unless she's refluxing during the day (especially around feed times), it probably isn't reflux that is waking her.

I'm in an identical position. My DD has severe reflux and is on quite a drug cocktail - losec, ranitidine, losec. She also hasn't slept through in months. At first, we reckoned it was due to losing her dummy so we got rid of it. Things have definitely improved but she still wakes between 1-3 times a night and I'm putting it down to teething as she is still gummy.

We've given our daughter Medised when it gets very bad and yes, that settles her almost instantly as well.

MammyT does your dd have non-silent reflux or reflux as there are differences????

Lauren I think it could be a factor are you still giving her gaviscon with every meal?

Could be but also there may be other factors. Make sure you are elevating the head end of her cot and try not to put her down straight after a meal then see hwo she goes. What foods do you feed her late on, perhaps avoid anything too acidic like fruit or which may disagree with her ?

She has had both at different times! At first, she was definitely a non-silent refluxer which immediately notified us of a problem. When we had her on her first meds, she becamse more of a silent refluxer with terrible oesophagitis.

Now she is a combination. If we reduce or change the meds, she becomes sicky and the oesophagitis comes back.

Lauren - could you go back to your doctor to see if they could put her on Domperidone and/or Ranitidine to see if that would help?

Thanks all for your responses.

Cargirl, I am still giving her gaviscon with her milk feeds. Can you give gaviscon with solids? I always assumed you didn't need to, but I might have got this wrong.

We have elevated the cot, but it doesn't seem to have made any drastic difference. I have made an appointment for the doctors today, as she was just so distraught last night, just like she was before the reflux was diagnosed. When she does settle, presumably once the pain has subsided, she stays asleep ie 10.30pm until 7am. MammyT, could your dd be hungry? We went through a stage of our dd waking continually through the night (not reflux), and our HV suggested a couple of teapoons of baby rice before the last bottle, which worked for us.

As I'm sure anyone dealing with reflux would agree, and my dd's is only mild, it clouds everthing and makes identifying your baby's needs so hard, because you never really now if it could be that.

yes you can give reflux with solids. Best way to mix it up is with a little warm water in a small lidded container and shake hard then syringe it in! Not sure if they do liquid stuff and they just don't like pescribing it due to cost. Perhaps it's worth a try. Hope the dr is helpful today.

Anyone have problems with using infant gaviscon.? My daughter was put on it for reflux and wind at about 6 weeks. she is now 13 weeks and over the last 4 or 5 weeks has been refusing feeds, crying to be fed and then turning away from bottle and crying while feeding and arching back etc, Health visitor no use. searched internet and discovered all symptoms of silent reflux and that gaviscon can sometimes make things worse. I have stoppped her gaviscon and she is now a lot better but still has reflux and dont know where to go from here. Med staff not much help. Anyone have anything similar and could help?