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Reflux vs Wind

11 replies

retailgirl · 15/12/2008 23:10

My four week old dd was diagnosed with reflux by a GP (not our usual one) and I was told to give her gaviscon but now my HV says it's not reflux it's wind and told me to give her Infacol. I'm really confused. She's forcefully thrown up (she's breastfeeding) about eight times in four weeks a couple of times twice in a day (which is why I took her to the GP) then once the next then nothing for a few days then starts again. It tends to be in the early hours of the morning. Her tummy is very distended after feeding and she doesn't wind well. She sometimes suddenly cries out but doesn't really cry a lot as a rule but can look like she's pained when she's asleep. She also sometimes arches, seemingly in pain when she feeds, hiccups a lot (but did in my tummy too) and can choke when feeding. My GP is back from hols next week so I was going to give her the infacol until then and go for a second opinion. Not sure if this is relevant but she takes quite short feeds (usually around 10 mins, sometimes she'll cry, go on for five mins then go to sleep only to wake again 20 mins later and start again). She's also really cut back feeds in the last couple of days (she was doing around 2hours a day, then rose to four but is now back to 2hours 30). I'm keeping her upright after feeds and we've started a dummy at night as this seems to settle her. I'm very confused - I'd hate her to be suffering if I choose the wrong thing to treat. Any ideas?

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firsttimemama · 15/12/2008 23:44

It does sound like reflux to me - She probably has wind too. I have just started my lo on Infant gaviscon and I'm using infacol too. Both are IMO pretty inoffensive and it has stopped the projectile vomiting and my ds can now take about 100ml of his bottle in one sittitng 60ml was the max previously and then h would take another 30 an hour later. My DD also had infant gaviscon. Hope this helps. M Ds is 2 weeks old btw. I also think the gaviscon helps with the wind too oh and the hiccups have gone.

retailgirl · 16/12/2008 11:32

Thanks - after last night I definitely think it's reflux with a bit of wind. There's a bile smell on her breath sometimes and there's a lot of noise from her tummy when she feeds.

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MollieO · 16/12/2008 13:36

My ds had very bad reflux as a baby that was initially misdiagnosed as wind. He either vomited or projectile vomited after every feed and neither Gaviscon or Infacol did anything. He grew out of it at about 8 months but he struggled to put on weight because he couldn't keep anything done. He was sick very easily if that makes sense. No pain, but literally as soon as he had finished feeding it would just come up with force. Usually projectile - ie several feet distance but not always so.

I'd get a second opinion.

needmorecoffee · 16/12/2008 13:39

whats the difference between 'reflux' and possiting? I thought babies were naturally sicky?

sasamax · 16/12/2008 13:50

Yeah the OP sounds like my DD - I just always assumed she was a 'windy sicky baby' and treated with infacol. She gorged herself on milk so brought some back up at every feed, did all the back arching and general painful windy stuff but put weight on fantastically so I wasn't worried. She still needs infacol every night at 6 months and it def makes a big difference. She's sick a lot less often now too.
Hmmm - hope I didn't miss a reflux problem....I feel guilty now

MollieO · 16/12/2008 13:52

ime reflux is bringing up 95% of the feed immediately after feeding, sometimes projectile. Possiting is a little bit of sick after winding. My ds would completely soak two muslins after every feed.

retailgirl · 16/12/2008 18:19

It's so difficult to tell isn't it? I just hate to see her in discomfort - and it's definitely getting worse (although not the vomiting). Could I ask anyone who used Gaviscon or Infacol - did you use it with every feed or just when you thought the problem was worse? Would taking it a couple of times a day help ease the problem? If you used them both how did you take them? The pharmacist said to take the Infacol two hours apart from the Gaviscon, but the HV said take the Infacol 20 mins before the feed. Sorry to be thick but I'm operating on three hours sleep and so am feeling more stupid than usual

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firsttimemama · 17/12/2008 10:48

The gaviscon goes in every bottle and I used the infacol before each feed to.

rubyslippersisappearinginpanto · 17/12/2008 10:51

it sounds like reflux not wind

the back arching is such a classic sign

the infacol won't hurt but it won't help the reflux just help bring the wind up

IME, HVs are not clued up about reflux and TBH i think the GP is correct

my DS had silent reflux and only really improved once on meds (ranitadine and domperidone)

Spaceman · 17/12/2008 11:00

It does sound like reflux. My DS is 8 months and is still suffering from it. I went to the docs and they gave him Gaviscon, but I stopped using it as it seemed to lock in the nastiness, stop him throwing up and make it more painful for him. There's not a lot you can do to be honest - just prepare yourself for a rocky ride, a lot of disturbed sleep and a huge mountain of washing. In desperation I am taking my DS to an osteopath - you may want to try it yourself. He's only had one treatment and I think he seems a little more settled.

BTW the HV's told me that he was 'just a sicky baby' until I drove home the point that I was coping with rivers of sick all the time, arched back screaming for three hours every day and only six hours of broken sleep a night and they then said I should therefore go to the docs. I do think HV's think you're just being an hysterical mum if you complain you have a puker.

retailgirl · 17/12/2008 22:40

Thanks - all this is really helpful - did any of you find that it seemed to be much better for a few days then get worse? Today she seems absolutely fine - no arching, no pain, happily feeding with just normal spit up. I didn't have cereal and milk this morning, just toast and am wondering if that could be the key as I understand there is a link to milk intolerance? I'm not sure how long things take to get in your milk. It also occured to me that I've been on metronidazole and erythromycin for a week ( before that was on erythromycin on its own) and today would be the first time all antibiotics are out of my system (I think metronidazole take 48 hours) - am wondering if she had a reaction to that. Of course she could be worse tomorrow

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