Just our luck - 5 month reflux baby now has viral gastroenteritis...

[screaminghabdabs]

Juat when we'd cracked the reflux, she's been projectile vomiting and had diarrhoea for 5 days after catching gastroenteritis from a friend's 1 year old (thanks for warning us)
We've kept her off milk for 4 days as this produces an immediate vomit and have been trying sips of water 5-10ml and dioralyte on advice of GP (different to useless non-diagnosing reflux one) but she is refusing this now and is also now showing all signs of extreme reflux once again. She's not dehydrated at this point.
The Gp suggested staying off milk and losec/dopmeridome until she's better but she's SCREAMING again all day and night long in pain and probably hunger.
Why can't I give her the Losec? I think all the vomiting has opened up the soreness on her oesophagus and she needs treatnment.
I've taken her to the Harmoni clinic at the hospital and had advice from 2 gp's who keep repeating that she isn't dehydrated and to stick with water, but after 5 days????? Plus, their track record at diagnosing and/or understanding reflux is poor so feeling doubtful about their advice.
What to do? Any advice from reflux baby sufferers appreciated!

Anyone?

we had the same with our dd (but over 6 years ago - she got gastro when she was 4 months old and had reflux)

the Losec (that's omeprazole?) is a stomach acid inhibitor - so it reduces the acid in your tum and that acid can help fight off tummy infections. It works normally by reducing excess acid. I imagine it is wiser not to take it when she is ill and let her stomach fight off the bug on its own (without the natural acid being reduced) iyswim. I would follow the doctor's advice.

These bugs are horrid and they often advise you to avoid milk because a temporary lactose intolerance can follow (doesn't always happen but they give out this advice especially to those who have problem tums in the first place!).

Keep giving her water - if she is desperate for milk (and I assume you're bottle feeding?), you can try her with a non dairy formula.

kami, I'm not a doctor, or anything medical but I wonder whether the GP told her that as they are concerned that by taking the omeprazole, it could mask symptoms of the gastro getting worse (iyswim).

5 days is a long time to be poorly with gastro when you are only 5 months though.

What milk is she on?

it is awful kami and I'm so pleased to read that your dd is doing so much better

it isn't made any easier when you have unsympathetic doctors (and I know this only too well)

my first year of dd's life was ruled by reflux and then when she was 15 months, I had ds and he had it too

I often think there should be some sort of reflux charity to help mothers through these times (or at least be able to offer them advice)

I'm sorry I can't help more but I think if she is still poorly, it might be worth seeing if you can see a paed just to make sure you have been given the right advice re feeding and the meds

sorry I meant this bit

I'm sorry I can't help more but I think if she is still poorly, it might be worth seeing if you can see a paed just to make sure you have been given the right advice re feeding and the meds

for screaminghabdabs

but yes kami, I agree, it's a minefield. I'm glad you got to see the right person in the end and the medication worked out for you! I hope your dd carries on improving.

we'll get there in the end!

Thanks for the messages guys. I'm sobbing as I type this as I feel that I'm going out of my mind with worry. I can't believe that she's so poorly all over again and just when we thought she'd turned the corner. As your babies with reflux have both had similar experiences it would seem to make sense that the acid inhibtors perhaps allow the bug to linger for longer and the symptoms are therefore more extreme?? The little boy we think she caught it from was certainly over the puking/diarrhoea stage within 24 hours.

On the advice of the 2nd GP we tried giving her 5ml syringes of sterile water every 15 mins working up to 10ml, then 15ml etc in 2 hour blocks. She didn't get as far as 15ml before refusing and screaming as soon as the syringe came near her. Beaker no good either. We're also giving her 2.5ml calpol to help with tummy gripes. She's not on solids yet so she isn't missing out there. However, syringing regular amounts of water is not easy when on the school run with DD1!

I managed to explain the situation to the consultant's secretary at lunchtime and his response was to ignore the 3 gp's who have seen her, including the one at hospital, and start on the meds again immediately (don't any GP's know about reflux????) which we did and to try her again on small 5mls of milk. As it's nutramigen it shouldn't trigger a reaction.

5ml of milk went down well and she smiled for the first time in days, poor little mite except she then screamed for more. We managed to stick to this regime throughout the afternoon and increased it to 10 ml until we thought we'd try an ounce at bedtime to try and help her sleep as we've not slept for 4 nights now My what a puke! Feel absolutely awful and thoroughly f**ked off with it all.

I feel terrible for her and also DD1 as everything is revolving around the baby to the detriment of my 7 year old who is starting to get upset over the disturbed nights, lack of bedtime book etc whilst we cope with puke and sh*t. I've had enough!!!!!

Her nappies are still dry but the diarrhoea has decreased in volume, no doubt because she isn't keeping much down. Have to wait and see what tomorrow brings!

Kami, fantastic to hear how well Kamijnr is doing. Glad to hear there is a light at the end of the tunnel despite it seeming a hell of a long way off at the moment!

Morning! She slept fitfully between 8pm and 4am and since then has had 20mg Losec, 2ml domperidone and 5ml milk every 15 mins. No puking.... yet! Thanks for your support and kind words Kami, will keep you posted X

glad to hear she's doing better screaming! Yes, listen to the consultant and well done for being persistent enough to get through!

Dd was also on nutramigen when she was a baby(lovely smelling stuff, isn't it!)

Foxinsocks - Mmmmmmmmmm Nutramigen - BOIK!

She's up to 15ml but starting to refuse last few mls. And who can blame her, that stuff is vile!

Just wondering when my beautiful, precious 5 month old baby will stop smelling of vomit.... whether it be reflux induced or gastroenteritis

oh I know, it really is so hard isn't it

I hope it's not too long - some people see a noticeable improvement when they start sitting up. We didn't see one until a bit older (I think when she started walking) so don't get your hopes up but fingers crossed that things will start to improve very soon.

Hello, doing MUCH better with the milk consumption - 3oz every 1-2 hours for the last 48 hours so almost back to normal. Diarrhoea has stopped although she's still puking in the evening which I think maybe because the reflux meds have worn off from the morning. Today i split the losec - 1 in am and i'll give the 2nd last thing so we'll see. She's still waking up in the early hours and screaming for 2-3 hours though (and then puking after milk) so I gave her some solids today to see if it's because she's more hungry than usual. 1/2 a pear, fistfull of banana and a slice of kiwi later and big smiles all round along with frequent big girl poos ever since

Looks like we've turned the corner at last! She's lost a fair bit of weight unfortunately but I'm hoping starting solids will help her regain it. Thanks for your advice and support xxx

good news! what a relief!

first time seen this thread - but as a mother of a child who had severe GORD - I wanted to post.

So sorry to hear your lo has been poorly - but pleased she is improving.

Few comments from me, FWIW. 1) mDuring ilness spells dont stop the meds (unless on advice of specialist). I was told same thing by uselss GPs, but reminded my cons that losec etc etc helps when they have a bug. 2) Refluxers know how to be sick. ie they do it with ease, IYKWIM. Therefore their bodies use it as a mechanism for getting rid of bugs easily - whereas other kids may not, IYKWIM. 3) they do stop smelling of vomit eventually... 4) Nutramigen is the most vile stuff in the whole world and you have my full empathy x