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!

kami - DS2 is now 2 yrs 8 mnts and I would say he is over it now. It gradually got better and better from about 18 months and from 2 yrs has hardly been noticeable. And he has been off all meds since 2 yrs too! () But I think he will always have a tendancy to suffer in that area tho, IYKWIM. And he burps a lot now, which causes discomfort sometimes. DS1 has silnet reflux (only recently diagnosed - he has other digestive probs, congenital, and this was picked up during tests). It doesnt bother him day to day but now we 'know' it is obvious, IYKWIM.

{{{{{hugs to all those with refluxers}}}}} I can remember the feelings of total and utter despair very well But, it does get better

mine were fully rid of it at about 12-18 months I'd say

but even now, at age 5 and 6, they can vomit at the drop of a hat and (tmi) if they have a big burp, they'll still tend to bring food back up into their mouths!!

Also, with every v snotty cold, comes the risk of a vomit from being so blocked up - the reflux goes but you still need to keep one eye on the 'easy to vomit' situation!

foxinsocks - you put it all so well - and I agree with everything you said!

Hi Screaminghabdabs

Just wanted to add a note of support - we've had it this week and I've got it myself (wash your hands like you've got OCD won't you?)
Good luck, I know how horrid this is.

lol

sorry to hear about your ds1 losty but I hope, now that it's been diagnosed, they can help him with medication etc.

Really interesting stuff Losty, thanks. Out of interest, did you or has anyone else noticed a difference regarding the timings of giving meds, specifically Losec? And how much was your LO on each day? My (useless) GP has advised giving 20mg (ie 2 MUP tablets) together in the morning, the consultant says it doesn't matter when they're given and hearsay from other mums of refluxers maintain splitting the dose to morning and evening? Perhaps it depends on the baby?

Kami, thanks for the banana tip, will watch this. Any other no-no foods, other than obviously high citrus ones we should avoid or limit?

Thanks for your thoughts everyone

Just spotted this thread screaming, and wanted to say pleased that you now consider the reflux to be under control, but for you for the gastro. Glad she's on the mend again now though, and hope she continues to improve.

Cross posted screaming.

On the foods to avoid thing, def dairy, and leave all citrus til after a year. Tomatoes are also very acidic. Hang on, there's a website with a list somewhere, I'll see if I can find it....

DS2 had his before every meal (and before that before every bottle). IME it giving it all in one go was about as helpful as throwing the tablets in the bin. After a while you begin to feel more confident to experiment with how you give the meds (after all, you know your child better than anyone else). I am not suggesting you start giving them here there and everywhere without medical advice - but sometimes only you can tell what works best for your child IYKWIM.

Thank you

crikey, I was on that does of Losec (20mg)

I found that taking the Losec at night mucked up my sleeping - I have no idea why that is or whether that has the same effect on children.

Taking it in the morning seemed to work far better (and taking it as soon as I woke up). I also found that it worked better the longer I took it if that makes sense.

I have no idea whether it works differently with babies as they didn't prescribe it for reflux when mine were little!

I can't find the link I was after screaming, and am off to bed now, but will have another search for it tomorrow for you.

Thank you very much. Have a good sleep! x

Excellent Kami! Thanks I'll have a good read

That's the one I was looking for! I was on the right site, but couldn't find the page!

God, can't believe I didn't find this site before The stuff on getting a doctor to take you seriously brings it all back

I'm so grateful for all the advice on reflux I've received on mumsnet. I can't imagine what sort of state we'd be in now if I hadn't made that first post about my DD2 screaming all the time when being fed. Thank you all so much {{{{{big hugs to mumsnet}}}}} xxx

I know what you mean screaming

I only WISH I had had mumsnet or even just someone who KNEW what they were doing when mine were little

I was fobbed off by the GP, by everyone in fact - the whole experience nearly destroyed me mentally and has completely put me off having any more children EVER!!

After our expeiences of dealing with a reflux baby, my DH has told me in no uncertain terms that if I want any more children it will have to be with someone else as he'll be off

Sadly, I think Johnny Depp already has his hands full with his own kids so guess I'll have to call it quits at 2

Kami, I was heartbroken when I was told to STOP BF by my f***g useless GP and HV because it was my technique/milk/PND that was upsetting her and causing her to scream. Of course, I know now that it had nothing to do with that and the BF counsellors that I contacted and saw on numerous occasions all said my technique was fine. I also know I was producing milk as I have big knockers and the milk would fire across the room when I kept checking for reassurance!

HV even told me to get my mum to stay for the weekend so she could hold the baby until my milk dried up so that my daughter wouldn't be able to smell it on me and go wild No wonder I became depressed! We both felt awful.... So much for promoting breast is best!

Being a bolshie git (and also extremely annoyed) I printed off a copy of the reflux symptoms that I was given in my first MN posting and gave them both a copy to refer to in the future...