Reflux, but no sick?

[LaTristesse]

Morning ladies...
So, a question - can my DS (7 weeks) have reflux even though he's not sick?
He has a lot of the symptoms - inconsolable crying at and after feeds, cramping, abdominal pain, very windy gut but minimal burpage after feeds, legs coming up and thrashing about, some snuffly breathing etc - but is gaining weight nicely (exclusively breast fed) and is hardly ever sick - the occasinal silent reflux (bits of white around mouth etc but not actual vomit).
So could this still be reflux?
I'm getting a little tired of feeling fobbed off with the 'he'll get over it' response - would rather try him on Gaviscon if it'll help him out poor chap...
Any advice gratefully received.

Silent reflux is what you should look up - sorry to dash but had to reply to you

hiya, my DS (14 wks) also has these symptoms and I also got fed up with being fobbed off with GP saying 'it's colic' when clearly it isn't . So I demanded a referral to a paediatrician! Had to really push for it. Said referral has only just come through but I'm glad to at least be doing something about it. I investigated silent reflux on the net and it seems like the symptoms our LOs have are this. Health visitors don't seem to think anything is a prob if the baby is putting on weight but IMO that's not good enough...okay he's not wasting away or anything but he spends large portions of the day feeling really uncomfortable and in pain. I can let you know what the paediatrician says if that would be helpful; we're seeing him the week after next (good job it's nothing life-threatening hey!).

Yes it can be - many babies respond to silent reflux by overeating so gain weight just fine.

Interesting stuff, thanks for your replies.
Amy, yes I'd love to hear what your Paed has to say on the subject - I get the feeling I'm going to have to push for anything to happen too - why do the Pros seem to think being in pain isn't enough of a problem to do anything about?
I'll do some reading on silent reflux now...
Thanks all!

Just a word of warning, ladies: Infant Gaviscon is a real pain to give to BF babies IMO.

DS4 7 weeks has reflux (usually silent, but at times with impressive possets) and Gaviscon clearly helps the spitting up. Infant Gaviscon is simply a thickener. I make it up as instructed on the pack and then give it with a medicine syringe. Unfortunately DS4 hates it so much that he gets so hysterical it makes him throw up -gah!

So I reserve it for particularly big feeds ie when he has slept a long time and seems to gulp a lot/fast.

You can give it a bottle with FF or EBM but mine does not accept teat, doh!

BTW posseting/reflux/regurgitation are all the same thing. Most babies will have it to some degree as it is to do with the muscle at the top of the stomach being immature. It is really only worth treating if the baby is distressed (as yours are of course) or if wt gain is a problem.

Good luck. It does get better with time

Pacific, we found that ds got used to the Gav and would take it well from a bottle before a feed (not advised on the packet, but doc said it was ok).

BUT he got really constipated with it. You can't win sometimes...

Good luck with it. For what it's worth, ds's pain with the reflux got better v quickly (at about 2 months) and the puke has nearly stopped now he's on solids at 6mo. We gave up gaviscon once solids were established.

You can get meds that control the acid (and so the pain) but not the puke

Oh thanks, mistress.
I thought about giving it before a feed...

And yes, I will ask GP for Omeprazole as he does seem in sudden pain at times with 'wet' burp and squealing scream

DS2 had really bad reflux and if I did not know better I'd have sworn that the Barium meal he had at 6 months cured him - of course it coincided with introduction of solids and that settled the problem.

silent reflux is reflux without the milk vomit!

hi LaTristesse, I tried to send you an individual message but it wouldn't let me! Send me one and I will fill you in about what the paediatrician said! Amy

Hi, had to top up with expressed milk or Formula from day 8 as baby lost over 12% of her weight. Now 3 1/2 weeks and trying to go back to exclusive breastfeeding.

Can't keep her on! Lasts 2 mins at a time, max, and either draws her legs up in pain and falls off or she's very windy and cries shrilly immediately on being lifted up to pat her back. Cries before opening her eyes when waking as well without fail. Help!