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Children's health

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Original poster

Silent reflux? Or just colic..

18 replies

Ruthy1994 · 29/10/2015 07:13

Hello, I would really appreaciate some advice, any advice... I wish I joined here earlier!

My baby is 4 weeks old and I've always struggled with settling her and sleeping ect due to her being in pain/discomfort... I thought it was just the harsh reality of having a baby or colic, but recently I'm thinking silent reflux....

The only way she sleeps is being sat up right, she only ever catnaps and never sleeps properly, ever! She feeds well but sometimes faffs... After every feed I'm spend hours sometimes trying to wind her and she instantly screws her face up and cries... She gaggs a lot and brings little bits of milk up but swallows a lot. Her breath constantly smells, I can tell she comfort feeds a lot too..
She sounds really mucusey still, coughing ect... Allways sticking her tongue out and pulling a face, any advice thank you so much

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Snert26 · 29/10/2015 21:21

hi im not an expert and best to get baby checked out put your mind at rest but to me it sounds like colic or perhaps upset stomach, my son had reflux trouble and had op at 4 weeks old and he used to projectile vomit everywhere after every feed. one of my kids i have 3 was and still is a shockingly bad sleeper some babies are just like that and some do like cuddles. however one thing ive learnt the hard way if you are worried speak to gp or even pop into your local chemist for advise first or even health visitor. could be just as simple as trapped wind and the chemist or health visitor could perhaps recomend somthing. my kids are older now and im out of touch with baby things like what can help with colic etc.

Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 30/10/2015 03:16

Oh no I hope your little one is ok now :(
I spoke to the go they called me and he was pretty sure of silent reflux and she isn't very sicky but has a lot of the other symptoms.
I thought colic but tried Infacol, gripe, colief to try and help but nothing did
He prescribed me infant gaviscon too try for the week, it could just be co incidental but she's had 2 feeds with it and has slept through woke up and back asleep again! I'm really hoping its the gaviscon helping...
She enjoys cuddles yes but when she's screaming the place down for 40 mins she doesn't no herself what she wants, I just try and focus on the fact that it will pass, and too make sure she's not chocking from working herself up!

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DancingDinosaur · 30/10/2015 03:22

Hmm sounds like silent reflux. Dc1 had reflux and used to brung lots back up, dc2 had silent reflux and was in a lot of pain but didn't bring much back up. He was given gaviscon, which didn't help much, but I took him to a chiropractor which helped a little. Then he grew out of it at around 9 months, thank goodness.

Snert26 · 30/10/2015 13:36

at least now you have taken the first steps to deal with it and will hopefully help.. my little one is now 13 and is fine. mine other child used to scream blue murder for hours poor neighbours lol but would only sleep for few hours a night if i was lucky and cat nap during the day.

glad you seeked gp advice tho.

Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 30/10/2015 18:21

Oh no that sounds exactly like my little one:( I'm glad there okay now though. I'm not too sure what to do, she may just be a windy unhappy baby. But since feeding her today/ yesterday she gets a rash on her face, one thing after another. Maybe I whittle too much but better to be safe! Off to walk in centre I think!

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twilight81 · 30/10/2015 23:33

Sounds exactly like my son when he was a baby, he had terrible silent reflux which we later found out was made worse due having a hiatus hernia.
He was rarely sick but would make swallowing noises, sounded congested, strained all the time and spent most of his time screaming. He also fed very little and often, only ever taking a 3 ounce bottle at a time, never any more. We went through all the diff medications, had barium swallow, endoscopy and overnight ph study.. All this during his first 15 months. Lanzoprazole worked best for him in the end.

Snert26 · 30/10/2015 23:53

Ruthy

its natural to worry esp with babies and even with my 3rd (now12) you worry lol but most deffo better safe than sorry.

Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 31/10/2015 00:39

Oh no I hope your son is okay now! That sounds crazy... :( I can't Imagen the stress and worry...

Snert, Aww I'm a bad worrier, I Spose it shows a good bond that I'm bothered! And your kinda will appreaciate it when there older, it shows you care even if he is now 12

I ended up taking her to the urgent care centre, he was a lovely man and seemed to think the rash was front the gaviscon, some sort of reaction but did a examination on her and said everything else is fine , as the rash was the main worry!
He couldn't understand why the gp prescribed gaviscon over the phone when she isn't very sicky at all... I can understand what he means.. That's why I thought maybe silent reflux, it's hard to differ between colic and silent reflux... In a way..
I'm not sure what to do now but maybe another trip to the gp to descus the reflux concerns, if it is that! Hmmmm

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Cirsium · 31/10/2015 00:58

Sounds very like DD who was diagnosed with silent reflux at around 6 weeks. I would wake up to her spluttering and choking in her cot beside me but she was very rarely actually sick. Ranitidine worked wonders, and we used Boots gripe mixture for a while too (it is different to Woodward one). She came off ranitidine successfully for a couple of months when she started solids but we have put her back on it recently as she gad symptoms again.

Cirsium · 31/10/2015 01:00

Ranitidine reduces and neutralise acid, whereas Gaviscon keeps stomach contents down, so I think ranitidine worked better for DD as vomiting wasn't an issue. Gaviscon made her constipated.

Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 01/11/2015 15:40

I went too the urgent care centre this morning as last night / early hours this morning it was the worst she has been. Was really poorly due to non stop screaming for hours with the odd 10 minute break. She's exausted :( 2 doctors have now said its reflux and too take the gaviscon... I'm going too ring the gp in the morning and demand some different medicine or help, it can't be ignored and me as a mum can't cope with it! ( I hate to use that word!) they have referred me to the peadatrician, I just can't understand why I'm being told too use gaviscon when she's not a sicky baby I say more sikent reflux

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angelacameron · 01/11/2015 20:13

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swashbucklecheer · 01/11/2015 20:19

I found carobel very good for ds. He had reflux and ended up admitted to hospital with weight loss. Carobel in his milk to thicken it and keep it down and ranitidine also to help the acid

LIZS · 01/11/2015 20:26

Silent Reflux just means she isn't vomiting. The milk is still being regurgitated from her stomach and causing symptoms like heartburn, hence the gaviscon. Opinion on treatment is divided though, if you are breastfeeding changing into a more upright position and sitting her upright afterwards may help, for formula you can get thickened formula or add a thickener to it to help it stay down. Can you incline her cot so she lies with head higher. Sometimes they outgrow it and solids stay down better , but for others symptoms persist and they get worse with mobility at least until they walk.

NewBallsPlease00 · 01/11/2015 23:19

My ds1 had awful sr, gavisgon helped a tough but as with others made constipated and as BF was a faff
Ds2 is a tiny newborn, we had a magical week of him being a chilled baby before reflux has landed
Deference between them only sick
Pain etc same for both and no sleep

Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 02/11/2015 09:45

Ahhhh thank you for explaing it, I think some doctors are clueless with this...
I'm sorry to hear about your baby being admitted to hospital that's terrible. I'm very lucky her weight weigh is good really as she isn't sick a lot at all, but over the weekend it seems to be getting worse. Last night was a real good night thou. Fed, winded and back asleep sitting up, I couldn't believe it. Don't no weather it's the gaviscon or just a fluke!
The gp is calling me today, going to explain how bad she was over the weekend and I'm hoping they will prescribe something else to help... It seems you have to push abit as they just fob off gaviscon... Just makes me sad and she has this terrible rash, they checked it on the weekend and said maybe heat rash or the detergent I use, although now it's on her chest

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Original poster

Ruthy1994 · 02/11/2015 09:45

Thank you for everyone's responses, it really does help.. Thank you

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Snert26 · 03/11/2015 11:55

hi Ruthy

Hope things are going ok my daughter who is 12 years is suffering from what the gp thinks is a reflux problem where the stomach acid leaks out ...my daughter has had raging guts ache and on and off diahrrea for 6 weeks now and beleve me i feel your pain. my daughter is being refuredon to hospital.

good luck

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