Reflux in older children?

[Anxiousmummy87]

Hi my son is 4, few years ago if I gave my son milk on an evening he’d wake up screaming and then vomit but it was like it was stuck in his throat ( he has a weak gag reflex so may not be initially vomiting ) I cut out milk and he was fine, he had a bar of chocolate one night and did the same. But since then been fine.

Lastnight he had a ham sandwich after school, then some chilli in a bread cake, I heard Him in night drinking his water and then he woke up crying about 4am I got up and he was doing what he did a few years ago, like trying to vomit but just spitting up spit, saying his tummy hurt and continued to do this and was like he was choking but he wasn’t like he had stomach stuck in throat, he kept patting to his throat chest and then after he did this he coughed a bit of spit and was fine like nothing had happened. I am wondering if it’s reflux? It’s not happened since 2018. Has anyone else’s child got reflux when they’ve been older ? He does lay flat I may get him another pillow. He may not do it again but it scares me everytime when I went to doctors before i suggested milk allergy cos I took milk from him And he didn’t do it again, he’s not had milk yesterday that I’m aware of. I’m such an anxious person especially with health anxiety so I’m like what’s happening 😩 thank you

My ds is 7 and still has reflux he has had it from a baby very similar sounding symptoms he had a gastroscopy aged 2 that showed mild reflux we thought it was gone for a while but definitely back now he takes lasoprazole and gaviscon.

I’d get to the gp medication can really make a difference. My ds had a milk allergy as a baby but did grow out of it. Are you sure there was no milk in the bread cake there is milk in scary amounts of things you wouldn’t think. If it’s caused by milk allergy it would be easier to solve.

Hope your little ones ok it’s hard to find information on reflux in older children.

@Anxiousmummy87 Ds was very poorly with reflux as a baby, had prescription formula and was under the care of a paediatrician. He would wake regularly within hours of going to sleep with reflux until he was almost 9, and would need to drink milk to soothe the acid burn. He is now 15 and still has reflux but less frequent episodes. He cannot eat large portions of food having said that he is still 5'10".

Your son could be having reflux episodes but sort of still staying asleep and on other occasions he wakes as it is either a more severe feeling or it could just be when it occurs in his sleep cycle.

When they are little it is hard for them to articulate what they are feeling. I would get him a supportive pillow to prop him a little bit which may help and also have a drink ready in case he needs it for the burning feeling.

If it's a one off and not happened for years I would take it as 'one of those things' and just monitor it. It very possibly has nothing to do with those previous episodes. Just see how he is today and tonight and go from there :)

Thank you guys. He woke this morning I asked if it burned anyway when he was trying to be sick he said yes and showed me and it was throat chest area so I am assuming acid. The bread bun was a brioche one so milk one but he’s usually ok with a little bit of milk
As doctors said to give him in still
I’m bits but not large amounts. Maybe it was combination of the tomato based chilli and the bread cake I’ll Keep an eye on him See if it reoccurs

He’s just done it again, he says his tummy
Hurts then he like groans and flops back, stops himself from being sick I think. I asked where it hurt and he can’t say when he’s having the tummy ache so it must be painful.

My mind is like is he having a seizure ?
Appendix?

He’s like it a minute or so and he’s fine after. I’ve give him a bit of gaviscon will see how he goes today and ring doctor.

@Anxiousmummy87 if you can film him it helps the GP see what he is actually doing when talking about how he feels. Far easier for them to see it than you having to describe it.

I definitely would have contacted the GP after this morning too.

We saw doctor and he had projectile vomited in the doctors office he now has runs and children who have been here (I’m a childminder) all have sickness and runs too 🤢