Docs appontment for possible reflux

[owltrousers]

Hi all,

I have an emergency apt with the doctor today for my 6 week old DS. Since about 4 weeks he's been displaying symptoms of silent reflux that have gradually been getting worse.

Last night he was absolutely inconsolable from 3pm - 8pm and would not take his bottle, usually its a struggle but every time he went to feed he cried more and spat the bottle out, it was heartbreaking because we could see he was starving. In the end he fell asleep and we let him sleep until 10 and then tried waking him for a feed as we were concerned he'd not had anything since 2 - he took this much better.

I'm feeding him hipp organic and he has 5oz bottles every 3 hours usually. We've already tried gaviscon for a week and a half and no change.

I've written a list of symptoms to take with me :

• pushing bottle away / refusing feeds
• spitting out milk
• choking /coughing when feeding
• congested sound after feeding
• often has milk in his mouth / throat
• worse after gripe water / infacol
• cries when laid flat
• only sleeps well at night, rest of the time 20 min naps

We've also got a video to show them of his typical feeding behaviour - which includes a lot of crying and spitting.

Do you think we've got a chance of them taking us seriously / helping us? I've heard its sometimes difficult to be heard with reflux. Also - whats the chances of them giving us something other than gaviscon, seeing as its already been tried?

I feel your pain! I’ve been through the exact same very recently and have been posting on here regularly for advice.
Definately show the doctor your video, I did the same and he prescribed ranitidine. Admittedly I haven’t started him on it yet, I’ve recently changed him onto hipp organic anti reflux milk and am persevering with this for a few days. It’s given him the poops, I’ve got a thread about this, but with help and support from fellow MNs and persevering.
Good luck! They started my little one on gaviscon but it didn’t do much, went back and he told me to stick with it. It took three appointments to get the ranitidine.

Hi @Smellybears thanks, I'm going to find your thread now.

We were majorly fobbed off - told colic and to try another milk and calpol!? I've already booked another appointment with a different doctor. She seemed to think because he is better in the mornings and putting on weight it can't be reflux.

My little one was putting weight on too which I think is why they didn’t want to give me anything. When I showed the doctor the video he could obviously see how much he was in distress and uncomfortable.
Everyone on here has been a great help

It’s so hard to get some GPs to take reflux seriously so you might well have to keep going back and being insistent. It certainly sounds like reflux and there isn’t always a loss of weight and I’ve not heard about being improved in the mornings as an indicator it isn’t reflux. Gaviscon tends to just cause constipation and not relieve the reflux. DGD was termed a ‘lazy’ baby by her GP because she only drank an ounce or so of formula under sufferance. In the end they paid for a private consultation out of desperation and ranitidine and a thickener for her milk made a difference though she only seemed to start actually enjoying her feeds at around 7 months. The pulling away from the bottle (esp if he arches his back while doing so) is classic reflux. I hope the other doctor is more clued up and constructive because it’s so stressful for all concerned.

Thanks @Thehamsterspajamas its so frustrating. I could see her looking concerned and typing away so I was hopeful... until she turned to me and said "it sounds like colic" noooo

I have another appointment on 20th, until then we'll try gaviscon and sma anti reflux.

I was told not to use reflux milk and gaviscon together because it’ll make the feed too thick. Double check with the gp

www.babydoc.com.au/faq/colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep/

Sorry things are tough. I think this article puts an interesting perspective on newborn behaviour.

Thanks @MrsPatrickDempsey - thats a pretty interesting article. I definitely think there is something to say about my baby being overstimulated by that time of day.

I have given DS anti reflux milk for 5 bottles now and the change is remarkable. He drinks the whole 4oz without a fuss, he doesn't seem to have any wind and he's slept like a log since.

Owltrousers that’s really good news!

Oh wow that’s great news owl. It must be such a joy to see him guzzling down 4oz with no crying and discomfort. Keep up the progress little owl.