Feeding help, carobel & gaviscon

[ifoundthebread]

4 month old son been diagnosed with reflux. Tried gaviscon and he got awful constipation, tried the anti reflux milk and again caused awful constipation and ruined his sleep pattern and routine. Spoke to Dr again and he's prescribed carobel and gaviscon to be given. Surely this can't be right? Why would I give 2 thickening antacid powders in the same bottle. Any ideas?

My ds was also diagnosed with reflux. He was given carobel and omoprizol.

Carobel is horrible stuff. It made him bloated and constipated. He was only pooing once a week. After his poo he would be OK but that as the days went on he became more and more unhappy, until we had a inconsolable screaming child.

Omoprizol can also cause reflux as a side effect. Depends what Dr you ask but some will tell you there is no real evidence that gavascon, omoprizol or renitadine actually work on babies.

I decided to stop all the medication, instead ds was held upright for 20 minutes after a feed and slept on a tilted bed. He was much happier off the medication. Then once we started weening all the problems went away. I just stuck to none acidic food. If he had really bad acid attack I gave him calpol.

It's up to you to decide what is best for your little one but I've not really heard many success stories about medicating reflux. Medicating reflux is a very recent thing and babies coped before. There are also other thickening agents avaliable but the NHS won't pay for or recommend them. The only reason carobel is approved for babies is because cow and Gate make it and paid to have it tested.

Oh I also put him on hipp organic as it has a probiotic in it that helps with digestion. You can also add a child's probiotic to any formula. I also tried the anti reflux milk and that was worse than the carobel.

Carobel isn't an antacid, just a thickener. Its given to keep the feed down, the gaviscon is given so that anything that does come back doesn't hurt.

You need to push for a prescription for a special formula like neocate. We had this and thickened it with carobel for our daughter. We also had omeprazole and ranitidine to try and control the reflux.

My 3 month son is on carobel and it has stopped the vomiting and horrific wind but he is now horribly bloated with very loose bowels. We are seeing the consultant dietician in a week or so.

Omeprazole is the only thing that worked for my DS, he has silent reflux. He tried gaviscon but was then so constipated that I was having to give laxatives which I hated and so did he! Then ranitidine which had no positive impact at all, he actually seemed to be worse on it. I hold him upright for 30 minutes after each feed and he's got a wedge in his crib but they haven't helped. But since he's been on omeprazole he's been like a different baby, it's only been a week so far but he's drinking double the milk he was last week as no more screaming fits mid feed. GP explained it's not licenced for use on children but it is widely used and safe. She called consultant paediatric doctor for advice before prescribing

Gaviscon made my DS very constipated but caribe has been working a treat. Haven’t had any problems with it but then he hasn’t had severe reflux just mild. Hope you find a solution? Some doctors are very anti-meds for reflux. My GP just kept telling me it was colic but I knew it wasn’t as we have experienced the full effects of colic and it’s different.

Gaviscon doesn't stop it hurting when it comes back up, it causes the milk to react to the stomach acids and makes it more gel-like, thus thicker and harder to bring up. I'm surprised you're being given two lots of thickeners- can you get a second opinion? DS needed Ranitidine.. it doesn't stop then being sick but makes the stomach acids less acidic and therefore less painful. He was a different child within a couple of days. We also started weaning around 5 months old. That helped too. See get a second opinion!

Not sure if you still come on here or not. Have been googling and researching reflux steady and came across this. My lb has silent reflux, he was prescribed gaviscon, then omeprazole and carobel..switched formulas and nothin was working so I took him off everything and just trying to rise it out too. He seemed worse on the omeprazole, wouldn't sleep, awful cramps etc am just wondering how did your little one settle. Did the relux go away on it's own?

Any other signs of CMPA?

None at all, skin is all perfect, he has normal poos and goes regular. He never really cries with the silent reflux it jus seems to annoy him when he brings it up in his throat but more of a wriggle not crying. He dosn mind being laid flat at all, I just wont do it because he does reflux alot more on his back. Other thank the silent reflux and constant winding he is great. What would u think? Gp hasn't been much help and just told me to ride it out x

Doesn’t sound like CMPA but I was asking as my DDs CMPA was missed. Is he gaining weight? Do you need to treat the reflux or can you just weight it out?

I am trying to wait it out. He was put on losec mups but he actually seemed worse, was crying constantly and wouldn't sleep. Since I stopped given him he has been much happier, sleeps a few hours at night. He is gaining loads of weight and loves his bottles. He is just really wriggley and never seems comfortable and brings stuff up to his throat and swallows it back down. He never really cried with it. So am just wondering if it sounds like mild silent reflux were he could possible grow out of it soon or if it sounds like it needs looked at more. Gp hasn't helped much at all and just said all babies get it x