Home › Forums › Infant Reflux Information › Medicines › medicine problems – help!
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November 15, 2007 at 9:12 pm #45501
Anonymous
InactiveI am desperate for guidance! My son Aaron is 10 wks old. He is 12 lbs. He has reflux and was first given zantac. He is taking 1.2 ML 3 x per day. About 21/2 wks ago we added Prevacid, 7.5 mg per day. The GI doc will NOT increase the dose. We are having a difficult time getting him to take it… we switched from the solutabs to the powder and will be trying it for the first time tomorrow. He has a weak suck/swallow/breathe reflex (he was 6 wks preemie). His symptoms are continual, random crying out before/during and after feeding, arching back, gagging/choking, sometimes projectile vomitting, acid smell on his breath, constipation (I changed to oatmeal to thicken and added 1 tsp prune juice to every other bottle 1 week ago), poor sleeping (random times and lengths of time)… basically, I am not sure if his crying is due to his sensitive, intense personality which is showing itself more each day or that he is really in pain… he has random “good” days but more often than not, cries randomly throughout the day.. Please help! Any suggestions for deciphering the cries, getting the meds in him, and dealing with a not too bright GI doc…
Thanks!!!! JenniferNovember 16, 2007 at 7:09 am #45507InactiveWith the solutabs I would hold it in his cheek with my finger b/c at this age he still has the toungue thrust reflex so holding it with him as flat as possible should do the trick. The powder is going to be difficult b/c of the volume involved in mixing it, we tried it and decided the solutabs were much easier. Are you spacing the Zantac and prevacid at least 4hrs apart? if not it can affect the prevacid working. I wouldn’t use oatmeal to thicken at this age as it has gluten and can increase his risk for celiac dz later in life when introduced before 6 months old. I would try to just feed without thickening unless your doc is adamant about that and if they are I would look into using something like Simply thick (gel based thickener) instead of cereal. HTH.
November 16, 2007 at 9:45 am #45515InactiveI am so sorry that you are dealing with all of this. I am pretty new to all of this reflux stuff too, but I will do my best to respond to your message. I spend hours on this site, so I do feel like I have some knowledge! I would NOT assume that this is your baby’s personality. Most “colic” babies suddenly improve at around 12 weeks, so you will know for sure very soon. Generally, colic should improve as you reach 12 weeks, so it is unlikely a personality issue. I know that some babies are more intense than others, but it sounds like you have described pain. I have questioned whether or not my son is just intense or is actually in pain many times, but when he was properly medicated (which was only for a few weeks), his “personality” changed. You probably have a very relaxed, laid back little boy under all of that pain.
I am using prevacid solutabs. My son is on 15 mg a day (not the Marci-kids dose). I do see some improvement in him, but not 100%. I cannot seem to hold it against his cheek because he is too much of a wiggle worm and I am afraid it will go down his throat before it dissolves. I have learned that if you do not shake the syringe, it will not stick to it. I drop the tablet into the syringe, draw up the water and let the tablet dissolve in the syringe. You can tilt it to the side, but do not turn it upside down or shake it. You can also use your finger to plug the bottom of it so that the medicine does not drop out. Then, squirt it into your son’s mouth. All of the beads will probably not come out after the first squirt and you will have to tap the syringe again to get more beads to sink to the bottom. I usually have to tap the syringe and squirt it a few times before all of the beads are out.
Like your son, my son also has good and bad days. It causes you to question whether it is reflux. But, I think that is completely normal for babies with reflux. If I take my son out during the day, he always seems more irritable then if we have a calm day at home. Or, if I am stressed or tense, his reflux flares up a little bit. I think that babies with reflux are VERY sensitive to their surroundings. Also, I do not think that random sleep periods are rare for his age. Are you referring to his daytime or nighttime sleep? Although there are parts of the book that are just not going to work with a reflux baby, “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” has really helped me understand infant sleep patterns a lot better. The author says that until babies are 3 or 4 months old, they do not develop regular daytime sleep patterns- and that is for babies who are comfortable and not suffering from reflux! My son is 12 weeks old and sleeps so randomly and is certainly not sleeping through the night! Once your son is properly medicated, better sleep habits should occur. If you have any questions about that book, let me know. I have read about 3 sleep books, and that one is my favorite. Of course, getting your son feeling better has to happen first.
As far as your other questions go, I am going to leave that up to the experts on this site! I am still learning too. My heart goes out to you. Like so many people have told me on this site- you are not alone. Hang in there.
klmccart2007-11-16 09:56:36
November 16, 2007 at 1:11 pm #45530Inactivethanks so much for your feedback!
! I read here that the excess powder in the packets is inert flavoring that can be sifted off so I did that this morning and was left with the white beads which I was able to eye ball to 7.5 mg and I mixed it with a little water in a small ramikin then drew it up with a medicine dropper. Aaron seemed to be ok with this and we got it down him. Of course each day is different so I will hope the next dosing works well too. what do you think about disconntiuing the zantac and only using prevacid? the GI doc said after using prevacid for 2 wks to do this or just give one dose of zantac at night (we are giving him 3 per day now). It seems this choking/coughing behavior is increasing with every day! I will discontinue the oatmeal but do you think returning to the rice with prune juice (he gets constipated) would be ok at this point? I find that he is overly sensitive to most stimuli and when he has the slightest stomach gurgling, he screams like it is killing him. I am of that personality so am maybe projecting this on him but I also feel I am extra sensitive to this type of personality and am desperate to “figure” him out so I can best help him… finally, can anyone offer ways to determine a possible allergy to anything for him (other than tests at this point). He is on alimentum. thanks!!! JenniferNovember 16, 2007 at 7:24 pm #45548hellbennt
KeymasterBabywearing: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1044&PN=1
holding baby oftenhttps://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5793&KW=dr+sears
Prevacid 101(last post on the page): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1936&PN=0&TPN=1
from: https://www.infantreflux.org/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=627&PN=1
sandifer threads:https://www.infantreflux.org/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=195&KW=sandifer
https://www.infantreflux.org/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=417&KW=sandifer
it’s symptoms like back arching, stiffening a leg, twisting the head in one direction, & can also include seizure type episodes…
i always use the symptoms as a barometer- as we got the meds figured out, the symptoms pretty much disappeared…
~laura
tic dance search results: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/search.asp?KW=tic+dance+trance&SM=1&SI=PT&FM=0&OB=2michelle’s post about pushing for the right dr: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1002November 18, 2007 at 1:51 am #45571InactiveHi, I am a previous powder packet sifter, although I used to put a little of the flavouring back in and Alana liked it a little strawberryish. My only other comments is re the prune juice. I’m guessing you are using it because of constipation? Anyway I know that Alana could not tolerate anything fruity until 6 months…prune juice really upset her stomach. Oh and I’m guessing he is still in pain. Could you give the 7.5 mg 2 x a day (I presume you have the 15 mg packets) and then tell the dr that you just threw the other half out. Ok thats a bit naughty, I’m not a Dr but I did what I had to do! Goodluck.
November 18, 2007 at 5:03 pm #45586InactiveIt was your post I got the sifting idea! 🙂 thanks b/c it works very well. I mixed a tiny of the flavoring back in too. He took it all today. I want to increase the dose myself and will likely do what you suggested – anything for my son! what else could you suggest for constipation other than enemas? He gets SOO upset when he cannot regularly. His little tummy seems to feel every gurgle and movement.. thanks again! It helps so much to have other moms who know what I am going through and have excellent suggestions! Jennifer
November 18, 2007 at 7:17 pm #45587Keymasterwhat formula is he on or are you breastfeeding?
maybe the constipation is due to MSPI?Mspi/allergy info(‘main page’): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=1&TPN=1November 19, 2007 at 3:57 am #45598InactiveI did quite a bit of baby massage with Alana- belly massage in circular motions…once we did it regularly it helped. Also chiropractory helped as well. The other thing you might try is adding an extra 10mls or so of water to every bottle (a suggestion of a helpful dr). They are the only natural things I can think of, other than my trick of adding a bit of brown sugar to a bottle or two (sugar is a natural laxative). Goodlcuk.
November 20, 2007 at 9:20 am #45622InactiveMake sure that you’re timing it around meals- 30 minutes before a meal and on an empty stomach. About the constipation, ask your doc about benefiber and/or miralax. Both work quite well, and are tasteless so can be added to bottles easily.
November 20, 2007 at 9:21 am #45623InactiveAlso, make sure that you’re separating the zantac from the prevacid.
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