Please don't tell me it's so!

[Anonymous]

Hello and thank you for your continued support.

My son Fernando visited the GI on Friday and the GI said that he doesn’t believe in giving infants PPI’s because they mask the true cause of the reflux. He switched our milk to Nutramegin or Alimentum incase of MSPI (though no blood was found in his stools), recommended that I try giving him a glycerin suppository to see if it will relieve the gas which might be the cause of the reflux (his poops are normal), increased his dose of Zantac to the max for his weight 1.7ml 3xday, and ordered that he get test to see if he has delayed gastric emptying. When I questioned why I hear about so many other babies on PPI’s, he said that an article was just published by the lead researchers on GERD in infants that states that PPI’s are not the way to go for infants.

Meanwhile, it is getting harder and harder to feed my son everyday. He is arching, kicking, twisting more than ever. Then he just refuses to finish his bottle. Also, I started sleeping with him so that when he does awake I can comfort him without getting out of bed every 40-60 min. But THIS IS NOT EVEN WORKING ANYMORE!!! He cries in his sleep and I can’t comfort him. I’ve been giving him camomile tea at night to see if it will calm him and relieve his digestive discomfort. When he kept screaming, I felt so guilty like I was starving him so I made a bottle of milk. HE drank 2 oz and started the arching/ spitting / and bottle refusal routine. So, what am I supposed to do. I am bending this way and that way, trying to accomodate his needs, trying this and that… and I’m afraid that the only answer is that he will grow out of it. PLease don’t tell me it’s so! How cruel and unfair it is for all of us gowing through this mess to rob us of the simple happiness of the first few months of life. You all know, there are the good days/ moments, but they seem to be less and less. My husband felt so sad and helpless yesterday when he said, “It sounds terrible but I wish he was just 6 months old already so he could outgrow this.” Seems like we are wishing the days away.

Any insight, help would be greatly appreciated.

(Oh, and of course, my son was a perfect angel during the visit. He is generally a happy baby, smiling at the doctor, and a big boy 18 1/2 lbs at 4 months. How can the doctor take me seriously!!??)

[Anonymous]

Sorry I keep rambling. I just called the doctor and he said that maybe my son doesn’t like the taste of nutramegen and that is why he is fussing and refusing to eat. He says maybe I should go back to the regular formula. When I asked about how it explains the frequent painful night wakings, where I can no longer soothe him back to sleep, he said that maybe it is just colic. JUST COLIC?!! I think this doctor doesn’t want to deal with me anymore. I’ve already made an appointment with another GI but I have to wait 3 weeks? Is it common that GI’s are reluctant to prescribe PPI”s? What will I do if this GI won’t either? I really think that is what my son needs. Has anyone else had this problem? Thank you sooooooo much for listening!

[hellbennt]

I feel so bad for little Fernando & for you, too, mama!!!

I would FAX the new GI and make it short & sweet- state FACTS & ask if dr can please consult w/ your pediatrician until you can get in to see him/her in 3 weeks. From ‘groupie intro’ there’s a link called ‘looking for a GI’ – maybe there’s one listed near you? or contact marci-kids and find out if they have one they recommend near you. also, many have found luck w/ getting their family drs to prescribe PPIs. Dr philps from marci-kids has helped many of us by communicating w/ drs to discuss PPIs…

[Anonymous]

Definintely go see the new GI, unfortunately all MDs vary on what and how they treat GERD. Have you tried some Mylanta to help before the feedings? It really seems to soothe and coat the throat so it doesn’t hurt as much. I can’t remember the dosing but Laura does have it in the Groupie intro. Wow, he’s a big baby! which makes it much harder to get your point across to the MD that he is having problems eating, I had the same problems with my girls, they were not big but they continued to gain weight despite their bottle battles with me. You really have to find the right MD that listens to you, keep up the fight for your little one! Colic! To me, that’s a bogus diagnosis, that is what they use when they just don’t know what else to call it! I hate that word!!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for responding! Yes, Fernando was a big boy when he was born at 9lbs 6.5 oz! I can’t really ask the new GI to call the pediatrician because the pediatrician is the one who sent me to the first GI, and they are good buddies! I’ve tried maalox, but it gives Fernando diaharrea even at a small dose for his weight. I just gave Fernando a bottle of RTF Alimentum, instead of the nutramegen, and he drank it much easier without much fussing. Can it be that the Alimentum is thicker and therefore easier to drink? Whatever it is, I’m going to store to buy some more tomorrow!!!

Thank you so much for help. It feels really good to know that someone is listening. I really don’t know what I would do without you!

[Anonymous]

There is one big difference between RTF Alimentum and Nutramgin, RTF Alimentum does not contain any corn. Taylor was allergic to corn and could not drink any formulas including Neocate since it had Corn syrup in it, she did the best on RTF Alimentum until we consulted a Dietician and found a formula without milk and corn, thank goodness she wasn’t allergic to soy! Good luck! Alexis’s mom2007-12-05 14:18:55

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