Puke and Go

[Anonymous]

What are the typical response/recovery times for your little ones when the are refluxing/vomitting? Christian, whose reflux seems to be getting worse now that he is one, is capable of vomitting 4-5oz (entire feed) withing 20 minutes of it going through his g-tube…walking away within seconds and laughing.

I kind of think it is sad that it is such a routine to vomit and go for him, yet I am grateful that it is not a major meltdown everytime it happens.

I didn’t really know where to post this – but I am just curious.

[Anonymous]

Myles is never bothered by his puking. He will even eat again right away, or he’ll just go on playing as if nothing happened. Yes, it is sad that they get so used to puking that it doesn’t even bother them. But, I guess that’s better than seeing them upset and traumatized by it.

Sorry to hear that Christian is getting worse at one year of age.

I hope things turn around soon.

[Anonymous]

Laura

Oh my god – i am so glad that you just posted this. We are in the EXACT SAME situation. It is ridiculous.

I don’t know if it is reflux or not. All i can say is Matthew has been puking at least 1 out of every 5 meals, if not 2. Same thing. We used to be able to put it down his tube. Now, i leave him on his chair for a little bit, maybe he fusses a little but nothing major and i go to pick him up and THERE WE GO. ALL OUT (and all is all, i have even measured it a couple of times!). The problem with Matthew is that he pukes on me – i really hope that you do not have that issue. He gags sometimes and gags and gags and the second i pick him up he turns his face to me and he pukes on my face and my chest – ALWAYS. Even at night these days. I start feeding him his bolus and if he wakes up becausee he hears me he starts fussing, then gagging and again… he can gag for 10minutes, he will not puke. I make him stand and he will not puke. His father holds him and nothing and then he gives him to me and there we go.

Sorry for rambling. I had it last night and i have spent all night crying because i just don’t know how to make him stop puking or how to make him sleep at night. I think it is behavioral i reallly do and i don’t know what to do about it. Oh yes, and he comes around quickly and start babbling…

[Anonymous]

Thais,

I just wanted to say something here that I’ve never seen posted before (but maybe it has been). I truly believe that some of the puking with these reflux babies is behavioral and habitual. It doesn’t start that way of course, but I think they get so used to the relief they feel after they puke, and they get so accustomed to puking when they don’t want to eat, or don’t like what they are being fed, that they can just throw up at will. I’ve seen this with Myles. He has an incredible gag reflex and if I give him a new food, or try to feed him when maybe he’s not hungry enough to eat, he can just open his mouth and throw up in an instant. Sometimes, he clearly has no control, it is his reflux, and I can usually see that, but sometimes it’s habit. I’m sure it is.

A few months ago when he was only about 5 months old and he was vomiting alot, I was feeding him one day and I saw that look come over his face. I knew he was about to hurl and I was so damn tired of it that I panicked at the thought of another huge mess to clean up and I yelled, NO! I wasn’t angry at him and wasn’t yelling at him, but the tone of my voice surprised him and distracted him and he didn’t throw up, even though I know he was about to. Since then I’ve tried many times to distract him when he is about to throw up (not by yelling NO) but by singing or saying something in a silly voice to get his attention, and it really does work many times.

So, I think the behavioral aspect of the throwing up can be changed with time…I don’t really know how, and I’m sure it’s different for each baby, but distracting Myles does seem to work fairly often. Maybe you can try some distraction as soon as you pick him up. I’ve tried different things like opening the back door and running outside (that worked), different noise making toys (sometimes works), singing (often works), blowing in his face (worked a few times).

Maybe try to experiment with different distractions as soon as you see that look, or when he is gagging, and see if they help at all.

I’m sorry things are so hard with Matthew and his puking. I sure know how hard it is. I’ve spent plenty of time crying over it, and mad as h*ell that there isn’t a darn thing I can do but wait and hope he outgrows this Reflux thing soon. I hope you can find some way to change some of the bahavioral aspect of it. I wish I could give you more advice. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Thais – on an average day I can go through 2-3 outfits before 8am. I have noticed that Christian’s puking is definitely related to ear infections – it gets far worse when those things pop up. Right now he has his 3rd since January and it is a double.

Just a quick comment………I LOVE THE ENT. I wish that I had actually seen an ENT from the get go. While the GI has been great – the suggestion for the tube was almost instant. Christian has been puking since 11 days old and now there is damage in the naso-pharangeal area – the ENT is treating it proactively and is increasing the Prevacid without question. It was even said that most gerd effects the ear nose throat area causing the behaviors we all talk about.

Imagine plugging your nose and swallowing – now try it. That is how Christian and a lot of babies with GERD feel. Can you imagine effectively eating? It stinks.

I still think – and of course it is all speculation – that if we had seen the ENT from 2 months of age – perhaps we could have avoided where we are now.

Sorry again for my rant.

[Anonymous]

Laura – well at least it is great news about the ENt!! It is so helpful to find someone to listen. I guess that maybe we could have avoided the feeding problems if someone had listened – who knows?

We are also back to 30mg of prevacid now (22.5mg in hte morning and 7.5mg at night)… so i guess i am hoping the acid part is under control. But the doctor at feeding clinic said that if he is still refluxing, then it is still really unccomfortable but prob not to the point of hurting but these babies are so sensitive.

Gladly, Matthew has not had anything other than a cold all winter. His ears and throats seem to be doing really well. I guess we will know about his esophagus when they put the Gtube in

Let me know how Christian is doing otherwise. Any improement in his eating? i know you posted about Sensitie integration disorder possibly? Have you done anything about that? Is he crawling? Matthew is almost walking but no crawling and we have been sent to therapy for that – they say it is important for babies with digestive problems but they also mentioned that some crawling does strengthen the tongue and the whole muscles around there…

[Anonymous]

Christian’s eating gets delayed everytime one of the ear infections hit – total liquid/food refusal for nearly 10 days each stretch – thank god for the g-tube. I had a second opinion on the sensory integration – they said that the sensory is oral-motor only not whole body which is good – so we are focusing on that. We have a new speech therapist starting in June…hear she is a miracle worker.

Christian is walking all over the place. Rarely drops to crawling anymore. He started at around 11months. He starting with the monkey crawl (hands and feet not knees) at around 8 months. We actually figured he would walk around 10months – but his ears started bothering him then which causes equilibrium issues.

Thanks for asking. I hope all continues to improve with Matthew as well.

[Anonymous]

Glad to hear about new therapist… we are also hoping the new clinic works for us. Sounds good about sensory eval… if it is oral motor then much easier than if it is a wider thing.

Sorry about the eating – it is so hard right? Matthew has been eating well for 2 days (LOL i laugh because for him eating well is taking about 10ounces orally and we are thrilled with that!!) and now he is refusing again. BUT today he got his 2 upper teeth and the eye teeth are almost out and maybe one or two at the bottom…. so who would eat with such pain?? It is so tough… he got 2 teeth when he was 5 months old and nothing for 4 months and now maybe 5 or 6 at once??

Glad to hear he is walking!! Matthew is still missing some balance but if you let him stand on his own, he takes a couple of steps by himself and obviously falls after that :-)) but at least he is no longer scared of lifting his feet! Cannot wait until he walks because he does not crawl and my back is killing me.

We are hoping for the G tube soon… thursday we got to the GI and if we can convince her… would be awesome.

[Anonymous]

Laura,

So interesting about what the ENT said. I wonder if this is an issue for Hailey since she has had many episodes in the past with forceful vomitting out of her nose. I’m going to ask our ped about it. Glad he’s been so helpful. Also it’s great that he’s walking.

Thais- That’s great that Matthew can take steps!!! He’ll probably be walking soon, and at that point won’t want to crawl anyhow.

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