Reflux and Teething?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I’m new at this- reflux and posting. My LO was finally diagnosed at his 4 month appt. with reflux and we’ve been battling it since (he is almost 6 months) We tried Zantac- didn’t work more than about 2 weeks, including increased dosage. We’re now on Previcid (about a month), it was working great- started seeing a new happy little boy! But then teething kicked in about 2 weeks ago (first set came at 3.5 months, so we had maybe 2 good days- we also started solids at the same time, not realizing that he was about to start teething.

Sorry this is so long- but I’m hoping for someone to help me sort out what is the teething vs. reflux as well as some possible solutions to get us through this trying time as his reflux is back pretty bad (assuming its temporary because of teething?), not to mention the fussiness of teething. Feedings have gone from about 1/2 hour to at least 1 hour, and then we try to fit in the solids after that- before he’s too tired. Fortunately, he enjoys the solids and I know that he is at least getting some nutrition. I had him up to 4 bottles- 7 or 8 oz average-thanks to Previcid, now were at about 4 oz a feed.

Issues:

Gumming bottles:Last time he was teething he gummed his bottle like crazy and is doing it again- I keep wondering if this is a teething thing or if the pain of reflux is making him do this because it hurts to swallow? He will start to suck the bottle after he falls asleep, then burping him wake him up, leading to…

Wakefulness- I know this is teething. but night wakings have started again- I think its because of the reflux. Napping was finally getting better thanks to the previcid.

decrease in appetite- could be either teething or reflux or combo of both I guess.

lots of spit-up/vomit- increase in daytime, including first thing in the morning and nights before midnight.

I’m trying to figure out when to give Previcid, Mylanta and/or Zantac if needed as well as Tylenol so pain in gums goes away long enough to actually take a bottle and not have some much pain from the refluxing. I know timing is important but I can’t seem to fit it all in with the teething pain relieve so that he actually eats.

Current routine:
7:00 wake and Previcid
7:30 bottle (takes about an hour right now!)
9:00 nap
11:00 bottle (was 11:30, but doesn’t currently take enough to go 4 hours)
12:00 solids
1:00 nap
3:00 bottle
4:00 solids
6:00 previcid
6:30 bottle
7:00 bed

Again, I’m sorry this is so long- just at a loss as to what to do to make him feel better, eat and maybe get a smile again!

Thank you- this board has been a lifesaver to me!

[Anonymous]

I think teething makes reflux a lot worse! Gumming the bottles is normal with teething. Isaac wakes up for around 3 nights in a row every time he gets a new tooth and it is really just teething not reflux with him. He also will not eat for a few days before a new tooth and we can only get maybe 10-12 oz of formula on those days. Increased spitting up happens alot of times when they teeth b/c of all of that extra drooling! Isaac started getting teeth at 3 months old too and it has been extremely difficult on him each time a new tooth comes in. Really this all a big guessing game trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with him. Everyone kept telling me wait until he is getting his molars………and they are bad!!!!

[Anonymous]

I agree with Sarah! All that drool really seems to throw these refluxers for a loop. Hope he feels better soon!

BTW…wow…teeth at 3.5 months! We’re at 9.5 months and not a tooth in site!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the quick reponse! It feels so good knowing that I’m not the only one out there. I thought gumming the bottle was normal for teething, but with all of the reflux stuff and med changes- I really start to second/third guess myself sometimes.

I can’t believe that he had his first teeth that early either. He was too young to chew or put anything in his mouth (has never been interested in a pacifier) other than my fingers- they had bruises by the time the teeth came in! Thankfully he is able to grab things and hold them in his mouth this time. I can’t wait for those molars!

Thank you!

Julie

[Anonymous]

I agree. My son cut his first two teeth about 3 weeks ago. His reflux was terrible and getting him to eat was nearly impossible. He was waking more at night also. Once his teeth broke through there was noticeable improvement. Seems like it’s always something!!! Have your tried Tylenol or Motrin? Motrin works wonders for my little guy at night, but I’ve heard some babies get tummy aches from it. I hope those teeth pop out soon and he (and you) get some relief. This reflux thing is no fun. It’s so nice to have others to “chat” with and share experiences.

[hellbennt]

if you do not suspect mspi, then highland teething tablets worked WONDERs for us! Jonah got his teeth early too

[Anonymous]

Ally’s almost a year old and is just now cutting her first teeth. Six at once. Nightwakings from HELL. The doctor told us to give her a good dose of Motrin at bedtime and again 6 hours later if she’s awake (which she has been). It was a little help but not much. They said that after 10 day’s we’d talk about increasing the Prevacid dose. We have some old samples so we increased it ourselves 2 days ago and we’ve had 2 nearly perfect nights, which are pretty rare around here. I think the teething has made the reflux WAY worse again.

[Anonymous]

Same here. We’ve (knock wood) always had mild-moderate reflux, not
severe, and been able to get by without a PPI. But Marisa has 2 teeth
coming through and has been refusing bottle today and reswallowing MUCH
more yesterday and today – had to give Mylanta for the first time in a
while. Thais has posted in the past about how teething and also
sicknesses will increase gastric juices and pressure on the abdomen and
in turn worsen reflux…

[Anonymous]

Someone else once posted how the teething releases histamines, and histamines also stimulate the production of gastric juices (or something like that), so seems only natural that it would make reflux worse.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Thanks for all of the advice and info- much appreciated! We use Tylenol like its going out of style- I feel bad, but feel worse when he’s in pain. We also use the highland teething tablets- they work great for going to sleep. If he is too wakeful, I give him three of those and he’s asleep in about 5 minutes, the only problem is that the bottle says you can use them 4 times a day- I would like to use them about 5 or 6- naps, bedtime and for night wakings… Unfortunately they don’t seem to help with the sore gums, Tylenol sorta helps with that. The thing I struggle with is the timing of Tylenol and Previcid- tonight I didn’t wait until after he ate to give it to him as I was desperate to have him eat before he went to bed. Last night after 3 wakenings before midnight, I gave him highlands and mylanta- he slept until 7am.

Question: Is it ok to increase the dose of previcid for a few days and see how he does- just temporarily until the teeth come through- if so, morning or night? he currently takes 7.5 mg in the AM and again before his bedtime bottle.

[Anonymous]

Sorry no advice, just hope it gets better. You might want to read the thread that’s also going called “mommy sleep problems”…read Anne’s reply. She talks about using benadryl as well- stops the release of histamine which seems to aggravate the teething and the reflux.

Hope he’s sleeping better soon.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I’ll read that thread- especially because we were up with a screaming baby from about 4-5:30 this morning. I think we need to try the motrin tonight, Tylenol isn’t cutting it anymore. I wonder if he is cutting more than two teeth, but I still don’t feel them cutting through- just swollen gums on top and bottom!

[Anonymous]

I am new here too…are you using Zantac along with the Prevacid as needed? Maybe this would help during this time. When I took my 6 1/2 wk old to the ped last week about her reflux. The ped about fell over upon looking in her mouth. Kierra is teething her bottom 2 teeth already!!! She is drooling like crazy and of course this just adds to her reflux issues. It is a catch 22…is it the teeting or reflux causing our babies pains and horrible feedings. My guess is BOTH. I have no profound advice, I just feel for you. I am just starting learning of GERD and what to do for my little one.

By the way, Tylenol has never worked for my 3 yr. old. Motrin always does the trick.

[Anonymous]

I use hyland teething tabs to and like others don’t follow the instructions. I give 8-10 tablets when I feel she needs them. I really don’t take into regards to when she had them last. Some moms use benadryl but it does absolutly nothing for Emma, it doesn’t even help her sleep (I sure wish it would). Motrin is what helps it all! I also wanted to add that sometimes it can take forever for the teeth to come through. The reason I say this is b/c I was really worrying that something was wrong b/c it was taking Emma forever to teeth so I just want to give caution that it is OK if it takes longer. Her 2 bottom teeth took about 2 weeks but her she had 3 top teeth coming in at the same time, 2 of them took 1.5 months and the other over 2 months from the time you can see the whiteness of them to when they actually poped through. They were swollen forever. I hope your one of the lucky ones that don’t have that problem!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I ended up going to the ped. today because I started to wonder if I was losing my mind and it was an ear infection- but it was teething and reflux not under control. She called the GI specialist right from the room when I told her how fussy he was and they are going to call me tomorrow with either an increase in previcid or some other solution hopefully. I feel really good that she is so helpful. I also gave my son Motrin this afternoon, ped. ok’d it as he is almost 6 months. I was on the look out for a stomach ache (not that I could tell one from the reflux gurgling)- and so far so good. He’s cried in his sleep a few times tonight already- but I know he’s got a gas bubble trapped in there that won’t come out. I gave him some mylanta, hoping to ease the pain of the gas and then when he wakes again, I’ll be able to ease it out. hopefully the mylanta will ease the reflux pain too and he’ll sleep more than 3 hours!

Thanks for the info on the hylands- I’ll start using it more freely during the day as it does seem to do the trick for sleeping and then try motrin at night.

[Author]

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