Sensitive to Meds

[Anonymous]

Hi, I’m an exhausted and desperate mum of a 5 month old bub with silent reflux. We have been to a ped and a gastroenterologist who don’t seem to understand that bub starts to improve on both Losec and Prevacid and then gradually goes down hill. (He seems to get windy and stomach pain). Every time we take him off meds as he seems to be in even more discomfort the docs think it is not reflux but as he responds so well to Mylanta and Zantac instantly. I don’t know where to go from here. We’ve just decided to stop Prevacid again (the doctors are so uniformative they didn’t even explain about spacing meds etc). Our only option seems to be to get the ph probe and endoscopy done but even then I wonder what that would achieve as what else can you do if meds don’t work. I’m also from the state of Tasmania in Australia and we would have to fly interstate to Melbourne to have testing done and the doc says we can’t give Zantac or Mylanta for 10 days before this. I don’t know how we will survive 10 days let alone a plane trip. By the way I have two other children who aren’t coping with all of this. What do I do? I’ve got an appoinment with a biochemist/naturopath on Monday who has helped with my other kids problems eg diagnosed coeliac disease when the doctors didn’t even look into it, hopefully she can shed some light on the situation. Even large doses of Zantac make bub really windy. Has anyone else come across this?

[Anonymous]

Hello and welcome.

What form of Prevacid does your baby take? Here in the US we have Prevacid solutabs which causes stomach upset in some babies due to the added ingredients (aspertame and lactose). Babies who are sensitive to these ingredients sometimes do better on other forms of Prevacid such as Compounded Prevacid, or Prevacid packets.

Heres a website where you can read about PPI medications for infant reflux. http://www.marci-kids.com

If he responds well to Mylanta and Zantac instantly, it seems likely that he does have reflux. PPI medications do help stop the pain from reflux. It’s usually just a matter of finding the right one and getting the right dose.

Also, you may want to read up on MSPI. Gas and stomach discomfort can also be caused by milk and soy protein intolerances and can be helped by using special formulas. Laura’s intro has some links for MSPI information.

Good luck and glad you found us.

[Anonymous]

Is there any possibility of finding a GI doc who’ll listen more to what you’re saying?

I love the idea of going to the other celiac doc. If there’s history of celiac in the family, that may be what you’re dealing with again. Run this theory by the doc… gluten sensitivity causes reflux. It’s kinda backwards thinking, but that’s what happens with my son. The reflux is more like a symptom of him eating the wrong things. Although the reflux does need to be addressed with meds, it’s not the major issue. It just gets better and it can be controlled by meds.

When do you go to this other doc? Can you hold off going for a ph probe and endoscopy until then? Sounds like you want to. Good idea to me. With the endoscopy they may do biopsies for the celiac. Did they do that with your other children? They may just say, let’s try *BLANK* and see if that helps with the family history. Ask them if there’s a gluten free fomula to try, unless you’re BFing, then cut gluten out of your diet.

So, how long have you had him off the meds? How’s that going? Any worse? Do you have any meds left in case it get’s really bad again?

I’d really try to skip the testing after this other appointment or you find a new GI doc.

This is all my opinion of course. Just trying to help:) You sound as frustrated as most of us have been several times. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

We were trying the sachets of Prevacid or Zoton as it is called in Australia. Bub is currently on Neocate formula as we know he is intolerant to Dairy and soy. He is currently not on solids but I will be treading very cautiously with this one. He has no wind issues until he starts meds. I think I’ll go to next weeks appointment with the natural practitioner if all else fails I have a friend who is a nurse that is asking around for a good paediatric GI so that we are in good hands if we need the probe done.

[Anonymous]

The Neocate takes a while to help if he hasn’t been on it long. Be patient with it. A baby can live on Neocate alone up until the age of 8. It’s nutritionally that sound. I wouldn’t be in a hurry with the solids either. Good choice.

Some meds have traces of dairy in them. I’m not sure about traces of soy. Something to check into. I know the prevacid in the states has traces of dairy.

Keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

Lucky Lucy wrote:

The Neocate takes a while to help if he hasn’t
been on it long. Be patient with it. A baby can live on Neocate alone
up until the age of 8. It’s nutritionally that sound. I wouldn’t be in
a hurry with the solids either. Good choice.

Some meds have traces of dairy in them. I’m not sure about traces of
soy. Something to check into. I know the prevacid in the states has
traces of dairy.

Keep us posted.

is that true of ALL forms of prevacid? grrr we are about to start the
capsules…..because my insurance wont cover zegerid….ah!!

[Anonymous]

bump…someone please answer! 🙁

[hellbennt]

nataliachick7,

calm down (SO not meant to be a put down! tone is so hard to read in typed form!!) deep breaths (my feeble attempt at humour)!

read prevacid 101…answers it all (groupie intro now re-stickied)

[Anonymous]

Sorry, my fault! Didn’t mean to induce panic

Isn’t it just the solutabs? I’ll look at that info as well.

[Anonymous]

Also, some babies react to the flavoring in the packets, so you may want to try simply the prevacid capsules and break them open to feed with applesauce. Some have done just water, and I am not sure how effective that is or not, but if the reflux is being caused by food sensitivities, just the capsules in water is probably your best bet.

I am not sure about the dairy in the packets????/

[Anonymous]

I’m sick of guessing what to do without the support of doctors who don’t even believe there is a problem. Have decided to get the ph probe done and endoscopy and then it becomes their problem as well.

[Anonymous]

AMEN!!! Go with your heart and gut

So, that means the plane ride??? Good luck!

[Anonymous]

yeah – should be an interesting plane trip.

[Anonymous]

Capsules were the way to go with us. We had a gassy lassy too! Boy, I couldn’t take her anywhere. Got better on the capsules and when we got off neocate and alimentum (neocate was soooo constipating). Also, they get an initial stomach crampy period with gas usually for a couple weeks that usually subsides.

Joel from marci kids told us when we first started the capsules that you must administer the dose on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after eating. It has to be mixed in A TABLESPOON of something acidic like applesauce or plums (bananas are not acidic enough) in order to penetrate the energetic coating. Then wait 30 mins and feed a bottle or a full meal that is not acidic to activate the beads.

This was sooo effective for us and for once the meds started working. I hope that you get some answers from the testing. Sounds like he has a super sensitive tummy like my dd! Good luck on the plane trip… wonder if a little benadryl in the bottle will get him sleepy?

[Anonymous]

Hi and welcome

First of all…. i really am a believer in doing tests, so that will def give you some answers.

Then, i have to tell you that teh prevacid gave matthew horrible cramps and horrible gas, just like Sarah said – i think it probably lasted 3 weeks or so… then it went away. A ton of moms have actually reported this… so i would be a little patient. I know i wanted the docs to do something for matthew straight away but we had to just wait it out…

good luck with the tests…

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