Thickening issues

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about thickening the formula. Camryn is on Nutramigen 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours during the day. She generally sleeps all night. We were using Gerber Rice 1 1/2 tsp for her whole bottle, but she was still gassy (really gassy). Then we used the Nature Goodness Oatmeal, I was having to put 2 tbsp and it still doesn’t thicken. It all sinks to the bottom of the bottle. The oatmeal also gives her loose stools. Then we tried the organic brown rice, it does the same as the Gerber rice.

I bought some thicken up today to thicken the bottles without cereal, but I read somewhere that once it gets to the stomach it turns back to liquid. That isn’t going to help, because she chokes on her vomit, not while she is drinking it (Except when she is taking her Prilosec, as she hates it.)

Does anyone have any suggestions? I don’t mind the spit up as long as she doesn’t choke on it. I have to suction her throat quite often, when she vomits she has alot of mucous in it. The doc says we need to “muddle through it” until she outgrows the reflux. I don’t have a problem with that since she isn’t in any reflux pain. We just can’t get any gas pain relief for her. Gas drops work temporarily, but the poor girl just pulls her legs up, and moans.

[hellbennt]

is there nutramigen ready-to-feed? I think this is thicker?

someone will chime in I’m sure

[Anonymous]

I tried that for two days and it didn’t work. I think the thicken up is agitating her reflux, because I had to give her an extra dose of Prilosec this afternoon. She is really cranky, tonight. I am about to go back to the rice, even though it makes her gassy she doesn’t reflux as bad.

The RTF was good for her tummy and bad for her reflux. The rice is good for her reflux and bad for her tummy. Go figure !!!

I guess I just count my blessings that she sleeps at night, for now anyway.

[hellbennt]

ok I’m confused? why is she on prilosec? yousaid she’s not in pain.

I mean if the main issue is spitting up then that’s one thing

but you do mention mucous as well-

leads me to think mspi (thus the nutramigen)

but when you say prilosec a few ‘bells’ go off:

please forgive me if I’m wrong! just guessing here:

1) it’s probably not a high enough dose

2) it’s most likely not compounded correctly (unless you’re giving capsules in applesauce then nevermind)

3) if it’s not compounded, are you giving it on an empty stomach?

if you go to the Medicines Forum & look at the top for

Treating GERD w/ PPIS’ this explains a lot- read the top post there & keep reading- there’s ‘Prevacid 101’ (which actually is about all PPIs) as well- scroll down to the purple post

[Anonymous]

What about mixing the rice and oatmeal? So, you could cut back on the rice (and hopefully, the gassiness) and the rice would help prevent the runny stools from the oatmeal.

[Anonymous]

Laura,

No her Prilosec is compounded correctly. On most days she is not arching or in reflux type pain. However, yesterday I used that thickening agent, and it agitated her reflux. It was like it absorbed all of her medicine or something.

Last night I decided to just continue with the rice, and do what I can for the gas pain. Doctor prescribed her some Levsin drops for her a while back, before she went to the hospital. I gave her some of those this afternoon, and she has been a much happier baby. I know it is only gas pain, not reflux pain. She has a certain cry when she refluxes, you can just tell the difference.

Kim.

I tried the mixture and couldn’t get the right consistency. I am just going with a different brand of rice, and hope for the best. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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