What next?

[Anonymous]

Posted on here before under a different topic. We are on Prevacid, 3x a day 1.25 ml. Helped for about a week. It progressively started to get worse over the weekend and I figured the med was starting to lose it’s buffer so I had the Dr refill it and this time make it refillable every 2 weeks since the pharmacy won’t make it special with what is suggested on this site. He has vomitted 4 times in 3 days and there’s dried blood in it again which was better before AND larger amounts of purple spit up which I’m reading that the stomach is degrading the medication

What do you do next? Up the dose? Change meds? If so, to what? He’s been on cereal in his bottle for 6 weeks now (He’s 14 weeks old tomorrow). (Oatmeal, not rice because it made him constipated) Been in every bottle for about 2 weeks prior to that, a few bottles a day. Going to try spoon feeding him cereal tomorrow. He’s never had an issue with weight, last visit he was 16lbs 3 oz.

A friend of mine, her son has reflux and started solids a few weeks earlier than normal and it made a world of difference. He’s on Zantac and has never had a problem with it and is working well. I’m hoping that’s the case here.

I don’t know what to do. I know after reading alot of posts, I don’t have it as bad as some people, but for my life right now, it’s hard. Trouble with work and money and taking time off. Sorry, had to vent and need to cry.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Waiting until 8 and calling the Dr. Would like to be armed with some info.

Maria 12/07

Hubby: Joe 5/72

Lily – 5/04 Colic

Grayson – 3/07 Reflux

[Anonymous]

I would definitely try to get away from a compounded medicine. It didn’t work for us either. If your doctor is already willing to try prevacid, why not try a different form? I think the solutabs are what people have had good luck with, or the capsules with beads. Either way, they are going to be MUCH more effective than a compound made incorrectly! You still have to time prevacid around meals (30-60 minutes prior to feeding) but it’s worth it. Or you could try zegerid, which is another PPI but does not have to be timed around meals. That is what we’ve used with great success.

Don’t give up and feel like there is nothing else you can do. I was in that position before I found this website and thought “oh I just have a high needs baby who screams all the time”. WRONG! Push your doctor for a different PPI at a good dose. It will make ALL the difference. I’m so sorry you are going through this!

Visit http://www.marci-kids.com. They have a whole section of info that is meant to be printed off for your doctor. It talks about pharmacy made compounds, and different PPIs. Also check out the dosing calculator just to make sure he is on a high enough dose to begin with.

GOOD LUCK!

[Anonymous]

I really feel for you guys! Your desperation sounds like how I felt before we started to get things under control with Hailey and before I found this site.

I really think that the meds are a big part of the problem. If the pharmacy won’t make it the way you’re asking, there’s a good chance that it doesn’t have enough buffer in it to begin with, and then your overall dose is very low, and each individual dose is very small. I know you know this already, but even when made correctly, prevacid suspension is difficult to keep stable.

I’d LOVE to help you find a new doc!! Whereabouts are you? Do you see a ped GI yet? If he’s coughing up blood, then the PPI isn’t working and he needs some help.

In the meantime, I’d really try to go with the solutabs over a poorly made compound, if your doc would agree to that. Alternately, I’d contact Dr. Phillips from marci-kids and ask him to call your ped and see if he can convince him to up your dose and/or try zegerid, if you want to go that route. The only thing is that Dr. Phillips usually does recommend zegerid.

My personal opinion about starting solids early to help with reflux, is that it might help the kids who are happy spitters sometimes, but generally doesn’t do much for the kids with pain or esophagitis. That’s just my opinion though. I’m always cautious though about starting solids too early in refluxers, that’s just my opinion.

Have you also considered MSPI or allergies? What type of formula is he on? After fixing the meds, that might be something else to consider. He might not be tolerating the oatmeal either… how much oatmeal is he on? About the spoon-feeding cereal, again, I’m not a big fan of starting solids early when reflux is uncontrolled. Again, that’s just my opinion.

I would personally try to get a higher dose of PPI, and a different form. Hopefully that will get things under control. Also, if he’s bleeding, he might need testing to find out how bad the situation is, and perhaps carafate to coat the areas. Then, the next step might be to try a different formula (i.e. alimentum/nutramigen) if the meds don’t do the trick.

Good luck, and hang in there.

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