Infantreflux.org | Not Sure What to do

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May 7, 2007 at 8:55 pm #32545

Anonymous
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By now I was hoping to be able to at least start planning to wean Dagney from the Prevacid, but she seems to be getting break-through symptoms fairly often now. She has the yucky breath, gurgling, coughing/clearing throat noises, and her naps had gone back to a 1/2 hour. She seems to be spitting up less now, which is a plus, and doesn’t seem to be in obvious pain, but I know these are still symptoms of the reflux. A few times over the last couple of weeks she even cried, seemingly from pain, while I was spoon feeding her, but still ate because she was hungry. Her GI was concerned with the symptoms, wanted to prescribe Reglan, which I once again turned down, she didn’t want to prescribe more Prevacid, so she prescribed Carafate. I’ve used the Carafate a few times, but haven’t every day because I’m not sure it did a whole lot for her (although the first time I gave it to her she slept for 1 1/2 hours!). The symptoms seem to randomly come and go too, so I’m not sure what to do.

I haven’t changed her food, it’s all dairy/soy free, and she only has 2 teeth still, but she’s always really biting on things, so I’m not sure if she’s teething or not…does anyone have any insight? My doc said that if her symptoms didn’t go away soon she’d want to do an endoscopy.

As I understand it, isn’t the Carafate like a “band aid” to keep her from having pain, but it doesn’t do anything for the reflux…does it keep the esophagus from getting damaged, or just hurting?

Also, I just read up a little bit on probiotics, would giving probiotics help with any of the GERD issues, possibly eliminating acid, or is that not what they’re meant for?

dfb052007-5-7 21:8:59

May 7, 2007 at 9:09 pm #32546

Anonymous
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Reflux is definately a roller coaster. One day can be super-great and the next can be cruddy – often times I can’t find a definate reason as to why the roller coaster. However, I do know that the PPI (Prevacid) needs to be enough so that the child can get relief from the reflux and sometimes that is more than the average doctor wants to prescribe. We had several tests done to Carson – all gave us good news but I guess I felt that I then *knew* for sure what was going on and how things looked. I wouldn’t turn down the test if your doc thinks it would be beneficial for treatment purposes. Have you done an upperGI/lower bowel follow through? That will show the DGE (delayed gastric emptying) and whether or not you need the Reglan. However, Carson does get into these terrible stretches and the Reglan calms down his system. Each child is so different. Trust your instincts!

May 7, 2007 at 9:14 pm #32547

Anonymous
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She had the Upper GI done at about 3 1/2 months, and it showed nothing abnormal. She was fine for a while, then the last month or longer I’ve noticed the yucky breath and acidic spit up smell, and all the other symptoms come and go… We’re schedueld to see the GI again in about another month or so, so I guess we’ll see what happens then. Her main symptom for the last week or so has been the gurgling. OH, and I also hear her refluxing a lot now, and it either doesn’t make it all the way up or she swallows it back down now…gross, but it doesn’t seem to be causing her pain…

May 7, 2007 at 9:39 pm #32552

Anonymous
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The Prevacid will not stop the reflux or slow the reflux – but it will control the pain with the acid going up and down. So, maybe the PPI is working to control her comfort level but you can still notice the reflux.

May 8, 2007 at 6:32 am #32574

Anonymous
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Sorry to hear you and Dagney are having a rough trot.

For awhile I had to give Alana the max dose of Prevacid and the max dose of zantac (spaced out of course). This was around 6 months from memory. Anyhow, just wondering if this might be an option to try.

I’m a new advocate of probiotics…I haven’t done any extensive research on it or anything, but anything that helps the gastro-intestinal tract has to be a good thing IMO.

May 8, 2007 at 9:54 am #32582

Anonymous
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Uggg…that horrible reflux rollercoaster. I remember 7 months as being a particularily bad time for Myles. I was so disgusted with it all by that time so a flare was the last thing I needed.

I was fortunate that 30 mgs of Prevacid worked to control his pain even during the flare ups (he just puked more). How much does she weigh? Have you checked her dose at marci-kids. Maybe she’s outgrown it. I wonder if using some Mylanta would help her through this flare up.

I think Laura used Carafate. Maybe pm her and see what she has to say about it.

I hope this passes soon. For Myles the 7 month flare was the last one (but the worst one) and he was reflux free by 9 months. I hope it’s all over for Dagney soon.

May 8, 2007 at 11:26 am #32609

Anonymous
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Hey Denise,

Sounds like our little ones are on the same schedule once again. Ben has a cold right now, so it’s hard for me to figure out what is caused by what, but the symptoms you are describing sound very much like his before the cold. It’s worse right now, of course.

I am always concerned that it’s a new food that I tried or that I gave to him, but I also remember these up and down days/weeks with Claire too. I just keep hoping that this is his last flare, and all will be well soon.

We used Carafate for just a short while at the beginning, and it is used to both coat the stomach and esophagus to protect from acid damage, but it is also used to heal any damage. You just have to be sure to space it far enough apart from the Prevacid. We didn’t use it very long because I didn’t see it doing a whole lot, but it’s been a very long time since we used it.

As for probiotics, I have also considered these to help with digestion, but I don’t think they help with the acid.

Anyway, I hope that Dagney feels better soon, and I’ll let you know if I find anything that works!

May 8, 2007 at 1:44 pm #32618

Anonymous
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We used carafate when we first started Nexium. My GI said hte carafate was like a short term help (like baby pepto bismol) to coat the throat and make it feel better, and the nexium was for long term healing. It sounds like you LO might be having a flair up and could use in increase in her prevacid. Do you have any other Dr. you could go to?

May 8, 2007 at 8:14 pm #32660

Anonymous
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Thanks everyone! She really isn’t doing that badly most of the time, but I know she’s not 100% either… I’m going to think about it tonight and either go back with the Carafate, Mylanta, or try Pepcid Complete for a little while. I’m really hoping this is just a flare up. I did check marci-kids, site, right now she’s taking 10mg 3x/day, but according to marci-kids, she could take between 9.4 and 11.7mg 3x/day, so I guess I could try to up it a little, maybe do 2/3 solutab 2x/day and 1 tab 1/day? I may be able to squeeze that out of what I have without getting it upped by the dr, but I may be able to get my Pediatrician to up it a little, he’s the one who finally upped her to 30mg/day… I’ll see how the next few days go.

Naomi, I read one of your posts yesterday and thought exactly the same thing–here they both go again! Here’s hoping they both get over all this soon!

dfb052007-5-8 20:35:33

May 8, 2007 at 8:31 pm #32667

Anonymous
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Good luck and keep us posted.
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