Groupie Intro

hi & welcome!

this is loooong….

my name is laura & my baby jonah is 6months old [at the time I first wrote this] & finally a happy baby!

Right off the bat, I want to tell you to please go to a specialist (pediatric gastroenterologist)!! Just the fact that you’ve found this board means that your baby is in pain & you need help from a specialist! Looking for GI: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=660

You probably are wondering WHY does my baby have reflux? For Jonah, it was an immature LES (lower esophageal sphincter). He was ‘just born with it.’ For others, it can come from mspi (milk soy protein intolerance). Severe protein intolerances result in eosinophilic disorders. See link below. Others might have reflux as a result of pyloric stenosis or a hiatal hernia. I’m sure there are more reasons, too…

Here is the link to the ‘MSPI/allergy & Related Issues Main Page:’ https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=1&TPN=1

Ok, that being said:

When i started on this board, there was a mom named michelle who posted a lot. She helped everyone and I feel she gave a lot to the board (to me!) at the time when I first surfed on in…she went through SO MUCH to get her little boy on the right dose of prilosec! Please find a moment later, after reading this, and come back to click here to learn from the members from the past; they won’t come up in day to day searches (unless you intentionally are looking): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/search_form.asp?USR=Michelle .

From here, on the right hand side, you need to choose from the drop down menu ‘last year’ and ‘older.’ When you see her posts, look around at the other posts and even check out their posts to see what this place is all about…others posted, too, (i want to give credit to all the moms who posted here & helped me out- you know who you are!) during this time frame. When conducting a search: please try and go back, to learn from others who may not be currently active on the board.

*many babies seem to ‘plateau’ on zantac…it is very weight sensitive & needs to be adjusted w/ weight gain…so check your baby’s dose…

I have found that many pediatricians prescribe zantac & reglan ‘just because.’ Your baby might not even need reglan- you’ll find the link below, to research for yourself, as you read on…

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=149&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=758

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=836

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=194&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

Zantac dosing:https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1000

*After Zantac (or Pepcid or Tagament, these are H2 blockers), our GERDlings usually ‘move on’ to a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) such as Prilosec or Prevacid (or nexium or protinix).

*If your baby is prescribed a PPI (prilosec/prevacid/nexium), it can take a while to ‘kick in.’ It can take up to 2 weeks for the PPI to ‘kick in’, so in the meantime, many of our babies have continued w/ the zantac. The prilosec kicked in for Jonah on day 12. So, you’ll probably want to [read: SHOULD] keep your baby on zantac until the PPI kicks in bcse otherwise, it’s as if your baby isn’t on any meds at all. I learned this the HARD WAY!

Zantac & PPIs: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=546&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=dr+philips&PN=0&TPN=1

PPI side effects & success!: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=203&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

After being on the board for two years now [at the time of this edit], I can tell you that you should ‘check’ your baby’s PPI dose, because oftentimes, it is NOT high enough to be effective!!!!

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2668&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

Publications on PPI dosing: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2669&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;TPN=1

Here’s about Prilosec doses: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=154&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40& ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;KW=michelle

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=300&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

Prevacid doses: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=682&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1

*After your baby is prescribed a PPI, you can wonder how you’re going to administer it…[We love caracream– more about this in Prevacid 101, linked to above]

For Prilosec (omeprazole): there’s Zegerid: http://www.zegerid.com/ & there’s more about Zegerid here, Treating GERD w/ PPIs: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6026&a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

Or, you can get it compounded by the pharmacy- see above link Treating GERD w/ PPIs to learn more about WHAT TO ASK FOR when getting PPIs compounded

*There was much discussion as to the stability of the ‘regularly’ compounded PPIs (just made into a liquid suspension by the pharmacist, using flavors like grape, strawberry, cherry, etc.) See Treating GERD w/ PPIs post above & Prevacid 101 link.

* Jonah had Sandifer Symptoms before he was on the right medication & dose. It’s symptoms like back arching, stiffening a leg, twisting the head in one direction, & can also include seizure type episodes…i always use the symptoms as a barometer- as we got the meds figured out, the symptoms pretty much disappeared…

from: https://www.infantreflux.org/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=627&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1

* I breastfeed & found that there’s a breast feeding support group at yahoo where they are really into discussing diet: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/breastfeedingreflux/ & one of the moms from that group has her own page: http://www.users.qwest.net/~fsdebra1/ – she’s the moderator of the group, so you might want to start there…

*I did the elimination diet (more below)- this is to find out if there are any proteins being passed through your milk that are affecting your baby. The most common are milk and soy proteins. If your baby has an intolerance to these proteins it is referred to as ‘mspi’ (milk soy protein intolerance).

*Here’s about mspi and related issues: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=1&TPN=1

*Elimination diet (for breastfeeding): http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T041800.asp – this is when you eliminate foods from your diet to distinguish what foods may be upsetting your baby. It is very difficult, but it made me feel better because I knew I had tried ‘everything.’ The most common ‘triggers’ are dairy (all dairy including ‘hidden’ dairy) & soy. Jonah was born w/ an immature valve (LES = Lower esophageal Sphinctor (sp?) & while I did find items in my diet that affected him (tomato products, eggplant & tuna- weird I know), my diet really wasn’t an issue, on the whole. This diet can help you determine if your baby has MSPI (milk soy protein intolerance).

*Reglan is extremely controversial. It has worked for some. It is for DGE (delayed gastric emptying). Has your baby been tested for this? If not, then why is s/he on this drug? Here is some info so you can make an educated decision, along w/ your specialist: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/search.asp?KW=reglan&S M=1&SI=TC&FM=0&OB=2

*What Formula for my gerdling?

An overview of available formulas: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4394&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;amp;PN=1&TPN=1

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2698&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

*Here’s about thickening formula: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=354&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=michelle

*here’s about thickening feeds: http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html

*what if my baby is having feeding problems and won’t eat? https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4385

* I discovered babywearing! It helps to keep your baby upright, it makes them comfy so they can sleep & it gives you your arms back! there’s a ton of ways to actually wear your baby to have your arms free & to have a relaxed, sleeping baby (and not baby bjorn or a nojo sling)! http://www.thebabywearer.com is an excellent resource. Please read below for more!

*Babywearing: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1044&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1

I discovered an adjustable cotton pouch that my husband even wears Jonah in, too. most folks prefer the fleece pouch, but it’s too hot here in miami & we find the cotton pouch to be great! jonah actually sleeps if we pop him in the pouch & walk a few laps around the house. try http://www.KangarooKorner.com – tanya will answer any questions…

I found a babywearing group at yahoo (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babywearing/?yguid=56755932) & also http://www.thebabywearer.com and now i want even more carriers, now that i know the pouch works so well, lol. I also have a solerveil sling that is lightweight, dries fast & has SPF protection. I now wear Jonah in the shower & he LOVES IT !!! he FELL ASLEEP the 1st time i tried it!! my ‘asian style’ canvas back carrier is on it’s way, whoohoo, can’t wait! [I’m a fanatic– read the Babywearing link above]

*Ok, What can I FEED my GERDling??

An overview of available formulas: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4394&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;amp;PN=1&TPN=1

What Formula for my gerdling? https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2698&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;PN=1&TPN=1

When/How do I Start Solids?: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2760&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;KW=solids

Chart for sequence of introducing solids to the allergic child (GERDlings oftentimes seem to be just as ‘sensitive’ as ‘allergic’ babies): http://www.hallpublications.com/title2_sample2.html

Finger foods: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1653

Toddler foods-mspi safe& otherwise: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2599&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1

‘Safe’ Fish chart: http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/quicklist-deta il.asp?Main_ID=716

*Here’s one of my posts: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=417&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=2&TPN=2

Jonah is only on prevacid nowadays [when I wrote this], w/ zantac on an ‘as needed’ basis. He is doing GREAT. This site has really helped me & I hope I can return the favor! It does get better, really!!

If you have specific questions, please post them in the appropriate Forums, not here per se. I’m addicted to this site, so i’ll see them! This way, others can find the info they may be seeking & not everyone will see this intro…

~Laura

ps: please put your name & your GERDling’s name, d.o.b., medicines and formula/breastfeeding in your signatures- it’s so hard to keep track of all these little ones!

To feel better read this: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2005&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

and this: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=563&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1 and all the other posts in the hip hip hooray forum…

HERE’S A BIT MORE (from a post i wrote april 9, 2004):

silent reflux is when they don’t spit up, the acid comes up & they swallow it back down. it DOES get better, REALLY. I know you can’t beieve it, but it’s true! You WILL GET SLEEP!!!

We go to a wonderful specialist, who supports my breastfeeding, & I read everything i could here & then i told the dr. what i wanted- for example when jonah was on prilosec, i knew the dose to ask for because i knew about sandifer symptoms & i used them to monitor how effective the prilosec was. And then when jonah was on the max dose for his weight, i freaked out because we were going to have to try & switch to prevacid & i didn’t want another change, another med…the prilosec had seemed so promising! but this site helped me so much & we switched & it took a while to get to the right dose & it also took other meds (carafate, zantac), but finally we’re at THE END! 9 months (the 17th!) later (valve must be maturing bcse my little piggy likes to eat everything i give him w/o any reflux and also he’s been on the same prevacid dose for months now, not like before when we’d have to increase it w/ almost every couple of pounds weight gain)!!! so see, it doesn’t have to be a whole year!

it just kept getting better & better, the shrieking lessened, the sleeping got better, EVERYTHING. I have a HAPPY BABY!!!

it’ll get better, just hang in there. push your specialist. read all you can. ask us all questions…

~laura

Jonah’s getting off the meds: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2057&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

MORE LINKS I FIND I GIVE OUT:

Going to the Top (fighting insurance & more): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2607&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;KW=going

About faxing the doctor (& more): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2841&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;TPN=1

Website for pictures of our GERDlings (thanks Janice!): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2266

Importance of routine: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2802&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

Reflux & ear infections: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2310

Reflux-what I have learned: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3275

blood in stool: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=633&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=blood+in+stool

misdiagnoses post: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=945&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1&TPN=1

michelle’s post about pushing for the right dr: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1002

protein sensitivity: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=89& ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;PN=17

Misc links collected: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2608

Procedures: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=10&am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1

Ph Probe https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4651&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

here’s about eczema: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/search.asp?KW=eczema+& SM=1&SI=TC&FM=0&OB=2

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=179&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=18

naps vs. nighttime https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=82& ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;PN=3

Reflexes? Startles easily, JOLTS awake https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=93& ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;KW=startle

Siblings w/ reflux: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=503&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=reflux+siblings

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=329&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=7

ezzo/babywise (YICK is my opinion): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1494&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;KW=ezzo

Silent Refluxer to ‘Spitter’: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=145&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=missjess456

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=335&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=missjess456

milk protein/dairy allergies: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=391&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=6

hellbennt2008-08-30 22:18:29