Appointment

[Anonymous]

Well…

We had our appointment today with the pediatrician. After 10 days on Zantac, I desribed minimal improvement. She said I need to stay the course for 10 more days before she will consider prescribing a different medication.

I asked about the rice cereal in her formula (I wanted to switch to Simply Thick). She said babies tolerate rice better (which is the total opposite of everything I have heard). I also asked again about switching formulas to Nutramigen. She said Nutamigen is thinner and makes reflux worse. She also said it will do nothing for Kiera because she doesn’t have an allergy. HOW DOES SHE KNOW??? No tests were run, she has a very hard time with pooping ang gas AND I saw blood in her stool. Isn’t this worth a shot at least? She told me that reflux and allergies do not run hand in hand. I have heard this is not true either.

I also asked about giving her cherry Mylanta or something when she is so uncomfortable. She said I should never do that.

I asked if there were any tests that could be done to make sure everything was okay with her. She said probably not. Then, while I was explaining something else, I mentioned that she gags, chokes and coughs when she is eating and coughs often sometimes up to 2 hours later. Then she said we might want to get her an upper GI to make sure she is not aspirating. What scares me is that if I had not mentioned that while describing something else, she would never have known to run a test on a potentially dangerous situation. I had already told her that Kiera was coughing and choking at her last appointment but she never said a word about a test then. If it wasn’t for me finding this site and learning more about the tests available, I would never have known. Not that I think there is anything seriously wrong but these things should be checked out.

I also asked again about a specialist. She told me that there are none in the area. She said again that I did not need to see a specialist. She said the only reason she would advise a patient to see a ped GI was if she was aspirating. Please see section above. Ugh!

I scheduled her an Upper GI just to be sure. I am nervous about the test because I can’t imagine that Kiera will think this is the most fun in the world.

We also took Kiera in for her 1 month portraits today. The photographer put her on her tummy and she screamed and screamed and we could not calm her down no matter what we did. Everyone was giving us the “Shut that baby up” and “What is wrong with you? Must be new parents” looks. The photographer was nice enough to chime in that “Maybe we should try to change her diaper or feed her.” Yeah. Tried that. Thanks. Ugh!!!! I should note that my husband and I both look very young (This is supposed to come in handy later, I know, but now it is so frustrating.) so people always assume we are total morons and too young to have children. I agree on the moron thing, but I get so frustrated with the judgemental looks.

My cousin also called because my mom told her that Kiera was diagnosed with GERD. She called to tell me that the doctor “wrongly” diagnosed her baby with GERD also. She said that she reluctantly tried Zantac for three days before she “just knew” it wasn’t working and that he did not have GERD. She told me that he was a colicky baby who cried all day instead of at night. She also mentioned that his “colic” is still going and he is 10 months old. She said it is starting to get better but the road is longer for some. She wanted to call so she could help me see that medications were not the answer for babies. She said GERD was the vogue diagnosis right now and that Kiera was just a fussy baby. She asked me not to put my “one month old daughter through unnecessary drugs.” UGH!!! I am no doctor, but it sounds to me like she should have listened to hers. I, on the other hand, am not going to let my baby “cry it out” for 10 months and assume she is a fussy baby.

I am truly having a terrible day.

I want to fast forward 3 months until Kiera is properly medicated and old enough to smile at me and I am not so completely frustrated that I can’t have a normal conversation with anyone without rubbing my face and crying.

[Anonymous]

How frustrating! I completely remember those days and I HATED the fact that I was wishing away Sarah’s infancy so we could fast forward to ‘happy days’. I didn’t come across this site until Sarah was 4 months old and once we got her on a good dose of PPI and alimentum she was a brand new baby! I would find a NEW doctor, switch Keira to Nutramigen (you don’t need anyone’s permission for that!!!) and KEEP FIGHTING!

You do not need to tolerate a fussy baby any longer than possible…not to mention poor Keira being in so much pain.

BIG HUGS and hang in there. If you keep fighting, things really DO get better!

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry you’re going thru this! BIG HUGS TO YOU!!! Don’t listen to any more unrequested advice from someone who sounds less informed than you are! GERD may be a “vogue” diagnosis, but it’s proven to be right for most kids that were diagnosed with it. How does she explain the “colick” going away once the kids are on a good med/ dose? Is that just a coincidence? NO ONE wants to over/unnecessarily medicate their child, many many of us on here have spent long painful days and nights trying to “wait it out” and contemplating what to do next, when FINALLY the right doctor/medication/dosage combination is found and our pain-free babies are back.

If you saw blood in the stool, there IS a test that they can do on the stool itself, it’s not always conclusive, but it is a possibility. And I agree with Amy, you should switch to Nutramigen and hopefully that will help too.

I would definitely find a new Pedi, many docs won’t admit when they’re wrong or don’t know it all. Where are you located? There’s a thread in Pediatricians/Specialists which lists good/bad docs in different areas, you may want to check that out.

Best of luck and hang in there.

[Anonymous]

oaky I typed a really long answer and it didn’t post. Basically I agree with Amy and Denise. Switch to either alimentum or Nutramigen (RTF if you can afford it as it tends to be thicker). Get a new ped. Look into a GI doc nearby and get your baby some relief. Be thankful that you aren’t as uninformed as your cousin. I feel really badly for her lo who obviously is in pain too. BIG HUGS and best of luck.

[Anonymous]

oh you poor thing!

ugggh. I have soo much to say and not much time tonight.

a few thoughts…oh please get a new doc! and the comments from family, I have SO been there! A baby with colic for 10 mos, ummm, total disservice to baby to let it suffer that long in my opinion! I think YOU are a great mommy and doing the right thing. It’s hard to get crappy comments from everyone around you, this I know! I got it from friends, family and doctors. I knew in my heart my baby was really sick with GERD and I just held my head up as best as I could, armed myself with facts (thank GOD for this board) and kept on truckin’ (if ya know what I mean)

Hang in there hon! You are doing the right thing for your baby.

oh ps…Neocate is SUPER THIN. that stuff doesn’t matter. when there is an intolerance it must be addressed. Much of the time, once it is fixed, reflux improved three-fold… your pedi is SO under my skin and it’s not even my pedi. ugh!

[Anonymous]

I re-read this post the other day and it made me feel LOTS better…so I will pass it to you.

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

Hugs to you! I have been there and totally feel pain for you right now.

It was my MIL who had all the answers for me and dismissed everything that I and the docs said about my little one. She knew everything and almost caused my dh and I divorce. But, that is her nature so I shouldn’t have expected anything different.

I call it “drive by parenting” when people give unwanted (and bad) advice. Trust me, you will not get out of this reflux/intolerance thing without many “drive-bys”

Your ped sucks! I feel for you b/c I have had 1 gen practitioner and 1 ped who were idiots and know-it alls. Remember that docs work for you (you are paying their wages) and you can so fire them at any time. Maybe if enough people do, your ped will get the hint. You can do the formula thing without your doc. Doing this without her may make you feel better (a little rebellious maybe).

Take care and good luck!

Kristin

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry to hear about what is going on with you guys! The biggest lesson I learned from being a mom to Gerdlings is FOLLOW YOUR HEART/INSTINCTS! they are always right, since you are the one that spends every minute with your child you know best! Ditto all above comments, make the formula switch. And in regards to allergies/intolerances causing reflux, that was the main reason for Taylor and our GI clearly stated that. Cherry supreme mylanta was never approved by our Pediatrician either, I just went with the advice of other mom’s here that have used it for their children. And in regards to COLIC that is the most BS excuse of a diagnosis for a baby! It is when the MD has no idea what is going on! And for “Colic” to last until 10 months? Whatever!1

[Anonymous]

Oh man, what a mess. And I’m so sorry. This is the last thing you need to worry about right now. I have to agree with the other posters that you just need to follow your instinct. If you are suspecting that the doctor isn’t trully listening to you, is brushing you off, or that she isn’t helping, then it’s time to find a new one. I know that’s easier said than done. But it will be worth it in the long run. You may even want to take her to your family doc.. they are usually more familiar with acid reflux and the drugs since many adults deal with it. You may have better luck there.

Also, I would switch the formula too. The blood in the poo is really worrisome, and she’s an idiot if she thinks that allergies and reflux don’t often occur together.

I’m sorry for your cousin’s baby. it’s really sad that she has been in pain for so long when it wasn’t necessary.

Hang in there. Fight for you little one, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you are less of the Supermom that you are.

[Anonymous]

1st find a new dr that well listen to you.

I agree with all of the other post. I would try a new formula and also look into finding a gi dr in your area. What state do you live in?

Everybody told me that Ash was just a colicy baby and I new better. I got so tried of all the comments from every that had no idea what I wa going through at home. It does get better like everyone said. Hang in there!

I think every mom on the this site deserve a award .

[Anonymous]

Wow, your doc is just plain wrong on so many counts.

First off, it’s ABSURD to “trial” Zantac, or any other H2 blocker, for TWENTY days!! If it was going to be adequate, it would’ve proven itself by now.

And the statement about food allergies/intolerances not being connected to GERD is crazy. It’s well-documented that they do go hand-in-hand, and look no further than this site to back that up. Many of our babies have protein intolerances and reflux; that’s why there’s a whole section on these boards dealing with intolerances! If your daughter had blood in her stool, and you don’t think it was just from an anal fissure, then chances are that she has protein intolerances of some sort: milk, soy, and/or others. Does Kiera grunt a lot, too? Any mucousy poop? If you think she has protein intolerances, I’d go ahead and switch her formula now. Then in the meantime, I’d start searching for a doc who will prescribe a PPI like Prevacid, Nexium, or Zegerid. To me it always made more sense to address all possible protein intolerances first because if that is contributing to the reflux, the reflux meds won’t really get to the root of the problem. Then after you feel she’s tolerating the formula as well as possible, see what you’re left with and then medicate for any remaining GERD symptoms.

Funny about the photographer’s suggestions. I got so many of those stupid, obvious comments that I thought I’d go crazy if I heard one more….like people don’t think that you’ve tried all the easy stuff to stop the crying. My son even had a ped who suggested to me that when he’s in a screaming fit, I should check his fingers, toes, and penis to make sure no hair or stray thread got wrapped around it and was cutting off the circulation. Ok, not that something like that couldn’t happen, but I just kept thinking, “oh, lady, I wish it were THAT simple!!!”

Finally, don’t worry too much about family’s comments. Sounds like your cousin’s baby has been suffering unnecessarily. Good for you to not leave it at that. My first son’s doc convinced me after about a week of no improvement on Zantac that he must not really have reflux after all. I believed her for way too long, and my son suffered for it. Of course no one wants to medicate a tiny baby, but sometimes that’s what it takes for relief. I was much wiser with my second son and had him on Prevacid at about a month old.

Good luck to you! It’s a lonely road sometimes, dealing with a GERDling, but we are here for you and we understand 🙂

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