aspiration treatment?

[Anonymous]

My 6 week old daughter has reflux, protein allergies and recently started showing clear signs she is aspirating formula when she is drinking, as well as possibly when refluxing. Her suck/swallow/breathe rhythm is definitely off, she gulps, chokes, wheezes and stays wheezy for an hour or more after each feeding. She also has started coughing and spitting up frothy spit up, or sometimes clear fluid in addition to the occassional curdled variety or straight formula. She is on Nutramigen, which cleared up her mucousy stools, severe diaper rash and cradle cap, and vomiting. We see a ped. GI for the first time for her on Thursday, and I assume he will order a video swallow study and possibly other tests for her. Assuming she is aspirating when drinking rather than just while refluxing, what kinds of treatment can we hope for other than going directly to a feeding tube? My 2 year old developed a severe feeding aversion and ended up on an NG tube at 10 months old and we just finally weaned her off tube feedings about 4 months ago, and are really hoping to avoid going that route with another child if possible.

[Anonymous]

You can thicken the formula with some products vs using cereal. There is simply thick which is really good and easy to mix as well as thick it, which I personally don’t like as much. Let me also say that I did not have to use these with my son, but I work with stroke patients and have used both of them professionally and prefer the simply thick. It does not continue to thicken as it sits where as the thick it does. I would make sure you have a swallow study done ASAP and then I would make sure that your gi knows that you do not need to use a prethickened formula as they are all milk based and i would not thicken with cereal as it is really hard on babies tummies. I am sure some other moms will chime in. HTH.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Beth. We did thicken with Cereal, (rice one, oatmeal other) but going back would probably have done better with one of the thickening products with one of them. The other was not ever eating enough, so he did better with the extra calories from the rice, but Carter gained well and probably could have been fine with the simply thick instead of the oatmeal. Welcome!! And hope your second doesn’t need the tube like your first. You have founds a great group here!!

Hang in there!!!

[Anonymous]

hello all,
This sounds serious for sure, is it an allergy to milk itself; do you think? I would try the thickener, but add some acidophilus powder to her regime too.

You can get it at health food stores and it will help fight any bacteria in the esophagus and boost immunity all over for the body.

hellbennt2011-05-02 19:23:48

[Anonymous]

I am also finding the solution of the same. but i didn’t get satisfied answer from your side. If any one know about it. Please share with us…

Regards

[hellbennt, Moderator adding this: SPAM??? I am watching this poster…]

hellbennt2011-04-21 07:45:34

[Anonymous]

My son went through this same thing.. He was 8 weeks old when they did a swallow study and he was aspirating all consistancies of food. He got so sick that he turned blue on me cuz he couldn’t breath. They placed a NG tube at that time. It helped for a couple weeks but then he started to get sick again. They finally did a fundalication and placed a G button about 5 weeks ago. He is doing great now and hasn’t had any illnesses since. I am trying to push for a swallow test as soon as i can so that he can drink out of the bottle again instead of waiting so long.. Encourage a pacifier as much as possible is what i have been told many times. I wish you the best of luck and hope they figure something out soon.. Also on the formula, we tried that formula to but had to switch to alimentum,, and then to the ready to feed alimentum.. My son is doing great on it, but it has to be the ready to feed.. not really sure why but it helped! Just a thought!

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