I need a lot of advice

[Anonymous]

I have not been posting much because Adriana has been sick. It started out 3 weeks ago, her reflux started flaring and she was refusing bottles, arching ETC. (I increased her med at that time) Then she got a cold a week later, so I am not sure if the cold had been starting the week prior and cause the flare in reflux. Well the cold was BAD and I had to sleep holding her upright for several nights, and for naps. She still has a cough and is drinking her bottles but still refusing solids. And her breath still has a poopy odor and I don’t know if its reflux related or from the cold. Oh, and her throat is still red.

So here are my questions:

1. If a cold causes reflux to flare, when can I see some improvement. I always second guess and wonder if it was a new solid I introduced.

2. I’ve read that acidy breath smells like vomit. Her’s smells poopy, and kinda like bad morning breath. Is that acidy?

3. How can I get her back to sleeping by herself. She will only sleep with me or in my bed. If I put her in the crib, she wakes up!! I really miss my alone time.

4. COuld these flares be because she is allergic to soy? She was doing VERY well after starting the Prevacid and took a turn at about 5 months old. ( I still don’t know what caused that one) If she has an allergy to soy, could she have those periods of no reflux and doing great?

5. Is the red throat caused by the reflux, or could it just be the cold like the doctor says.

OK I think that is it. I have asked the ped. all of this and she is clueless.

Oh, one more

6. I saw a ped gi that i didn’t like, but I am wondering if I need to go back because this reflux thing seems to be getting worse. What if there is something else going on. She has never had any testing done. Am I paranoid or should I go see someone?

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

Jenny, I am so sorry to hear that Adriana has been having a hard time (and you too of course).

I am wondering re the poopy breath whether she might have a sinus infection or something (I know my breath stinks when I have a sinus infection). Does she seem congested (I know when Alana is congested her sleep is very disrupted)?

I think the red throat could be either/or. But a cold can dedfinately cause it and also cause bubs to go of there food (a bit like us).

Does she seem to perk up with a bit of motrin or paracetamol…if so this might be a clue that she is miserable from a virus versus miserable from reflux.

Sorry, I think I am as clueless as your Dr…

I do hope things are better soon.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry that Adrianna is sick. My girls have had this lousy virus that seems to last and last. Liza’s had it for nearly two weeks now. Sore throat, nasal congestion, cough.

My children frequently get really stinky breath when they have a sinus infection. To me it smells like really gross morning breath.

Usually when a cold like this lingers for more than 10 – 14 days my doctor will put them on an antibiotic because often times it starts as a simple virus but a secondary bacterial infection sets in. A simple cold should not last three weeks.

As for the reflux….that sure complicates things. I think the best way to find out if it’s the illness causing a flare is to treat the illness and see if the reflux improves. I’d probably ask for an antibiotic and see if that clears things up, and then hopefully the reflux will improve. If not then you’ll know that she maybe needs an increase in her Prevacid.

Good luck and keep us posted. I hope she’s feeling better soon.

[Anonymous]

Jenny,
I’m so sorry that Adriana’s been so sick. Right before Bryce had his tubes put in his ears he had that same poopy smelling breath. As soon as he got his tubes in, and that fluid drained, it went away. So I assumed the smell was coming from the sinus/ear fluid. Good luck. I hope Adriana gets feeling, sleeping, and eating better soon!

[Anonymous]

Hey Jenny,

I would also suggest that it’s an infection of some sort. My husband gets ear infections, go figure, and his breath always smells like something died in there. He very rarely has a fever with his ear infections too, so sometimes the bad breath is our only indication!

Also, when Ben had an ear infection, I couldn’t lay him in his crib either. He would wake right up, and he’s usually not like this. If her ear is bothering her, or if she is still draining a bit, that could also be causing the reflux to flare.

I hope she feels better soon. Ben has a cold right now, and I’m about to go nuts from him having it for a week. I can’t imagine three weeks of this!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions. We went back to the doctor and her ears are clear. She does not think there is an infection anywhere. Today her breath does not stink and she is eating a little bit of solids. Maybe it was the post nasal drip that had her breath stinky. Why do colds have to cause the reflux to flare???

Hopefully things will all clear up and she will feel great!!

I can’t believe how big all of our children are getting. I love seeing the new pics!

[Anonymous]

MMm, the post nasal drip makes sense. I’m glad she is feeling more like food

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