Mucus and Reflux Help PLEASE

[Anonymous]

My 8 week-old was diagnosed with reflux after doing a swallowing test and since then it seems as if nothing has gotten better…Here is the time-line…

Around 4 weeks-old he had an episode where he started choking, milk came out through his nose and mouth, we had to turn him over and hit his back and then suction stuff out…this occurred around 3 more times before I said this isn’t normal, I am done…I wasn’t sleeping, scared that my baby was going to choke to death and didn’t want to be left alone with him in case he choked…

We then went to the doctor who just listening to the symptoms gave us zantac and sent us home, upon giving him the zantac we would have crying and screaming fits, called the dr and the dr said lets change his formula and so we did, this still continued the choking, crying, gas…so, I said we are getting a new doctor.

Went to a new dr who did a swallowing test and my son was diagnosed with reflux, this doctor took us off zantac and then put us on enfamil a.r., after a week of that he stopped spitting up but would have episodes of making “huuuh” sounds and swallowing and then he would cry and scream.

We took him back to the dr was put on a different formula…which didn’t work…and then was put on Similac alimentum with added rice and given a prescription of .3 of pepcid (we started out on a higher dose and he slept and slept and slept, so I called the doctor to make sure this was okay and he said although this is not a normal side-effect, it can happen and so he lowered the dose)..this worked immediately and it was like a had a new baby he was smiling and happy, he was sleeping..and then after 3 days he developed a white mucus in the back of his throat, this mucus you can hear when he is breathing, eating, ect…he finally had 2 episodes of literally choking when the white mucus-like stuff came up through his mouth and nose, he is now fussy again….

I called the doctor and the doctor said that we should give the pepcid longer and that the mucus was normal…you cannot tell me mucus that is making my child choke is normal…so, now here we are and all I want to do is cry…I spend hours on the internet searching for answers, my husband is frustrated and says he will grow out of it and that I need to leave it alone, my 7 year-old feels neglected and I am at my wits end..I hurt for my baby and just want answers. I am scared to death of the choking and feel like when we get over one hurdle, we hit another one. I feel like my doctor is tired of this and not listening anymore and that I am fighting a losing battle all alone.

So in conclusion, I am scared and frustrated and need help. I am holding him up 30min after ever meal if not more, even at night. I am exhausted. We have elevated his bed (we bought a co-sleeper because I am scared to leave him alone). We do small feedings and frequent burpings. We are on hypo-allergenic formula (alamentum) and we are on pepcid. What else can I do??!! I need to get rid of this mucus-like stuff..its not a cold, he has no fever, his nose is not runnying, and there is no congestion in his chest. Just this crazy phlegm in the back of his throat. He is now not wanting to eat and I think it is because of the phlegm, things I have read says that GERD can cause excessive mucus…if this is the case how do I get rid of it, we have saline drops (no results) and we are currently using a cool-mist humidifier, we suction what we can but it is directly in his throat…someone please help me….has anyone else had a thick, white mucus problem in the back of baby’s throat?? What did you do?

Cashew2010-07-12 17:26:58

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if I will be of any help to you because I’m new at this reflux thing as well.

I can completely relate to the fear, stress, and frustration that you are experiencing. I’m so sorry for you and your baby. You are not alone and this is a great forum w ith lots of experts (not me tho)!

My son Maverick has similar symptoms. He drinks a small amount (1.5-2 oz) and then makes that noise you described, then pulls away and screams. He also makes wheezing/gurgling in the back of his throat. It scares me but doesn’t seem to bother him. The only thing I’ve seen in his throat is the formula. He is currently on Alimentum (3 weeks now) and just started Prevacid. He is 10 weeks old and this started when he was 3 weeks.

Sorry for the stupid question here, but are you positive the white stuff is mucus and not curdled formula?

* Have you tried a stool test to check for blood in case your baby needs a more elemental forumal such as Neocate?

* Can you take a sample to your doctor to see what’s causing the mucus?

* Does the mucus get worse when you place the baby on his back or tummy?

*How much does Cash eat before making that sound and then crying?

*Can you try a different type of medication in case the reaction is caused by the Pepcid?

[hellbennt]

hi & welcome!

I don’t know about the mucous, but I WOULD get to a ped GI as soon as you can…your peds (PLURAL) don’t seem like they are experts in this area…
my guess is the mucous is due to an intolerance or allergy to the (little) milk protein in the formula; it might be time to try neocate or elecare. I truly don’t know…are poops mucousy too? this would/could indicate an intolerance to milk or soy or both or even something else…

you can read about mspi (milk soy protein intolerance) here:
https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697

hang in there!
~laura

[Anonymous]

Its not milk, when he was in the Enfamil A.R. he threw up the milk with clumps in it…it is for sure a kind of thick, white mucus and he drools a lot like he can’t swallow…it doesn’t get better or worse no matter which way we lay him, I have had so many people ask me if he snores…and a lot of times in his sleep it seems the mucus is so much that he makes a frowning face and gags…I have several friends whose babies had reflux and they ended up with their babies on breathing treatments, they said its because the ear, nose and throat are all related and all the acid causes infections..I guess it makes sense since reflux is associated with asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis…and I guess that is why I am concerned because I don’t want the mucus to progress into an infection….. I just wondered if anyone else had this problem…

My dr said to give the pepcid another week, that I can’t expect miracles over night…I am trying to give it time its just hard when you don’t want to be alone with your infant because you are scared.

He did this mucus thing once before with a similac formula and I was wondering if it could be the formula, if you have ever felt alamentum it is very slimy and slippery…anyone else had this issue?? I don’t think it is a milk protien thing because he was on enfamil and good start and he never had mucus, he just cried and had lots of gas so that is why we went with the alamentum, if it was the milk protien wouldn’t he of had mucus on them?? I dunno…

I know we are headed to a specialist, I am just waiting for the dr to refer us due to insurance and I want my baby better now, ya know….and in the midst of this I have to worry about money issues, I wonder how much the specialist is going to cost…are insurance stinks, I had to pay 120 dollard for a liquid suspension of pepcid, between that and the formula being 30 dollars a can we are strapped….who knew it was going to be so hard!

Thanks for the replies guys…I am open for any questions and suggestions, I am new at this as well…!

Cashew2010-07-12 19:55:14

[Anonymous]

How old was he when he was on Similac? I know my son tolerated Similac well at first but later developed a milk protein allergy. His dr. told us that for the first few weeks of life they pretty much do fine on any formula because their immune system isn’t developed so therefore they don’t have an intolerance yet.

I would insist on two easy things immediately: 1. blood cbc to determine if his eoseinophils are high (indicates allergy) and 2. stool test for occult blood (indicates allergy). This is something you can do very easily and can wait for the results in the mean time.

Unfortunately, you will probably find that you have to push the doctors, do your own research, and be a bit aggressive. Doctors (in my experience) are so lax and don’t understand the severity of the problem as they brush it off as colic or an overreative parent.

I completely understand the cost issue and can relate — Alimentum is so expensive and also our Prevacid isn’t covered by our insurance either. : (

Just keep researching, ask questions of others, and be a pesky pest with your doctors and you will find something that works.

We are still on our journey, but making some slow progress. Please let me know how everything is going (send me a PM). I wish you the best and a speedy diagnosis and recovery!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry forgot to add one more thing. You might try describing your symptoms to Justanswer.com

The cost is $15.00 but you can get unlimited questions for a month. I’ve found them to be pretty helpful in advising me what may be going on. Based on their advise I can then take their suggestions to my doctor.

Good luck!

[hellbennt]

looking for a GI- try to see here if one near you is listed and if s/he takes your insurance https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=660

then TELL your dr to GIVE YOU the referal!

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure about the mucous either, but I agree that you should try to get a referral to a ped GI. I also suspect that he might be reacting to the milk proteins in the Alimentum. You could try an elemental for a couple weeks, and then if the mucous remains you know that it isn’t caused by MSPI, must be related to the reflux or something else. I know that the elementals can be expensive, but depending your insurance and the state you live in you may be able to get it covered. I can help you out with some samples of Neocate if you’d like (just PM me).

[Anonymous]

its the formula! my 5 week old kaylee did the same thing i had to call 911 it was getting so bad. her dr doesnt listen to me either, soo im seeking a 2nd opinion. and shes on enfimal gentle ease and it seems to be working great!

[hellbennt]

this is an old ‘thread’

glad you found us, jennifer!

please post on a more active thread and post any questions you might have

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