Not sleeping anymore!

[Anonymous]

I hate for this to be my first post, but I’m really worried. My little girl is suffering from terrible reflux, and has been on Prevacid solutabs for the past few days, but nothing’s happening yet. She hasn’t really slept well in over a week. She passes out on me, but that’s about it. Her pediatrician doesn’t seem concerned. I have no idea what to do. If any of you have any advice, or can just commiserate, I’d really appreciate it. She was such a happy baby. Now she’s nearly 3 months old and miserable.

xoxo
Maggi

[hellbennt]

welcome!

so sorry to read about your baby’s troubles!

1) first of all it can take up to 14 days for you to see the full effects of the prevacid

2) second of all it might not be a high enough dose-

http://www.marci-kids.com will help you check the dose

3) 3rd of all, depending on the ‘kind’ or ‘form’ of prevacid, you may not have been instructed on how to give it properly…

PLEASE read this, as

this should clear this subject up a bit:

Prevacid 101(last post on the page): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1936&PN=0&TPN=1

next: how are baby’s stools? ‘normal’ or mucousy (stringy or curdled)? horrible gas? grunting? I ask this bcse many times babies w/ reflux also have problems digesting proteins (most often it’s milk proteins and soy proteins) in breastmilk & formula.

are you breastfeeding or what formula does she take?

in the meantime, do you have any zantac (or pepcid or tagament or axid)? you can give this, too, just make sure to space the dose 4hrs seperate from the prevacid. if you have zantac, axid or pepcid and you tell me baby’s weight, I can help you calculate a proper, high, dose for her

I have a LOT MORE to say & (most of) it’s here:

J

Groupie Intro: my intro: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&PN=1&TPN=1

Please PLEASE take the time to read/scroll/skim through the info from this link, as it truly will help you! you’ll find that you will refer back to it

so glad you found us!

~laura

[Anonymous]

First off, I cannot thank you enough for your reply. It helps to know that I’m not alone in this, and that many parents have witnessed their children go through this and come out fine. It’s hell to watch Jenna scream, but I hope that we’re headed in the right direction in terms of treatment and getting this taken care of.

The past few days have had me sitting on the couch for the majority of the day and night, cuddling my little 2 and a half month old girl, who will only sleep (albeit fitfully) on my chest. So I’ve had a lot of time to do research, and peruse these forums. I read a lot on Prevacid, and finally figured out how best to give her the 15mg solutab every morning (I stick it on a spoon, add some water, wait for it to dissolve, and then stick the spoon in her mouth, followed quickly by a pacifier so she can suck all the granules down). I spoke with her doctor this morning to let him know that she still isn’t doing well, and though she hasn’t gained weight in the past 2 week, and she sleeps maybe 8 hours a day, total (if we’re lucky, 3 or 4 of those hours take place in her chair — on a slight incline — at night), he doesn’t seem concerned. He told me about splitting up the dosage for a morning/night thing, which I was considering anyway, after reading these boards. So tonight I’ll try that.

I bet her dosage isn’t nearly high enough for her. She’s about 11 pounds, 11 ounces. She was indeed on Axid — I think it worked for maybe a week before her problems came back with a vengeance. I heard this is common. I made the mistake of taking her off the Axid completely before reading these forums — big mistake, I know — now I’m trying to add it back into her daily regimen of medications…

Jenna is formula fed, we started her on Similac Sensitive RS, as she doesn’t appear to have any MSPI. Her stools were fine beforehand; now, she’s yet to have one, after a few days, so I can’t really say, yet.

Her doctor didn’t tell me to wait 30 mintues after giving the Prevacid, which kind of bothers me, since doesn’t it only work if you wait? I’m so glad for these forums to set me straight! Also, I’m sure she needs a stronger dose, but I have no idea how to broach it with him. I’m supposed to call again on Monday and let him know if there’s any change. I’m considering either asking for Prevacid capsules (to mix myself with Caracream/Buffer Babies), or Zegerid (which is more expensive through our insurance, but may just be worth it, in the long run). Again, if you have any advice on how to broach this with him, I’d appreciate it. I know she should probably see a pediatric gastroenterologist, but she’s already seeing another specialist (a pediatric orthopedist) for hip dysplasia, so I just didn’t want to have to take her to more doctors and be poked and prodded any more than she already has been.

Thank you again.

xoxo
Maggiitsmemaggi2009-01-02 15:45:18

[hellbennt]

well, she may not have to be poked and prodded

but, if you can get your ped to work with you, then that’s great!

after 2 weeks on the prevacid

(and the axid- you can figure out the proper dose here: Zantac dosing- my/other’s question (has axid & pepcid dose, too): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9539&PID=82914#82914),

you can FAX your doctor. there are even pages from marci-kids made especially for physicians- you can attach these after ‘your’ letter:

FAX FAX FAX the dr

dont wait for a call…

start off w/ a THANK YOU

keep it short & sweet

stick to the facts (no feelings and no rambling emotions)

state current meds, doses, symptoms

make request- flat out- short & sweet

THANK AGAIN

follow up by calling office to say fax was sent

call again later to discuss requests in fax, ie: have you called in the increased prescription yet? THANK YOU

sample fax: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10633&PID=90325#90325

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

[hellbennt]

11lbs 11ounces is 5.3 kilos

Axid dose:

Children <12 years: 10mg/kg/day divided into two daily doses.

5.3 x 10 = 53mgs total for the day

you need this in mls; I’m not sure what the liquid axid is? check the bottle for mgs/ml

[Anonymous]

Again, much appreciated. She was having about 45mg, then up to 63 when they increased the dose, thinking she’d gained weight (she didn’t). I will try to do it only twice a day instead of three times; that way she’ll be able to get a larger dose at a time.

I will try again to talk to her doc on Monday, when I call. I’m really hoping he is open minded about this; we need to get this kid some relief. It is not normal to not be able to sleep. Otherwise, I will definitely get on the faxing.

Thank you again so much; I see you’ve reiterated some of the things I’ve read elsewhere on this board; it is so sweet of you to condense them for me so I have it all together.

xoxo
Maggi

[hellbennt]

last day of vacation, LOL! starting Monday, I’ll only be answering questions/posts in the evenings hellbennt2009-01-02 17:43:10

[Anonymous]

Hi Maggi!

I’m new as well to the board 🙂 My son is 6 months and I am pretty much in the same boat as you right now. First, my son was on Zantac with basically no results. Now he is on Prevacid solutabs along with mylanta (per his gastro doctor). I noticed one *small* improvment was how I was giving him the medicine. In the syringe with the water a half hour before. And during that half hour I make sure to keep things real mellow and not play with him or anything, so the med can really work. Around 3 months I called his peditrician to see about adding a little rice to his bottle in an attempt to “weigh” down his stomach. Really, the only difference with us is that my son is on similac alimentum which I can’t see any positive result either way with the formula.

Keep on truckin!

Dee

[Anonymous]

Hi, Dee,

What dose of Prevacid do you have your son on? Jenna’s pediatrician OK’ed the splitting of the 15mg solutab into two doses per day, which makes me think he might know something about this (I hope), since most parents here seem to be doing the same with their kids. Jenna was having a great day, today, and even was able to sleep, last night (we hope it’s the start of a trend), but she got really upset about an hour ago, and has been screaming in pain, again; she even spit up some of her formula from 45 minutes before, and it smells of acid… Every time she squirms in my arms (less crying because she sucks on that pacifier for dear life), I can hear her swallowing back the acid. It’s heartbreaking. I’m going to mention to the doctor that I think she’d benefit from 7.5mg 3 times a day as opposed to just 2. I hope he agrees with me.

Good luck with everything! Please keep me posted as to how your son’s doing!

xoxo
Maggi

itsmemaggi2009-01-04 11:35:27

[Anonymous]

Hi Maggi!

Seamus is on the split dose of Prevacid and has been since he was about 10 weeks old or so. I have read on the boards that sometimes a 3rd dose is required. I will keep my fingers crossed that Jenna starts the trend of sleeping for your household’s sake. It’s horrible when they don’t sleep but even worse when you know it’s because they are hurting. Yes, Seamus has the same acid smell!! I read that Jenna was on Axid before. Is that for reflux? Is that similiar to Zantac?

Good luck talking with your doctor. I am usually not very forceful but when I took Seamus to the peditrician gastro as soon as the doc walked in I said, “I am not leaving here until I have some answers for my son.” I never thought I would be capable of saying something like that. lol If you have alimentum to spare that would be great. Please let me know how much money I can send to you.

Dee

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