Sudden congestion 6 months

[Anonymous]

Hello,

My son had silent reflux as a newborn. It’s hard to know if he still has it (he’s 6 months, almost 7), though I’m still giving him his medication until we see the pediatrician next week. I’m thinking about trying to wean him off of it…

BUT, the last 3 weeks he’s been very stuffy at night, and at night only. A few times I’ve heard some congestion from him during the day, but not much and it doesn’t really seem to bother him. But these last few weeks, he’s woke up earlier than he would for his first feeding (still is up 2-3 times/night to breastfeed) VERY unhappy with a nose that is completely stopped up. At first I thought it was a cold – and I do think he even had one, but it went away. Then it became clear that this was either an allergy or the reflux, but I don’t know which one! It’s driving me CRAZY. I’m on a very restricted diet because of his food intolerances, so I don’t think it’s something I’ve eaten. Though I’ve started supplementing his daycare bottles with 1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 Alimentum formula. His food intolerances have always been reflected by excess gas, not usually congestion.

Has anyone else’s baby started getting stuffy all of the sudden? I don’t know whether to ask his Ped. to increase the dose or ask if I can wean. I really want him off the meds., but if this stuffiness is due to the reflux, obviously that’s not a wise choice. I don’t remember him being stuffy early on, when we realized he had silent reflux.

I broke down and made an appointment with a gastroenterologist (sp?) in a week and a half, followed by an appointment with an allergist the beginning of December (the soonest we could get in). I’m ready to get to the bottom of this! It’s sooooooo exhausting. Anyway, any advice on dealing the stuffy nose?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My first thought is teeth as that is what we are dealing with right now. Cooper had a horrible runny nose when he was cutting his front teeth and now has it again with this next 2 top teeth. I put him in a steamy bathroom in the morning before his first nap (he is in his exersaucer while i shower) and then we have a cool mist humidifer in his room ( only run it when he isn’t in there as the sound doesn’t help him sleep) and we do the steamy bathroom during his bathtime (we have a separate shower/tub) so to loosen up at bedtime and we do saline drops.

[Anonymous]

Yes! That’s my other theory. He has his bottom two teeth, so the top ones are due any day now. Lots of drooling, hands always in mouth, etc. But my daughter never experienced this congestion and I looked it up and it says that some studies say there’s no link between congestion and teething…but I know that I don’t always believe the studies. Who knows. I hope that’s all it is! On the other hand, I can see visiting the GI and him saying “uh, lady, your son is just teething!” 🙂 Which, in the grand scheme of things, would be fine 🙂 But I do have questions about his terrible gas, too, so we’ll go anyway.

Thanks for your input! Glad to know we’re not the only ones.
Andrea

[Anonymous]

Hi Andrea,

I feel as if i am going through something similar. My son 8months, seemed to have reflux and gastric emptying delay under control with meds, then he got a cold in December. It turned to all sorts of respiratoy problems, he is on nebs, was on steriods. He is still stuffy! He still coughs, He still wakes up coughing. he may be teething too. But is this th ereflux or a respiratory thing. I have a call into our pedi GI, but i think he will think i am nuts. have you found anything else out?

[Author]

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