When to move on

[Anonymous]

My DS has been on Zantac for a week, and at first I thought I saw some improvement, but the last couple of days it’s been back to the same nursing struggles. He is nearly 16 lbs and was only on .9ml twice a day, so I started giving him a little more, and nothing. In fact, the only change that I’ve seen is that since starting the medicine he hasn’t pooped in the last 3 days. Before, he was going several times a day.

I have a couple of questions. Should I give Zantac more time before calling my ped. and letting her know that it isn’t working? Or should I just try upping the dose even more? I have a hard enough time as it is giving him his medicine, because he chokes on it and can’t stand the taste. I’ve even tried mixing it with Cherry Mylanta. I’m worried that I’m going to have to be forceful with my ped. to get another kind of medication, because she had previously said that if Zantac doesn’t work it’s “just colic.” I’ve already gotten some good advice from the ladies on here about being a little more forceful.

My last question is… could this be anything other than reflux? For the most part, my DS seems like a happy baby. He has his crying fits once in awhile, but not like some of the women on here describe. He doesn’t scream for a long time, usually when he cries, I can comfort him. Really, the only problem is when I feed him he starts crying, bobs off the breast, tries to eat some more, cries some more, etc. It’s a struggle almost everytime. During the middle of the night, he feeds well because he’s half asleep. I’m just wondering if it could be something other than reflux and that’s why Zantac hasn’t helped. Any ideas? I should mention that his feeding problems started about 4-5 weeks ago with one or two of his feedings and progressed to almost all of his feedings. I’ve tried to deal with OAL and I’ve also lessened my supply by doing block feedings.

Thanks for any advice!

zachysmom2008-08-20 01:53:13

[Anonymous]

JMO…But…If you did see some improvement when you first started the Zantac, then that (to me) shows that he is having discomforts due to reflux. My DD started off as a very happy baby and it wasn’t until 2 months old that all of her reflux began rearing its ugly head. Looking back, she might have had earlier signs (she use to eat a TON, every hour). I’m just thinking that luckily you’ve caught it early and that’s why he doesn’t seem to be too unbearable. My DD for the most part is a happy baby also, but I know when she’s in pain. AND I have noticed that the longer this goes on and she’s not getting any better she’s getting worse. So, hopefully tomorrow goes well and we get some answers. BUT I just I wanted to let you know that maybe if you get switched to prilosec or prevacid your LO will improve and it maybe won’t take as long to get all straightened out b/c you caught it early. JMO

Hope I might have given you a little bit of decent advice. GG Averi’s letting Mommy know she’s hungry.

ALSO, have you considered doing the TED? I can’t remember if you’d mentioned it already.

[Anonymous]

Maybe his dose is not high enough. Eli is on 1.3ml 2x a day and I would guess he is right around 16 lbs too. I also had problems w/OAL and I think that mat cause alot of the problem if it is not completely under control.

[Anonymous]

Yep, I would say that the OAL is a huge culprit. His feeding habits sound a lot like my kids’. Block feeding is the way to go, as you’ve already done, but you may want to try feeding him while lying down or even with him on top of you. The gravity issue helps slow the flow. Also, I would always take Ben off my breast when the milk first let down and let the spray come out into a cloth diaper. Once it stopped the forceful spray, I would put him back on. That helped alot. My son always ate better in the middle of the night too, but I think it had alot to do with the fact that my breasts weren’t so full by the end of the day.

I do think that the meds are probably not high enough too. If the doc. isn’t going to budge, I would look for another doctor. Have she seen the Marci Kids info? It might be worth sharing that, and going from there.

[hellbennt]

great advice. I would also try increasing zantac dose to ‘highest’ dose for weight to see how that goes. disclaimer: I am no doctor. read here & decide for yourself about the zantac:

Zantac dosing- my/other’s question (has axid dose too): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9539&PID=82914#82914

[Anonymous]

Okay, I e-mailed my doctor, telling her the Zantac wasn’t working as prescribed and asking her if we could do anything. This was her response:

“Hi! The trial of Zantac was to see if we could alleviate the pain( if
ever) associated at times with reflux. This is usually our first-line.
As I said I think his primary problem at present time may be colic. Dr.
Howard thought he had colic as well ( based on a review of her
notes/diagnoses). Colic usually improves by 3 months of age give and
take a few weeks. If he were not gaining weight or even more so, if he
were losing weight, I would consider using a PPI or even doing a
work-up or referral.

At this point, I would just advise to watch for red flags like projectile vomiting ,fever,turning blue with feeds, etc.
We
have to see if his colic will improve ( a lot of times all it takes is
time). If you go to my website-www .permanente.net/doctor/aimeesimbre
you can look up the videos in newborn care and see “how to soothe a
fussy baby” and or look up colic in the healthwise encyclopedia. I will
enclose some facts about this.
If there are any more concerns/new
symptoms, then I would like to see him back at the clinic to make sure
he is not losing weight.”

She then sent a sheet about what to do with babies who have colic. This was despite the fact that I told her he gets upset when he’s eating and will throw a fit then, but that he doesn’t get upset for no reason at other times. ARGH!

[Anonymous]

I am sorry. Is there somewhere that you can get a second opinion?

[Anonymous]

zachysmom wrote: Okay, I e-mailed my doctor, telling her the Zantac wasn’t working as prescribed and asking her if we could do anything. This was her response:

“Hi! The trial of Zantac was to see if we could alleviate the pain( if ever) associated at times with reflux. This is usually our first-line. As I said I think his primary problem at present time may be colic. Dr. Howard thought he had colic as well ( based on a review of her notes/diagnoses). Colic usually improves by 3 months of age give and take a few weeks. If he were not gaining weight or even more so, if he were losing weight, I would consider using a PPI or even doing a work-up or referral.

At this point, I would just advise to watch for red flags like projectile vomiting ,fever,turning blue with feeds, etc.
We have to see if his colic will improve ( a lot of times all it takes is time). If you go to my website-www .permanente.net/doctor/aimeesimbre you can look up the videos in newborn care and see “how to soothe a fussy baby” and or look up colic in the healthwise encyclopedia. I will enclose some facts about this.
If there are any more concerns/new symptoms, then I would like to see him back at the clinic to make sure he is not losing weight.”

She then sent a sheet about what to do with babies who have colic. This was despite the fact that I told her he gets upset when he’s eating and will throw a fit then, but that he doesn’t get upset for no reason at other times. ARGH!

UGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really hate that you ran into a pedi like this. My older son’s 1st pedi was like this and insisted he had colic. When I was still calling at 4.5 months, they finally told me to give him Maalox! When the Maalox helped him, I felt terrible. I realized that he had been in a lot of REAL pain, not just a “fussy” baby. I realized after finding this board that he didn’t have just gas, that he had reflux.

I hope you can find a pedi that will take you seriously. Where do you live? Maybe some of us can help. Sorry if you’ve already said that and I missed it. HUGS!!!!!

[Anonymous]

We live in Central CA. The problem is my husband and I are insured through Kaiser, so we really only get coverage by going to drs within kaiser. the coverage drops significantly if we go outside of Kaiser network. This is my third ped. at Kaiser… I guess I’ll have to keep trying them all until I can get someone to help.

It’s stupid because he has to actually lose weight for them to try to find a problem? So if I stop being so persistent with his feedings, and just stop trying to feed him when he starts crying (about 2 minutes into the session), then he’ll lose weight, and they’ll take another look at him. In order for them to be good doctors, I have to be a bad mom. Which obviously I’m not going to do. I feel like we’re being punished for working so hard to make sure that he’s eating enough and not losing weight. *sigh*

[Anonymous]

Instead of a pedi, maybe try a family dr or general practitioner. Many moms on here have found them to be better about prescribing PPIs and giving the higher doses.

HUGS!! Our first 2 drs were like this. The 2nd one moved VERY shortly after we started seeing him, which didn’t break my heart.

Also, I’m not sure if you need referrals with your insurance, but maybe get an appt. with a ped GI dr. Here is the running list of ped GI drs we have here. Scroll through and see if there is one near you that another reflux mom has recommended.

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=660

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