Devon

Comment by Mel Dyke on June 6, 2009 at 12:57am

Hi
I'm so glad I found this website. My 15 week old baby has just been diagnosed with reflux by a sympathetic GP (at last!). Just prescribed Gaviscon which seems a nightmare to give when breastfeeding. Can't believe his condition has been missed by so mamy GPs for so long when symptoms have been obvious.
I live in Kingsteignton near Newton Abbot. Any advice on this condition?
Thanks

Comment by cara on June 6, 2009 at 10:09pm

Hi Mel
I went back to my GP and explained how hard Gaviscon is to give when breastfeeding and was then prescribed ranitadine. The GP said that it is the next level up but they have to try gaviscon first. It's a real pain to give when breasfeeding isn't it! I'm in Exmouth and have a 6month old with reflux. I'm still breastfeeding and avoid too much citrus, onions and tomatoes in my diet. Oakley is on domperideone and omeprazole and the pain (but not the sickness) is helped with these meds. How are you doing? Having a baby with reflux is exhausting (mentally and physically...esp when you are breastfeeding). Stay in touch. Is this you first baby?

Comment by Mel Dyke on June 12, 2009 at 7:14pm

Hi Cara,
Thanks for replying. Yes it is hard. Joshua is our 1st baby. I find some days better than others. Had a bad day yesterday where he was very unsettled with a hoarse voice again. Can't get much gaviscon into him but seems to work well when I do. He has never had a bottle so can't even give it with expressed milk as he refuses it. Its all a nitemare. Feeding times are a nitemare! Just been back to GP who has prescribed omeprazole suspension as thinks acid is causing hoarse voice and burning throat but no-one stocks it. Been told it could take 1 to 4 weeks to obtain as needs to be made up. Do you know of any chemist that stocks it? Been so tempted to give up breast feeding with this but GP says not too. I'm glad as seems to take comfort from it and he feeds well but I'm feeding 2 hourly some days. Gaviscon did something as he put on 8oz in a week. It has taken so long to be diagnosed as he had about of gastroenteritis and told I was overfeeding. Was told constant runny nose and hoarse voice was due to having a 'snotty kid'. Wasn't taken seriously as he was putting on weight. When weight became static was getting somewhere. At least we have found the right GP who listens now and made a diagnosis. He is lovely and sympathetic. Josh seems particuarly bad over last two weeks. Does it get worse at his age? Is Oakley any better? Have you noticed any side effects from the drugs? Sorry to ask so may questions but its great talking to someone who is experiencing this.
Thanks
Mel

Comment by Mel Dyke on June 12, 2009 at 7:30pm

I have just read the discussions on omeprazole and its recommended that the dispersable tabs are used so I will speak to Gp on Monday. Is this what you use?

Mel

Comment by cara on June 12, 2009 at 10:00pm

Hi Mel
Oakley is on the dispersable tabs (losec mups). I give them to him at the same time every day (evening) in 5 ml water (in container to shake it up) and using 5ml syringe. It's quite chalky so then I keep adding a few mls of water to try and get as much as poss into him. We tried the suspension but it was foul and Oak's refused it (the only meds he has refused so must have been bad!!) My chemist (Boots) had to have it ordered and specially made up. I would give your GP a call and see what he says. Oakley is a different boy on omeprazole...not better but much more 'managed'. His grunting has gone and the snottiness he suffered at nights too. Oakley's horseness was due to the sick burning his throat and the omeprazole really helped as it reduces the acid coming back up.

As for the gaviscon, will you give that too as well as omeprazole? If so, have you tried syringe feeding that too? May have a bit more sucess. I did this with my daughter (who also had reflux) but personally I hated it and find the medicine really hard to give when breastfeeding. Again, speak to your GP maybe?

As for the breastfeeding, I so know how tough it is and you are the only person who can decide whether to give up. Don't make the descision too quickly or in haste as you may regret in time...if you do switch to a bottle, keep expressing to maintain milk supply until you are sure. That way you have a back up!

I have recently trained as a breastfeeding councellor and if you want, I can post you some info about breastfeeding a baby with reflux? Email me your address if you like...teapottales@talktalk.net. On the positive side, breastmilk is soothing as contains some antiacid type properties and is much more gentle on the tummy than formula. It also moves through the tummy faster so less time to reflux. You are feeding every 2 hours and that's normal for some breatsfeeding babies - sounds like your baby is feeding little and often and that's great for reflux baby as a big tummy's worth of milk causes discomfort. It's hard when breastfeeding (especially for the first time) and even harder with reflux but if you do want to breastfeed then I will support you as much as I can! Either use me as a sounding board and ask lots of questions or we can meet for a cuppa.I hope that doesn't sound pressured as breastfeeding is a personal choice... I wish I had support the first time! Whether you breast ot bottle feed, it would be great to stay in touch so we could offer each other support!

Even with Oakley, who is our second child, I have sometimes felt very isolated. I think only another reflux parent gets how hard it is. Oakley is much better than when he was tiny although we are now at a tricky stage of weaning! Each day is different and I try to take one day at a time (and let go of the bad ones...otherwise I get down).

You said Joshua has been worse recently...maybe teeth moving about? That defo seems to upset the balance with us.

Stay in touch! And don't forget to congratulate yourself every day for doing a great job as mummy to Joshua! Remember he will grow out of it and it won't last forever!

Cara

Comment by Tiff Armitage on July 6, 2010 at 2:45pm

Hi Mel,
I had a baby a year ago, and she had silent reflux. It was a really REALLY difficult time, and maybe it helps to hear that we got through it, and now have a lovely smiley girl... You can only really understand what it's like if you've been through it, and I wish you all the best. I hope that you have family support, and people to talk to that have had some understanding.

I don't know much about the medicine site of things because, O got better just before the paediatrition appt. (If you can, get your GP to refer you to the paed at the hospital where they specialise in this type of thing). The gaviscon was really bad for constipation, and after a few weeks this caused as much pain as the reflux.

We took Olivia along to a Bowen technique practitioner. He works on under 18 months for free, in Newton Abbot and Totnes www.bowenindevon.co.uk/ Within a session, she was feeding better, and within two weeks it had gone. And at this point (about 4 months) she was really begining to struggle feeding, and it was all getting a bit scary. I don't want to get your hopes up, but it worked for us. And it also helped reduce the vomiting of a friends refluxer. Also, if you can afford it, cranial osteopathy is the only other thing I've heard that really has an impact (besides medication)

Also, as you've found this site you've probably done what we all do and trawl the web for as much info as you can. I tried everything, and all I can say is try all the suggestions out on your little one, and see how he does. There are lots of things that can help, although it is more like if you don't do them it is unbearable! For us, keeping O upright (night and day), me not eating dairy (and rhubarb!), 3 hourly feeds and a dummy are the things that stick in my mind as having the most impact, also having a husband that would get out of bed to help half the night got me through. I kept breastfeeding, although it was difficult, as it is meant to be more comfortable on their tummies than formula. Again, just do what you is right for you, at the end of the day, a happier mum means you can deal with the reflux better.
I live in the Ivybridge area. If you want to meet up, I am grumpygorilla'at'inbox.com.
Good luck!
Tiff x
p.s. I think Cara you gave me some advice a while ago. Thank you for this, finding other mums with refluxers was SO good for me.

Comment by Kiwi Lover on March 9, 2011 at 5:35pm

Hi everyone!

 

I just wondered if any of you older members can recommend any sympathetic health professionals in the Devon area. I live in Torquay and my LO is currently under Dr Janson at Torbay hospital but I would really like her to see someone who is a specialist in reflux. I am getting very fed up of not being taken seriously! I would really appreciate any advice.

Susie x

Comment by Ursula Easton on March 9, 2011 at 8:29pm

HI

I am in Honiton.

If your able to get to Exeter Hospital ask to be refered to Gasto PAEDIATRICIAN Dr Mike Quinn. He is our paed and fantastic he speciliases in gastro and reflux.

Comment by Kiwi Lover on March 10, 2011 at 11:13am

Thanks Ursula, I'll ask about him at our next appointment.

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