Reflux help

[Mama*Kim]

Ds2 has been on meds for reflux since he was 2 months old. We took him off meds about 3 weeks ago. He's started waking more, coughing and crying at night, and refusing meals. I'm sure he needs to go back on meds, but for some reason I keep hoping its something else. Maybe he's getting a cold or something? Right? I just don't know what to do. He's never seen a GI. When he was 2 months, the pedi prescribed reflux meds, they worked, so we went with an assumed diagnosis of reflux. We took a break from meds when he was 6 months old and he only gained 2 ounces in the 2 months he was off meds.

I don't even know what this post is for really. I guess I just need some support. Please tell me I'm not the only one with an almost 2 year old with reflux.

[NotLad]

It sounds like he needs to go back on meds.

I'm surprised you haven't been referred to a GI specialist. If the sphincter hasn't matured by now, it should be investigated.

[Mama*Kim]

Originally Posted by NotLad It sounds like he needs to go back on meds. I'm surprised you haven't been referred to a GI specialist. If the sphincter hasn't matured by now, it should be investigated.

The pedi was planning to give a referral at his 2 year checkup if he was still having symptoms. That's why DH and I decided to do another trial without the med. we wanted to see if he still had symptoms without it.

[UnderTheStars]

Was he ok for that whole time he was on the meds? If so, I would put him back on them for sure. The recent problems you are describing are very much reflux symptoms and if it is severe enough to make him want to skip meals the acid might be doing damage to his little throat. You could certainly get a referral to a GI doc, but they will likely tell you to do the same thing - put him back on the meds. We have gone back and forth with GI and ENT docs over this for three years with my DS (except the meds they keep trying to give us don't work...).

[Mama*Kim]

Originally Posted by seeinstarrz Was he ok for that whole time he was on the meds? If so, I would put him back on them for sure. The recent problems you are describing are very much reflux symptoms and if it is severe enough to make him want to skip meals the acid might be doing damage to his little throat. You could certainly get a referral to a GI doc, but they will likely tell you to do the same thing - put him back on the meds. We have gone back and forth with GI and ENT docs over this for three years with my DS (except the meds they keep trying to give us don't work...).

For the most part, yes, the meds worked. We had rough patches here and there, but he did ok. He didn't start sleeping through the night until he was about 18 months, and even then, not regularly. Up until we took him off the medicine, he'd wake up a few times a week, but quickly go back to sleep on his own. The last few weeks, he's up screaming a few times a night.

[UnderTheStars]

Originally Posted by Mama*Kim For the most part, yes, the meds worked. We had rough patches here and there, but he did ok. He didn't start sleeping through the night until he was about 18 months, and even then, not regularly. Up until we took him off the medicine, he'd wake up a few times a week, but quickly go back to sleep on his own. The last few weeks, he's up screaming a few times a night.

That isn't unusual for someone with reflux. It is way worse at nighttime because you are lying down and it makes it easier for the acid to travel back up and cause that heartburn sensation. What meds is/was he on? Most of them are acid-blockers - meaning they don't actually prevent the liquid from coming back up, it just neutralizes the acid in their stomach so when it DOES come up, it doesn't hurt or do damage.

[Mama*Kim]

Originally Posted by seeinstarrz That isn't unusual for someone with reflux. It is way worse at nighttime because you are lying down and it makes it easier for the acid to travel back up and cause that heartburn sensation. What meds is/was he on? Most of them are acid-blockers - meaning they don't actually prevent the liquid from coming back up, it just neutralizes the acid in their stomach so when it DOES come up, it doesn't hurt or do damage.

First med was Zantac. He was on that from 2-6 months. The pedi suggested a trial off meds at that point. He was good for about 2 months. Then symptoms came back, and we found out he'd only gained 2 ounces in over two months. He went back on Zantac and symptoms lessened, but didn't go away, so we tried Prevacid. That was a huge failure. He screamed almost nonstop for the three days he was on it. At 8.5 months, we switched to Prilosec. He's been doing pretty well on it, but I'm just starting to wonder if there's something else we should be investigating at this point. I mean, he almost 2.

[Mama*Kim]

I'm wondering if I should push for allergy testing. We've figured out that he doesn't do well with much dairy, but small amounts don't seem to affect him. He reflux gets much worse if he has much dairy. One day we were at my grandpa's house and people kept refilling his sippy cup with milk. I have no idea how much he drank, but he was miserable for days.

[kimb96]

My son has never outgrown his reflux. Some kids never do. He was on prevacid until he was 3 and a half and now we just treat with Mylanta as needed.

[Suzi]

With meds like Prilosec you almost always have some rebound reflux at first. He may need a more gradual weaning if you want to try to get him off meds.