Could It Be Reflux???

This sounds like a food allergy or sensitivity, probably lactose intolerance or celiac disease (allergy to gluten). These create digestive upsets like gas and severe abdominal pain. You can either do experiments with dietary changes at home (eliminating dairy, gluten, anything else you think may be a trigger), or discuss the possibility of a food allergy with the doctor.

It is likely something, but at this point, probably not reflux, at least not in the classic sense for babies. He's old enough that the esophogeal sphincter should be working, so his stomach acids are staying in his stomach. It does sound like gas though. Some kids are gassier than others and it can be really painful. I don't know if you have already done this, but you can try mylicon drops - they aren't absorbed by the system at all and just work to break up the gas bubbles. My kids have gotten tons of relief from them. I also have heard of herb infused heating pads that you put in the microwave and then put on their bellies to help move the gas around and out. I think keeping track of what he eats and seeing if it's related could be helpful. My daughter would get terrible gas if she drank milk too close to bed. I agree, if this is happening a lot, press the issue with your pedi. If it's happening occasionally, try some over the counter stuff and see if it helps. Good luck!

Cinthia,
Hi - sorry about your son. Does he tend to arch his back - backwards and arms and such flailing around? That is a classic sign. Both my boys had terrible reflux. So hard to watch, and hard to get sleep too for both of you. I did find a trick that worked but your son is too old. Mine were a few months old, so I put the car seat in the crib and he slept in there. That way he was upright and if he had reflux he was in the correct position. You can try tilting his crib up at an angle - they sell things to go under the wheels on one end for just this. It is the lying down that bothers them. I did find a fantastic team of pediatric GIs. He had tests and then was put on some meds to help with the acid and then some to help with the reflux. I wish you the best of luck for you and your son. But, find yourself a good pediatric GI.

Be well,
H. Rogers
MASS

Definitely sounds like acid reflux or a burp that he can't get out. I would try some finding a baby antacid or even baby gas-ex. You have a good mother's intuition, use it. :)

I think there are a couple of ways to go on this - but ignoring it isn't the one I would choose either! As another mom said, you know your child, and you have 4 others so you know when one is extremely uncomfortable and in pain, rather than just a little fussy. So you should definitely insist on a better response from the pedi - that can be a new pedi or a referral to a Gi specialist. However, you should prepare yourself for the likelihood that there will be prescriptions for drugs and possibly some tests. Other moms have posted on this site that they don't want their little ones to have tubes and scopes.

Then there's the whole elimination diet theory - lots of moms start casting off everything that could possibly trigger this problem - dairy, soy, wheat, and so on. Sometimes you relieve the problem, but then you have to decide when and what to put back into the diet. If you do this, just put one item back in per week to see if it's a trigger. Once you identify the problem, then you have to decide if your child can never eat it again, or if it's something about that particular brand. For example, sometimes people eliminate soy, but is soy the real problem, or is it because it's a soy product treated with something else (e.g. alcohol wash) or with some other irritant or contaminant in it? This can be a huge hassle and not always fruitful, especially when you have other children to keep track of. It's hard enough to get them all to eat a healthy variety, isn't it?

Other solutions include comfort measures like elevating the head end of the crib (either the whole crib or just the mattress), doing things to move the gas around, and so on. You could also try to balance out your child's system with a nutritional supplement but you have to be sure you have a top product with no contaminants and top quality ingredients. That is very hard. There have even been some articles recently about most supplements being more trouble than they are worth. I can help you in this regard if you want more info because I have so many friends whose children got rid of supposed food allergies and stomach issues. I can recommend a product but I don't want to push it on you if you want to go the medical route.

Good luck to you - definitely don't feel pushed by the doctor to ignore this though! Trust yourself!

Mom's know best. If you think something is wrong, forget the pedi's opinion. If you need a referal for insurance purposes, TELL the pediatrician you want your child to see a pedi gastro doctor because you feel there is something wrong. Put it in writing if you have to - the pedi will be afraid of malpractice if it is in writing and he ignores you. If you don't need a referal, then find a good pedi gastro doctor on your own. If you are in the Boston or north of Boston area, I highly recommend Dr. Russell at Mass. General - also can be seen at the North Shore Children's Hospital in Salem, MA. Both my children have acid reflux and have completely different symptoms. While my oldest can barely get a burp out to save her life, yet had projectile vomit, typical symptoms - my youngest had completely different symptoms - burps ALL the time, we ignored her symptoms because they were different, found out when she was 3 years old that she too had reflux, basically only because she got old enough to describe her symptoms (and I felt like a horrible mother for ignoring her). Good luck!

Hi Cinthia, Sorry to read about your problem with your son. I might suggest that you have him checked by Dr. Ellen Blomerth who specializes in children with her gentle method. She has been a "GodSend" to many Moms with collicky babies and with babies screaming in pain due to difficulty moving their bowels, etc. She is a chiropractor who has had amazing results with baby/children pain issues - even when their pediatricians all wanted to just give them medication. Dr. Ellen was able to take care of the problem with one or two visits. I recommend that you at least give her a call and speak with her about your son's problem. Her phone # is ###-###-####, and she is located at the junction of Rt. 1 and Lowell Street in Peabody. Best Wishes to you and your family. Also, please tell Dr. Ellen that I referred you to her. E. Taft

Her's my advice - take it or leave it:

Go beyond "mentioning it" - bring you child in and say that it is unacceptable for him to be in such discomfort. You have 4 other children so you know that sometimes mild discomfort occurs. This is beyond that. If you pedi won't take you seriously, try to find another one. If your insurance allows you to see specialists without a referral see if you can find one that will take you (many times they require a referral to filter out over reactive patients).

If you look at last week's requests and responses you will find a lot of reflux tips you can try at home to supplement medical treatment.

Hi
Did you ever think of some type of food allergy?

C.

It could be reflux. It could be a food allergy. If you are breast feeding, keep a food diary for a few days. Then try avoiding wheat, oat or rye grains, milk products, large amounts of fruit juices for 2 days and see if that makes a difference. If you child is on formula, if it is milk based, try one that is soy or rice based. Vary the formulas and see if that makes a difference.

Dr. E

Hi
I was just looking at site to advertise and saw your dilemma.
I am a pediatric Occupational Therapist so I had to respond.
Have you tried putting a pillow UNDER the crib mattress? This will create an incline. Some children with reflux can only sleep in car seat if meds not working because it is most comfortable position when reflux is significant due to the incline.
You can request a referral to a pedi GI doctor to address your concerns.
The children's Hospital pedi GI staff see kids at Norwood Hospital which is convenient for families in this area.
A number of kids I have treted for various GI issues have been seen by Dr. Rufo.
Hope this is helpful and good luck.
M. H.