OT: Anyone elses kid(s) have/had GER??, Gastroesophageal Reflux..... Options

[Mueller]

The twins (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif) came home Wednesday evening at about 7pm....we finally got to bed at 2:30 in the morning (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

Feeding every 3 hours is getting "fun", hahahaha

While at the hospital, Taylor started to have symtoms of acid reflux and was spitting her milk/formula out of her mouth and nose. Not a big deal while hooked up to monitors. Before going home the doctors gave us a prespription for Zantac to help control it. Worked fine at the hospital but now at home shes done it a few times while asleep and we caught it by listening to the monitors in their room....

Luckly for us the girls have woken up during the few events, but it is very nerve racking and we are damn near afraid to go aspleep

I did some research and found some good info and things that help ease it until they grow out of it, but was wondering what other have found to work for sure.

Yes, i will be consulting the dr.s in the morning....

[Jenny]

Hey Mike, I'll ask my doc in the morning and get back to you.

Glad to hear they're home!

Jen

[Jeroen]

First of all, great to hear you finally get to enjoy parenting (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

Zoey had that for quite some time (although it never came out through her nose)

In laymens terms, valve at the entry of the stomache doesn't (completely) close yet, so what ever goes in, easily come out again

Babies have a weird intake system anyway (you try drinking something while laying flat on your back, you'd choke for sure)

Try feeding them first thing when they wake up, not just before you put them back to bed. This way they get a chance to digest their food in a more upright position and by the time you lay them down again, it won't come gushing out so easily

Those babyseats are helpfull (the kind that they don't really sit up in, but they're not quite laying down either)
When they are "sitting" in those, gravity kind of keeps the food in

But what ever you do, consult your Dr. just to be sure

IMO, the most nerve wrecking thing about being a parent is the insecurity and constant worries
And the fact that when you ask for advise from 10 different people, you'll get 10 different answers and you'll be more confused than before you started asking questions
(so because of that, feel free to disregard the 'advise' I posted above)

My real advise to you and Sheryll...
Follow your gut feelings. They are your kids, so you know what's best for them.

If you think a doctors consult is needed, don't hessitate and do so right away. Better to go to the doctor 100 times too many than 1 times to few
(and a good doctor will understand the worries and insecurities of new parents)

Once we figured that out, we were able to start breathing again (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[d914]

can't help on the acid reflux thing but,

-miacon(sp) drops for gas,

- sleep in shifts until things settle down, having both of you wiped is a bad thing..

- check with Dr.

[mudfoot76]

This may or may not help, but I've been living with GERD for almost 10 years now. Zantac, Prilosec, et al are pretty good medicines, but Jeroen's comments about feeding and rest position are particularly true to anyone who suffers from this condition. When I was having really bad episodes, I would sleep "sitting" up in a recliner. I'd also try to avoid eating anything right before going to sleep.

Anymore I just watch what I eat/drink, and for the most part that takes care of the symptoms. When it gets particularly bad, then I'll take a zantac. Hope this helps!

[Racing916]

Congratulations on your babys!! You might want to ask your Pediatrician about Prevacid. I do not think it is indicated for new borns but it comes in a powder form that you can put in bottles or applesauce. It will block a lot of the receptor sights that cause acid reflux. But your doctor should know for sure.

[rick 918-S]

Been though the feeding thing, our first was premature, needed 2 ounces every two hours for weeks. Fortunately we didn't experience the reflux thing. That must be very un-nerving. Preme's have enough trouble getting the fuel they need without chucking it. And the choking risk is too much. Man, I feel for you guy's. Sounds like you will need to listen to the doctors, and get family and friends to help watch when you need sleep. Dont' be afraid to ask family for help.

[Dr Evil]

Hey Mikey,
I'll be shaddowing pediatricians all week. I can ask for you and get back to you with another opinion.

[JWest]

Yep, the reflux is pretty common - dealt with it severly with one kid, mildly with one of the others. I can't reallt add anything beyond what Jeroen posted. Follow the doctor's advice and try different feeding positions and schedules to see what helps.

Enjoy!

[slugmika]

Congratulations!! We haven't had that kind of problems but i know the feeling when you can't go to sleep because you too worried about the babys. It helped when we bought the "Angel Care" it has a pad which you place under the babys mattres and it senses if baby stops breathing. It has also normal monitor for crying etc. It's just hard to stop using it (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Mika

[ConeDodger]

Hi Mike,
Zantac will take a little time to work. I suspect that omeprazole is not used in newborns or that might have been considered. Perhaps Reglan but that also might not be used in newborns.
The physiology here is not just that the cardiac sphincter which is the opening at the inferior esophagus at the superior stomach is incompetent so it lets stomach acid through. But further, what it does in adults is to somewhat traumatize the esophagus itself. The most common initial symptom in adults is a sensation of inability to swallow. Some even don't complain of heartburn. Its almost as if the esophagus has a sprain and cannot move the food content downward.
Zantac is an H2 blocker and will cut down on the pH in the stomach. Omeprazole is a little newer but probably not much better. Reglan is different in that it is a motility drug. It causes the stomach and intestines to move food quicker.
All of the above comes with the caveat that I am not in to newborn medicine. In fact I break out in a rash when I do have to deal with them.
Bottom line is that kids spit up all the time and no one called it anything until recently. They grow out of it. Hope this is the case with yours.
I suspect we will be seeing less of you this year around the autocross courses? Perhaps you could come up to Stockton for the CRAB event. Did you ever get your bushings on Steve's car?
Oh goodness, I highjacked. Sorry.

Rob

[Speedster07]

Congratulations on your baby’s homecoming!
You need to buy the book BABY WISE, it is the closest thing to a baby manual that exist. This book will save your sanity and sleep. If you can't find it PM me your address and I'll send you a copy.

Best of luck, Craig (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wavey.gif)

[merrill]

I will start with congratulations!
My nine month old son had his intestine collapse at six days old. After the surgery, he did fine for two and a half months then started vomiting again. The local doctors treated him for reflux., reglan and zantac. What really had happened was scar tissue from surgery # one created a new obstruction.
My advice is talk to a specialist in gastro intestine field and MOST importantly... TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!
I would then ask you if it is small amounts of "spit up", or larger amounts and what color and odor?
If it is small amounts and white curdles, it is spit up. If it is large amounts and yellow liquid, Bile=not good.
I will send MANY warm sleepful thoughts your way.

[merrill]

By the way, The head of Peds GI at Stanford is super friendly and open to just talking to you on the phone and sharing his knowledge.

[fiid]

The CTO where I work has a kid with severe acid reflux - the kid is on Zantac 3 times a day. I think it's pretty common. Hang in there....

btw... Congratulations man! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

[MattR]

QUOTE (Jeroen)

Babies have a weird intake system anyway

QUOTE (rick 918-S)

have enough trouble getting the fuel

gotta love when car guys give advice in other subjects.

How come nobody brought up a free flowing exhaust? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Mueller]

thanks for the advice and well wishes (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Robby, I forgot, we have the Reglan as well as the Zantec....after doing some more reading on the subject InfantReflux.org we started to feed them less food more often (oh joy)....it was also recommended to hold them for at least 30 minutes after feeding them and how can you not want to follow that advice (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

This morning for thier 5am feeding I figured I'd hold them for the recommended 30 minutes and then be out of the house by 6am...well, all 3 of us woke up at 8:45 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) ..no spitting up...I think I found the cure, not too sure how healthy it is for them to be held like that all time (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

Yea, a users manual would be nice, I tried to find "Babies for Dummies", but no luck, hahahaha


Luckly for us my mother-in-law just lives around the corner so we'll be inviting her over more often in the evening to watch the kids so Sherryl and I can get a few solid hours of sleep (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif)

[Katmanken]

I'm not a doctor but did a lot of work (lab and patent work) on treatments for GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease).

Your kids have GER, and as young premies who have some catching up to do, they might very well grow out of it.

GERD is more serious but is a very long term disease in a few older patients. What happens is the gastroesophageal valve doesn't work quite right and allows acid reflux to migrate up the esophagus and sometimes higher (GER). Acid reflux exposure by itself is more annoying and painful than anything. However, is some cases, the repeated acid reflux can irritate the esophageal cells and over a lot of time (20 yrs or so), can cause squamus or pre-cancerous cells to form and lead to gastro-esophageal cancer (GERD). GERD cancers are frequently painless until advanced beyond recovery.

Minimally invasive fixes are underway and will eventually reach the public. Might be bulking materials injected around the valve, an occasional visual probe to look for abnormalities , or an occasional heat treatment with an esophageal probe to cause the inner lining of the esophagus to slough off and expose fresh clean tissue.

So, bottom line, ask your doctor for appropriate treatment of the symptoms, and enjoy the heck out of the munchkins. They got this far, and you will have much fun spoiling them as they grow up. My money is on them growing out of it. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

Prolly more mediciney stuff than you wanted to know.

Ken

[Dr. Roger]

Mike,

Sorry to hear about the little ones, but still glad they're home. =-)

My mother suffered from GERD for many years. She's cured now and has tried everything.

Now she eats 4 hours before sleep and has breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen, and dinner like a prince.

She sleeps with her head in an elevated position. This takes the pressure off of her sphincter.

She avoids spicy food.

Milk is acidic but I think it's the big dinner thing which was really messing her up.

Hope this helps....

Roger

[GaroldShaffer]

My brother in laws to boys had this very same problem. The were on meds and it helped but the best thing they did was to take turns sleeping / holding them upright while they slept in a recliner. With the oldest nephew they had to do that for about two months, the youngest one was almost 1 year old before he could sleep in a bed with no problems.

Best of luck to ya.