reflux mama's, please help! (long)

chasingamyandmatt

Hi Ladies,

my daughter was just prescribed Zantac for reflux (1/2 of 25mg tablet, 2xs a day).  I plan to start her on the med tomorrow, but I would like to hear from you guys first...just to see if the symptoms are similar and what your experiences have been...

her sympotoms include fussiness during eating, and apparent discomfort during or shortly after eating as well as seemingly painful spit up/vomit (she is peeing/pooping/gaining fine)

these symptoms do not occur with every feeding and not all symtoms happen at the same time.  additionally, she sometimes spits up with no discomfort at all and eats (more and more frequently) without fussing.

so were your symptoms pretty severe and consistent before trying meds or were they scattered like mine? 

also, what have your experinces been with the medications?  any negative side effects?  any improvement?

have you tried anything else besides meds that has worked well?

her symptoms seem to be improving and so I don't want to use the meds if I don't have to, but I also don't want her to suffer if something so simple will help her.

TIA!! 

BecauseICan

so were your symptoms pretty severe and consistent before trying meds or were they scattered like mine? Daytime symptoms were more scattered, but her nighttime symptom of choking and gagging was consistent.

also, what have your experinces been with the medications?  any negative side effects?  any improvement?  We saw improvement w/ Zantac but it was obvious when her body developed immunity to it.  We are now on Prevacid, and I've seen major imrovements.  We hardly have issues at all any more.

have you tried anything else besides meds that has worked well?  Smaller more frequent feedings, and keeping her elevated during feedings.  She also only slept in her bouncy seat until about 3 weeks ago.  Elevating her crib didn't help b/c she'd end up at the end screaming.

 

If you're not ready to try the meds, don't.  If you want, try to elevate, do the smaller feeds, etc., and see if that works first.  You can always try the meds if those don't work.  Also, I'm curious about her being on the tablet form of Zantac--it seems ilke a high dose, and usually Zantac for infants is in the liquid form--what can you share about that?

julia0402

Zantac didn't help us; she's on Prevacid now.  She was on the liquid Zantac.  Her symptoms were consistent and after every feeding... but her reflux was bad enough to land her in the NICU for two weeks due to aspirating some of the fluid.  We also try to hold her upright for 20 minutes to an hour after feedings (this takes a LOT of time, obviously) and do smaller, more frequent feedings.  She sleeps on her side to prevent her from aspirating again, but with a movement monitor (I think you should not do this unless your pedi recommends it).

chasingamyandmatt

BecauseICan:

  Also, I'm curious about her being on the tablet form of Zantac--it seems ilke a high dose, and usually Zantac for infants is in the liquid form--what can you share about that?

The Dr. offered either, so I went with tablet b/c I was under the impression that they were like the melt-aways and would melt in her mouth.  turns out that they actually have to be disolved in liquid first (water or bm) and can be administered with dropper or syringe.  the tablets are 25mg each and he recommended 2 doses of 1/2 a tablet a day.  what is/was your dosage?

btw -DD sleeps in her swing (upright) and i always keep her pretty upright when i feed her and for a little while after.   i do notice that fussing comes more frequently at night or maybe just more severely.

BecauseICan

Okay, well, we were on the liquid so the dosage is different--ml's versus mg's.  I'm not sure what the equivalency is.  Her fussing at night just could be b/c she's at an age where that's normal, and when they start needing an earlier bedtime.  Or it could be reflux.  It's hard to know the difference sometimes. 

LuLu38

Now, I am a new mom, so I am anxious, but........my DS was spitting up in his mouth and "choking," especially after  meals and more often at night.  He is on Zantac (has been since he was 1 week) and HE IS A DIFFERENT CHILD.  It is a dream.  He was so miserable, as was I.  Now, he is great.  I was worried about meds at such a young age.  Spoke with a great nurse at the hospital (worked in the nursery for 31 years), two pedis, and the pharmacist.  All say that putting a baby on Zantac is fine.  And, some grow out of it quickly and some take 6 months.  All seem to think it is ok to medicate at a young age.  GL.  I am really happy that we put him on Zantac. 

LuLu38

Also, burping is very important.  Keep baby "up" for at least 30 minutes before lying down.  And, elevate the head of the matress.  Try to position her head to the side so as not to aspirate. 

tmp-759026187508088

My DD was on Zantac (liquid form) and it did nothing for her.  She now takes Prevacid and it seems to really be helping her from being so miserable.  Basically, for us, it was really hard to see her true personality as she was always fussy, in pain and seemed hungry at times when she wasnt.