hyperactive gagger - not gaining weight - help!!!

lemen99 · June 2010

Andrew has always gagged a lot. He couldn't eat much of any table food until closer to 11.5 months without gagging. He was making some progress and then RSV ended...

April 2nd he was up all night puking. We take him to the doctor and he gets a clean bill of health. Turns out he gets a cold and is teething. He regresses significantly in the eating department, loses a lot of weight (very noticeable when I'd pick him up, even my mom noticed that his collar bone was sticking out), etc. He's back on all bottles, no solid foods, etc. I don't worry b/c he was sick and figure that's normal.

Then he gets another cold, a sinus infection...2 months later (14 months adjusted) he's on Omnicef and all better.

Then 5 days after being off Omnicef, (last night) he starts puking his brains out. He had 4 episodes of massive puking. I'm almost *sure* he's gagging. He'll be eating (table food, a bottle, it doesn't matter) and all of a sudden with no warning at all, it's just everywhere.

He's crying hungry all day, because he can't keep a lot down and can't/won't eat any solid/table food. Last night he was all cleaned up ready for bed, calm, happy, hadn't puked since lunch, starving, eating his bed time bottle - lost it again.

He isn't over eating. I know because yesterday morning he'd only eaten 1/8 c of oatmeal (only solid food he took all day) and lost it while eating that.

Today my nose is slightly running, and I know he's teething, so I'm sure he has drainage and most likely we're both getting a cold. Possibly could making him feel nauseous but I think the primary issue is gagging.

Has anyone had a problem like this?

Is there anything you can do about gagging? he was improving so he wasn't ever enrolled in speech therapy. Could/would that help, especially since this issue primarily occurs when he's sick?

He hasn't gained weight since RSV season ended and he started all of this on April 2nd. I know he's been sick, but, he's only had a cold. I mean a lot of babies always have colds. I know he's not just any baby, but still. He has to gain weight sometime.

The doctor indicated that he should be strong enough to handle some germs during the summer and that would be good for him, but I'm starting to question if he's ready. If he's not gaining weight, maybe he's not strong enough to handle this yet, although I think the issue is more his gag reflex than anything.

I want to lock him up in our home and protect him, but I want him to grow and develop socially too. He's mostly caught up to his adjusted age, but very much lagging in language skills (only says babababa and gagaga, no gestures except for clapping, etc.) and somewhat in eating (can only eat the tiniest pieces of food, like a fingernail, so he's mostly all on bottles, will only drink 1 oz in a cup if I hold it). So in some ways getting out and interacting is good for him.

Note that prior to April, he'd never once been sick, and his weight gain was perfect on the preemie growth chart. (Never had any issues there.)

Sorry this is so long. I would love any advice or experiences.

THANK YOU!.

At1stsight · June 2010

I'm really sorry for what you're going through. I haven't had any personal experience with this, but one of my friend's kids has had severe weight gain issues (dropped completely off the growth charts around 18 months, FT baby), and DH (who is a pedi) said they really should get a full work up b/c no weight gain for an extended period of time should be considered failure to thrive. I would really push your pedi to refer him to a hospital to get a full workup and be monitored for a few days so they can see first hand these eating issues and run tests to check on any potential underlying conditions. If it were me and my pedi wouldn't refer me, I'd probably just take DS straight to the hospital and see if I can't get him admitted. Again, I'm really sorry you're both going through this - I'll ask DH when he gets home from work if he has any other thoughts or suggestions.

Sweets2005 · June 2010

I don't have any advice but I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you two are going through this! Mine are strong gaggers and won't eat anything past 2nd foods (and gag on that) but they are only 8 months adjusted. HUGS! And GL

lemen99 · June 2010

Thanks ladies. I feel bad for the poor kid. He normally loves to eat, which is such a blessing esp given what he's been through.

prayin4ablssn · June 2010

How is Andrew doing?

katiekate1974 · June 2010

I'm not sure if you'll see this or not, but my DS had the same problem. And nobody would listent to me. It's a long story, but finally they did a modified barium swallow study on him and they found he aspirates with nearly every bite he eats. In his case (hopefully) removing his adenoids should solve the problem (they will do more invasive testing during his surgery to RO a cleft as well). If you haven't had a modified barium swallow done yet, push for one. It was the miracle test we were looking for!

Want a personalized experience?

hyperactive gagger - not gaining weight - help!!!

Re: hyperactive gagger - not gaining weight - help!!!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards