Postby txmum » Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:02 pm
This could be me writing this post. My 9 week old suffers terribly from silent reflux. We don't have as much vomiting, but the bad side of that is that what he brings up, he also swallows back down so it burns him twice. We too have been through Ranitidine, Gaviscon and Losec. We are now on the O drug (not going to bother trying to spell it) which is just a suspension version of Losec. It does seem to be helping some, but so did the Ranitidine in the beginning. I am off dairy, and we are supplementing with Nutramigen. (a friend back in the US said this stuff was $27 per can there). I am so sick of throwing drugs down the throat of my tiny baby. We have his cot, changing table, etc. all elevated. He is miserable on his back. We keep him upright after a feed, and he often sleeps on us. We couldn't leave the house because he would scream and scream. I changed his pram from the bassinet to the seat and reclined it all the way back. He's way too small for the seat so I bought a bolster to keep him secure. This has helped tremendously in getting out and about.
There is a great thread on mumsnet that discusses coping with reflux. I've found just knowing that other families have had as difficult a time (emotionally) dealing with their LO's reflux has made it easier for me to face the day.
You're doing all the right things to help your LO be more comfortable.
What people don't understand is the emotional toll it takes on mum and dad having a baby in so much pain and you feel helpless to make it better. It is gut wrenching. I've found a few mums who have been through it too, and they have been really great to encourage me and provide support in the form of answering my millions of questions. I almost feel reflux babies should be classified as a special need since they are so very high maintenance.
Please feel free to PM me if you'd like. I don't have any answers, but I am going through it too, and know just how draining and heartbreaking it is, and can lend a sympathetic ear.