Reflux getting worse in my 6.5 month old...

[Laurski]

For the past 4 months or so DD has been on rantidine (generic Zantac) for her reflux, and until recently it seems to have been doing a pretty good job controlling her symptoms. 

DH and I have noticed that for the past month or so her reflux seems to be worsening--more spitting up (in fairly copious amounts), lots of wet burps followed by big gulps (suggesting she's swallowed her spit up), and the return of sour milk breath.  She's definitely seems much more uncomfortable than she had been when the rantidine was working.

She now has a new prescription for Prevacid--we're going to start tomorrow.  Her ped. says if we don't see an improvement in the next few weeks, we'll have to take her to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

I guess I'm posting as a way to find out if other mamas of reflux babies have had their babes' reflux worsen, rather than improve, as they got older, and if so, did the reflux eventually improve on its own?  Or did something else (not sure what) have to be done?

[Greenlea]

Are you nursing? If so, have you cut out dairy?  If she's FF, are you doing a non dairy kind?  Dairy has been shown to be a major problem with acid reflux.

Have you seen a chiropractor?  They can do wonders for acid reflux.  I talked to moms who say they have left the chiropractors office with a "new baby" and no more acid reflux, no more pills.

Also, did you know that medications for acid reflux prohibit the absorbtion of calcium?  Adults who take it a lot or for long periods of time are at a very high risk for osteoporosis.  They can also make the acid reflux worse.

My suggestion, after cutting out dairy and taking her to a chiropractor that has worked with infants, is to get an allergy test done.  This could all be from something she (or you if you're nursing) is eating that she is allergic to.  Also, I know there is a blood test that can determine if its possibly something she simply can't digest.  My pediatrian recommended it to me for my son who spits up a lot.  It was a holistic doctor that did it by me, so perhaps there's one by you or maybe your pedi knows someone.

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

I'm going to second the Chiro recommendation.  You can tell if Lila misses an appt.  She goes every Monday.  She was doing so well I didn't stress when we missed an appt 2 wks ago. By Wed she was vomitting again not just spitting.  (she did that too lol)

[Laurski]

The chiro recommendation is a great one...that never occurred to me.  Thanks!  I believe the chiro I went to while pregnant also sees babies...I'll have to find out.

And to answer Greenlea's questions/suggestions:

Are you nursing? If so, have you cut out dairy?  If she's FF, are you doing a non dairy kind?

I'm nursing.  She was EBF until a few weeks ago, when we slowly started introducing solids (her reflux worsening predated her starting solids).  I did eliminate and then reintroduce dairy several months ago.  I don't drink cow's milk, but do eat dairy products (lacto-ovo vegetarian).  However, she absolutely cannot tolerate it if I eat most legumes...they seem to give her stomach pains and trouble pooping.

Also, did you know that medications for acid reflux prohibit the absorbtion of calcium?

Unfortunately, yes.  However, we're hoping to be able to take her off of it at her next WBV in May.  The original plan was to take her off of the rantidine around 6 months, when most babies' digestive tracts mature and the reflux issue resolves itself...instead, it's gotten worse. 

My understanding is that the side effects from the interference of calcium absorption occurred in adults taking PPIs for 2+ years.

Right now we've decided that we need to treat her worsening symptoms to make her more comfortable and avoid esophageal damage.

My suggestion, after cutting out dairy and taking her to a chiropractor that has worked with infants, is to get an allergy test done.  This could all be from something she (or you if you're nursing) is eating that she is allergic to.

We are going to be bringing her to an allergist soon--probably next month when both DH and I can get off of work.  I'm definitely concerned about food allergies (given her issue w/ my eating legumes, and her negative reaction when she tried green beans).

The puzzling thing is that nothing's changed in my diet.  Nothing.  I've been on a pretty limited diet since the reflux DX and have just been rotating the same few meals.  Yet her reflux is getting worse...

Thanks again to both of you for the chiro rec.  I'm going to look into it ASAP!

I'm still wondering, however, what may be causing her symptoms to worsen...