my child has silent reflux? Help!

julie wrote:

If you have any
suggestions, please help me. thank you.

I've heard a lot of people say the same thing, and their kids were
diagnosed with a milk/dairy allergy. Maybe get that checked out?
--
'Tis Herself

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 14:41:33 GMT, "Leigh Menconi"
wrote:
"PF Riley" wrote in message
...

The wedge part would make sense if you presume that gastroesophageal
reflux is largely influenced by gravity. I honestly think it is not.

I do think it is largely *influenced* (not caused) by gravity since in many
cases, the problem is the immaturity or hypotonia of the sphincter between
the stomach and esophagus. A child whose sphincter closes off properly
after feeding would not have problems in a horizontal position.

Reflux occurs when the smooth muscle of the stomach contracts. The
idea is for the stomach contents to go through the pylorus into the
duodenum. If the pseudosphincter at the gastroesophageal junction is
loose (as it is physiologically in normal infants), some material will
also reflux upwards into the esophagus. (Think of squeezing a tube of
toothpaste with a hole poked in the back.) This muscular action is
largely unaffected by gravity. Perhaps the position of the infant will
affect how far up the esophagus the refluxed material actually goes
(possibly turning frank spitting-up into "silent" reflux), but the
reflux still happens nevertheless.

PF

(julie) wrote in message . com...
Hi,
My child is 3.5 months old. I believe she has silent reflux but not
sure. I did take her to GI ped. and he thinks it's silent reflux. He
put her on 1 ml of zantac twice a day (been 4 days now...) My child
refuses bottle when she sees it coming, even before she takes it. She
does not throw up but refuses the bottle. So, it's very hard for me to
feed her. The only time I can get her to feed is when she is deep
asleep. Therefore, I can't feed her in the daytime. It's a very
frustrating situation, because she is only taking maybe 10 oz in 24
hour period. I don't know what to do...do I need to tube feed her? I
do not want to force her to eat when she refuses, because I'm afraid
she might get food aversion and make situations worse. If you have any
suggestions, please help me. thank you.
Julie

My son was originally put on zantac which made his stomach hurt.
Then after getting a competint Dr. and a specialist he was put on a
combination of Prilosec and reglan and carafate. it helped but he
still wasnt eating or nursing. Reflux is often mis diagnosed as
allergies or asthma (my son frequently had aspiration pneumonia)Only
an endoscopy can tell you exactly if it is reflux and there is a fix
for it! My son was severe! and he also had a hiatal hernia. My son
suffered with mis diagnosis for 7 1/2 years! at 8 1/2 he only weighs
41 pounds but he had a surgery called a laproscopic nissen
fundoplication and has been PERFECTLY HEALTHY for 1 year and 1 month
exactly!
he used to throw up at least 10 times a day. and has not thrown up,
been on medication or had any kind of stomach pain period! He has
started eating and enjoying food and has gone from 25 pounds and very
mal nourished to healthy happy and 41 pounds in just about a year and
a half!

if you are leaving the Dr. office unsure or with unanswered questions
please find another Dr. that can get you the answers and one that can
get your son healthy fast!
My heart to you and your son!

Hi -

Did your doctor tell you to go completely dairy-free for a few weeks to
see if it helps? It's a standard elimination for breastfeeding moms of
reflux babies, and it often (but not always) helps.

If you need to know HOW to go completely dairy-free, visit my web site.

--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.

In article ,
happy mom wrote:
(julie) wrote in message
.com...
Hi,
My child is 3.5 months old. I believe she has silent reflux but not
sure. I did take her to GI ped. and he thinks it's silent reflux. He
put her on 1 ml of zantac twice a day (been 4 days now...) My child
refuses bottle when she sees it coming, even before she takes it. She
does not throw up but refuses the bottle. So, it's very hard for me to
feed her. The only time I can get her to feed is when she is deep
asleep. Therefore, I can't feed her in the daytime. It's a very
frustrating situation, because she is only taking maybe 10 oz in 24
hour period. I don't know what to do...do I need to tube feed her? I
do not want to force her to eat when she refuses, because I'm afraid
she might get food aversion and make situations worse. If you have any
suggestions, please help me. thank you.
Julie

My son was originally put on zantac which made his stomach hurt.
Then after getting a competint Dr. and a specialist he was put on a
combination of Prilosec and reglan and carafate.

fwiw, zantac worked wonders for one of my kids with reflux. I
wouldn't necessary assume a doctor was incompentent for trying
it, even thought it doesn't work for everyone.

--Robyn

(Robyn Kozierok) wrote in message ...
In article ,
happy mom wrote:
(julie) wrote in message
.com...
Hi,
My child is 3.5 months old. I believe she has silent reflux but not
sure. I did take her to GI ped. and he thinks it's silent reflux. He
put her on 1 ml of zantac twice a day (been 4 days now...) My child
refuses bottle when she sees it coming, even before she takes it. She
does not throw up but refuses the bottle. So, it's very hard for me to
feed her. The only time I can get her to feed is when she is deep
asleep. Therefore, I can't feed her in the daytime. It's a very
frustrating situation, because she is only taking maybe 10 oz in 24
hour period. I don't know what to do...do I need to tube feed her? I
do not want to force her to eat when she refuses, because I'm afraid
she might get food aversion and make situations worse. If you have any
suggestions, please help me. thank you.
Julie

My son was originally put on zantac which made his stomach hurt.
Then after getting a competint Dr. and a specialist he was put on a
combination of Prilosec and reglan and carafate.

fwiw, zantac worked wonders for one of my kids with reflux. I
wouldn't necessary assume a doctor was incompentent for trying
it, even thought it doesn't work for everyone.

IIRC, Robyn's son and my daughter went to the same gastroenterologist
and he also put my daughter on Zantac after Tagamet didn't work well,
and this guy was about as competant as a doctor can get, in fact I
consider him to be a miracle worker because he literally saved a
former M.K. poster's sons life. Besides the fact that he helped my
daughter, friend's kids, and Robyn's son.

Marjorie

On 18 Nov 2003 10:46:28 GMT, (Beth Kevles) wrote:

Did your doctor tell you to go completely dairy-free for a few weeks to
see if it helps? It's a standard elimination for breastfeeding moms of
reflux babies, and it often (but not always) helps.

Read her disclaimer below carefully.

It is NOT "standard" treatment to eliminate dairy in lactating mothers
of babies with reflux. It rarely helps and there is a risk of dietary
deficiency in the mother from elimination diets.

If you need to know HOW to go completely dairy-free, visit my web site.

--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic

Now at least we see the admittedly honest and well-meaning bias.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

In other words, pay no attention to her advice that she dispenses
nevertheless despite her disclaimer.

PF

PF Riley wrote:

On 18 Nov 2003 10:46:28 GMT, (Beth Kevles) wrote:

Did your doctor tell you to go completely dairy-free for a few weeks to
see if it helps? It's a standard elimination for breastfeeding moms of
reflux babies, and it often (but not always) helps.


Read her disclaimer below carefully.*snip*
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.


In other words, pay no attention to her advice that she dispenses
nevertheless despite her disclaimer.

(whew, what a clunker of a sentence that last one is.....but that's not
my point...)


Beth,
You're dairy-free information is extremely valuable for a LOT of women,
as well as your links to starting allergy prone infants on solids.
Crossposting to mk and mkh means that any advice, no matter how many
times one says "see your own dr and check this all out with him/her"
will be jumped on.
I just wanted to show my support for the valid and useful help you've
offered a lot of women on this group.

Dawn

In ,
PF Riley wrote:

*On 18 Nov 2003 10:46:28 GMT, (Beth Kevles) wrote:
*
*Did your doctor tell you to go completely dairy-free for a few weeks to
*see if it helps? It's a standard elimination for breastfeeding moms of
*reflux babies, and it often (but not always) helps.
*
*Read her disclaimer below carefully.
*
*It is NOT "standard" treatment to eliminate dairy in lactating mothers
*of babies with reflux. It rarely helps and there is a risk of dietary
*deficiency in the mother from elimination diets.

Elimination diets for mothers with colicky or refluxing babies are
commonly recommended. I certainly do not know what the "standard of care"
is in this regard (I'm neither a pediatrician nor a lactation consultant)
but I think these recommendations would fall within that umbrella term.

Check out these references:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041200.asp - IMO Dr. Sears is
practically mainstream these days, and his suggested elimination diet is
not only dairy free but free of a lot of other things as well.

http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/l...106348,00.html
The author of this article states that the AAP recommends "that nursing
moms with allergic babies try altering their diets to eliminate cow's
milk, eggs, fish, peanuts and tree nuts such as pecans, almonds and
walnuts, since a very small percentage of babies are allergic to these
proteins in their milk." Since the signs of such allergy in tiny babies
are not always straightforward, this recommendation could certainly apply
to a baby who seems to have reflux.

This article suggests that the risk of dietary deficiency from a dairy
elimination diet in a breastfeeding mother is not a concern for the short
term:

Clin Exp Allergy. 2001 Jan;31(1):88-94. Related Articles, Links


Do combined elimination diet and prolonged breastfeeding of an atopic
infant jeopardise maternal bone health?

Holmberg-Marttila D, Sievanen H, Sarkkinen E, Erkkila A, Salminen S,
Isolauri E.

Department of General Practice, Medical School, University of Tampere,
Finland.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged breastfeeding, and intervention in the maternal diet
during breastfeeding, have been suggested as a means to treat atopic
symptoms of infants. The impact of these actions on the mother's skeletal
health has remained unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to
determine factors that are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and
serum lipid fatty acid profile in mothers of atopic infants. METHODS: BMD
at the lumbar spine, right femoral neck and dominant distal radius of 24
mothers of atopic infants (study group) and 25 mothers of healthy infants
(control group) were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
postpartum after the resumption of menses. In addition, the fatty acid
profile of their serum cholesteryl esters was determined. RESULTS: A
systematic trend for 4-6% lower BMD was observed in the study group, but
this difference was mainly attributable to a difference in body weight
between the groups. In addition, the omega (omega)-3 fatty acid metabolite
EPA showed a positive association with femoral neck BMD. Mothers of atopic
infants had a significantly lower proportion of omega-6 fatty acid parent
LA and a higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acid metabolite GLA than the
control mothers. These differences were associated not only with dietary
factors but also with the duration of postpartum amenorrhea and total
lactation. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the breastfeeding nor the mother's
short-term elimination diet per se seemed to be associated with low BMD in
the mothers of atopic infants. Thus, if an elimination diet benefits the
infant, it can be recommended for a limited period. However, it may be
advisable to give special dietary counselling, especially to low body
weight mothers, in order to ensure adequate nutrient intake and to
minimize the possible risk of potential bone loss.


--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 18:48:40 +0000 (UTC), (Hillary
Israeli) wrote:

In ,
PF Riley wrote:

*On 18 Nov 2003 10:46:28 GMT, (Beth Kevles) wrote:
*
*Did your doctor tell you to go completely dairy-free for a few weeks to
*see if it helps? It's a standard elimination for breastfeeding moms of
*reflux babies, and it often (but not always) helps.
*
*Read her disclaimer below carefully.
*
*It is NOT "standard" treatment to eliminate dairy in lactating mothers
*of babies with reflux. It rarely helps and there is a risk of dietary
*deficiency in the mother from elimination diets.

Elimination diets for mothers with colicky or refluxing babies are
commonly recommended. I certainly do not know what the "standard of care"
is in this regard (I'm neither a pediatrician nor a lactation consultant)
but I think these recommendations would fall within that umbrella term.

The original suggestion was that elimination diets are standard
treatment for reflux, not colic or food allergies. Gastroesophageal
reflux is a normal, physiologic occurrence that happens to all babies.
It is incredibly unlikely for reflux to be the sole manifestation of a
food allergy, as a true allergy will usually cause other symptoms such
as bloody stools, diarrhea, irritability, or eczema.

Thus, in a breastfed infant with excessive reflux, eczema, and
diarrhea, one might recommend a trial of dairy elimination for the
mother, but this is NOT a "standard" for a newborn with just reflux,
or else over half of the moms in my practice would be off dairy!

Check out these references:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041200.asp - IMO Dr. Sears is
practically mainstream these days, and his suggested elimination diet is
not only dairy free but free of a lot of other things as well.

Dr. Sears may be mainstream to you, but the "reference" you quote here
is about a lactation specialist he knows who recommends an elimination
diet for colicky babies (not babies with reflux) based on a book (not
peer-reviewed original research, natch) by William G. Crook, who
recommends through his series of books elimination diets for treatment
of autism, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, or whatever else may ail
you. (Has he ever bothered to put his theories to the test and
actually publish them in the scientific literature, or will he just
continue to write monographs as long as they sell, truth be damned? We
shall see...)

http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/l...106348,00.html
The author of this article states that the AAP recommends "that nursing
moms with allergic babies try altering their diets to eliminate cow's
milk, eggs, fish, peanuts and tree nuts such as pecans, almonds and
walnuts, since a very small percentage of babies are allergic to these
proteins in their milk."

Again, this article is about colic and allergies, not reflux. And note
she advises against willy-nilly food elimination.

And she probably is quoting this Policy Statement from the AAP about
allergies, not reflux:

http://www.aap.org/policy/re0005.html

Since the signs of such allergy in tiny babies
are not always straightforward, this recommendation could certainly apply
to a baby who seems to have reflux.

Except that it doesn't.

Here's an excerpt from the recommendations on treatment of reflux from
the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and
Nutrition, endorsed by the AAP:

http://www.naspghan.org/sub/position_papers/GERD.pdf

"In the infant who has uncomplicated GER, parental education,
reassurance and anticipatory guidance are recommended. Generally no
other intervention is necessary."

This article suggests that the risk of dietary deficiency from a dairy
elimination diet in a breastfeeding mother is not a concern for the short
term:

Clin Exp Allergy. 2001 Jan;31(1):88-94. Related Articles, Links

Do combined elimination diet and prolonged breastfeeding of an atopic
infant jeopardise maternal bone health?

The abstract you cited says that moms on elimination diets are thinner
and have decreased bone density -- it's just not SO bad that, if the
elimination diet is helping, it's OK to stay on it, but they should
have extra dietary counseling in order not to get too skinny or have
too much thinning of the bones! Is this something we want to do to a
mom whose baby is normal to begin with? I think this abstract PROVES
my original assertion that "there is a risk of dietary deficiency in
the mother from elimination diets."

PF, whose 6-month-old son still barfs on him every time he holds him.