Shocked/Irritated/Disappointed

[RainInanna]

When my son was newborn I had him in for strange symptoms - they had kept us in the hospital a few extra days because he wouldn't BF - he was either sleeping or screaming. When we'd brought him home he'd remained every irritable with feedings - he projectile vomited a few times, but he spit up every feeding and he cried a lot, everyday for hours. I tried all the usual reflux fixes, no luck. The Dr checked for pyloric stenosis, ruled out reflux (said Baby wasn't projectile vomiting enough and was gaining weight too well), and basically said he was colicky/sensitive.

Well now, I started him on cereals at 4 months and veggies at 6. I've only been able to give him about 1/3 of a jar a day since of any veggie. More then that and he is miserable, gassy for hours, waking up screaming. I thought like the Dr said he was sensitive and just kept the foods slow. When I read posts from other mommies saying how much food their babies are eating each day I got worried - 1/2 to a whole jar a couple times a day is normal! Well I took him into the clinic since I was going anyway, and he's only gained about 1/2 a lb in 3 months!

The Dr there told me she recommends we go get Baby's regular family Dr to collect his weight information etc. and send us off to a GI specialist. She also gave us a list of local pediatricians.

I hate how Dr's make me feel stupid. Baby's Dr had made me feel like I was just a paranoid mother and that I should just suck it up and accept that he was colicky. I felt like if I didn't just accept his colic and deal with it I was a bad mommy. Now I get to feel like I'm a bad mommy because there really *was* something wrong and I didn't push it, but finally Dr's can see it too?

We are going into his regular Dr to get a referral to a GI specialist Tuesday.

[Lightning Strike]

When my son was newborn I had him in for strange symptoms - they had kept us in the hospital a few extra days because he wouldn't BF - he was either sleeping or screaming. When we'd brought him home he'd remained every irritable with feedings - he projectile vomited a few times, but he spit up every feeding and he cried a lot, everyday for hours. I tried all the usual reflux fixes, no luck. The Dr checked for pyloric stenosis, ruled out reflux (said Baby wasn't projectile vomiting enough and was gaining weight too well), and basically said he was colicky/sensitive.

Well now, I started him on cereals at 4 months and veggies at 6. I've only been able to give him about 1/3 of a jar a day since of any veggie. More then that and he is miserable, gassy for hours, waking up screaming. I thought like the Dr said he was sensitive and just kept the foods slow. When I read posts from other mommies saying how much food their babies are eating each day I got worried - 1/2 to a whole jar a couple times a day is normal! Well I took him into the clinic since I was going anyway, and he's only gained about 1/2 a lb in 3 months!

The Dr there told me she recommends we go get Baby's regular family Dr to collect his weight information etc. and send us off to a GI specialist. She also gave us a list of local pediatricians.

I hate how Dr's make me feel stupid. Baby's Dr had made me feel like I was just a paranoid mother and that I should just suck it up and accept that he was colicky. I felt like if I didn't just accept his colic and deal with it I was a bad mommy. Now I get to feel like I'm a bad mommy because there really *was* something wrong and I didn't push it, but finally Dr's can see it too?

We are going into his regular Dr to get a referral to a GI specialist Tuesday.

I am sorry you feel that way. All the best._pounce_ You are not a bad mother and shouldn't of been made to feel like that at all. Highly unprofessional of them.

[RainInanna]

Thank you. I don't think he intentionally did anything, to make me feel stupid, it was just that he shrugged it off and I trusted him and felt stupid for thinking there was a problem. I just thought I should suck it up and accept my son had colic.

Anyway, I joined an infant reflux forum for help there. http://www.infantreflux.org/

Here's some other symptoms I realized while reading other people's experiences. Making a list makes me realize there is definitely something going on - I always had the sense something was wrong but it's all piling up now.

- he wants to sip his bottle all day - he will rarely take 4 or 5oz even at his age, he's never taken 8oz.
- we're still using a stage 1 nipple made for 0-3 month olds - anything else and he drools most of his formula, he also tends to choke
- he has wet burps often - as in he burps and spits up and swallows
- he gets hiccups often
- he often sounds like he has a cold or has to clear his throat (the Dr told me this was normal and that some babies just get fluid stuck there)
- he tends to cough throughout the day, not a sick cough, but as if he swallowed the wrong way
- BF'ing was really hard - elimination diets and preventing overactive let-down didn't help, neither did pumping/bottlefeeding/keeping him propped during and after feedings. I finally gave up because it was excruciating and he was nursing 20 minutes of every hour of the day, I realized both of us were crying every nursing session, 12x a day!

[Athena-Nadine]

Obviously I'm no doctor, but it sounds like he may have reflux.

Alessa was only 6 lbs. 9 oz. at birth and was 6 lbs. 1 oz when we left the hospital. Last week, when I took her in because of similar symptoms your son has, she weighed 10 lbs. That was at 5 weeks old. She is gaining weight at a very fast rate. She was only an ounce below her birth weight at 5 days old--that was only 2 days after leaving the hospital. At 2 weeks old she was 7 1/2 lbs, so she gained 2 1/2 lbs in 3 weeks.

Some babies don't gain well when they have reflux, but for some it's the opposite. Some babies eat constantly because of the pain so gain weight very quickly. When they are eating they tend to feel a little better. Unfortunately, food makes the reflux worse so eating often can actually cause more problems for them.

I really hope you can get him some relief. I had reflux while pregnant so know how much it hurts. It breaks my heart to see little ones in pain like that. Whatever you try, make sure you give it up to a week to help. The acid from reflux causes inflammation and damage to the esophagus and it can take a while for it to heal, so the pain may take a while to go away.

:hugz:

[Athena-Nadine]

Oh, I forgot--if it is reflux, most babies outgrow it between 4 and 9 months as their systems mature. For the vast majority of babies, it is gone by their first birthdays.

[Libris]

:hugz: I'm so sorry that your doc made you feel that your instincts weren't right, only to make you feel neglectful later. I hope the specialist works out better for you both and that your son starts feeling better soon.

[Ceres]

I think you are a great mom because you didnt accept that there was nothing wrong. Its very hard, feeling intimidated and while you listened to your doctor when he tried to belittle your thoughts on the matter, you also didnt let go of what you felt to be true and eventually were vindicated. The experience will serve you well :)

[willa]

You shouldn't feel stupid - the doctor should. My grandson had the exact same symptoms & he did have pyloric stenosis. He had been colicky from birth but as soon as his symptoms became worse & he started vomitting, (projectile vomitting is common with p.s. but that's not always the case), his doctor sent us directly to the er - luckily he doesn't mess around with those type of issues due to how quickly children can become dehydrated. 24 hours after diagnosis, my grandson had surgery & there was an immediate change in him. He bacame a bottomless pit, gained several pounds within the first 2 weeks & no issues afterward - absolutely nothing. He started sleeping through the night & became a very happy baby. It was amazing.
Anyway, good luck. I hope he's feeling better soon. And don't beat yourself up. Sometimes you have to become a pushy mom to get them to listen but, you know your child best & usually your instincts are right.

[wolfjan1]

Condescending Dr's need to brought down a peg or two. We need to let them know that we think that they are condescending and want to know if thy are going to take our or our baby's health seriously, because We can always find another Dr.
I have done it. I don't think that they realize how they are acting.

[Lightning Strike]

Just to say that not ALL of the Medical profession are bastards..

[RainInanna]

More stuff for reflux

Infant Reflux Support Forum - lots of wonderful, helpful people here (http://www.infantreflux.org/forum/)
Midwest Acid Reflux Children's Institute - excellent reference for meds and dosages (http://www.marci-kids.com/)

[Ravenna Angellin]

I've only had one real experience where the medical profession told me I was wrong... and it was with a nurse. Aiden had a fever of 105+ and the nurse told me I took his temp wrong. Dumb chick. Turned out he really was sick, and it was serious.

Now, I'm kind of a raging biznatch when my kids are seriously ill. And I think I know my kids' regular behavior and habits better than a doctor who seems them only for well-child check-ups.

Shame on the doctor who made you question your instincts! But as was said previously... not all doctors and nurses are butt-monkeys. There are a lot of great doctors out there, and if necessary... change pediatricians. We've got a great one at the moment... he likes to be called "Dr. Doug" by his patients and their parents. Very good bedside manner and he's funny to boot. PLUS! He actually listens when I express my concerns to him, and calls me back when I leave messages at the clinic about the kids.

It will pass, and in the end, you'll be a better mom for it. Because right at the moment, you should feel vindicated that you knew something wasn't right. It's not your fault, and now that you know, you can deal with the issue more effectively, and have a happier baby because of it!!

:hugz:

~ Ravenna

[RainInanna]

Thank you :) His appointment is this afternoon. I've printed out reams of info on reflux, hoping to get prescriptions for Zantac and Zegerid and am getting a referral to a local pediatrician (we just moved an hour away from the family Dr so I want a local pediatrician for sure). I'm not sure if he'll give me the prescriptions because he never seems to know anything if it isn't in his Treo drug database thingy, but even if he doesn't I know the pediatrician will be better equipped.

I mean, honestly, he can't seriously think it's normal for a 9 month old to be unable to have more then a few spoonfuls of babyfood.

[RainInanna]

Ok, Dr took me seriously this time, I think largely because I started keeping a notebook and told him I had pages of symptoms, also because Baby hasn't gained much (though Dr says he hasn't lost either so it's not a huge concern there).

He prescribed Zantac suspension (mixed up liquid), 1.5 ml twice a day, 15mg/ml. This is exactly what my research had said the dosage was for Baby's weight. He also told me to try soy-based formula. We agreed this is "just to try" and we are going to review in 2 weeks (sometimes the soy-based don't help either, sometimes Zantac only works temporarily). So I'm just happy we're starting some sort of treatment trial, and that we'll talk about it again. He's also getting me a referral to a pediatrician in our area for next time I take Baby in.

[Brightshores]

:hugz: I don't have any advice.. just wanted to say that I hope your little one feels better soon. I'm glad your doctor seems to be listening now, though.

[Tanya]

It's always bad news when a Dr. blows off your concerns..

[RainInanna]

Zantac is working well and we got a refill on it.

Baby gained 1/2lb in two weeks since last visit (in the first post I mentioned he had gained only 1/2lb in three months between visits).

He's taking a full jar of baby food or half with cereal three times a day (as opposed to 1/3 jar once a day and cereal once or twice per day), along with the same amount of formula but 6oz at a time.

He's on hypoallergenic formula, we're still waiting to see if that helps since it can take a few weeks.

We're going to take him to a pediatrician from now on and have been given the referral.

Huge improvement.

[Brigid Rowan]

Im sooooo glad to hear things are improving, good job getting the doc to listen,you are a good mommy.

[BlackLili]

Glad to hear Baby's keeping food down and liking it more. Happy babies is bestest!

(Happy mommies is good too! :-D )

[Athena-Nadine]

I am so happy to hear this! I've been wondering how you've all been doing. :hugz: