HELP/baby acid reflux

[NONNA54]

Hello out there - Can anyone help.  My daughter has an 8 week old boy and they live in the St. Louis area.  Bennett was diagnosed with severe acid reflux.  He is currently in the hospital for a 2nd stay.  This is the 2nd round of pedcid treatments they are giving him.  He is now on Nexium and again has had his formula changed to Alementum.  The baby is extremely uncomfortable and never appears to be calm.  Even when sleeping he shows signs of discomfort.  He is usually manageable for a few days then goes into severe crying fits for hours.  He is still gaining weight but not as much as they would like.  He is in St. John's Hosp and being treated by a pediatric gastro specialist.  My daughter is sooooo stressed out.  Worried like crazy something else more serious is wrong with him and sad that he never seems content or happy.  Can anyone share any similar stories or offer any advice on what to do from here?  I suggested she get a 2nd opinion from another specialist for peace of mind.  Since she does not live near her family, are there any support groups for severe acid reflux babies in the St. Louis area that she can join?  I think for her a support group that she could attend would be more beneficial than an online support group.  I am also suggesting that if the drs. release the baby from the hospital and are unable to get the reflux under control that she get some trained professional to come into the home to help her cope.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Thanks I would really appreciate any comments/suggestions.   Stressed out grandma!!

[lucky37]

I am so sorry to hear what your daughter is going through.  Although not hospitalized, we had weeks of struggles with my son, who is now 7 months.  I assume they've done all the tests such as upper GI, etc.  I could not produce enough milk and my son had to get put on formula which made the situation worse.  My doctor put him on Nutramigen, a competitor to Ailmentum but when I inquired as to why she chose Nutramigen she said she found it worked better and faster than Ailmentum so they may want to look in to that.  He gets Zantac twice a day, we elevate his bed, put 1/2 tablespoon of rice cereal (when he was about 8 weeks old but he was born a month early) per ounce of formula, and hold him up for 30 minutes after feeding.  That and running the vaccuum really calmed him when he had crying fits, oddly enough.  I know how miserable your daughter is feeling as I was there a few months ago and I pray they find something that works.  She needs to follow her gut instincts and if that means get a second opinion then definitely do it!!!

Good luck!
Leslie

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome.

Sorry I am not aware of groups out in her area...maybe the hospital can give her some info on that.

I do not like to assume, but is tha baby on formula?.....and checked for allergies?

My daughter was very coliciky and we later found out she had an allergy to the red dye in the liquid tylenol we were giving for a temp.....she was also getting hives from it....I had no clue where to start.

Since he is so young, also start with basic nutrition...foods and juices...then meds. And age suggests it is either breast milk or formula.

I wish I could offer help and I pray u all find ur answer.
Please post an update of ur grandson's progress.

"selma"