Let me first refer to you a wonderful forum that deals with infant reflux and formula issues. Post your story under the "introduce yourself" section and you'll get plenty of wonderful tips and advice. www. infantreflux . org/forum (no spaces) Your sons story sounds exactly like what we dealt with my daughter when she was born (reflux AND tummy troubles)
If your son has a milk or soy protein intolerance, a formula like Nutramigen might be helpful. It still has milk proteins but they are completely broken down. It takes TWO FULL weeks to see improvement after a formula change because that's how long it takes the offending proteins to leave his system. IF the Nutramigen doesn't work, the next option is something like Neocate or Elecare. Those are elemental formulas that do not contain ANY milk or soy proteins.
Prevacid...first of all, what form is he on? If it is a compounded (liquid) suspension then most likely it is not being made effectively. It's very hard for pharmacies to put the correct amount of buffer (sodium bicarbonate) in the liquid to keep it stable. I would recommend Prevacid Solutabs. Just make sure he is getting his medicine on an empty stomach followed by a meal 30 minutes later. That's VERY important www. marci-kids . org (no spaces) is a wonderful website with a TON of research on infant reflux and different medications. They have a dosing calculator that will tell you how much your son needs based on his age and weight. I HIGHLY recommend you check out both my resources.
Jamin sounds like he is in a lot of pain and he doesn't need to suffer any longer! (And neither do you!!!) Hang in there and PM me if you have any other questions!!!!
they said reflux and not colic? that's bizarre, because it sounds like colic. Do you have a family member who can give you a day off? Sometimes that's all you can do...take a few hours/a day to yourself and try to chill. Does he fall asleep in the car? If so, you can put him in his car seat and set it (securely) on top of the dryer while it's running and the vibrations and warmth may put him to sleep and give you a little break.
I don't know if you've tried this yet, but when his tummy starts to hurt, take his ankles in one hand like you would to change a diaper, and push his knees towards his stomach gently. For some reason this helps gassy/colicy babies sometimes. Also there's something called the colic cradle which helps even non-colicky babies. Hold your arm across your body like you would if he were nursing, and lie him on his stomach with his head cradled either in your elbow with your hand supporting his crotch and your arm supporting his belly, or the other direction with your hand supporting his head and his crotch straddling your elbow. I know it sounds crazy but sometimes it was the only thing that would calm my girl down. You can rock them gently and rub their backs. Good luck!
Also, exercise is good advice. Put him in a swing/bouncer, put on some good music and just run in place or do something strenuous when his screaming gets the worst, it'll work out your anxiety and anger/frustration in a safe way.
my baby is 3 weeks and i have only had a total of 4 good nights with him!! it is very hard to watch your baby cry for hours, mine cries for about 5 hours straight from 8 pm till 2 am then settles... my midwife suggested that i look out how he latches on while breast feeding because he is getting too much air in and this is giving belly ache.... poor little things! hope the problem sorts its self out for you!
Hang in there avik
When my sister had her daughter all she did was scream and cry. I really mean that! I was about 16-17 and it almost turned me off from kids. Anyway turns out that Bryer (my niece)
had some kind of intolerance to some of the ingredients used in the formulas she had been given. At one point she was on a soy based mix, she couldnt poop for about 5 days.
Well in the end nestle good start was the only formula that she could use....who thought?
It took a very long time for them to find a formula that she could tolerate, however by about 6 months she was doing fine and one of the happiest babies ever!
I know that no mom ever wants to to hear that it could take that long, I just hope that it might help you see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Oh and even thought it didnt work for me when my mom said that when I get frustrated with my son just to put him in his crib and run around the whole outside of my house, maybe it would for you.....lol
GOOD LUCK!!! BE STRONG!!!