Coming out the other side ♥️

Hi,

I really just wanted to reassure anyone struggling in the depths of reflux hell, that it does get better!

My little boy started out breast feeding and then changed to formula due to poor latch and supply. He showed signs of reflux fairly early, within the first few weeks of life. He would scream during feeding, refuse feeds, always cough due to acid irritating his throat. This has more than likely due to his latch issues - he has a high arched palate and a tongue tie (Tongue tie has been snipped). With this high arched palate he’s struggled to maintain a decent latch and the best bottles I found for this were Dr Browns!

I tried him on HiPP anti reflux milk to start with and for around a week it seemed to improve, but after that he was struggling still and vomiting huge amounts despite only ever suffering silent reflux prior.

After a trip to the GP and asking for omeprazole we came away with infant gaviscon which is what they wanted to try first. It worked so well almost instantly! No more feed refusals, no more screaming during feeds. My little boy slept soundly all night for the first time.

Gaviscon has not been without its problems however! Then came the constipation which caused me so much stress. I spoke to the GP again (I have a very good one) and I asked for omeprazole, again, he said no. He gave us lactulose to help the constipation, and at one point my little boy was on the max dose of 10mls per day! But it kept him going, even though a little formed sometimes. The GP felt that rather than switching things about all the time, the best route was to treat/manage side effects as they arise. Which I’m now incredibly thankful for.

I was able to give the gaviscon according to how my little boys reflux was at the time…we had some weeks where he had very little. It then peaked at 4 months and we were back to full dose lactulose, max dose gaviscon!

Fast forward to 6months old - we have now been off gaviscon for a week. He is never sick, maybe the occasional posit when he’s had a bit of a burp! He’s pooping like a machine again too!!

Sorry for the essay… but I know when I was at the worst of it I thought it would never end! So I hope this gives someone a bit of positivity this evening. It’s hard, but it won’t last forever! It may be 6 months, it may be a year, but they all get through eventually! ♥️

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