Has anyone tried any type of alternative medicine to help with all the GERD problems? If you have, what did you try and did it work? Last year I met with a doctor that was talking about some type of "charcoal" tablets that would help Elana's digestive system. I can't remember the whole story b/c it was so long ago but I'm thinking of setting another appt. with him b/c I'm at my wit's end.

I don't know how alternative this is :wink:, but Emma is on probiotics (Babydophilus) to help counteraffect any problems she may have being on a daily antibiotic (for kidney issues). Her poops, before going on the probiotic, were always dark dark green, really icky, and smelly. Now, they are a lighter green mixed w/yellow (sorry if TMI) and hardly stink. I don't know if it is helping her GERD, so to speak, but it definitely is helping her intestinal issues. She has been on so many rounds of antibiotics in her life - I wish I would have started this sooner!

I hope you get more responses, as I don't think I answered your question for you! :oops:

:)

I've never tried it, however, I would have if we didn't live 2 hrs. away from the nearest naturalist.

I would have in a heartbeat... especially when you're at your wit's end.

Cady's been on probiotics now for a week and I'm telling you, along with her milk-free diet, her poops are normal now. I would swear by probiotics in a second. I'm sure that's not really alternative, more like a supplement, but it's been great.

PROBIOTICS. I am a serious believer in these for refluxers.
Our daughter (soon to be 3 yo) has been weaned off reflux meds since early winter. We started pribiotics in her juice once a day since we are now having some ear/sinus issues that hence cause a few reflux flareups.

We actually used "culturelle" when my daughter was 3-4 months old to counteract the antibiotics she was on for chronic ear and sinus problems. Her GI doc recommended them.

Patti

I got cuaght short when I was away on holiday overseas- we extneded my stay by 3 weeks and Matthew's meds ran out about 5 days before coming home. I went to a naturalist and got a product called "tummycare". It had marshmallow and other herbal things in it.... it made his bottles go a funny brown colour and his poop became really grainy with lots of "seeds" in it. ANyway, it appeared to help in that he didn't puke so much, but we were soon back to the arching and fussing so I was very glad to get home and his script filled!!! Mind you, I probably should have kept it up as a supplement to the normal meds, as it certainly made him puke less.
I would give anything a go... if it helps then it's worth it! Good luck!

I have not..just wanted to say I hope you find something that works!

Thanks everyone for your feedback! This site is so informative. I'm sorry I didn't find it earlier!

Yes, Probiotics is ringing a bell. I think that was the medicine the doctor was talking about. Elana is on her second set of ear tubes so we've been pretty free of ear infections since those were inserted but she always gets respiratory infections. She was on antibiotics from Dec.-Feb. to get through this winter. I'm concerned about all the antibiotics she's been on since birth. I worry all the time if or when she will be healthy enough to go to school. She's our only child and I don't have her participating in any acitivities with kids b/c she gets sick so easily. I'm very worried about what will happen when she is around other children.

If you are looking for probiotics, do a search for Baby's Jarro-Dophilus and you can order it on-line. This is what Cady takes. It's a powder and I put it in her bottle in the morning. I think there are others, but if you want to give it a try, just thought I'd throw this out to you.

If you are looking for probiotics, do a search for Baby's Jarro-Dophilus and you can order it on-line. This is what Cady takes.

That's what we use too! :hello2: I liked it b/c it's dairy and soy free.

That's what we use too! :hello2: I liked it b/c it's dairy and soy free.

Can you only get them on-line, or do health food stores sell them? I think I want to put Emma on some as she is currently taking antibiotics and I am worried about thrush or other yeast problems. :shaking:

We get ours from a local health food store. I'm not sure about online... Maybe Judy knows....

Here is their website.

http://www.jarrow.com/product.php?prodid=201 (http://www.jarrow.com/product.php?prodid=201)

Thanks again for the help! You guys are the best. I'm going to call Whole Foods tomorrow to see if they carry it. If they don't, I am going to order it online. Elana is now 2.5 years old and has been on antibiotics countless times. I'm so happy others have tried Probiotics and they saw some positive results in their children's digestive tracks. I don't even know what normal poop should look like!!!

I don't even know what normal poop should look like!!!

LOL...I didn't either! :wink: Good luck! Let us know how it goes!