Hi ladies

Zach has been on reflux meds since he was 2-3 weeks old...we recently tried weaning from prevacid and it was a DISASTER
Zach is 2.5 now....we've been getting his meds re-filled through the feeding center and keeping tabs with his ped....we haven't seen a GI in some time
When we saw a GI last, I remember him saying IF Zach still needed meds by 2.5, he would rec testing....
On 37.5mg of prevacid and a restricted diet (no dairy/soy) he does well most days
I would have to say he, BY FAR, is doing better the last few mnths then in his entire life
He has his days but his weight is good, he is happy, sleeps well etc
I still think he may have some lower Gi issues as he seems fussy as times before a b/m and gassy at times...don't know if this is normal toddler stuff

Zach is a very sweet/sensitive little man
I know he would be horrified to go to the hospital for testing....after getting b/w recently at the lab he was scared to death to go to the Dr office (thinking they would draw blood)

The only testing he's had so far was an Upper Gi at 5mnths...no abnormalities (just refluxing like crazy)

Since he is doing well...weight is good....do I really NEED to put him through testing
I would hate to have to take him off meds, get tested for nothing
I'm afraid that trauma would mess up his eating/sleeping etc

Any thoughts?

I personally would do exactly what you're doing~Go with your gut. I'm the type of mom who only does testing if I really think it's necessary. Since he's going fine, gaining weight, happily without pain, and sleeping well, I wouldn't want to put him through all of that trauma if it's not necessary.

Hi Kim! :)

Hmmm...to test or not is always a tough one, imo. I can tell you what our experience has been, though I don't know how much it helps you! :) We just saw Ian's GI about a month ago. Ian takes 15mg of Prevacid daily, is now 19 months old, and only has very occasional bad days. The GI doesn't think he's ready to go off the Prevacid, but did say we could try to see what happens. He also said that some kids just don't outgrow this until the age of FOUR! Now, that's the first I'd heard that from the medical professional, but it does fit with what I have learned at this forum. :) He also isn't going to test again (Ian had an endoscopy and sigmoidscopy last April).

So the long and short is... why does the doc feel more testing is necessary? Is there a less invasive test he has in mind? Can you get a second opinion? See,for me the no testing is great - I think Ian's case is somewhat mild in comparison to many kids... it's just sticking around a long time. But if your kiddo is on a much higher med dose, a modified diet, etc. then it may indicate more than one issue. Perhaps the doc is thinking that GERD is more of a "symptom" of a larger issue? (I'm thinking food allergies here.) So... I'd grill the doc and see what he's thinking and why he's recommending it.

I agree with Janette, if he is happy then why? Now, if that changes then you will probably want to do what you can. But, it sounds like he is doing well with what you are doing now.

I agree with Janette 100%. The only other thing that I would recommend is touching base with the GI. That *is* a very large dose of Prevecid, and I think that it would be a good thing to talk over Zach's progress with the doctor, just to be safe! I am so happy he's doing well, Kim!

I agree with the others... if he is happy and doing well why go through testing. We just went through testing (scope, pH probe, bloodwork) only because James wasn't improving and he is on 60 mg of Prevacid a day at 14 months old. The GI felt there was something else going on and the scope turned up a hiatal hernia which is probably causing the reflux. We are still waiting for the biopsy, probe, and bloodwork results (hopefully tomorrow). I only put my kids through testing when absolutely necessary. I knew in my gut there was something else going on with James besides just reflux. Listen to your gut. Keep us posted on what you decide to do.

Thanks everyone
I was def. leaning towards NO testing....but just wanted to make sure I wasn't a mom in denial
I think the GI just wants to make sure that we aren't missing something...

Thanks again...I'll update after the GI appt