Hi everyone
I'm Shelley. Our 8-month old boy Adrian is diagnosed with severe GER. His barium test showed significant reflux. He's a 32-week premie. He started projectile vomiting at 4th month and was then put on Zantac. He then switched to Prilosec (7 mg daily) when Zantac didn't help. He no longer vomits after Zantac. Now he weights 12.5 lb and eats 24kcal soy formula from the bottles (about 280-340 calories/day). Becuase his slow weight gain (only gained 10 oz for the last 2 months), our doctor suggested fundoplication with G-tube. We'll go see a GI specialist in 2 days and he may give him a scope and maybe prokinetic therapy.

We're very nervous about fundo especially we have family history of anesthesia allergy.
Do you think his little weight gain really needs a fundo and G-tube?
We're so happy to find this site and know we're not alone.

Shelley

Hi Shelley,

Welcome! So sorry to hear of your troubles. You'll find much knowledge and support here on the board.

Wait and see what the GI doc says but I'd really question the haste with which your doc is suggesting the fundo and g-tube. Thats really a last resort option and its a very serious decision to make. And since Adrian has gained a little weight, it may be jumping the gun a bit. My boy is 3 years old and weighs only 24 pounds and his doc has never suggested a fundo.

There are other meds and other options that you can explore before resorting to this surgery. Let us know how it goes with the GI doc!

Phyllis

Welcome Shelley and Adrian! Please let us know how your appointment goes on Thursday.

Hi Shelly, and welcome!

I would definitely use the g-tube as the last option.
We were able to avoid the tube with Trent by using Polycose (calorie additive), Pediasure (started at 9 months), and Periactin (appetite boosting med).

Trent was on the polycose additive from 6-9 months, and then at 9 months, he was taken off formula and put on Pediasure. He was also put on Periactin to make him hungry and this really helped. He went for his 1 year check-up today. At his 9 month check, he weighed 16 lbs, and today (3 1/2 months later) he weighed 21 lbs 10 oz!

Please let us know what you all decide.

Amy

Hi

Thanks for your messages. The GI Specialist will do an endoscope tomorrow. He'll be under sedation and stay for 2 days in the hospital. If he looses weight or not eating less, he won't be discharged after the scope. For those whose babies had endoscope, is there anything I need to watch out? I'm afraid he won't be eating well afterwards for a few days.

If endoscopic result shows significant reflux, doctor's still considering fundo and g-tube. I don't know if there's anyway to overcome food aversion and start gaining more weight, FAST. By the way, he's not taking solids and any liquid other than milk these days.

I appreciate any input you have.

Shelley ...oops sorry I should have "post reply' instead of "post new".

*edited by Roni to move to same thread*

Hi Shelley,

Please let us know how the test goes, I'll be thinking of you. Listen, you dont have to agree to the surgery, you can always get an opinion from another doc. It just doesnt sound like they've tried much to avoid this surgery which should be a last resort option.

Little ones can overcome food aversion and there are ways to get some weight on your little one with additives, "doubling" his milk (adding powdered milk to regular milk, using olive oil, benecalorie etc. And a child behaviorist can help with the food aversion (mostly they use toys and TV as a distraction and/or as reward for taking the spoon). You can use a syringe to squirt liquids into his mouth, this has worked for my boy when he refuses to eat. If you're interested in more details, just say the word! I've been keeping up the struggle to get weight on my boy for all of his 3 years!

Good luck & Keep us posted!

Phyllis

Adrian had stayed over night for endoscope and oh yeah he wasn't happy when he woke up from sedation. We'll see GI again this Thursday to discuss endoscope, pH probing and biopsy results.

*edited by moderator*
I moved the rest of this post to the fundo board so check it out over there :) . Roni

Did they do a ph probe too?