Hi everyone,

My name is Marsha and I live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. I have two children, a daughter Mackenzie, 20 months and a son, Oscar, almost 4 months.

My daughter Mackenzie was 'treated' for Reflux from when she about 8 weeks old. My GP first suggested I try Mylanta but when that had no effect within 24 hours she was prescribed Zantec and referred to a paediatrician in Sydney (where we lived at the time). The paediatrician agreed with my Doctor's diagnosis based on her behaviour (back arching, fighting the bottle and acute discomfort after feeding and ongoing vomitting) and no further tests were undertaken. We continued with the Zantec for only a couple of weeks before switching to a Soy based formula - and this seemed to help her a lot more than the Zantec. After a few more weeks of Zantec - and she just hated the stuff - I took her off it. On arriving here at the Gold Coast we saw another paediatrician who thought that Mackenzie was more than likely not suffering reflux but rather was overtired and not getting enough sleep. Well ..... anyway, after going to sleep school and learning new settling techniques I managed to get Mackenzie to sleep through the night but she would cry for hours during the day and would not settle despite attempting many techniques over the course of her first year. In the end the only thing I could do to get her to settle by herself in her cot - and go to sleep - was to give her a bottle with a little bit of water in it. She still has this now when she goes to bed at night and when she goes down for a nap during the day.

I suspect that Oscar also has reflux, but more likely silent reflux. Mackenzie was anything but silent, :wink: . This time round I elevated Oscar's cot from birth, have always fed him upright, try to feed him in a quiet environment away from distractions (pretty difficult during the day with an active toddler running around mind you), gently burp him and put him down for play on a bouncer so he isn't lying flat. Despite all this however he is still displaying symptoms of being irritated by either reflux, or a milk allergy or something .... :shock: I am reluctant at this stage to see a GP who will instantaeously prescribe Zantec or another medication - though will not hesitate if his condition worsens. He has been gaining weight well though he is only taking around two thirds of the amount of formula (he has been formula fed since birth) expected for his weight/age. He is also bright and happy most of the time, though I have noticed quite a change in the last week. He is starting to arch his back, twist his neck to the side and fights his bottle after only a small amount of formula. Just today I have changed his formula from one that is cow's milk based to a soy based one. I have also taken him to a chiropractor and must say that I was happy with the results of that treatment.


Sorry that was so long winded. I would love to hear from anyone who has tried any other treatments for reflux. I've heard that Cranial Ostepathy can help. I've also read of lots of other formula's that have helped but I think that a lot of them are not available on the Australian market, or certainly not that I've seen on the shelf at the Pharmacy anyway. I look forward to hearing from you and welcome any insights or suggestions.

Hi Marsha and welcome! It sounds like you really have your hands full with two young children. Adding reflux to that mix sure can make it stressful and hectic. Just curious...What improvements did you notice after your son's chiro. appointment? Is he still a silent refluxer (ie, no vomitting)? Did your daughter reflux/vomit alot and has she outgrown a lot of it?

I have two sons: Brandon is totally healthy and Evan has reflux. He's going through a bit of a bout with it again, but hopefully the ped. will finally return my call today so that Evan can either have his meds. upped or see a pediatric allergist.

Welcome again!

Hi Janette,

Wow, that was quick. Thanks for your concern. Oscar was a fidgety baby from birth and I believe the chiropratic treatment has made him more comfortable and relaxed. I also think is has had an impact on the frequency and quantity of his vomitting - which I believe was causing the fidgetiness to some extent. Oscar is a happy chucker hence my reference to him suffering silent reflux. Some days he doesn't vomit at all, others he will vomit after each feed, sometimes hours later. I've just now come from changing his bed clothes because he'd projectile vomitted everywhere during his sleep tonight - no crying or distress at all - and then when my partner was putting him back to bed after his 10.30pm feed he vomitted again. He doesn't normally projectile vomit mind you, but we've just changed his formula over to a soy based one so perhaps this has caused it .... who knows. He was as happy as Larry when I left him and now he's sound asleep. Sometimes this worries me more than incessant crying after feeds. Just doesn't seem right ... should be pleased I suppose.

Mackenzie vomitted a lot and was a very very unsettled baby during the day. It seems like a lifetime ago even though she's only 20 months old now but she vomitted pretty regularly and when she was overtired and screaming because she either couldn't get to sleep or was in pain (or both) she used to vomit a lot more. It was horrible. To this day she I believe she still suffers reflux - and as I do more research online I'm even more convinced. At 9 months her tantrums - refusal/inability to sleep - led to 'blue attacks' - of which she has had 4 in total (which I guess doesn't make her a serial attacker but it's frightening nonetheless). She also wakes during the night in hysterics - which leads me to think that rather than nightmares she might be choking. Which is something that happens to me quite regularly also. My mother also suffers reflux and is on medication to treat it. I, on the otherhand, just sleep with a couple of pillows and try not to eat too close to going to bed. Otherwise she doesn't vomit. Meal times - especially dinner - are generally a very delicate occasion - she throws a tantrum often after a few mouthfuls (every other day if not every day) and arches her back and stiffens. If you don't mind me asking, how old is Evan, what symptoms does he display and what have you tried to manage the reflux?

You must also have your hands full with Evan and Brandon. Thanks so much for your reply.

If you don't mind me asking, how old is Evan, what symptoms does he display and what have you tried to manage the reflux?

You must also have your hands full with Evan and Brandon. Thanks so much for your reply.

Yes, life with two little boys is very busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! :) No problem re: the reply. I like to offer support, especially since we've been "doing" the reflux thing for nearly 2 1/2 years already. I also like the support that I receive from a couple of the moms in this forum when things get tough. It's incredible to have the support of other parents who know exactly what it's like to deal with reflux day in day out.

Evan is 2 years and 5 months as of today. We highly suspect that he has had GERD since birth, but he was misdiagnosed until he was nearly 1 1/2 years old. His main "symptoms" are projectile vomiting, clear mucous in the nose (which often sets of the reflux again), a dry cough (caused by the post nasal drip) the crying and whining that come with the pain, problems with weight gain, and too big of a gap on the growth curve between his height--he's very tall--and his weight.

The things that are working (somewhat) so far for us are...He's on Losec and Domperidone. We elevate the head of his bed, and we've been experimenting with having him on glyconutrients since February. That seems to be helping somewhat, but with reflux being such a roller coaster ride, I'm sure we all wonder from time to time what is really helping and what isn't, or is he just beginning to outgrow the reflux? Who knows?

Have to run for now. My hubby would like a chance at the computer before heading off to bed.

i'm looking into this osteopathy as we speak i hoep it works!!!!!!!