I have been visiting this site for a few months now and have learned so much from all of you. This is my first time posting. My son, Easton, is now 26 months and had a g-button and Nissen 1 year ago. I wish I had known about this website at that time. He was aspirating on all liquids and was unable to tolerate the NG tube at the time. The surgeon told us that the Nissen was the best option with the g-button because of his reflux. I didn't even do any research, I think I was just so overwhelmed with everything and the surgery needed to be scheduled quickly so Easton could start getting some nutrition.

So it has been a crazy year, with many ups and downs as I know you can all understand. After the surgery, they stopped all of Easton's reflux meds and he just started back on Prevacid this last month which has really helped him become interested in eating again. He eats small amounts of pureed food and a few sips of honey thickened liquids. But he is constantly congested. I am not sure if this is related to the reflux or his poor oral motor skills or what. We have tried antibiotics, breathing treatments, and flonase for allergies. Nothing seems to make a difference. And of course the congestion makes the eating more difficult, causes more gagging and coughing. I was just curious if anybody had any thoughts on this. He does see the GI and the ENT next week.

Thank you

Hi and welcome, Becky! :hug: I'm so sorry that I'm just now seeing this!

It sounds like you guys have had a heck of a year. :( I'm concerned about his swallow...I think when you see GI you should ask for a swallow study. It will let them see if his swallow is "safe" and if he's protecting his airway. He could be aspirating, microaspirating. Is he having any pneumonias? Breathing issues?

The fundo itself can change swallowing...especially if it's too tight or if scar tissue develops or if there is nerve damage.

I'm sorry he's back on meds, but we've all found here that most kids who have fundos don't really ever get off meds. There are a handful that do, but for the most part, many don't. Ava has never been able to come off reflux meds and she's had 2 fundos now. :(

I'm glad you found us, but I wish we could have met under better circumstances! :hug:

Thanks Lindsay. Easton most recent swallow study was in June. He did aspirate on thin liquids so we have been feeding him purees and small sips of honey thick liquids. We went to see the speech therapist last week who told us that she would recommend that his congestion clear up before he has another swallow study. And she made the statement that his reflux was probably contributing to his congestion which made me curious if reflux could cause the congestion. His previous swallow studies have shown small amounts of food getting into his nose when he swallows, which would contribute to the congestion. We'll see what the GI suggests next week. Maybe he needs to stop his oral eating for a while to see if things clear up?

Becky reflux can totaly cause congestion! My son Theodore had undiagnosed reflux as an infant it presented as constant congestion. This got us to pulmonology who sent us on to be seen by many other specialists. What it came down to is all his problems linked back to the reflux. If his reflux is controlled than the breathing medications can keep his lungs in check and the sinus and ear problems go away as well. At almost 4 he is still suffering the same cycle. So frustrating. His swallow has matured with time and he now tolorates thin liquids, but he had some micro asperations on thin liquids and with mixed textrues so we also dealt with some of the swallow.

I don't really have any suggestions, just wanted to share that you sound like you are on the right path. my guess is stopping oral feeds for a while may be one answer they give you. Since he has the tube and this is a horrid time of year for respitory stuff it might be worth it, then revisit it all after cold and flu season has passed the worst.

Becky, the reflux/food in the nose can absolutely cause congestion! Any sort of acidic reflux, as well as just the mechanical reflux of food/liquids in the nose.

Thank you so much. I can't believe that it has taken me over a year to realize that his reflux could also be a contributor to his constant congestion. This will help me know better what to questions to ask at his doctors visits next week. This is such a learning process!

Becky, My son has had 8 rounds of pneumonia before the age of 2, he had constant congestion, was on several breathing medications and was getting between 4-6 breathing treatments per day. He even had to be on oxygen when he slept because he would desat so quickly. This has all cleared up once we got his reflux under control, his poor swallow...everything. Almost like I never had to deal with it. We thickened everything to nectar consistency or greater for well over 2 years. I'm not saying that the reflux is the cause of all of his problems, but it can certainly contribute to it. :hug: