GERD - - what is reflux? My infant daughter's fight to be pain freeJun 30 '03 (Updated Dec 24 '05) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I am telling you about my daughter's battle with reflux, in hopes that you will seek medical attention immediately. Be an advocate for your child!
In June 2002, we were blessed with our 3rd child, a baby girl. Mollie was our surprise baby, but welcome with open arms. Even in the hospital, she spit up (a lot). By week 3, she was crying non-stop for hours on end and nothing seemed to help. We tried everything---walking, gas drops, rocking, bouncing, swaddling, eliminate highly allergic foods from my diet (as she was breastfeeding), and so on. If you have ever had a baby who cries, you know all the tricks that we tried. The pediatrician said she had colic and to give her a few months to outgrow it. Things did not change and Mollie continued to cry. Mollie was fussy, hoarse, unable to sleep, throwing up (sometimes across the room), clingy, refusing to eat, and more. At her 6 months well baby check, the doctor prescribed zantac, reglan, and levsin for acid reflux (GERD-gastroesphogael reflux disease). To help you to understand reflux: the following description has been copied from ivillagehealth.com. "Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when material from the stomach or small intestine repeatedly enters the esophagus. Heartburn—a burning sensation in the chest, throat, neck, or back—is the primary symptom of GERD. Other symptoms include: • Regurgitation • Difficulty or pain with swallowing • A full sensation in the neck • Belching • Chest pain (similar to angina) • Laryngitis • Chronic cough • Wheezing • Hoarseness • Sore throat • Bad breath" We also noticed that she did not have the social/emotional development that she should and we contacted our local early childhood specialists. She was eligible to receive Occupational Therapy based on many developmental delays. The therapist was a wonderful match for our family and made weekly visits to work with Mollie and to offer suggestions to us. She felt that Mollie had something else wrong and that it was causing the other delays and sensory issues that she was experiencing. She suggested we get a referral to an allergy specialist and a pediatric gasteroenterologist (GI). After allergy testing and several positives, the allergy doctor changed her to prevacid (in place of zantac) in March. We also began an allergy free diet and to battle environmental allergies the best that we could. On April 1, Mollie had an Upper GI with barium and x-rays to determine any abnormalities in the esophogas and stomach. This test was normal, but showed Mollie refluxing a lot in just a matter of minutes. Then in June, she had an endoscopy, 24 hour ph probe, and biopsies taken during an outpatient procedure. We have been given some good news, yet we also know that she is continuing to reflux in abnormal amounts. We know now that allergies are not causing the digestive problems and it is not due to celiac disease. It appears to be an immature muscle (sphincter) between the esophogas and stomach. Mollie is now on Prilosec and we will continue to visit the Pediatric GI frequently. We are praying that the muscle strengthens on its own. Mollie is finally growing and developing at a normal pace. She is still small for her age, but a happy girl. I am telling you our story in hopes that another baby does not need to wait a full year to get some help and answers for possible reflux. Our pediatrician did not send us on to other specialists. I requested the referrals upon suggestions from the occupational therapist. Parents must be an advocate for their child. I have had to spend many hours researching allergies/reflux and it has been worth my while to learn all I can about this disease. The doctor was not in my home when Mollie would cry for 6 hours at a time. It was easy to dismiss us at a 10 minute office visit. PLEASE do not give up, search for the doctor who will help you to find answers. You know your child the best and if you think your child is uncomfortable, listen to your gut!!!! This is my first writer's corner review, I felt the need to write our story. I will update this writing as Mollie continues to grow and develop. There have been many online supporters along the way and I thank each one of them! Update (February 29, 2004)--Mollie continues to battle reflux. We switched her to the local Children's Hospital in September (Riley, Indianapolis). They did a gastric empty scan and found that Mollie also suffers from very slow motility (slow digestion). When she does eat something, it just sits in her stomach for hours and has no where else to go, but up (the reflux). The origin is not clear, but daily medicines do indeed help. Currently, she is taking Reglan, Erythromicin, Zantac, and Prilosec. They tell us she will outgrow it, but at this point, the medicines are indeed doing the work for her system. We have battled this for 20 months now and Mollie is 20 lb and has become a happy girl. She is active but small for her age. We are finally getting some sleep. We have really had to fight to get our little girl healthy! Another Update (October 2004): Mollie is finally on the growth scale, small but at least "normal". We have done more advanced allergy testing and are avoiding lots of foods (wheat, cow's milk, goat's milk, eggs, shellfish, soybean, celery, sesame, coconut, chocolate, tea, brewers yeast). If she avoids all of these foods, she is much better and happier. She is battling some blood sugar problems now, but we suspect it is all related to her immature organs. We are still praying that in time, she will outgrow all of this and we will no longer battle the health system just for her to feel better. I have continued to advocate for the best possible health care for my daughter. A very happy update (December 2005): Mollie is growing and thriving at 3 1/2 years of age. She weighs almost 31 lb and is tall enough to wear size 4T. She is pleasant and happy. We still battle with the food allergies, migraines, occassional blood sugar problems, and some sensory issues, but all in all, she sleeps through most nights and there are more good days than bad ones. I thank those of you who have keep Mollie in your prayers, she has become our miracle child.  |
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