Advice Please - AR formulas, reflux, vomiting issues, pediatrician

[AnnaChas]

Hi,

I'm just after some points of view/advice etc from those who have experienced this.

My DS has been vomiting almost after every feed for about 6 weeks now. We are giving him Nan HA Gold. He is vomiting a large percentage of what he is eating (we've caught the vomit with a bucket and measured it!), but he is still putting on weight. When he vomits, it really is projectile vomit and comes out of his nostrils too. He isn't too upset by it and he isn't crying or screaming.

We saw the paed the other day and he said DS has reflux and suggested going to an AR formula because it is thicker. We tried Karicare AR and he just spewed the same, except the spew was no longer projectiling across the room as it is so thick. Also, the AR formula made him scream and cry when he was eating. He was bringing his legs up and squirming and looked to be in pain. We stopped giving him Karicare AR and have gone back to Nan HA gold today and he is no longer crying/screaming/in pain when he is eating.

I read online that gaviscon infant might help. Has anyone had experience with this? I talked to the chemist today and he was hesitant to sell it to me as DS is under 1 year old and it wasn't recommended by the paed. (As a side issue, does anyone know a good paed in Brisbane as I'm not impressed with our current one - any recommendations would be greatly appreciated).

[PinkPalace]

hi

we went through this.
I actually tried Karicare HA AR - which is a hypoallerngic thickened formula and it was the first time in 4 months DS didnt vomit!

but omg constipation!!! it was heartbreaking

So we went onto pepti-junior - got a script from the paed (it is about $20 for a 400ml tin otherwise)
and we havent looked back,

I think as they get a little older they tolerate the feeds better too.
but the pepti junior made a huge difference to my DS.

If you are east/southside. We saw Dr Scott burgess at redlands hospital.\If you get a referral from your health clinic nurse or Gp - you can book into the public clinic to see him bulk billed too.

He is great, wonderful bedside manner and would even ring on weekends to see how my little one was going .

HTH

[Janie]

We used Gaviscon Infant when DS was little (no one ever questioned it?). It did help in some ways, in that the volume that came up was less, but what did come up was so thick he would sometimes choke on it, especially the times it came out his nose . But as he was borderline FTT everyone was happy that he was keeping more milk down. I personally found that the AR formulas were useless and upset his tummy.

I think you are right to seek a second opinion. If your baby is happy and healthy, and still gaining weight, then I'm not too sure what the problem is (apart from the mess and washing for mum ). Hopefully another paed will be able to give you some more suggestions.

Good luck . And remember, it will get better, they don't chuck forever!

[AnnaChas]

Thanks guys! I will give Gaviscon Infant a go and see how it goes. I really don't want to try any other AR formulas as the screaming and crying was too much yesterday.

I'm on the hunt for a new paed too. I'm seeing my GP on Wed so she might have some good suggestions.

[PinkPalace]

Just so you know - peptijunior isnt a thickened typical reflux formula.

In actual fact it is thinner than standard formula.
It has the cows protein completely broken down making it easier for digestion - incase it is an intolerance contributing to the vomitting.

HTH

[Phteven]

I agree with the previous poster who said that if he is happy and gaining weight that maybe it's not such a problem (excpet dealing with all the vommy )

[rfm08]

hey there,
i sympathise with you, i had the same problem with ds but not for as long, if he handles the nan better than the ar - i think there are thickeners that you can get over the counter that you can pop in with the nan formular, at least it will make it thicker for him without him having to have the ar...that maybe one option for you...but just check with doc first. Good luck!