Poor Feeding - Reflux, Slow Motility, ...

Hi Kim Bear,

I can suggest if you don't want to use the erythromycin, then you could ask for domperidone works just as well on most kids. I am wondering why they think he has poor motility if he hasn't been tested yet?

I don't think you would be out of your element to ask for testing. In my expierience, cases like your sons, don't go away at the magic age of 1. If you do think he has motility problems, then ask for a DGE test, or delayed gastric emptying test. That can tell you how much his motility is a problem, then you can try the domperidone. If he has severe gastric emptying, then you would want to know now, rather than later as this will be a reason for low weight gain.

What dose of losec is he on? Is he a happy bub? If you use the compound do you get it changed every 10-14 days? This may help as it is proven that the compound can go unstable at this time. We get our script split and I can tell when it is going bad now.

My son is now 4 and is still on meds for reflux, but overall life is good. It DOES get better eventually, so hang in there. Please ask any questions you have.

Hi scarlet121,

I guess the doctor thinks he has slow motility based on his symptoms. The next step is the tests, we are just trying the obvious treatments first to see if we can spare him the trauma of them. I fluctuate between wanting to go in and demand the tests so I know exactly what I am dealing with and thinking I should be more patient with the treatments and I might be able to spare them for him. You never know the right thing to do and you always feel guilty for it either way - who'd be a mum?! ;-)

He's on 20mg of Losec a day (10mg morning and night) as well as 2ml of Zantac morning and night (apparently it protects the Losec from wearing off). We were on the Losec suspension in the early days but I think I had a crap chemist because it rarely worked, I would get whole batches that didn't seem to work. We now disolve the tablets and that works really well. We are also on Movicol (in hindsight Lactulose was bad for him), and we are back on the Erythromycin since we started solids. His formula is Neocate LCP.

When we start solids he deteriorates quite badly. Obviously constipated, but we've gotten that under control with the Movicol. But he also starts refusing his bottles, sometimes reducing his total intake by half!! The erythromycin has really helped that this time and we have got him on a little bit of vege mush (a couple of ice cube portions) without too much drop in his Neocate intake. I will definitely ask about domperidone though!

I can honestly say that the last couple of weeks are the first that my DS has been *consistently* what you'd call happy. He's sleeping in the day (mostly) and taking bottles and not screaming. I've even given him the very occasional bottle in my arms. He still has his whingey periods and obvious reflux episodes but relatively happy!! I'm actually enjoying him!! It was only a month ago that I was sitting outside bawling while my husband was inside feeding him because it sounded like he was being murdered.

He's still not sitting up on his own (9 months old on Monday) and I think this is because he's never liked to bend in the tummy area. He is much happier rolling, and if I put him down in the sitting position (which I do every time as encouragement) he mostly straightens out the tummy and falls over straight away. Do you think this could be a side affect of all the tummy problems?? Reflux kids are supposed to be better when they sit up. Incidently he is quite fond of his high chair.

I'm not too worried though, he was premmie and most of his other skills are quite ok. His fine motor skills are awesome (IMHO!)

Thanks for the suggestions, I know we're in it for the long haul now and its good to hear from others in the same boat... even better to know they've come out the other side intact!

Cheers, Kim.

Hi Kim,

Glad to hear things have been better for you. Its great to hear some positives and at least you know that once all the meds are working they are like "normal" babies and they are much happier not being in pain.

On the bit about sitting up, Joshua probably only started about a month ago with a little persistance. Although I know with him, he tends to vomit a little more depending on how long he is sitting up. I think its more about the pressure being put on his tummy when he is sitting unaided (on the floor). But he loves rolling around - he'll get from one side of the room, dodge toys and rockers, and get to the other side. I cant see him wanting to crawl at all but it does not worry me. So I would not be to worried about that. Some kids dont even crawl and just walk so I wouldnt be too worried and is not neccesarily to do with reflux.

Natasha

hey kim, i was just wondering how things turned out for your son? i have an 8 month old with bottle aversion and it has been very hard to find anyone who understands.