Nearly 15mth - still vomiting

Hi Everyone
I am just wondering if anyone knows anything about Bowen Therapy for reflux in babies/toddlers? William was diagnosed with reflux around 8 weeks old and is still suffering, ie unsettled and vomiting. Weight gain is fine.

He was diagnosed with severe enlarged adenoids which were removed on his first b'day. I found some research on the net stating that adenoidal hypertrophy (enlarged adenoids) and reflux were sometimes closely related and that the removal of the adenoids resolved the reflux. When I found this research I was ecstatic! But NOT the case with William - nearly 3 months on from his adenoid removal and still vomiting on anyone, anywhere anytime. I have been back to the doctor and all they want to do is prescribe PPI's (zoton). I ceased Zoton around 10mths.
I heard that Bowen Therapy can sometimes assist - but was a bit concerned - any experiences to share are highly valued :).

Thanks & cured
Sam

I haven't heard that about Bowen therapy. But I guess in my mind alternative therapies can't hurt trying.

I had Bowen massage once while trying to get my baby to come and when I went home I had a few contractions that were pretty exciting, ultimately they calmed down but I do believe that there must be something to it.

hi i have 14 month old with servere reflux and other GI issues i know how frustrating it is, i dont know much about the threrapy that you are refering to but though i would relpy i noticed that you said they are considering outting him back on a PPI but seen as it s the vomiting that is the isue not the burning it may not help much if any, i was wondering if they have ever done a gastric emptying study on him or tries him on a motility drug such as dompereradone thjat helpd the tummy emty and can sometime reduce the puking episodes, you may have already tied it i dont know but thought i would let you know just incase its somrthing to talk to the dr about

good luck hope something works

Thanks ladies
Mikenzees Mum - thanks for that, no gastric studies I might do some research in that area - I hadn't thought of that. I guess the issue is I really don't like drugs - especially for long term use. He still refluxes alot too - which is the part that bothers him. When he actually vomits it doesn't bother him much at all - only me! I hope that doesn't sound too selfish :redface:. He will be walking along and blaarggh - out it comes he hardly stops although sometimes he goes back to play in it :D. It is very frustrating I only hope that it ends soon. I have decided to book him into Bowen Therapy - I'll try it once. I am a bit nervous but I guess I will stand close and ask that everything is explained to me before anything is done. I will let everyone know the outcome.

Thanks again
Sam

Hey there,

I totally understand your decision not to medicate, my son is almost three and after almost 4 months off losec he has had to be put back on it, and it was a hard decision to make but the benefits definately outweigh the fact that they are on medication.

If he doesn't seem to be getting better, I would ask to see a paediatrician or a gastroenterologist, and see if you can schedule some tests, there are other things that could be making it worse, and although you live in hope for them to outgrow it at one, it may take a lot longer (something doctors forget to mention)

The tests I think you should ask for are a pH probe, to make sure that it is all reflux, this can check the severity and see if medication is needed, basically if it is really severe the burning can cause problems later in life and even lead to the condition called Barretts Esophegous, which can ultimately turn to cancer.

The other test would be an edoscopy with biopsy, which would first see if there is any damage and also if he has a condition called esinophilic esophagitis, which mimics reflux symtoms, it is like an allergy, but won't show on normal allergy testing or have the same allergy symtoms, this is quite rare, but if reflux is persisting past the year it should be ruled out.

The other would be the gastric empting study like Mikenzees mum has said, if they have problems with emtying their food this can make them reflux for extended periods of time, and also cause them to vomit a lot more since the food is in their tummy longer.

I am so sorry to hear that your journey has not finished yet, I have not tried Bowen Therapy but I think try whatever you can, we have tried kineseology, which helped with other stuff but not the reflux, and we tried homeopathy, and we had some success with that, but it turned out to be short lived. So now Parker is back on meds, we are going to go back and see if it can help.

I totally HATE giving Parker his medicine, but he needs it, but not all refluxers do, thats why I think the testing would be good for you guys, in case other problems arise, like ear and chest infections, sleep problems, eating problems etc....

Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Hi
Scarlett 121 - thank you, sounds like you've certainly been through some stuff and have acquired alot of knowledge during your journey! I really feel for you, Parker must be very brave.
Our Paediatrician did say about gastro-investigations but after William had to be resuciatated after his last GA (adenoids) my husband and I would not consider another at this time. And as much as I don't want to medicate I think that you are right regarding the oesophagal burning. Losec will have to suffice for now. Maybe I should just be more patient.:redface: My other concern is; if you reduce the acid secretion levels in the gut with PPI's, then how does this effect long term digestion overall? Do you know much about this? Or am I misunderstanding the concept. Does the pH level in the gut actually change or is the volume of acid just reduced?
Thanks again

I am so sorry to hear about him having to be resucitated, that is so scary, I don't blame you for not wanting to undergo more testing while he is under (scrap the endoscopy from my list LOL), the other ones don't require sedation, but basically if you will go the medication route, and it decreases his restlessness etc (it won't stop the vomiting, only how much acid is in the vomit) then testing can be avoided, I do recommend it for people who are battling still when they are over one and don't know if they should/should not medicate.

I don't know if it is impatience, I don't know about you, but I was told oh he will grow out of it by 6 months, then by a year, then definately by two, you just want it gone, and its true most children do only have it a short time, but it is worrying just waiting for them to 'ougrow it'

With the medicine, like I said before I totally understand what you are saying, I don't like to medicate him also, and I think it also comes down to the well they will grow out of it bit, in your mind you have a maximum amount of time that you will medicate and when they reach it it is hard to think of them as a long term solution if you know what I mean?

My understanding is the PPI decreases the amount of excess acid, not all the acid so digestion should be fine, though I could be wrong on that one, all I know is Parker doesn't have a problem with digestion, so there has to be some amount fo acid left. And with the long term effect Parker was taken off the losec in January and we only just put him back on it, so it must have been a slow effect for the pumps to switch back on, but they did all work fully again, because by the time he was medicated again, there was so much reflux, compared to practically none for two months after the wean.

The thing that scares me and probably you is the long term effect which isn't known, but I weigh up the benefits and the meds override it, just seeing him happy and playing is worth it. I was going to suggest that if you didn't like the PPI, then you could try zantac (you probably have in the past) but sometimes later on it gives a better result, and this does nothing to the mechanics of the body, just works similar to an antacid. Something to think about, it has been around a really long time, so you would think the side effects would be known more, well that is how I see it.

(The pumps are the acid pumps in the body, and a PPI, is an acid pump inhibitor, basically it switches them off from stopping acid production)

And Thank you, yes Parker is extremely brave.

Hang in there, most people I know with children with reflux over one, seem to say that 18months is the key time, I know it is another waiting point, but don't lose hope, it will get better one day :hug: