Baby with severe reflux

[Rochelle Marsden]

Dear All- especially medical doctors (Dr Roz, Suriya?)
I have a 10 week old baby coming in on Friday with what the hospital doctors describe as "severe reflux" although they have done no tests except for observation and palpitation.
Approx 1/2 hour after his first feed of the day this child starts screaming, gulping at the throat, screws up his face and screams with a high pitched tone. He goes red in the face and arches his back. Sometimes this will carry on for 90mins when he cries himself to sleep. He will sleep for 20 mins and then wake screaming again. Some days are worse than others and sometimes he will have periods of being a happy contented baby. Mum says the most comfortable position to settle him in is in his car seat when he is crunched up. This scenario happens throughout the day on and off until about 6 in the evening. At 6.45ish he has his last feed - doesn't scream and sleeps the whole night from 7pm to 7 am!!!!!

It started at 4 weeks old (he was breast fed for 1 day) and Mum took him to a specialist children's hospital in out area because he wouldn't feed. He was in hospital for a couple of days and started him on Gaviscon in his feed. A week later he was feeding as normal. He is also on 2 other drugs, Ranitidine syrup (contains aspartame!!) 0.33ml in a syringe and Domperidone - which in my BNF says NOT suitable for children and which when mum went for a repeat prescription the pharmacist did not wish to supply it!! Mum has agreed to stop giving him the latter drug immediately as it is for nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy and the child isn't vomiting!!

He sleeps on his back with his head facing the right and his hands over his head. He likes kicking with his nappy off. The hospital have signed him off as they say he will grow out of this condition at about 6 months!! Because he is putting on weight - he weighs 11lbs 14ozs he is not a poorly baby says the doctor!

Believe it or not Mum was coerced into having the child vaccinated last week. He bled lot when the needle was put in and his leg came up like a balloon. He also had a temperature.

Obviously I'm going to pick up much more information when I see the child. Mum was a patient a couple of years ago (back problems which were resolved - Calc and Nat Sulph) She had serious asthma attacks when young and a H/O breaking bones . Her father had a heart attack at 35 and asthma and hayfever run in the family. Now I don;t know Dad but have treated his sister, and both his parents (Ulcerative colitis, Nat Mur Diabetes 11. An aunt died of Leukaemia at 21.

Any comments - as usual will be much appreciated.

Regards
Rochelle

www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

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[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

I would first look at what he is fed, what is in his formula and why is he
not breast-fed. The time modality is interesting though, as it is probably
the same formula but he does not aggravates after 6PM..........

Needless to say, look at what happened during the pregnancy if anything.

He is obviously dealing with a spasmodic situation in his gut (I suppose
anatomical abnormalities like pyloric stenosis have been eliminated), so as
a first aid measure, the spasmodic remedies come to mind while more details
emerge............
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

I answered before reading the osteopath's report............good thinking,
birth trauma as a cause and a few cranio-sacral sessions might be all he
needs.......
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"

[Rochelle Marsden]

Thanks Joe for your rapid response. Comments in the text below.

[Jean Doherty]

FWIW had such a baby once and Hyocyamus helped greatly, but then
his Mum was Hyocyamus. Jean

Rochelle Marsden wrote:

[Rochelle Marsden]

That Rx crossed my mind when she said that he loved having no nappy on - but then I suppose most babies do. Mum is Calc which by the sound of the osteopaths report this child is not.

Rochelle

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

Well the time modality would be used as a SRP........after all, why would
the symptoms abate at that time? so it must be important..........

Changing the formula: I would simply contact LaLeche and ask, I have a few
ideas but probably very far fetched from reality.

Dioscorea, Colocynthis, Mag Phos, Nux, etc, as indicated.......

Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"
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[Rochelle Marsden]

I like the idea of Mag Phos and wonder about the tissue salt. Thanks for your thoughts. I will see what turns up during the consultation. What do you reckon on stopping the medication? I asked Mum if she thought it had made any difference. She reckoned at 30%. I really don't think he needs the Domperidone though and it will be interesting to see if a day without it makes any appreciable difference. Why do doctors prescribe medication that clearly says not suitable for children, let alone babies? (frustrated sigh!!)

Rochelle

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

Domperidone increases oesophageal pressure and accelerates gastric emptying,
have a look at what remedy in known to do the same in low potency.

Side effects:
Immune system: Very rare: allergic reaction Endocrine: Rare: increased
prolactin levels Nevous system: Very rare: extrapyramidal side effects
Gastrointestinal: Rare: gastrointestinal disorders, including very rate
transient intestinal cramps Skin and subcutaneous tissue: Very rare:
urticaria Reproductive system: Rare: amenorrhoea Other: Rare: galactorrhoea,
gynaecomastia

Herbally: Chamomilla, Althea, can be given in 3X, 6X, 6C; Slippery Elm
instead of Gaviscon (has plenty of Aluminium in it....)
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"

[Rochelle Marsden]

Re herbal remedies. I was taught never to give herbal tinctures to children under 2. Slippery Elm is an excellent idea and that could go in the bottle!!

Rochelle