Diagnosis - Acid Reflux

**paelthom** · 04-20-2005, 01:16 PM

Ryan survived the testing yesterday and we have now finally heard back from the doctor. There are no tumors, ulcers or blockage. The doctor thinks is may be acid reflux. She has been prescribed Prevacid and we are to take it for the next week and monitor her closely to see if we think it's helping any.

She did throw up 3 more times today and is now at home again.

Any suggestions on how to handle acid reflux? I will be surfing the net but thought I'd ask her "aunties" first.

**Kimberlina** · 04-20-2005, 01:57 PM

Well, I'm glad it is "only" acid refulx (as opposed to something more serious- at least this can be handled.)

I'm afraid to say that I don't have any suggestions for helping a *kid* (mine is still little) with reflux. My DD was born with two congenital defects that caused her to have really significant reflux. She still has problems with it, but not enough to warrant medication at this time. She was on Prevacid for about a month. This was before she was taking any foods(she was exclusively breast milk at the time,) and it was a strawberry powder that I had to mix into a thick drink. She wouldn't take it and it was a huge hassle. She also took Reglan (very briefly as the side effects can be quite startling if given too much- we didn't want to risk it once we found it didn't make much difference) and she was also on something else...I can't remember what. Just looked- it was Zantac and it came in liquid form (as well as pill) that smelled like peppermint schnapps. After she finally STARTED taking it, she loved it, and she took that for over a year. Prilosec, maybe?

Anyway, I would recommend looking into dietary modification. That can help a lot. She can't have dairy, right? I wonder if she is still getting hidden dairy somewhere- that can cause reflux. (And I don't mean from your house- I mean from somewher else.) I don't have any of the links to reflux parent forums anymore, but they do exist.

Good luck.

**Kimberlina** · 04-20-2005, 02:01 PM

PS- Also sleeping with her head/chest elevted can help. That is what we had to do with DD or she would NOT sleep.

Do you remember if she spit up a lot as a baby?

**dhmunoz** · 04-20-2005, 02:06 PM

I have been struggling with stomach problems for years...I have had ulcers and my acid reflux problems are recurring. Prevacid works very well, but WOW it is expensive! My doctor currently has me on Nexium which works good enough but IMHO the Prevacid is better. I have also been tested for tumors/blockages and didn't have any. Acid reflux totally sucks...most days I do have a stomachache to some degree

I guess I have just learned to live with it

How old is Ryan? My stomach problem journey began when I was 15...I am 33 now

As far as handling the reflux....I have found that diet can make a huge difference. I'm BAD because even though I KNOW what not to eat, I have lousy willpower when it comes to some of those foods! But cutting out ALL fried foods, soda, citrus anything, helps a lot. I have never had a doctor mention it, but I did discover that too much BREAD is also a problem, for me anyway. I could drastically cut down on my stomach attacks if I was to eat everything baked or steamed....but remember, I am BAD, lol. Oh and milk and other dairy products also stimulate acid production. Stop the milk and cheese and it gets much better.

Good luck...I hate to hear that anyone else has to deal with this!

**paelthom** · 04-20-2005, 02:07 PM

Spit up HUGE amounts as a baby. Thought it was colic but who has colic for a year! She's always had tummy problems but I've never been successful in getting anyone to listen to me, until now. This doctor may not be perfect but at least she does listen. Ryan sleeps flat, absolutely flat on her tummy. We will definately have to raise the bed rather than add pillows. She loves Sunny Delight but I think it needs to go for a while as well as anything with caffeine. She drinks lemonade at school - guess that has to go too.

Glad your little one is doing better and I hope that she doesn't have tummy trouble later. Since you treated it right away, hopefully it will not come back.

I've prowled the web a bit and it's almost overwhelming.

I just keep reminding myself that this is minor compared to what it could have been - right.....

**jlxian** · 04-20-2005, 02:13 PM

Well, I'm "glad" too that it is only acid reflux! I would think it is fairly treatable.

I don't have kids with it, but I suffer from it myself. I take Prilosec and it has worked wonders for me. A good friend of mine has had a lifetime of stomach problems, spent a lot of time in the hospital as a kid, and now takes Prevacid. She says life is very different now that she has that medication (she is 51).

Diet modification should be helpful too, but I am not familiar enough with her history to suggest anything real specific. My suggestions would be no colas or other caffeine containing foods, nothing spicy, nothing greasy, and as in my case no broccoli-like foods. And if she is sensitive to milk, then none of that. But maybe you've been doing all of this already?

Another thought is food allergies -- could they cause something similar to this?

Keep after them for more specifics. Surely they will advise you further on "treatment" or life adjustments? Hopefully the prevacid will work wonders for her.

You are so right ---- it could be so much worse!!!

Still thinking of all of you. I wish you the best!

**dhmunoz** · 04-20-2005, 02:16 PM

Aaack! Sunny Delight! That stuff is the worst! I love it, but it tears my stomach up something fierce. Definitely get rid of the Sunny Delight.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE lemonade too...and it IS hard on my stomach but honestly it is NOT as hard as the Sunny Delight!

I went through a "flare" (for lack of a better word to describe it) where all I could drink for months was water. Luckily I love water if it is ice-cold!

**Kimberlina** · 04-20-2005, 02:43 PM

You know, she might be sleeping flat because the pressure on her tummy helps her feel better. For some reason it helps- D would slep on her stomache when she was little if she could, and she does now, and she was more comfortable that way than any other.

**paelthom** · 04-20-2005, 02:49 PM

Goodbye Sunny Delight

**frugalmel** · 04-20-2005, 05:58 PM

Pat I am glad you got some answers. I am also glad its "only" acid reflux as well.

Now the fun part begins. Changing her diet. I was going to recommend ditching the Sunny D and Lemonade, but someone else beat me to it lol. I have had bouts of acid reflux with this pregnancy and I honestly thought the Sunny D was going to burn through my stomach and come out my chest! Lemonade tears me up now too. Since mine is pregnancy related, I dont' get anything but Tums, but that's ok.

I am sure it seems overwhealming right now, but I know you will find ways to help Ryan. big

**SewCrafty** · 04-20-2005, 06:43 PM

Finally some answers! I too am glad it is 'only' acid reflux. I have had it very bad with chemo and you won't believe what made it even worse................. bottled water! It was the added minerals they put in it.

You are on the right track now, control her diet and take the meds. Just remember, it takes a good 24 hours to 4 days for some of those meds to kick in and start working. Sleeping upright was a must for me.

I am so glad you finally found a doctor that listened and is helping Ryan and you. Let us know how things go

and

to you both.

**PrairieRose** · 04-20-2005, 07:21 PM

I'm so glad that you girls got a diagnosis. I have a couple of suggestions. One is a little "out there". I'll give it first. You might want to try a "parasite kit" you can get them at any vitamin shop or online retailer. (I sometimes order from Swansons). Many, many people say that their tummy troubles were cured by a round of this kit.
The other is try giving her coral calcium. I've had some bouts of reflux and when I do I take it religiously. It always soothes it for me without other meds.

I hope you both get some relief!

**Julia Kimber** · 04-21-2005, 01:43 AM

Well glad that it was nothing worse Pat. Hope you can sort out some 'remedies' for Ryan.

Julia

**Mommy2five** · 04-21-2005, 05:00 AM

I am glad it isn't something much more serious! Good luck finding a treatment that works well for her!

**Darlene** · 04-21-2005, 07:19 AM

Sending you big hugs & hopes that Ryan finds what makes her feel better soon. So sorry she has to stop eating so many of the things she loves. No fun for an adult and even more so for a lovely young lady like her.