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Dear Beth, There is nothing worse than having your concerns minimized. Your daughter certainly has symptoms (vomiting) that need to be addressed by the doctor. It is not normal for a 6 year old to wake up suddenly and feel like she is having a heart attack and vomit after a meal or at night. While vomiting is a common symptom of infant reflux, it is a less common symptom of childhood reflux. You may want to look on this website for a symptoms list and keep a journal for a few weeks. The gulping often means that food is coming up into the esophagus and it will be expelled in the form of vomiting or go back to the stomach. This is often called silent reflux and is quite common in children and adults. While you don't want to make a big deal out of the symptoms, you can casually ask your daughter to let you know when it happens. Also ask her if it tastes bad. Acid and food don't taste very good when they come up to visit again. You might need to make a separate appointment with the doctor to discuss your concerns. Maybe you could ask the secretary in the office if there is a doctor in the practice with a special interest in stomach problems. I would go ahead and follow the doctors advice and see a nutritionist. You can tell the nutritionist your suspicions about the reflux and her symptoms. She can give you advice on healthy eating to reduce weight and reduce reflux symptoms. Maybe if she has concerns about reflux, she would write a report to the doctor and ask him/her to follow up. In addition to healthy eating, your daughter may benefit from eating smaller portions so her stomach doesn't get stretched and stressed. Some children need to take small sips of water rather than drink a large amount at once. Too much liquid in the stomach also stretches the stomach and causes the food to come up. Eliminate all carbonated drinks, drinks with caffiene (cola, iced tea). Water is best. I have written several blogs on healthy eating and making food choices at school. Also, I would be happy to talk with you again. Just leave a message right here. Good luck! Jan Gambino The Reflux Mom