Tuesday, September 15, 2009 sam asks

Q: How do I know if my 10mnth son is allergic to his formula or just has reflux? How is it related?

Hi My 9 1/2 month old just switched from breast to bottle about a month ago and in the last 2 weeks has thrown up everything 2-3 separate times but on Sunday he started vomiting continually with every feeding - even if it was just 2 ounces. He also ran fever has a running nose, sneezing etc. My ped gave me a prescript for zantac and told me to switch from soy to alimentum because of the vomiting, but my son hated it and cried at the site of the bottle. My ped wasn't sure if it was reflux or a soy allergy or both? or if its just an infection of some sort.... Does this sound like reflux? I feel like there are too many variables now with the meds and the formula switch to accurately diagnos the probelm. I am still feeding the soy formula despite the dr.s advice and just giving it to him an ounce or 2 at a time plus the zantac and he seems to be keeping it down. How long will this go on? Will he improve or will he be eating only one ounce at a time until he's one? If he is allergic to soy am I hurting him by spoon feeding the soy? If he's allergic to soy could I just give him a milk based formula-does it have to be hypoallergenic? The dr. said no solids until he can keep the formula down- also when I give him solids he never swallows it- he just pushes it around then out. Does this sound more like a swallowing/gag reflex issue? How is that related to reflux? So confused...

Answers (3)

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Jan Gambino

9/16/09 6:04am

Hello Sam,

There have been a lot of changes all at once:

switching from breastmilk diet to formula diet

illness

Zantac

Perhaps he had some medication for the illness?

Does he have new teeth coming in too?

An illness and teething can increase the secretions and cause some digestive discomfort and even some reflux symptoms.

Changing the diet can also cause some temporary digestive discomfort. Is there any constipation, gas or blood/mucous in the stool?

Since everything occurred at the same time, it might take a week or two for his body to recover from the illness and the change of diet. See where you are at that point.

If you want to re introduce the Alimentium, mix a small amount of the alimentium with the soy formula and slowly mix more and more so he can adjust to the taste.

It is possible for reflux to be simmering just below the surface and for something to trigger it such as the illness. Perhaps the breastmilk, which is easy to digest was providing a type of treatment and keeping the symptoms under control for him.

So, do keep in touch with the doctor over the next few weeks. If you can, keep notes on how often he is vomiting and how much you are feeding him. I would hope that you see a gradual improvement.

Please keep in touch and let us know how he is doing!

Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

www.refluxmom.com

sam

9/16/09 11:32pm

Hi again, thanks for your reply. Day two after my last post seemed like it was going okay but by the evening we were back to square one with him throwing up even half an ounce of the soy formula so after hours of hungry crying around 2:30 in the morning he finally accepted about 2 ounces of the alimentum mixed with a little sugar and feel fast asleep. He's been taking the alimentum all day today in small amounts, about an hr apart and I'm still dosing him with the zantac- 1 and 1/2ml 2x a day. We ended up mixing 8 ounces of alimentum with 1/4 teaspoon of sugar and an ounce of white grape juice- we tried several concoctions and that one seems the best and he's taking it now so...I will slowly stop adding the sugar but the grape juice seems to take the edge off just enough. He's still fussy and horse and coughing and has to be upright for at least 1/2hr after each feeding but its progress. And yes, he also cut a tooth in the middle of it all, poor baby. I will look for natural treatments and check out the book that was recommended as I understand the zantac can have some negative side effects- but I am also really unhappy about the milk based formula as we are (or were) a dairy free household. My older son and myself both have dairy allergies - which is why my baby was started on soy to begin with- so I guess I will have to wait and see how he reacts to this alimentum. I still feel like I don't know what the cause of this whole imbalance was- the teeth, some kind of illness or a formula allergy....? I'm hoping he doesn't turn out to have a true soy allergy; in our home that would be close to tragic:( Thanks again. Sam

Jan Gambino

9/17/09 5:41am

Hello Sam,

I am glad you were able to find a creative way to get him to take the Alimentium. With the strong family history for dairy allergy, diet may be a vital part of his treatment plan. Some babies have Milk Soy Protein Intolerance causing reflux like symptoms. A baby can have both reflux and MSPI...really unlucky! In any case, the milk and soy protein is equally difficult for babies with MSPI to digest. That is why the hypoallergenic diet is often a successful treatment.The good news is the MSPI is often just an issue for babies-avoidance during the first year often resolves the problem.

I know you are worried about using medication (Zantac). It may be needed short term or for as needed use over time. Keep in close contact with your doctor as you transition him onto Alimentium and give it 1-2 weeks to get all of the dairy/soy out of his system. Who knows, maybe his tooth will be thru and he will be feeling much better. So take it slow and steady.

Keep in touch and let us know how things are going during the next few days and weeks.

Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

www.refluxmom.com

P.S. I wrote a book too-it is about infant reflux...

sam

9/20/09 10:55pm

Hi Jan,

Thank you for your support. My son is doing much better with the reflux though he now has a constant runny nose. I can't help but wonder if its the dairy in the new formula making him congested- that's how it was with my first son, then the eczma, then the bloody stools. I guess its only two more months of the stuff- in theory anyway. We still have not had any sucess in the swallowing department- all solids get mashed around then pronptly pushed out so at the moment formula is all he's ingesting. I wonder if the difficulty swallowing solids and gagging is related? Seems it could be. I am going to ask my doctor the next time I speak with him. Thanks again,

Sam

Jan Gambino

9/21/09 5:47am

Hello Sam,

My reflux babies were not at all interested in baby food. They stayed on a liquid diet past 12 months-not typical. I think they were a bit wary of new foods/textures/flavors which is common with reflux. In addition, there may have been some residual pain/discomfort from food. In rare cases, there can be narrowing of the esophagus causing swallowing problems so the bottom line is...best to check it out with the doctor.

By the way, my babies were growing ok on a liquid diet so the doctor told me to keep offering food here and there. I also let them play with chewie toys, spoons and cups while seated at the high chair. Eventually they skipped baby food and went right to toddler food such as cheerios.

Oh these little ones keep us busy-don't they?! Jan

DebraE

9/15/09 3:11pm

Get the book "Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagament, Prilosec, and other Acid Blockers" by Martie Whittekin, CCN -- Amazon, Bamm, Barnes and Nobles, etc.

She recommends the probiotic Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics 12 Plus. It cured my acid reflux. I took Prevacid and Prilosec for over eight years. I am no longer taking these drugs and can not remember when I have felt this good. I am 55 years old.

Martie also has a internet radio show, so check her out. If you like what you hear and the remedy works for you, spread the word. There are so many people who need this information.

I hope this helps.

Debra

DebraE

9/15/09 3:16pm

Martie's internet radio is at www.RadioMartie.com