ACID REFLUX SUCKS!

Any mother who has experienced their little one crying helplessly all day and kicking wildly, spitting up at every feeding and struggling to sleep restfully knows how much acid reflux sucks. I am here to say that it is by far the most infuriating thing next to the pain associated with teething. Isaac was diagnosed early and was prescribed Zantac. He didn't mind taking it, and it worked for the most part, but every time he gained weight the dose had to be increased accordingly. That usually involved a Dr visit after Isaac spent the day screaming wildly and looking helpless and desperate. That is something I wish no mother should have to experience; that look is heartbreaking, more so is the desperate cries for help. You can't soothe them, you can't quiet them, and sleep is almost impossible since the pain is too much.

By 4 months, the reflux peaked and he got much worse. I was visiting the Dr and calling at least once a week looking for help. The dosage would be adjusted and called in to the pharmacy and we would wait 2-3 days for relief. Poor baby. I would often cry with him and pray to God for relief and healing. Apparently, colic is very often misdiagnosed when the baby really has reflux. That God that my little guy was diagnosed correctly.

At 5 months, he wasn't getting better. In fact, he was sleeping restlessly, fussing often and spitting up at almost every feeding. I was beginning to lose faith in Isaac's current pediatrician since they were telling me that he was up to nearly the highest dose. They also mentioned that he was likely in the early stages of teething and that I should go ahead and give him medicine for the pain. Oddly, I could see no signs of teething and I couldn't imagine it hurting him this badly, but he was clearly displaying symptoms of the reflux bothering him. I decided to seek a new pediatrician, and he was wonderful. He changed the timing and dosage of Isaac's Zantac to see if that helped. When it didn't, the Dr changed his meds, believing that Isaac was no longer responding to the Zantac. Isaac was soon his happy little self again.

For all you moms struggling with colic, check to see if it's reflux. If it is, be relentless with your pediatrician to make sure your little one is receiving the proper treatment. There is no reason for them to suffer. These little ones are helpless and rely on our persistence to comfort them. I will stop at nothing to make sure he is comfortable until he grows out of this.