[MommyDee]

... NOTHING. In all honesty, I really wonder if she thought I was either exaggerating, lying, or just a total idiot. (Please note: Damian was having a good morning -- and when he's not totally miserable, he's an extremely pleasant baby.)

The visit started with the resident taking the history -- and we were very thorough. I detailed all the behavior that prompted me to ask for the referral and then bring him to emerg at 7wks, how well the ranitidine worked at first, and described the most recent behavior and how the meds seemed to be losing effect. The resident was great: asked all the right questions, was very responsive, and also seemed very sympathetic.

Enter the senior pediatrician.

This one decided to focus on the fact that we had had thrush and insinuated that this might be his problem -- even though we no longer have any symptoms of thrush and his reflux symptoms are still getting worse. She also ordered a urine sample "just in case" a urinary tract infection "might" be his problem as well...??? She then told me she would give me a handout on some of the recommendations for reflux babies -- which didn't detail even a quarter of what I already know. She also had the nerve to say if the ranitidine didn't seem to be working so well, maybe I should stop it for a few days and see what happened...?!?!?!?!?

Sure. I'm going to stop the only thing that's giving ANY comfort to a child who hasn't slept well in almost two weeks. (We're almost back to square one here -- didn't get any more than 1-2hrs sleep at a time last night, and he was sleeping a minimum 5hr stretch nighttime.)

As you might imagine, I had no intentions of doing so -- as I told her, while it wasn't working as well, it was doing at least something as I could easily tell when it was wearing off. I asked if we could up his dosage (1/2ml 3x daily for an almost 16lb baby) and she was very patronizingly certain that this would not be a good idea -- even though I've researched it and know he could be taking up to 3.4ml total daily. When I asked if there was something else she could prescribe, I was told that ranitidine was the only safely proven drug -- even though the handout she gave me on infant GER listed Prevacid as a recommended treatment!

Her conclusion? -- He is thriving, and if he is thriving, there is no need for intervention. Never mind that the child can't even have a sensible nap without waking up screaming in pain... plus HER handout lists sleep interruption as grounds for intervention. Meanwhile she doesn't even want to see him for a recheck for another four months.

I have come to the conclusion that this doctor is useless. And I am steaming mad.

In fact, I'm calling my family doctor tomorrow to discuss the situation with him. I'm also asking to have Damian sent for a second opinion.

And if I have to, I'll bring him back to emerg again.

[twinzplus3]

Is this your regular pediatrician--like is this someone you see all the time? It sounds like she's not really listening to you. Mommy instinct is generally the best.

However, I will say that persistent vomiting (like you would see with gerd) can sometimes be caused by a uti. . .(spoken from a mom whose pediatrician didn't check that) so it isn't bad that she's checking it. (Although you would generally have a fever too--but my baby didn't.)

I hope you get this worked out. I know that that little sleep takes a toll!

[MommyDee]

You don't get a regular pediatrician here... you only get a referral if it's somethimg your gp thinks should be seen by a pedi, and we were referred to a different one than we saw with Gabriel.

The thing is, Damian doesn't vomit excessively -- he's the silent reflux variety. I think the pedi looked at us, saw a happy baby (which he was yesterday morning) who's gaining weight, and wrote it off as me being paranoid.

[DivasMomma]

I had the same problem for MONTHS with Kaydee's GI doc...only difference was the last time I brought her in there she was screaming like a lunatic, so she got to see her eat...saw the arching, heavy swallowing, etc....then she got to see her puke all over me when i burped her--made her write the script for the prevacid on the spot

but it did take more weeks then I would have liked...just be persistent, if u can see someone else...you know your kid better then any doctor!!

[twinzplus3]

You know. . .the more you write about your experiences. . .the less I want universal health care. What a rotten system?! Sorry!!!

I hope that your gp gives you some help and that he listens to you. Keep being persistent and yes, take him to the ER if need be.

[MommyDee]

In all honesty, I'm pretty sure it's better in the rest of the country -- I think part of the problem is that NL is really hard up for doctors because of out-migration... thus the unbelievably ridiculous wait times for specialists. That should be changing in the near future considering the provincial economy is improving drastically. (How's that for an OT comment -- true though!)

I think I should just start journaling on this... I'm getting sick of listening to myself whine in various threads lol. Plus, it'd be nice to have a detailed account that I can throw in the dr's faces.

[wanna be a young mother]

Ahh yes that all sound SO familiar! The "other" Dr. in Nevy's Dr's practice was the same way. We had to see him a few times and every time I told him about her he would just brush it off as colic. Then finally I had to take her to the ER b/c she went 8hrs without eating. The ER also said its "colic" (at that point I really started to hate that word). Finally we got to see her regular Dr. and she was listening to her tummy when...yep VOMIT all over the Dr. Ahhh it was great! She looked at me and said "Time to go see the Ped. G.I." I said great its about TIME! The next week she saw her G.I. who put her on prevacid and within a week she was a normal baby. You may have to fight for your Prevacid and for your baby b/c some Dr.'s dont really "believe" in reflux. I would get a second opinion. Nevy also gained weight great and that is why I had such a hard time getting the Dr.'s to believe she had reflux. Some kids eat to help the pain in their throat. That is what Nevy did which is why she ate so much BUT it would take over an hour for her to eat a 4oz bottle. Some Dr.'s are just hard headed about reflux. You really do have to fight for them. I would ask for an Upper G.I. that way they can see on x-ray that he has reflux. Then no one can "pretend" its not there!!! It's a very easy test. Baby swallows dye from bottle and the tech takes pictures. Very simple but can help a ton when dealing with a problem Dr. HTH

[MommyDee]

... check here, AWESOME news!!!

[DivasMomma]

aweomse news...did he tell u only half the pill every monring b4 breakfast? mine says specifically "1/2 tab 20 mins b4 breakfast"

just in case he didnt know

im so happy for you and damian!!

[MommyDee]

He prescribed the 15mg capsule... I was concerned myself about the amount, but I looked it up and apparently that's a pretty common dosage. He said to dissolve it in 4ml of water and give it to him within 15mins. I'm wondering though... should I wait til tomorrow morning to start it, or try starting him tonight? The dr said it didn't really matter what time of day.