Reflux in My 4 Month Old and Weird behavior(Sandifers Syndrome)

Updated on February 11, 2010
B.L. asks from Linden, MI
13 answers

I have a 4month old baby girl who is ALWAYS wanting to eat, but will only eat a small amount. Early on she would gurgle and gasp and choke all the time. Switched her to a probiotic formula(as its done wonders for colic and helps TONS with gas) and most of that went away but we then started thinking she had colic cause the crying would last forever and be sooooo loud and she was screeching with pain all day and night. When she spit up she cried...it was VERY mucous-y and she drooled like crazy(later research I found drool neutralizes stomach acid) She was diagnosed(by me lol) with reflux, given Zantac by the Dr and that made her crazy and have insomnia(horrible with a 3mo old) there is apparently some rare side effects to Zantac and she got them. I called the Dr and after a bit of a struggle with one nurse and not giving up, talking to another, the Dr sent her a Rx to the pharmacy for Prevacid. It has helped a great deal but during the evenings and nights its still horrible. I have came across a syndrome known as Sandifers syndrome and tried searching that on here with NO results. Some parents have posted videos to youtube with this reflux induced movements/actions that babies will do(some are NOT that at all and are total different problems be forewarned if you look it up), while having a horrible refluxing episode and I kinda thought she was sleeping weird and always trying to "roll over funny" and now I know that it is this!! I immediately videotaped her to show the Dr in hopes she will agree. The prevacid is helping but seems to not be enough of a dosage and have now(after horrible screams from her last night) I have started adding oatmeal to her bottle. I had tried rice earlier(by spoon) and it made her have instant diarrhea/spit up more and she would get more mad at the food and not much would coat her throat. I guess this isnt really much of a ? just wondering if anyone has noticed any of these symptoms in their refluxers??? I do not want to talk to many others about it, only because it sounds like a SCARY syndrome, but in all actuality it will be outgrown and with proper acid reduction, she should stop. My mom is a nurse and when I told her she freaked out and came right over to check the videos(after telling her to calm down) and she agreed DD was doing it some and that the Prevacid was helping cause she noticed it had been happening alot more earlier on and always thought she may have something else wrong and would test her in front of me"without me knowing" ......I said MOM I totally knew you were doing that...I just let u do it cause it made you feel better. lol Anyway wondering if any moms can relate, and if so let me know how your LO is now :)

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So What Happened?

My daughter has been on many different formulas including soy and eventually this goodstart with probiotics was all she could tolerate without diarrhea so bad that we went through 3 ~50 kgs of pampers her first week being born, and horrible gas(the formulas were over time as shes 4 months old now and I was the one that figured the formula out on my own/ after trying what the dr kept recommending based on my own bodily needs and her gaseous symptoms and the dr was very impressed with that and very accepting_my oldest is 11 and she knows im no dummy since we have always had her as a pediatrician) She would have very mucous-y stools and had an open sore diaper rash(I now know that was the acid burning her skin as when I took her off the Zantac it started a bit again) probiotics also *help* in proper acid production, just not as much as a medication when the body makes way too much. We do plan on seeing a GI specialist (they refer to the university hospital here UofM) and since taking the Prevacid has been so much happier during the day is wonderful. She is fine on the oatmeal and I too have an intolerance to rice and white breads, that is why I(after MUCH research) moved to the oatmeal and shes doing wonderfully on it and has had no problems. The reason why I started adding it was because of an episode the other night: lemme explain.... at our local walgreens they had their brand of formula with probiotics that was comparable to goodstart w/ Probiotics and she ate soooo much at one time and I was so impressed thought it must have tasted better etc(it was on clearance and I though hey hopefully its the same and bought them out) the evening was still very rough because I do not think her dose of Prevacid is high enough. When I went back to the goodstart on Sunday she screamed like I have not heard in well over 2 wks and figured out that the goodstart was actually thinner than the walgreens off brand. NOTHING would calm her not even ME and I always have been able to keep her more calm than anything or anyone.......therefore I said(which I was not going to do no matter how many friends claimed I needed to, cut her nipple and add cereal) I can NOT let my baby girl scream sooo loud and in so much pain(I could hear her outside from the other end of the house) I went in cut the nipple and added the oatmeal and she took less than 2 ounces and went to sleep immediately. It takes really paying attn to the signs. She never was a projectile vomit-er, in fact she is right on target for weight or maybe above it now because she comfort eats to coat her throat. She does puke and swallow it, and scream in her sleep and do this all night and also sleeps with her nose up in the air and head tilted cause it refluxes so far up. She has been so much happier at nights since. Her Drs appt is Feb 8 and we will talk to the Dr about all of this and see what she says(shes the best in town and I can not afford to take her before then as our copay is ridiculous, to just take her back in less than 2 wks) thanks for all the support and kind words ladies I truly appreciate it. :) Ill defiantly keep this updated

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A.M.

answers from Detroit on

You already have many good responses. My additional suggestion (if you have not tried this):
Though reflux is her problem, it may still be better if you carry her in an upright position after she eats, as well as when she appears to be in pain. The upright position may assist in her digestion and decrease reflux; the actual problem may not necessarily be what she is drinking (although it can become so from continued reflux) Carrying her will also provide much needed comfort when she is in pain.

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J.S.

answers from Detroit on

Your daughter sounds a lot like my son at that age. Here is what I would do if I were you. 1. make an appointment with a good pediatric GI doctor. 2. While you are waiting for the appointment, switch formulas - you said she is on a probiotic formula, is it milk or soy based? If it's milk, try soy, if it's soy, try a hypoallergenic formula. My son couldn't handle any of those, so he ended up on elemental formula. 3. quit introducing new foods until you get her current issues figured out! No oatmeal and no rice, they could be contributing to the problem!

My son doesn't have Sandifers syndrome, he has an eosinophilic disorder.

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K.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Reflux behaviors include trunk arching, turning head away from food, acting hungry but only able to eat small amounts. I would recommend you take your daughter to a GI docter to rule out any other issues. Significant reflux can cause feeding problems down the line, as the child associates food with pain. Good luck
Cathy (pediatric occupational therapist)

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A.K.

answers from Boston on

I haven't had any experiences like this but feel so badly for your precious daughter. The poor little distraught cherub. Must be hard to watch her suffer. You've done a terrific job researching and advocating. I hope she heals quickly. Blessings.

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M.P.

answers from Detroit on

I sure hope your baby gets better soon. Without her being able to tell you what's she is feeling is very scarry.

In my opinion, the probiotic was a great choice.

Did you know that we do need acids in our stomach to help digest food? With that said, enzymes help the stomach with acids and helps digest food without side affects.

Has the doctor ever said what prompted your baby to have this problem?

Good luck and many blessings.

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

I wouldn't give a baby Zantac or Prevacid. Reflux...acid reflux, right? that can be dealt with by alternative practitioners. It's just that the stomach is "out of whack" a little and is pushed up a little. I had reflux for years and then someone told me about having my stomach adjusted. Much like a chiropractor adjusts your back. Often if the stomach is full, it little 'juggle' can get the stomach back in place, just by the weight and bounce. There are other methods for getting the stomach back into place too. I can offer a telephone number to a lovely lady who does this. Let me know. It's way better than pumping junk in a baby with side effects.

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M.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Oh, I feel your pain!! Both of my children did the same thing. However, my first, the Dr. kept telling me it's nothing, it's reflux, it's colic well .............LONG Horrible story made short. HE was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. Does your child have any rashes anywhere, if so those are signs of allergies. Something to check it out. We did all the same stuff that you are, get to a Pediatric Gastro specialist (Make sure it's ped's) there hard to come by, at least in MI. I'm curious as to how this turns out. Once my son was diagnosed, he was put on a prescription formula that is 100% digested, mmmm, the name escapes me, it's a yellow can, expensive and again prescription. There is help, stay positive, I understand your frustration :-)

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C.C.

answers from Tampa on

My son went through similar symptoms and it ends up he has a milk protein allergy. Those with this allergy usually have a sensitivity to soy protein too. We had to put him on Enfamil Nutramigen formula which has no milk or soy protein (they also make one in Similac), and while it didn't stop the reflux vomiting, he no longer cries in pain or refuses the bottle. He was diagnosed when he was 2 months old (he's 7 months now) b/c my pediatrician happens to have previously worked in a pediatric gastro-intenstinal unit at a hospital. It's a commonly missed problem, many doctors just assume the baby has colic b/c they're not commonly trained to look for this. But it's very easy to diagnose. Your pediatrician just needs to take a sample of your child's bowel movement, put it on this litmus-paper looking sheet and depending on what color it turns, voila you'll know. May as well call and see if they'll do that just to rule it out?

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S.G.

answers from Detroit on

I'm sorry, I can only imagine how frustrating it is for yiu both! You've been doing a fabulous job trying to figure out what's going on, I agree that a specialist is definitely in need. Has she been gaining weight ok? My son had a touch of reflux, but never had to be medicated because it didn't seem to bother him and he gained weight just fine. While you continue your search for medical help for your daughter, I encourage you to pray for her, if you have not already. I firmly believe that prayer changes things...speak to your daughters body and command it with your words through faith that she shall be whole, and speak to that acid reflux and command it through faith to flee from her body! Amen:) I pray over my son, and you'll be pleased at the peace it brings. Hugs and kisses through this ordeal!

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

I know that you didn't ask, and I am not suppose to volunteer; but, your story broke my heart. Are you interested in knowing about digestive enzymes that she can drink and have in her system within 5 minutes? It could resolve the situation even more. Knowing that she needs some of the acid and totally removing it could be a problem for her, I had to volunteer...

S.
____@____.com

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V.H.

answers from Detroit on

My son had acid reflux until he was about 6 or 7 months old. He would projectile vomit across the room. We just got used to it and laid out towels ready. When he started on solid foods it got a lot better and within a couple of weeks of solids he was "cured". Dr said it will come back when he is a pensioner but for now all is well. You will get through this, I know but at the time it's horrid. Stick with it - it gets easier....

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K.L.

answers from Dallas on

Hello!

Just read your post...so sorry to hear about your precious baby. After reading what you wrote and watching some videos on youtube I am wondering if this is what our daughter has been dealing with!?!?

looking forward to seeing what other people post about this.. certainly has me curious!!

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S.C.

answers from Detroit on

I have 2 children that both had issues with stomach trouble/reflux. After trying every change possible in both our diets, my son was put on Zantac and Reglan. This combination worked well for him. Then came my daughter, she started with trouble at about 6 weeks and continued until she was 22 months. Never sleeping for longer than a 30 minute stretch for all those months! We saw a Ped. GI specialist by the name of Dr. William Belknap for both kids. We tried EVERYTHING with her, finally the doctor tried her on Pepsid and within 1 week, she was sleeping through the night. The good news is that they have both outgrown it and are fine now. Good luck to you and don't give up. The doctors tried to tell me it was colic, but I knew it wasn't and had to be persistent!

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