Almost 7 Months and Regressing! HELP!

[ceilidhf]

Sat here ready to just burst into tears...I feel like my family is about to fall apart due to sleep deprivation/exhaustion, and cannot wait to go to the doctor tomorrow and find out what is going on. We live in a small 2 bedroom apartment, so when baby is up screaming, we are all up - including my 4 year old who is suffering most in all of this (not only because she is so tired, but because DH and I are so exhausted that we have no patience with her) sigh...

After an ok night last night (only woke twice) he was up at 5am and, despite trying to resettle him for an hour he just would not go back so we were basically all up by 6am. The day has been a wash because of this - naps at crazy times and for half an hour to 45 minutes. Tried to do an early bedtime for both kids - older one was asleep by 7pm, it's now 8pm and I have given up with the baby and sent DH in as I can't stand the screaming any longer. I am starting to dread evenings/night time and am hating, rather than cherishing, the this phase of my baby.

Sorry, just had to vent...

[*Kara*]

Awww hun... huge hugs.  Let us know what happens at the doc appt.

[amayzie]

Hugs!! I think it's only old ladies who have forgotten what having a little baby (and a big girl) is like who say 'cherish every moment'!! CHERISH EVERY MOMENT!!!! HA! Perhaps find ONE moment to cherish- even 2 seconds!! But don't be too hard on yourself if you cant! I hope the dr has some answers for you!

[skatty]

Oh my poor you and baby  It certainly sounds like a digestive issue to me, either reflux or an intolerance. When you go to the doc do you think it would be possible to request another milk change to something with the milk proteins broken down, it is extremely unusual for a baby to be lactose intolerant and more likely they are sensitive to milk and soy proteins, my dd had this and her sleep and nights sound just like yours. It may be worth expaining what is going on on the allergy board. Big hugs, when I think back to the first year instead of instantly recalling my bundle of joy I just imagine the night screaming/grumpy teether/frustrated immobile baby 

[ZacsMumme]

So many hugs hun, I hope the dr gives you all some answers. I know how hard it is to have an unsettled baby, mine had pretty bad acid reflux for the first uearand is still on meds. It is so so hard, and you have so many feelings racing around in our head, the worst for me was helplessness. You will get through this, you will....and it will be okay. Just hang in there and try to rest when you can. .

W are all here holding your hand.

[ceilidhf]

I just got back from the docs and all the resolve I had to keep it together was lost - I sat and howled! When I was calm enough to talk and explain the situation, he was really sympathetic and admitted that this was not his specialty. He has referred me to a pediatrician who specialises in digestive issues and, in the meantime perscribed an antacid medication to try out. He did warn me that if the wakings were just down to gas, then the med may not help, but if there was any kind of heartburn/reflux then it would ease that pain. Reading through the symptoms of silent reflux, my LO has just about every one of them - thanks for suggesting this. I had dismissed reflux as my DD had it and was miserable 24/7, throwing up, etc. I had no idea there was a different type!! Here's hoping we get to the specialist soon. Thank you all so much for the help/support...not sure I could have come this far without it!

[ZacsMumme]

I am so happy your Dr was sympathetic and refereed you. Acid reflux is awful, and often the LOs look like pictures of health when they are not screaming...but man the screaming and screaming and screaming is tough, on them and you!

Will your LO take a paci? These can really help refluxers. My Z wouldnt take one at first, but once he would it helped a ton! There are otehr things you can also do in the meantime, try elevating your LOs cot ~30degrees, holding upright after feedings, making sure you burp during and after feeds to get the wind up (wind agrivates reflux) and maybe try some massage. x

[ceilidhf]

I remember doing all the things you mentioned for DD when she was diagnosed with reflux - never imagined it could be that with DS as the presentation is so different (other than the non-sleeping/screaming at night). I now realise that he is probably so happy and not suffering during the day as, since starting EASY we never put him down to sleep after feeding - at night he has his last bottle about 15 minutes before bedtime!!! Guess that will be the first change, along with raising the crib! Hoping the meds kick in - just posted on the reflux board to see if anyone over there has anything to add...reading that others are going through it sure helps! I am so glad that I didn't listen to friends/neighbours who told me that he was being difficult and to leave him to cry (believe me, there were times that I came VERY close...)

[Erin M]

Oh my goodness, just dropping off some enormous ((((hugs))))
I'm so glad that your doctor was sympathetic and gave you a referral. 
I hope that things get better for you soon.

[ZacsMumme]

I am so glad that I didn't listen to friends/neighbours who told me that he was being difficult and to leave him to cry (believe me, there were times that I came VERY close...)

so many hugs sweetie, you did the right thing. I've BTDT and it is so tough

[ceilidhf]

So confused right now...day 2 of the Ranitidine/Zantac meds and my little guy has gone from being happy and mellow during the day to being miserable, cranky, and refusing to be put down. In addition, he is flat out refusing and type of solid foods - immediately starts screaming the second they are offered - but is still ok taking formula. He is no longer napping during the day, either - two days of half hour naps and a cranky OT baby is not helping our night time issues any....could the meds be making him worse? No word from the specialist yet, so still not officially diagnosed. I did pick up some of the Nutramigen formula today and will try him on this starting tomorrow...this is my last hope as I feel like we have tried EVERYTHING!

[*Kara*]

The solids refusal sounds like teething to me hun...

HUGE hugs to both of you for getting this sorted...

[ceilidhf]

I guess the crankiness and not sleeping could be teething, too - he does seem to be gnawing on things a little more over the past day or two (though I truly believe he has been teething for MONTHS!!!) I just want an answer - if there is nothing wrong, at least I will have my mind put at ease and we can try to get back on track - right now we are back to doing everything wrong just so that the little guy gets some sleep. I'm hoping it will be as easy to start over as it was a few months ago once he is pain free...

[ZacsMumme]

Hun the meds wouldn't have kicked in yet really after two days, you gotta give them a week at least. I think it does sound like teething and for some refluxers this can cause a flare up. Even with meds and reflux controlled Z would have a flare up when teething.

You are not doing everything wrong Hun, you are doing what you have to while your baby is unwell.  

[ceilidhf]

So thankful to you ladies for the support - I'm going to call the specialist today since I've heard nothing and want to get this sorted asap. Last night was pretty much the usual 2 hour waking in pain, but he did seem to settle back down quicker than usual. I gave Tylenol on one of the wakings, just in case it is teething (I take it that's ok given that we are also giving the Zantac?) and that seemed to calm him and allowed him to sleep for 4 hours...