reflux in 11 mo and dental caries..really overwhelmed, no one sleeping

[Wellness Questions?]

dd is 11 months old. she was dx with reflux at 8 months, has likely had it since birth (had to sleep upright, lots of screaming, constant nursing)...in desperation after months of herbs, homeopathics from a nationally renound homeopatj, crainiosacral etc we put her on zantac. it helped a bit then we upped the dose. now it's as if she isn't on it at all...on top of this i have noticed signs of tooth decay.

She had an ear infection (very bad) recently we gave her antubiotics...and she also had them for 4 days after birth for a blood infection which turned out to be a contaminated test. after the recent ear infection she has human, non dairy probiotics every day. we do bone broths, i am taking enzymes from the naturopath, just started raw liver and egg smoothies. I also take probiotics...we were doing sauerkraut too but ran out last month...we started CLO...trying goat dairy as reg dairy seems to aggravte her. In all other ways she is happy and healthy...it is better/worse/better but never gone (reflux) right now she can only sleep upright, nurses all night and cries in her sleep wakes every 1/2 hour nurses all night. I'm so sleep deprived. I snapped at a good friend today...we really need help.Has anyone healed reflux? I want to wean her off zantac as i feel sure it's connected to the cavaties and it's not helping...but the reflux itself will also damage her teeth. please help. I'm scouring MDC forums on remineralizing teeth a traditional foods. we are now soaking most all grains and flours....

[Pat Robinson]

Laura,

 

I thought I was having deja vu. Did I just reply to you via PM on MDC?

 

Pat

[Rachel Fee-Prince]

It sounds like there are multiple food sensitivities at work.  This is going to sound hard, but I've done it, and with commitment it works...

Step 1:

Eliminate all grains that contain gluten (and oatmeal), all dairy (even goat), corn, soy, anything acidic like coffee, tomatoes, spicy foods and chocolate.   Stay on this for at least a month.  You have to give the baby's gut and immune system time to calm down until all symptoms subside.   If it has been happening for nearly a year, it will take at least a month.  With a seven week old it took two weeks of COMPLETE avoidance of these foods for episodes to subside. 

 

Step 2:

Start as soon as possible: a cold infusion of marshmallow root.  Place 1/2c dried marshmallow root in a quart jar.  Fill jar with cold/room temp water.  Let it sit for at least 4 hrs.  Strain well (metal mesh strainers are best).  Your 11 month old can take sips of this.  I would offer a 1/4c at a time, at least 3x day.  Even if babe only takes a few sips at a time, if she does this 6 times a day, that's awesome!  Frequency, not quantity, is important here.  The marshmallow will cool,soothe and start to heal the esophagus and intestines (the intestines is where this problem starts).

 

Bone broth is amazingly healing to these tissues as well.  It's wonderful that you have already started this.

 

Step 3:

Stay on the probiotics, free of dairy and soy.  Dr Ohira's are awesome.  Experiment w/making your own kraut.  Kraut juice works wonders for reflux.  Bubbie's is available in health food stores.  It has live active cultures.

 

 I highly recommend getting off of the zantac and use the marshmallow for symptom management.    It heals, while zantac is complicating the problem and further damaging digestion. 

 

With diligence, patience and commitment it can happen.  I know you must be ready to throw your hands up in exasperation after nearly a year of this.    Hang in there, mama.

 

One more thing...most of the time this starts with the mother's own unrecognized food sensitivities.  Keep a journal.  When you eliminate the foods, see if anything changes for you.  It is life changing for many who learn of their own gluten/dairy/etc sensitivities when giving things up for baby.

 

 

 

 

 

[Pat Robinson]

Rachel, I loved reading your reply!  Thank you for contributing.

Pat

[Rachel Fee-Prince]

Yes, my youngest did have reflux. 

The key is to go off of ALL of those things at the same time for at least a month before trying to see if it works.

You are doing bone broth, I don't think dairy is necessary.  The minerals, collagen and fats are there for healing the teeth.  Try adding coconut oil to your (and her) diet.  Kids often love it off of the spoon.  Full disclosure: I strictly adhere to a primal diet and think that dairy is acceptable for a minute portion of the population only.   In my practice, I have seen elimination of these foods (gluten and dairy) clear up almost every chronic issue in children.

That anxiety you felt?  Gluten/casein withdrawal!  That is a huge sign to leave it alone, as these intolerances will eventually lead to thyroid and adrenal burnout.  Your central nervous system just gave you a clear sign.  Most people assume that obvious digestive disturbance must be present to consider food sensitivities.  I have absolutely none of that, but my anxiety, rage, sudden mood swings, life-long depression all disappeared after giving up those foods.  Those are my only symptoms. 

 

I wish you speedy healing!