With Cameron's reflux, he has also always tended to be gassy and constipated. This unfortunately causes his reflux to worsen- the Doctor said- well yes because if the drain is clogged, where does the stuff go? Good point!
I used to keep him pretty regular just by giving him prune juice everyday, but that got to the point where it didn't help. We were told to start using miralax, it is safe every day. Well, even then, I just couldn't get him regular.
When the doctor was examining him, she noted that he acts like his stomach is very tender and hurting. I told her yes, he always has problems with gas and alternating soft bowel movements and hard ones.
We went over his diet, and she concluded that he is getting way too much fluids, which he wants because reflux kids compensate with fluids to put the heartburn fire out. It helps momentarily but he is getting so much fluid that he has issues regurgitating it back up.
She also concluded that he is getting way too much dairy- which contributes to the constipation.
So now, what do we do with these awful digestive issues?
The plan:
- reduce all fluids to a max of 36 oz a day.
- do a bowel program- to clean him all the way out and then regulate him.
- dairy free for at least 2 weeks.
- add a new medicine to night time- a special medicine that relaxes the entire digestive system and surrounding muscles
The GI doctor feels like this will be a big step in the right direction, and that if we can get him regulated and then give him time to adjust and feel regular, his sleep will come.
We have switched Cam to almond milk and cut out cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese. That has proved difficult- dairy is a favorite staple in this household and relatively healthy in the forms we use regularly!!
I haven't started the bowel program- I am not too excited about giving him diarrhea on purpose.
Now though, we continue forward with this and see how it goes. We are to follow up with GI in 4 months, then follow up with sleep docs after that.
Crossing our fingers and saying our prayers that getting this digestive system regulated will help his central apnea and help him be more comfortable at night!
In the meantime,
this cute boy is just growing by leaps and bounds and it is so enjoyable to watch him delight in new discoveries every day! He is going through a very silly phase right now and cracks himself up!!
Mr. Mischief!!
So so smart. He loves playing on the computer already! I do have some apps on my laptop and phone for him- I would much rather him grow with the technology and be savvy so that he is smart about it and learns to keep away from the possible dangers.
