When it Rains it Pours

So for the past 4 weeks we have been dealing with a reflux issue. In babies the lower esophageal sphincter, (a ring of muscle that opens to allow food into the stomach and closes to keep it there) isn't quite developed. Much like their neck muscles aren't developed enough to hold up their head. So when Brady eats something, then strains, coughs or hiccups, his stomach contents are refluxed back into his esophagus causing actual vomiting and pain. The pain would cause him to cry, then reflux, and cry more. Or he would be gassy, straining to toot and he would reflux. I'm sure you can image, this wasn't fun for him, or for us. The most difficult part,was knowing that he was in pain and not being able to fix it.

In an effort to narrow his symptoms down to a specific cause, I had to omit diary from my diet to rule out a sensitivity to cow protein. You don't realize how many foods you eat on a daily basis contain some form of milk until you can't have it! Ofter a week and half with no change in his symptoms our pediatrician sent us to Riley to see a pediatric GI to confirm what we believed he had all along. So on Friday we spent the day at Riley. In the morning we were in x-ray. Brady had to fast for 2 hours, so that he could drink a barium bottle during the x-ray. We were able to watch as the liquid flowed down his esophagus, spilled into his stomach, then saw some of the liquid come back up. In the afternoon we met with the doctor who said, "yep, it's reflux" And we left with a prescription for Zantac. We won't see noticeably change for about a week, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

During this week Brady also contracted conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye). Most likely from going to the grocery store, one of us touching the car, then touching him.

We also dealt with a pretty bad case of diaper rash, due to changing the diapers we were using. We were using cream, but it didn't seem to be helping. But after we switched back to Pampers Swaddlers, we noticed a difference in about 8 hours.

Now that we hopefully have a handle on the reflux issue, we will see more of this Brady

And less of this Brady, who has been nicknamed Mr. Cranky Pants