So my first week back to 'work' was one of the worst of my life. I like where I'm at for fieldwork and the people are great. I know I'm in the right career, that's for sure. It was just a difficult week in every other aspect of my life. Obviously it was hard to leave Isla. I cried harder than I have in a long time about 3 times that week because it just breaks my heart to be away from her. I just worry that she is going to feel abandoned :( But, she is having a great time with her nana and I think everyday, when my mother in law sends me a picture of her smiling, it makes me feel better.
However, in addition to that her acid reflux has been acting up. As I've posted before she choked and lost her breath because of the reflux a few times in the past. This past week it has happened 11 times! Most of the time it happened at night when I was home, but it still happened a few times during the day with my mother in law. You can tell something is wrong by looking at her and all of a sudden she is turning red, there is obvious fear in her eyes, and she is trying really hard to breathe and can't. It lasts about 5-9 seconds and then she coughs or cries real hard and can breathe again. It scares her and us so bad. She's also been crying while eating and/or kicking her legs like shes frustrated. She's been having mucusey spit up and is constantly gurgly. So we took her into the Dr. today to see what is going on.
There wasn't much new news that the Dr. shared with us. He didn't even seem that concerned. He said what we've already heard which is that it is common and that there isn't much that can be done except wait for her to outgrow it. He said it might take until she is 8 months old before it gets better. He did suggest putting a teaspoon of rice cereal in her bottle and he changed her medication. She was on .5ml of Zantac 2x a day and he changed it to Prevacid solutabs. So....we went to CVS to get the Rx and it was $60! And that's with insurance otherwise it was $119. I thought that there must be a mistake so I didn't get it.
I got home today and have been reading everything I can online about Zantac vs. Prevacid because I don't want to pay that much money and have the medication not work. (It seems that everything is trial and error with acid reflux meds). From what I've read on forums, Prevacid solutabs work better for babies because Zantac is not for long term and is weight sensitive. It also seems that rice cereal should help. Although, Isla is exclusively fed breastmilk, so during the day is fine, but I don't want to quit nursing her altogether. Hopefully rice cereal in her bottles during the day will be enough to help. We already keep her upright after eating, she sleeps in the rock and play, she only eats from one side at a time, I've stopped eating dairy and tomatoes, and we make sure she burps.
I am thankful that Isla is such a happy girl besides the reflux. She does fuss and cry more than other babies I'm sure, but we haven't had to deal with colic. I just don't know if I should pay the $60 to try the Preavacid or call the Dr. and ask for something else. Its so hard to be able to tell if a medication is going to work and its going to be a monthly cost.
If anyone knows about the medications and has any suggestions let me know!
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