frequent throw-ups without being sick - advice?

[Anonymous]

Our 2 year old son is frequently vomiting - recently at least once per day and he is not sick. He has high anxiety and the throw-ups possibly may be due to overeating and/or anxiety and/or something physically wrong like with his gag reflux or maybe acid reflux. Our pediatrician has told us to track it which we have been doing. It usually starts with a cough and tends to be during meal time or when he is upset. Any advice? Similar experiences? We probably next need to see a pediatric GI. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Vomiting at least once per day -- you should get a swallow study done. You can do the tracking and make an appointment with a GI. I would move on this. Even if there is no underlying physical cause, if he is doing this a lot, his body gets trained and you don't want this to become habitual.

[Anonymous]

A swallow study sounds logical but I also wonder about a trial of a pediatric dose of a med for reflux (with your doctor's help). Your child might not be swallowing wrong but refluxing, which is causing coughing and sometimes vomiting. Vomiting every day would cause damage to the esophagus, so I would want to address it right away. I am clearly not a doctor and don't have a child with reflux, but I have reflux--no heartburn at all but coughing during and after meals (no matter how mild or small the meal) and occasional vomiting before it was diagnosed. A GI's help was essential. My internist seemed to know nothing about reflux (though maybe a pediatrician would know more).

[Anonymous]

A swallow study is not about swallowing. It's for reflux and esophageal function.

[Anonymous]

Agreed that you should try to see a pediatric GI ASAP. But while you are waiting for the appointment, ask your pediatrician if it would make sense to try a PPI, which is likely to be the first recommendation from the GI. Also, if your child will need an endoscopy, the GI may want your child to have been on the PPI (such as prevacid) for at least 6 weeks. The GI may want to check for eosinophilic esophagitis, which requires an endoscopy to diagnose. The endoscopy can also look for reflux, etc.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Wow. You all are giving great advice. Will check with a MD but thank you!! Super helpful!

[Anonymous]

Another possibility...some kids with seabird issues wil get sick as well. Ie foods with textures he is sensitive too may cause him to gag and throw up. Are there certain foods he/she avoids?

[Anonymous]

Sensory not seabird

[Anonymous]

I'm going to guess the pp meant sensory issues.

[Anonymous]

He tends to like soft/easier to swallow foods but no particular textures that he does not like. Thanks

[Anonymous]

I highly suggest a Pediatric Gastro. Most of the time it is related to food intolerance (allergy), reflux or EoE.

They have numerous tests, insist on them and bring all of the records from your Pediatrician with you so that they can see his history. You will need to piece it all together for the doctors and act as the mediator.

Mention anything related so they can get a full picture, nothing is out of context. Remember they only see on side of the picture, it is up to you to piece it all together to get the right treatment for your little one.

[Anonymous]

Probably want to test for Celiac to rule that out. My friend's DD has that and vomits when she eats gluten.