We’ve come to talk with you again...

So.... all that squirming, shrieking, raging, and constant screaming?

That wasn’t gas, silly rabbit.

That was reflux. That was GERD showing up on our doorstep again.

You would THINK that out of all the people on the planet, Jonathan and I would’ve diagnosed it a bit earlier. But no. It manifested itself a little bit differently in Silas than in Jonah and Benjamin and while we knew he had reflux, we didn’t associate the constant rage with it (therefore making it GERD, the disease caused by severe reflux).

But... over the course of about a day it hit us. Silas started violently pulling away and screaming while being fed. I could feel the reflux going up and down since my hand was on his back – it would go up and he’d pull away and scream. I had to force him to eat more than three or four minutes at a time. With each feeding it got worse. And then my very small brain had a strange sense of déjà vu.

It was late afternoon at that point, too late for a quick and desperate run to the doctor. But now we knew what we were dealing with and there was a glimmer of hope.

That night – as he screamed with Jonathan in the living room and I tossed and turned in bed – I worked myself into a frenzy imagining us going to the doctor the next day and we get stuck with Dr. “It’s Totally Normal” who I can’t stand and has the bedside manner of an double espresso on speed.

If he wouldn’t prescribe Prevacid IMMEDIATELY, should I ... a) repeatedly ram my head into the wall, b) sob uncontrollably, or c) plant my fist into his face. Hmm, which would be more effective? Or should I just steal his prescription pad?

So I prayed the most specific prayer of my entire life: “Please, God, let us see our regular doctor - whose son also had GERD – and let her immediately also realize it was GERD and not get all offended that we’re doing the diagnosing and not her, and let her NOT want to start off with Zantac which is useless, but skip straight to Prevacid which is stronger and caused a complete personality change in Benjamin after two days, and let the dose be 7.5 mg twice daily. Thank you, amen.”

And do you know? That is exactly what happened. In fact, I got chill bumps as we were talking it over with her. She was convincing us that it was GERD and needed serious medication – she cut me off before I could get through even a third of the list of symptoms that Silas had been exhibiting. We walked out of there with a prescription for 7.5 mg of Prevacid, to be given twice daily. Well, I walked. Jonathan flew like the wind to the drug store to get the prescription filled.

After three doses, he began to rest more. After four doses he was much more comfortable when eating. He still brings up his meal from time to time, but that’s okay...

Silas, you can vomit all you want.

Just. Stop. The. Screaming.

(there’s a reason GERD babies are very vulnerable to Shaken Baby Syndrome)