GERD and Surgery

June 2013

Bug has GERD, which seems to be somehow related to the thyroid, or lack thereof. She seems to also choke more on things like water. So when she swims she tends to choke pool water. For most kids this would be normal and insignificant, but the last three years we've noted that Bug begins with pulmonary symptoms within a few days.

She aspirates and within days she's got a phlegmy cough. We attempted to double up the Prevacid dose from 30 mg to 60 mg a day and to feed her lunch at least an hour before swimming. That didn't work so now we're treating with 60 mg prednisone, Xoponex inhaler, and antibiotics.

Last August we had the same scenario but I didn't get on top of it quickly enough. Bug went from moderate coughing to downright scary, "do you know the location of the nearest hospital coughing." And I want to do anything I can to prevent this, but the pediatrician and I have seemed to max out our remedies.

Today he suggested we go back to the pediatric gastroenterologist and discuss Nissen fundoplication or esophageal sphincter surgery. The pediatrician has had other similar patients who often wind up with pulmonary problems with successful surgeries.


It's difficult to think about agreeing to surgery for an 8 year old, but I can't imagine what longterm steroidal use will do to her development. It's certainly a lot to think about.