Silent Reflux vs. Gas - how do you know?

My 1 month old has been fussy after some feedings. He'll cry/whine halfway through the bottle and sometimes arch and stiffen his legs after it's finished. I assumed he is just having gas issues, since he doesn't spit up and burps relatively easily. Often the whining stops when he has a #2, and he's only fussy for about half his feedings. He has no trouble sleeping during the day or at night.

I went to my ped today, and she thinks he has silent reflux and prescribed Zantac. I'm a little hesitant to start him on it though, bc I am not convinced that it is reflux and not gas. So, if your LO had silent reflux, what were the symptoms? Does this type of reflux mimic gas like symptoms?

Thanks!

Silent Reflux vs. Gas - how do you know?

DS had silent reflux. He never ever spit up but at night, after feedings in his sleep he would gag, nonstop. He would be really uncomfortable during feedings and was congested. My ped offered the Zantac as a last resort - he never needed it bc he outgrew it by his 2nd or 3rd month. Can't remember exactly.

Re: Silent Reflux vs. Gas - how do you know?

Is he formula or breast fed? If formula did you change formula? For my daughter I gave up dairy and it helped a little but needed Zantac. Her weight gain prior to Zantac slowed. Also within about 30 min of her lying down in crib she would wake up screaming arching in pain. Gripe water didn't do much. Every night. She was fine during day when upright.

Re: Silent Reflux vs. Gas - how do you know?

Ds had silent reflux. He cried (was also colic so cried all
Day)

But feeding was horrible. Cried. Arched. Nothing helped like burping etc

Finally a mix of formulas,gas drops,colic cam,baby yoga and of course medS helped

Silent Reflux vs. Gas - how do you know?

DS had silent reflux and colic. He would cry during and after feedings, arch his back, wake up crying etc. He never spit up. He was on Zantac for 6 months along with Mylanta. Alimentium was the formula that he tolerated best with rice in it. This combination worked for him but ultimately it was him outgrowing his colic that helped the most.

The only thing I can say about Zantac is that it is sensitive to weight. So if it works for him and then a few weeks later is seems to not be helping, it may be because he gained some weight and the dose needs to be adjusted. That happened several times with DS. Once the dosage was adjusted we were back on track.