Friday, August 31, 2012

Exams on Tuesday

Our little girl has serious digestive and acid reflux issues as many children with cerebral palsy do. Allie's been on so many medications for various reasons in her six years that we fear serious damage has been done to her stomach and intestines. And we're working with a doctor that has a plan.

Our Tuesday visit earlier this week went well and gave us new confidence. The professionalism and thoughtful approach this new pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) doctor used was refreshing and gave the Charming and Beautiful Susan and myself new confidence.

Our confidence was shaken about six weeks ago when we went to see a pediatric GI doctor that mishandled our situation. He looked at Allie and said, "she's too skinny."

"Well, she has cerebral palsy. Our general doctor (the most awesome doctor in the world!) said this is normal for someone with Allie's challenges," I informed him.

"We're not going to treat her like she has cerebral palsy. We're going to work on putting weight on her. You're not feeding her enough," he said.

Then he ordered a blood test to evaluate her nutrition and gave us armloads of Pediacare which is a syrupy sweet vitamin and chemical formula mix that, incidentally, creates more acid and, thus, reflux, in the stomach than poor Allie already had.

Allie has gone from the fire into the frying pan with her symptoms. Every morning she starts her day with painful spasms and we are at a loss to give her any kind of comfort. Sometimes we wonder if we should rush her to the emergency room. But, like clockwork, the episodes begin to subside before it's time to get on the bus and go to school.

This next Tuesday, Allie will be in the hospital to go through a couple of procedures to explore her problems. First, she will have an Upper Endoscopy done. This is a test where the doctor will look directly into Allie's esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine with a narrow, bendable tube fitted with a light and a tiny camera.

Depending on the results of the Upper Endoscopy, Allie may have a pH Probe Study. This measures the pH in the esophagus to determine whether or not acid is coming up from the stomach. This test is performed by sending a thin plastic tube with a sensor at the tip into one of Allie's nostrils and is then fed down into the back of the throat down into her esophagus. Then they'll take a chest x-ray to make sure the probe is in place properly. A wire from the probe runs into a recorder that Allie will carry around for 18 to 24 hours.

Sounds fun.

We're in the hospital to have this done up in Boca, like I said, on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday. If I can, I'll post some updates and pictures on Facebook and Twitter. I'd value your prayers and my hope that posting updates here and there will keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Your encouragement has comments have given us a tremendous boost.

www.facebook.com/bryon.mondok
twitter.com/bryonmondok 

6 comments:

Pedro Carrion said...

She definitely has my prayers!!

Bryonm said...

Thanks, Pedro. God bless you, buddy.

Vicki said...

Wow. Bryon. I trust she will be asleep for the upper-endo', at least, and for the insertion of the tube up her nostril and down her esophagus. I guess they can't keep her out for 18 to 24 hours. Poor baby. Poor mommy and daddy. You all have my prayers that she will tolerate the procedures well and that the results will bring a new plan by this new young doctor. Forget the other guy.

Mike West said...

When it comes to medical issues, you guys have become experts. Second opinions have become mandatory in my opinion, in the medical field. Gotcha in prayer...

Brie Gutierrez said...

Will be praying specifically for her healing and your family's strength.

Darlene said...

Will be praying for everyone.