Test Results

Well, I was very disappointed in the GI scan. My pediatrician made it sound like it was going to be a measure somewhat of the reflux that Lydia might be having; otherwise I wouldn't have wasted a lot of money to do it (b/c my insurance probably won't cover this procedure). I would not have minded putting Lydia through that or the money if it would have been more comprehensive in a sense.

So we get there and wait a while to get back there with a starving Lydia on our hands, b/c she could not eat 4 hours prior to the appt. and I tried to get her to eat at 3 am but to no avail so it had been a while. Then when we do get back there, the lady tech says to me "well she doesn't look underweight, why are you here?" I looked at her like uhhh, Lydia's dr. sent her. (you can't get a procedure like this without a dr. referal anyway) Then she said well what are her symptoms. I say well, she cries all day long, especially cries in pain whenever she is about a minute into her feedings. She always appears uncomfortable with jerking her head and making her whole body stiff, gagging, coughing, spit up, won't sleep for longer than 40 minutes, cries in pain on her back. That sort of thing. She says "that is typical". Ok whatever lady, I didn't just walk into the hospital begging to put my baby through an unnecessary procedure. Anyhow, moving on, they then give Lydia 1/4 oz. of Barium. I saw the bottle and that is how much it was, after taking a couple xrays beforehand. Then they took a couple xrays during the feeding, saw the barium enter and immediately start draining. They then waited a minute and a half and that was it. She said no reflux, but that doesn't mean she doesn;t have it, she just doesn't have any at the moment. I am thinking duh, I could have told you that. First of all, she usually begins getting uncomfortable around 1 to 2 ounces when her tummy begins to get full and the reflux begins (a 1/4 oz. in an already empty stomach is not going to show much). She also is at her worst about 15 minutes after eating. I don't think a minute and a half will show anything. But the good news from all this is that the main purpose of the GI scan is to rule out anything that is anatomically wrong (requiring surgery) which she does not have. Yeah. So that is ruled out, which I never thought anything was wrong in that way.

So the next step from here is my dr. will go over the results and call me in the next day or two. Then prevacid is still an option and things like irritable bowel, allergic reactions, etc... are undetectable, just trial and error. But, other good news is, yesterday Lydia had the best day she has had in a long time. So maybe the medicine is starting to work to ease her pain. We will see. Only time will tell.
Thanks for the prayers and comments. And thanks for listening, it is therapeutic as a mommy to type things out, if you know what i mean. I know so many moms have probably dealt with this, I am hearing from some here and there, and it is so helpful to here things that were figured out and helped the baby. Until next time.