GI Follow Up

Today Karson made his visit to see Dr. Barrios. As usual, his nurse acts like she has never seen us before, seems to have no clue as to what is going on and why we are even there. I wanted to say to her - don't you know why we are here? Isn't it Dr. Barrios who wanted Karson to have a swallow study and an upper endoscopy? But I didn't. I told her we were there to follow up on these two items.

When Dr. Barrios comes in he is as friendly as always. Looks over the reports and comments how he has several copies of the same report but oh well. We talk about the endoscopy and how the results showed a little irritation in his esophagus but not place else. He was pleased with this. He was also pleased with the results of the Bronch.

We then discussed his reflux and how he even refluxes up his "solids". It is hard for me to refer to applesauce as a solid but it is. This made him think about having the stomach emptying study done. He said because Karson will reflux food hours after he has had it makes him want to know how long it takes for his food to empty. However he isn't sure what he will do with the results if it shows it takes a long time. He does not want to put him on meds for it at this point because many of them have side effects he doesn't like and I didn't like. He also said he is not interested in talking surgery at this point and I agreed. We both want to take the conservative approach. (Had he said surgery, I would be getting a second GI opinion as well).

He didn't have a copy of the swallow study so he asked his nurse to get those as well. When he had those in hand her reviewed them and didn't want to make any changes to what we were doing. He said he would have his nurse set up the stomach emptying study and I would be back in 3-4 weeks.

The nurse comes in and cannot even say our name and assumes we want to go to Sky Ridge. I tell her that actually I'd like to go to PSL and she acts like this is too much work for her. Wow... Everything is set up for Monday for the emptying study.

Not what I want to spend one day next week doing but what I will do so my son's GI doctor will have an answer on how Karson processes his food. Maybe you agree, maybe you don't. However I am just trying to do the best for my son and make him better. I cannot imagine what it is like to reflux all day long even if it isn't coming out. It comes up - Karson has shown that and I know for a fact it does. It will come up and he will gag and cough come but nothing comes out. I want to find some relief for him that doesn't mean surgery, that doesn't mean a ton of meds but maybe altering how and what we feed him. Just like the formula that he is on is hypoallergenic and ingredients are broken down to their simplest and purest form so they are easier for the body to process and digest. So this does help with his reflux and how he tolerates it. I'd like to be able to help him like "solids" more so the refluxing isn't so bad.

We go back on the 22nd to see what he thinks/says. In the mean time I just hope and pray for the best for Karson and that he doesn't get sick again. That is one of the reasons we will be in Denver this weekend while Kyle and Bailey will be skiing in Vail. Making the best choices I can for my son.