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Showing posts with label ear tubes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ear tubes. Show all posts
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Surgery tomorrow
Tomorrow Randy gets his third set of ear tubes and his adenoids removed. Although I feel very relaxed about the surgery, your extra prayers will be appreciated.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Surgery went well
Randy was pleasant the entire time. They actually took him back 30 minutes early. His ear had TONS of thick fluid behind them. The Dr. drained them and placed the tubes. He has to have a follow in 4 weeks. He gets ear drops for the next 3 days.
He ate fries for lunch, took a 3 hour nap, and is back to himself.
I'll post some pics soon.
He ate fries for lunch, took a 3 hour nap, and is back to himself.
I'll post some pics soon.
Why does she keep waking me and putting this bottle in my face?
I woke him for a bottle of apple juice at 7:30a. He's bleary eyed and tired now, but he'll thank me at 11a because he will not be starving. Well, ear tubes at 11:50a. I am confident all will go well.
3:30 am feeding
That is what Randy just had. Thankfully this is not the norm. Randy has surgery this morning and he is not allowed any solids or milk after 3:45a. So mommy set her alarm and we had a snack of milk (in a bottle for him) and animal crackers.
I do not miss niddle of the night feedings.
I do not miss niddle of the night feedings.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Ear tubes
Sound familiar? It should. Randy had these put in July, 2009, and guess what? They are not working anymore. When he received the tubes, the doctor warned that he may have to get a second set. But he said in 12-18 months, not 8 months later!
I have to be honest, I'm not so sure I want to have then done again. His ENT is a wonderful man who spends lots of time explaining things and allowing me to vent. He says that if Randy did not have other health issues, he would suggest that we "wait and see". But since ear infections take such a huge toll on Randy, he suggests that we do the tubes. He looked at Randy as a whole when making this reccomendation. He talked about infection in relationship to his shunt and overall health. He talked about ear infections and how it sets him back in feeding. He does not want his ears to delay his speech any more than it already is. He simply feels the risk of this simple surgery is worth the benefit. I'm not so sure.
At any rate it is scheduled for April 26, 2010.
I have to be honest, I'm not so sure I want to have then done again. His ENT is a wonderful man who spends lots of time explaining things and allowing me to vent. He says that if Randy did not have other health issues, he would suggest that we "wait and see". But since ear infections take such a huge toll on Randy, he suggests that we do the tubes. He looked at Randy as a whole when making this reccomendation. He talked about infection in relationship to his shunt and overall health. He talked about ear infections and how it sets him back in feeding. He does not want his ears to delay his speech any more than it already is. He simply feels the risk of this simple surgery is worth the benefit. I'm not so sure.
At any rate it is scheduled for April 26, 2010.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tests and tubes
Randy has completed all his follow up tests from his last visit at the feeding team. They were pretty pleased with his weight gain and his eating, but not happy with his milk intake. The GI wanted to rule out any medical reasons for why he was not tolerating his bottle. He ordered a video swallow study and and EGD.
The video swallow basically took a picture as he ate puffs, purees, and drank some milk. They added some barium to these items so that it would show up on the x-ray. He did a good job, except with the bottles. He gobbled the items (he was starving because he had not eaten in 5 hours) and they went down well. He refused his bottle, so we had to use an open cup. The test showed that he had delayed swallowing with the thin liquids. He definitely refluxed, but did not aspirate. Aspirate is when you reflux and it goes into your lungs. The speech therapist said he protected his airway at all times.
The EGD took a picture of his throat, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. He had to undergo anesthesia for this test. They took a camera hooked to a scope and put it down his throat while they took pictures. They also took some specimens of each of these areas and will send them to the lab. He wants to make sure all is well since he is well over a year and still suffering from reflux. The camera showed that all the areas looked good; that is a good indication that the Prevacid is doing a good job of protecting his body from the acid.
He also received ear tubes while he was under the anesthesia. The procedure was sooooo quick. Both procedures were done in less than 30 minutes. I am glad I went through with the tubes. The first ENT wanted to "wait and see". I did not feel comfortable with this because he had already failed three hearing screenings and I felt it was impacting his bottle feeding. The first ENT felt that it was totally unrelated to his bottle.
The ENT from the feeding team felt that the fluid in his ears could be impacting his bottle feeding and was not ok with his hearing being affected during this time of crucial speech development. He said that there was lots of fluid behind the ear and he drained them well before inserting the tubes. He was kind enough to let us get our ear check with our pediatrician in three weeks since we already have an appointment. This saves us an hour drive. If there is a problem, we are to call him though.
He is recovering wonderfully. He has eaten twice and taken a small milk and juice bottle. BTW, the children's hospital where we go lets you buy a bottle of Tylenol for $1 if your child was seen there or being discharged. You can get up to two bottles. Isn't that cool?!
The video swallow basically took a picture as he ate puffs, purees, and drank some milk. They added some barium to these items so that it would show up on the x-ray. He did a good job, except with the bottles. He gobbled the items (he was starving because he had not eaten in 5 hours) and they went down well. He refused his bottle, so we had to use an open cup. The test showed that he had delayed swallowing with the thin liquids. He definitely refluxed, but did not aspirate. Aspirate is when you reflux and it goes into your lungs. The speech therapist said he protected his airway at all times.
The EGD took a picture of his throat, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. He had to undergo anesthesia for this test. They took a camera hooked to a scope and put it down his throat while they took pictures. They also took some specimens of each of these areas and will send them to the lab. He wants to make sure all is well since he is well over a year and still suffering from reflux. The camera showed that all the areas looked good; that is a good indication that the Prevacid is doing a good job of protecting his body from the acid.
He also received ear tubes while he was under the anesthesia. The procedure was sooooo quick. Both procedures were done in less than 30 minutes. I am glad I went through with the tubes. The first ENT wanted to "wait and see". I did not feel comfortable with this because he had already failed three hearing screenings and I felt it was impacting his bottle feeding. The first ENT felt that it was totally unrelated to his bottle.
The ENT from the feeding team felt that the fluid in his ears could be impacting his bottle feeding and was not ok with his hearing being affected during this time of crucial speech development. He said that there was lots of fluid behind the ear and he drained them well before inserting the tubes. He was kind enough to let us get our ear check with our pediatrician in three weeks since we already have an appointment. This saves us an hour drive. If there is a problem, we are to call him though.
He is recovering wonderfully. He has eaten twice and taken a small milk and juice bottle. BTW, the children's hospital where we go lets you buy a bottle of Tylenol for $1 if your child was seen there or being discharged. You can get up to two bottles. Isn't that cool?!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Feeding Team
I want ALL of Randy's doctors to buy the same scale and calibrate them the same and measure his length the same!
Whoo; I feel better now. Randy had his follow up with the feeding team today. This was a long appointment where they want to see him eat and he is evaluated by the nutritionist, OT, speech therapist, nurse, and GI doc. His last appointment was in February. He grew more than two inches and gained 31 ounces. His current stats are:
Weight: 18 lbs 10 oz
Length: 29 inches
Head circumference: 43.6 cm
They were not pleased with the amount of formula that he is taking in. He is drinking 8-10 oz per day, and I sneak another 3 oz in with his cereal. They want to change him to a "toddler" formula once his allergy testing is complete. It really is more like a nutritional supplement. The nutritionist wants to try Pediasure (if no milk allergy/sensitivity) or Elecare Vanilla (if there is a problem with milk). Both of these are either 30 cal/oz or can be mixed to that. His current formula is 20 cal/oz.
I also learned that an ENT is part of the feeding team. He was called in because of the fluid on Randy's ear, the failed hearing tests, the lack of interest in bottle, and the summer ear infection. He was not in agreement with the "wait and see" approach. He felt that we had waited long enough and it bothered him that Randy had an ear infection in the summer. He says that is not a good sign about the fluid build up. He wants to proceed with tubes. He does not want to jeopardize his speech development, and he feels that the feeling in his ears could be jeopardizing his fluid intake. He was an amazing ENT. He took a "holistic" approach and talked about how many of these small issues were related and the larger implication, mainly his growth and development.
He consulted with the GI (who usually comes in, but sent the ENT instead) about ruling out any medical reasons for Randy not wanting his bottle. We know that some of it is related to solids, but he wants to make sure that his anatomy is working properly and that we are adequately managing his reflux. Randy will get a video swallow study and an EGD. He will have to be sedated for the EGD, so the tubes will be put in at the same time (that was the selling point for me).
I left the two hour appointment with my head swimming and wondering if the pendulum had swung the other way and we were moving too fast. But my gut is saying to go ahead with the tubes and the EGD. I have researched them and know that even if they were unnecessary, they will not bring him fatal harm and they will fall out in 1-2 years. I cannot risk my son missing any more months of clear hearing. He has enough hurdles to climb without me not removing one that I can. I love him way too much to know do all I can for him.
Whoo; I feel better now. Randy had his follow up with the feeding team today. This was a long appointment where they want to see him eat and he is evaluated by the nutritionist, OT, speech therapist, nurse, and GI doc. His last appointment was in February. He grew more than two inches and gained 31 ounces. His current stats are:
Weight: 18 lbs 10 oz
Length: 29 inches
Head circumference: 43.6 cm
They were not pleased with the amount of formula that he is taking in. He is drinking 8-10 oz per day, and I sneak another 3 oz in with his cereal. They want to change him to a "toddler" formula once his allergy testing is complete. It really is more like a nutritional supplement. The nutritionist wants to try Pediasure (if no milk allergy/sensitivity) or Elecare Vanilla (if there is a problem with milk). Both of these are either 30 cal/oz or can be mixed to that. His current formula is 20 cal/oz.
I also learned that an ENT is part of the feeding team. He was called in because of the fluid on Randy's ear, the failed hearing tests, the lack of interest in bottle, and the summer ear infection. He was not in agreement with the "wait and see" approach. He felt that we had waited long enough and it bothered him that Randy had an ear infection in the summer. He says that is not a good sign about the fluid build up. He wants to proceed with tubes. He does not want to jeopardize his speech development, and he feels that the feeling in his ears could be jeopardizing his fluid intake. He was an amazing ENT. He took a "holistic" approach and talked about how many of these small issues were related and the larger implication, mainly his growth and development.
He consulted with the GI (who usually comes in, but sent the ENT instead) about ruling out any medical reasons for Randy not wanting his bottle. We know that some of it is related to solids, but he wants to make sure that his anatomy is working properly and that we are adequately managing his reflux. Randy will get a video swallow study and an EGD. He will have to be sedated for the EGD, so the tubes will be put in at the same time (that was the selling point for me).
I left the two hour appointment with my head swimming and wondering if the pendulum had swung the other way and we were moving too fast. But my gut is saying to go ahead with the tubes and the EGD. I have researched them and know that even if they were unnecessary, they will not bring him fatal harm and they will fall out in 1-2 years. I cannot risk my son missing any more months of clear hearing. He has enough hurdles to climb without me not removing one that I can. I love him way too much to know do all I can for him.
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