Asher Update

We took Asher to UNC Pediatric Gastroenterology today for a second opinion. He's nearly 19 months old and eats only stage 2 purees and a bottle and continually vomits and we're desperately searching for a way to get him better.

It was an interesting appointment.

The Dr. listed the four possible issues that could be the cause of Asher's problem:

1. Structural: something didn't form right when he was in the womb.
2. Reflux: That spincter muscle in his stomach just isn't doing its job.
3. Allergic: This is that esosiniphial esophagitis thing I mentioned earlier.
4. Delayed gastric emptying: Where his stomach doesn't empty as quickly as it should.

We've tested for items 1 and 4. Structurally, all his parts are in the right place and they all tilt the right way. His stomach empties just fine, although two of his medicines are to make his stomach empty faster anyway (because it makes him vomit less). That leaves reflux and allergy.

Asher had an endoscopy in June 2004 that revealed inflammation due to reflux, so that's the likely culprit. Thing is, we're already treating him for reflux. The only other treatment is surgery, which has several complications a large percent of the time. Deep heavy sigh.

The Dr. suggested doing a second endoscopy to rule out item 3, because if it is that, then it's a different treatment. He also suggested doing a pH Probe, which is the definitive test for reflux. Although we're already treating for reflux, testing for it would give us the answer - definitively - if that's what's going on in Asher's adorable little stomach.

So, our second opinion confirmed our original doctor. I guess that's good.

The Dr. also told us that he sees cases like Asher regularly and we should get used to this because it's going to be our way of life forever. Deep, deep heavy sigh.

I guess there are worse things. We can teach him how to feed himself his stage 2 purees. I can get him proper nutrition via liquid and puree. His weight is fine, so he's getting calorically. And I don't have to give up searching for a cure for him....

Which leads me to the next step: endoscopy and pH Probe. We had already scheduled these tests at Duke, so we're going to move forward with them. They're scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, April 28th(?). Asher will be admitted to the hospital. They'll put him under general anesthesia, do the endoscopy and insert the pH Probe. Then we'll hang out in a little room for 24 hours and let the pH Probe do its reading. On Friday at about 9 AM, they'll remove the PHprobe and we'll get to go home.

Deep, deep, deep heavy sigh....