December 6, 2011

Upper GI

Tinsley is still not really eating.  She is not eating any types of solid foods and is not even too wild about the few baby foods she will normally eat.  Last week when we took her to the doctor, she had lost 3 pounds in the past month.  We know that the cold and stomach bug she has had could have contributed to this.  Dr. Boecker was concerned and suggested that we go ahead and attempt to get Tinsley in to see a pediatric GI sooner than the December 22nd appointment we currently have.  She had her nurse call Dell Children's in Austin and they were able to get her in for an appointment on December 6th.  They requested that we have blood work and an upper GI done before the appointment.  Last Thursday, after her doctor's appointment we went to the hospital for blood work.  The blood work all came back good except that Tinsley's iron levels were low.  They put her on vitamins and are hoping that will fix that issue.  Toby and I took Tinsley for her upper GI on Monday.  It was not fun.  Tinsley got really upset when they had to strap her down.  She would not drink the barium, so they used a syringe.  They did not find any obstructions, which we were very thankful for.  The doctor did say that her stomach does not empty quite as quickly as she would like to see it empty.  We went to see the pediatric GI this morning in Austin.  He was not as concerned about the stomach emptying issues.  He thinks that we just have "major reflux".  I have been having trouble keeping up with Tinsley since she cannot tolerate formula and is not eating.  The pediatric GI suggested that we try pediasure in order to try to wean her from breastmilk, or to at least give me a little bit of help.  She loves the pediasure!  Only problem is that it has lots of sugar which seems to be affecting her sleep even more.  For now, we are giving her pediasure during the day and breastmilk for her last bottle or two of the day.  I am going to start slowly trying to work in some whole milk as well in an effort to completely wean her. The GI also wants us to follow up with a swallow study to confirm that Tinsley does not have any major swallow issues.

It was cold Monday morning, so we bundled up to go have the upper GI done.
Tinsley had to fast for 4 hours prior to the test.  We scheduled it at 1 p.m. so that she would not have to wake up from the night and not have anything.  She did okay until the car ride up to the hospital.  She was sleepy and wanting a bottle.  She normally does not take a pacifier, but it did "pacify" her for a bit.


This was before they strapped her head and arms down.  Toby was holding her arms after they strapped them down and the x-ray tech told him that he could let go, that there was no way she could get them loose.  Our little Houdini had her hands loose in no time.  The test only took about 10 minutes, but it felt like FOREVER!!!

Yay!  That is over!!!!

All that screaming will wear a girl out. :-)

At the pediatric GI's office bright and early!


Waiting to see the doctor.


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