Update: DD's swallow study

mbgreenwalt

We had DD's swallow study today and she is indeed aspirating when eating.  She aspirated 6 out of 8 swallows on thin liquids.  The radiologist said that she is very good at coughing it all out and that is why we haven't had any lung issues. 

We have to stop all table foods and only feed extremely thickened formula for the next 10 weeks and then go back for another swallow.  We have to train her to swallow properly and strengthen her swallowing muscles by feeding the thicker formula (she didn't aspirate any of the thickened swallows).  Later we have to go see an speech therapist and occupational therapist that will help me with exercises and techniques to help her and get her eating table foods once she passes her swallow study.  Apparently, babies that have swallowing dysfunctions will tend to only drink their formula/BM and not be interested in any other foods, which is what she has been doing, in addition to her other symptoms.  So for now we just feed and wait with fingers crossed that she resolves.

smilelari

Wow!  Good instincts having this checked out.

StacyJYay

I hope this issue resolves for your DD! 

In addition to your DD's lack of interest in solids, what are her other symptoms?  I ask because my LO loves his bottles of BM, but has very little interest in solids.  He's 8 months old and all we can get him to eat is 3-5 bites of a food at any one sitting.  

mbgreenwalt

StacyJYay:

I hope this issue resolves for your DD! 

In addition to your DD's lack of interest in solids, what are her other symptoms?  I ask because my LO loves his bottles of BM, but has very little interest in solids.  He's 8 months old and all we can get him to eat is 3-5 bites of a food at any one sitting.  

She had severe reflux until 6 months and has milk and soy allergy that has always made feeding difficult.  When we started solids at 6 months she would gag and eventually vomit and it worsened rather than improving.  She also coughs during formula feedings and her newest symptom, that just started Friday, is a hoarse voice/cry.

StefB28

StacyJYay:

I hope this issue resolves for your DD! 

In addition to your DD's lack of interest in solids, what are her other symptoms?  I ask because my LO loves his bottles of BM, but has very little interest in solids.  He's 8 months old and all we can get him to eat is 3-5 bites of a food at any one sitting.  

I'm curious about this, too! DS1 was gobbling down solids at 4 months. I haven't been able to get DS2 to take more than two bites of anything yet (I've tried rice, oatmeal, bananas, peas, carrots, applesauce, green beans, sweet potatoes, etc.) I'm starting to get a little worried about him.

Adanessa

Good thing you got it checked and even better that she didn't have any lung issues. I'm glad you at least found out what was up. Hope the problem resolves itself soon.

knottie198f1ac43570b6c2

Poor baby. I am glad you at least have an answer. I hope she starts getting better soon.

StacyJYay

mbgreenwalt:

StacyJYay:

I hope this issue resolves for your DD! 

In addition to your DD's lack of interest in solids, what are her other symptoms?  I ask because my LO loves his bottles of BM, but has very little interest in solids.  He's 8 months old and all we can get him to eat is 3-5 bites of a food at any one sitting.  

She had severe reflux until 6 months and has milk and soy allergy that has always made feeding difficult.  When we started solids at 6 months she would gag and eventually vomit and it worsened rather than improving.  She also coughs during formula feedings and her newest symptom, that just started Friday, is a hoarse voice/cry.

Thanks for your quick reply, and again, I hope this issue resolves for your DD quickly!  

gina2433

Wow. It's amazing how they can figure all that out. I'm glad you have answers. Hoping she will be better an get this resolved. 

Natty13umppo

desine77:

Poor baby. I am glad you at least have an answer. I hope she starts getting better soon.

This!  Thanks for the update!  Hope your DD handles the next 10 weeks well.

Jenny952

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved and figure out what's going on with your DD.  I hope she's able to re-learn how to swallow over the next 10 weeks.  Keep us posted!

bmcapra

Glad you got some answers. Hopefully all she needs is time to correct it. Keep us posted. 

valerieanne9015

Way to go Mommy instincts!  Glad you finally got some answers and hopefully everything will be great at the next swallow study!

JamiesWife2010

I'm glad you are finally getting some answers & you can start moving in the right direction for LO.

grbnik

I am glad you were able to get good answers!  DD had her swallow study on Monday, but refused to drink the barium (only got .5 oz in, and that was when we were holding her, so only got a glimpse of her tummy).  They called it a limited study.  We are awaiting the results (hoping to get them today) and we think we will need to go in for a scope and biopsy.  We are getting a referral to an allergist as well, as I suspect EoE.  Did your DD hate to swallow foods, or did she do okay with that, and gag?  My DD hates to swallow, so she will put stuff in her mouth, but then spit it out again.  So, that is why I suspect EoE. 

Good luck with everything and keep us posted!

gracefulruby33

I'm glad that you got this checked out and received some answers as well as direction for moving forward. DD was born with a paralyzed vocal cord so she had to go through some scoping and a swallow test as well. Her working vocal cord is compensating for anything the paralyzed cord is lacking (helping to keep food going down the right pipe). It hasn't inhibited anything with solids or drinking her bottles; although, she spit up more than most babies (it seemed like anyway!). She goes back in October for another scope to see if it's still paralyzed. This stuff is just not fun!

FX for your DD and good luck in your next steps. How are you "thickening" the formula? Just adding rice cereal or something?

mbgreenwalt

grbnik:

I am glad you were able to get good answers!  DD had her swallow study on Monday, but refused to drink the barium (only got .5 oz in, and that was when we were holding her, so only got a glimpse of her tummy).  They called it a limited study.  We are awaiting the results (hoping to get them today) and we think we will need to go in for a scope and biopsy.  We are getting a referral to an allergist as well, as I suspect EoE.  Did your DD hate to swallow foods, or did she do okay with that, and gag?  My DD hates to swallow, so she will put stuff in her mouth, but then spit it out again.  So, that is why I suspect EoE. 

Good luck with everything and keep us posted!

She wouldn't willingly swallow.  She would make a horrible face, hold her mouth open gag, sputter and eventually vomit.  My pedi and the radiology tech haven't mentioned EoE yet.  We're just treating as a swallowing dysfunction currently.

mbgreenwalt

gracefulruby33:

FX for your DD and good luck in your next steps. How are you "thickening" the formula? Just adding rice cereal or something?

We are opting to just use rice cereal right now and see how that goes.  We can try a product called Simply Thick if the rice doesn't work.  The Simply Thick is $117 for 26 days vs. $39 for rice cereal.  With what we pay for her hypoallergenic formula I really don't want to take on the extra expense of fancy thickener unless we have to.