Pedi GI?

memali26

Any other littles had to see a pedi GI? DD2 is only 2% for weight, fallen from 12% about 6 months ago, so we were referred to a pedi GI as a precaution. I'm just wondering what to expect at that appt. Has anyone been and can fill me in?

M&M227

We see one.  Sorry our story is a bit long..  DD was diagnosised with reflux at 4 weeks and also possible Milk / soy protein intolerance.  We did Zantac and Alimentum.  Zantac didn't work well so we went to prevacid at 2 months.  She continued on that for 3 months until we could no longer get it.  Pedi tried other meds but DD wouldn't take them.  We stopped all meds and she seemed OK (she was always a high needs baby so it was hard to tell).  For 3 months after we had issues with keeping feedings down and her taking solids, once she started loosing weight we were referred to the Pedi GI.

It was a bit scary because the GI labeled her "Failure to Thrive" and "Short Stature" simply because of her percentiles.  He listened to her symptoms and reviewed tests previously done (upper GI and cat scan).  He decided it was most likely reflux and possibly delayed gastric emptying.  We went back on prevacid and he also had us give high calorie formula (we had to add extra scopes to her bottles in relation to the water).  He also ordered blood work to check for hormonal problems.  We also had a bone age scan to get for growth disorders.

We went back two months later and her throwing up was much better so he decided it probably wasn't delayed gastric emptying and we just focused on the reflux and the slow weight gain.  We continued to follow up twice more.

She's doing great now (still a little short) but transitioned to milk with no problems and eats like crazy.  We go back in January to decide if we should continue medicine for her reflux. 

They will probably do blood work and have you try to calorie boast and see if that helps, if it doesn't and there's nothing else they would send you to an endocrinologist or a nutrionist.   

If I can help anymore, please let me know.

Good luck with your little one. 

 

stephdruskinis

We had to see a pediatric GI in Chicago for B after he had a stomach issue for 5 weeks straight.  He was in a different situation than your LO - he's over 95% for weight and height, but he wasn't digesting things correctly. 

At our visit, we were seen first by a 'fellow' of the hospital, so not the actual doctor.  She asked us about his history, looked over past x-rays, bloodwork, labs, etc.  She talked to us a lot, checked him over, etc.  Not a lot of help when she told us that since he was still up in the 90s for percentile there wasn't much they could do.  

We then saw the actual head of the ped. GI unit there, and she ran tests on Celiac disease and blood allergy tests.  She did an exam on him quickly.

If you want to know what to expect - I say to expect a super long day, where you will spend most of it waiting to be seen by the doctor.  We ended up being in the hospital for over 7 hours since we showed up a bit early, and had to wait and stay for lab work and blood work to be done.  

Bring paper copies of everything your doctor has on the issue in file.  Even though they faxed ours, we were happy we brought the paper file, since it 'had been lost' after the hospital received the fax.   

memali26

Thanks for sharing, ladies. And yikes, 7 hours?!  We live in a suburb and the pedi GI only comes down to our location once a week, I'm a little scared that means the office will be crazy or that we'll have to wait forever to even book an appt

We haven't done any tests for this issue yet. It wasn't even an issue on the radar until she started dropping percentiles after 9 months, but now that she's gained only 12oz over the last 3 months our regular pedi wants her checked out. I'm not even sure what we're looking for, really, I'm just trying to get more fat and calories in her for now.

AmandaP678

M&M227:

We see one.  Sorry our story is a bit long..  DD was diagnosised with reflux at 4 weeks and also possible Milk / soy protein intolerance.  We did Zantac and Alimentum.  Zantac didn't work well so we went to prevacid at 2 months.  She continued on that for 3 months until we could no longer get it.  Pedi tried other meds but DD wouldn't take them.  We stopped all meds and she seemed OK (she was always a high needs baby so it was hard to tell).  For 3 months after we had issues with keeping feedings down and her taking solids, once she started loosing weight we were referred to the Pedi GI.

It was a bit scary because the GI labeled her "Failure to Thrive" and "Short Stature" simply because of her percentiles.  He listened to her symptoms and reviewed tests previously done (upper GI and cat scan).  He decided it was most likely reflux and possibly delayed gastric emptying.  We went back on prevacid and he also had us give high calorie formula (we had to add extra scopes to her bottles in relation to the water).  He also ordered blood work to check for hormonal problems.  We also had a bone age scan to get for growth disorders.

We went back two months later and her throwing up was much better so he decided it probably wasn't delayed gastric emptying and we just focused on the reflux and the slow weight gain.  We continued to follow up twice more.

She's doing great now (still a little short) but transitioned to milk with no problems and eats like crazy.  We go back in January to decide if we should continue medicine for her reflux. 

They will probably do blood work and have you try to calorie boast and see if that helps, if it doesn't and there's nothing else they would send you to an endocrinologist or a nutrionist.   

If I can help anymore, please let me know.

Good luck with your little one. 

 

Pretty much all of the with some variations . Tim had major reflux and is still dealing with it at almost 3.5, but isnt currently taking any meds. Hes still on the small side. We;ve also gone because he has random vomiting that lasts for weeks.

We took him off prevacid due to the shortage.  We only go back as needed.