[Stormster]

Even though E's cough has almost disappeared since feeing him dinner earlier (thanks to those who recommended that!) I still took him to get evaluated.

Doc thinks he has "aspiration from above" and not reactive airway. He thinks that aspiration is a combo of things including eating dinner just before bed. He wants us to get the following tests done though to rule out everything else:

Upper GI series
Swallowing/Speech Study
Chest X-ray
Sweat Test (for CF) this because of the cough and chronic diarrhea but i know he doesn't have CF. He's too healthy plus my sis is an expert in CF and sees him often so....no way.

These are a LOT of tests. I wasn't even going to BRING him since the cough stopped! I decided to only do the Swallowing/Speech Study and just do things one at a time. I've had an upper GI series and it's horrible and even babies need to drink stuff etc....so only if it's REALLY needed kwim?

Anyway, just sort of venting about it.

He's in the 50th percentile still for weight and 75th for height. He really follows that curve exactly. Oh and funny thing, i've been telling my DH that i think he has a very large uvula (you know that punching bag thing int he back of his mouth) because in pics you can SEE it! Everyone thought i was crazy LOL but guess what! Doc said he does have a very long, thin one! Weird!!!!!

[4everwaiting]

Glad that he's doing so much better Nikki!! Those are a lot of test, and some are pretty hard to take...

So happy to hear that the doctor didn't seem worried about things!!!

Thanks for letting us know!

[mom2samuel]

Our son was 17 months old in May and was being treated for asthma and acid reflux, but was still spitting/throwing up EVERYTHING, so our pulmonologist suggested two different tests that required us to stay the night at a hospital. The first test was a 24 hour one where he had a monitor ran down his nose/throat. It was attached to a box that we had to carry around after him. (What fun, ha ha) The next morning they put him to sleep and did a breathing test. They discovered that his acid reflux was so SEVERE, it was probably what was causing his asthma symptons (as well as everything else). He began to take prevacid daily, and that has made ALL the difference in the world. He only spits up occasionally now, usually when he is suffering from congestion. (Asthmatic symptons are still there a little)

At two he is doing great, and our pulmonologist just dismissed us within this past few weeks. He feels that our pediatrician can handle any further problems. We've weaned him off the prevacid and he's doing pretty well.

Goodluck,
Michelle

[Cjmeck]

Didn't he have reflux? I wonder if he still does...

ETA: I see the poster above saying the same thing, lol. Anyway, I know A LOT of toddlers who have reflux which was causing asthma/asthma like symptoms. And since Savannah still has reflux at 13m, I just thought I'd throw it out there. Glad you are getting him seen!

[shy_bear]

When you call to schedule see if they can do the upper GI and swallow study at the same time; that is how we had it done. I was nervous at first, but it is quick. A. had to have the tube put down his nose b/c he would not drink the barium....I was scarred by it more than he was!!! IF he is aspirating(sp?) that is not something you want to mess with it can cause perm. damage to the lungs.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Even though E's cough has almost disappeared since feeing him dinner earlier (thanks to those who recommended that!) I still took him to get evaluated.

Doc thinks he has "aspiration from above" and not reactive airway. He thinks that aspiration is a combo of things including eating dinner just before bed. He wants us to get the following tests done though to rule out everything else:

Upper GI series
Swallowing/Speech Study
Chest X-ray
Sweat Test (for CF) this because of the cough and chronic diarrhea but i know he doesn't have CF. He's too healthy plus my sis is an expert in CF and sees him often so....no way.

These are a LOT of tests. I wasn't even going to BRING him since the cough stopped! I decided to only do the Swallowing/Speech Study and just do things one at a time. I've had an upper GI series and it's horrible and even babies need to drink stuff etc....so only if it's REALLY needed kwim?

Anyway, just sort of venting about it.

He's in the 50th percentile still for weight and 75th for height. He really follows that curve exactly. Oh and funny thing, i've been telling my DH that i think he has a very large uvula (you know that punching bag thing int he back of his mouth) because in pics you can SEE it! Everyone thought i was crazy LOL but guess what! Doc said he does have a very long, thin one! Weird!!!!!

First things first. Did you remember to bring your stool sample? Sorry

*I* have an oversized "punching" bag as well. If he gets sick a lot, and they say to get it out, get that sucker taken out when he's little. I was sick constantly as a kid, and for whatever reason they went in and took out ONLY my adenoids...which is really never done. I have issues with the punching bag always, and ever ENT I see says get it taken out. But I'm a sissy pants, so I don't. I just try to get through every winter and say I'll do it next year.

I would do anything that's only minimally invasive unless he starts presenting problems again. That seems like sort of overkill to me. What will they want next, bone scans? Did he go over what he was hoping to find with each study or is he just poking sticking around in the dark.

Just seems like if this has resolved itself, I wouldn't bother with a bunch of tests to find out what WAS bothering him. It's not bothering him anymore.

[Saya]

Hey Storm - Glad E is doing better!

I agree, no need to rush into all these tests with a basically healthy kid! Maybe you could check in with your regular pediatrician and see what he or she thinks about all of these tests? I.e. whether they are all necessary? Do you know what each of them is supposed to be testing for?

[Steph-Jason]

Yeah- that seems like alot of tests for a baby!! Glad to hear that the Dr's not to worried about it.

[devildogwife]

Stormster-I think you're making a wise choice. Upper GI's are SO incredibly traumatic. I still get flashbacks from watching Cam's.

However, PLEASE have him get a chest x-ray. They are literally over in a couple minutes & are so imporant. They will need to have a baseline of how his lungs look to compare things to in the future. This is super important and tell so much. Cameron has literally had hundreds of them. This will show if he's improving in the future, or if he's getting worse, regarding aspiration. This is such an important part of treatment. Plus, it is really quick and relatively pain free.