Trip to the GI clinic

I haven't updated on the "crypto" issue for a while, because I really had nothing much to say but...we have no idea what is wrong with our little boy and it is driving us crazy! Everything has been the same, me trying all kinds of things to stop the diarrhea and it still coming at least a couple times every other day if not more! An increase in the gas and stomach aches for the little guy at night, and lots of sleepless nights for the three of us! However, all we could do was wait, and hang on till we could meet with a GI specialist. And today was that day. Originally when we set the appointment it was actually in November. Can you believe that??? I had no idea it could ever take so long to get in with a pediatric specialist. But luckily, we had a good friend who knew some body and got us in today. With Seth out of town, Elem and I headed to meet Grammy at the GI clinic at Children's Hospital.



I was a little scared at what they would say, but at the same time I had a sense of relief, because I was dying to get some kind of answers or plan going to get Elem feeling better and get his little insides on the right track. As soon as we got there, we got the best feeling. every one was so nice and the atmosphere was calm. Which reassured me it would be a good visit, no matter what they suggested. So we headed to the back where they got his stats, they measured his head, checked out his vitals, got his weight-which he weighed in at 27lbs and 1 oz (that is minus 15 oz in 2 weeks! Yikes! Not good at all) His height-which was 2ft and 8 inches tall! We finally met with the best nurse practitioner ever! She took so many notes and asked so many questions, and made me feel at ease. Luckily, my mom had given me the great idea a couple of weeks ago to start keeping a diary of everything Elem was eating and every time he was pooping etc. So I had like three pages of it all and it totally came in handy! I was able to give her accurate dates of when this whole things started, doc visits, weeks of diarrhea, what he was eating, everything! I was so Happy to have good info for them, and it ensured that there would at least be no wondering if and when along the way on the part of the doc. After she got all the info she could, she had to get a specimen to make sure there was no blood in his bowels. I wont go into details on that one, but it was not fun to watch, and Elem was to say the least-uncomfortable. :(

After the specimen was over, Dr. O'Conner came into the room, and got right down to business. She gave us a couple of options, including doing some blood tests, and ultimately doing a scope that would take some tissue samples and tell us exactly what we needed to know. The latter is what I was afraid she was going to suggest, and as soon as I heard it, my heart sank. Here is the gist-The crypto started all of it. And most likely the length of time he had crypto has turned out to be what has caused the damage. The damage done to his intestines, is possibly to the point where it just cant repair itself, but we wont know that until we go in and look. From what I understood, there are cells in the lining of your intestines that absorb the nutrients from your food when you eat them. And the crypt destroyed the cells or lining, and Elem is no longer absorbing the nutrients when he eats, but yet the food is just passing through his system and resulting in diarrhea. So he might need some help to rebuild that part of his intestines and get it back to where it needs to be. This is why the scope is needed. Also-the crypto might have unmasked another condition that Elem possibly had already. For example, polyps, ulcers, Crohn's, irratel bowel syndrome, etc. Not really sure of all the ones out there, those were just the things that caught my attention right off the bat.

With the second of the concerns come some questions on my part. That being questions in regards to my family history. Being adopted, I don't really know any kind of medical conditions that my biological family had or currently has. And not knowing is very frightening. It actually scares me to death. I have no idea of anything in particular which leads my mind to wonder to the worst of the options that could possibly be wrong with my son. Not a good feeling, but something I just cant help right now. Possibly something I will look into in the future, finding my biological family to ensure the safety and well being of my children. Its no fun to let your mind go crazy with the possibilities.

After a few minutes of deliberation and questions regarding the scope, we did come to a decision to go through with it. And that it would be pretty much the only option that would get us everything we needed in one quick check. This is how it will go: The surgery/scope will be on September 29th, (we dont know the time yet and have to call in the Friday before to find that out!). Elem can not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. (That should be lots of fun) haha. We will go to the main part of children's hospital, check in, and Elem will begin by receiving some light form of sedation in the form of a gas through a mask. The type of gas he will get initially , they informed me, will basically just make him happy, and make it to where they can take him from me, and off to the back. Once he has fallen asleep with the anesthesia through the mask only, they will give him an IV with the heavier sedation. He will be in the back away from us for a total of about 30 minutes! The procedure should only take about 15 minutes, during which Dr. O'Conner will take a scope and put it down his through into his stomach, and gather some tissue about the size of a pen top. She will then place a scope up through his little booty :( and gather some tissue the same size from his colon?? I think. Not exactly sure on that one. I got a little sidetracked when they said the word scope and mentioned putting it down his throat. Geez.

She assured us that she has performed this surgery many times and that this is what she would recommend. She was very calm through the whole thing and didnt make it out to be a big deal. But in my head I was shouting, "What in the world, are you insane woman!?" "A scope? Where? And then you will do what? Okay I cant let my mind get the best of me, Just listen to the good doctor."

After the tissue samples are taken, they will gat the blood work as well while he is asleep, and that should be it. Based on what she can see during the scope, she will know a little bit-like if there is anything completely visible while she is in there, that looks out of place and what not. Once she is done, we will be there when he wakes up, and she will let us know what she found, or did not find. The additional tissue samples and cultures will take about a week and a half to be completed. At that time we will hopefully get some much desired answers regarding the health of Elem Zane. So for now, please pray that everything go smoothly, and no complications with the anesthesia. He is such a happy little baby, that it is hard to think about him in a state of vulnerability.




The anesthesia is my biggest fear. When I think about ME being put to sleep as an adult, I think how great it is, and how cool that they can knock me out and me not feel a thing while I get worked on! haha! But when it comes to our little baby, it is not so funny. It turns serious, and much more terrifying. From what I got, the only complications with sedation or anesthesia during this scope would be if he were to asperate fluid from his body into his lungs...or something like that. Honestly when she said, there is a complication, I just kind of shut done. It is very scary to hear that and think that your little boy will be "knocked out" pr say and you cant be there to watch and make sure everything is going okay. I know it is a minor procedure and everything will go great. I just cant let my mind wonder.

On a good side note, Becky's husband is a nurse anesthicist. However you spell it. And he does colonoscopies all day long from what I hear. Well not the procedure, but the putting people to sleep part. :) So you are correct when you bet I will be calling Vincent to give me the type of medication and the dosage Elem should be given based on his weight, and I will be cross referencing it with elem's anesthesiologist! haha. For real, why not? In all honestly, I am really scared, and I am going to try and be positive. Knowing that something has to be done to get some answers why our little man is so sick. Hopefully, we can see the problem and get some meds in him to get him back on track. Now all we have to do is wait, and keep the diarrhea to a minimum. SO I will be focusing on that!