Just thought I'd share our PH probe experience with you. I know I was curious about it and read as many posts about other peoples PH probes as I could.

This is how it went down for us (WARNING: Not sugar coated)

It was awful for him to get it put in. He was really scared, (I saw him scared lot's of times when he couldn't breath, and this horror takes the cake) and it took them lot's of tries before they got it in. It made his nose bleed and he cried a lot. He loved his arm stiffeners though. He thought they were WAY cool, and you could see the look of "I am so important" on his face while he wore them. The back pack was a big hit too. What a nut LOL
I was able to take the arm wraps off so he could eat and play. He was really good about not touching or pulling on his tube, and as long as he was busy he didn't seem bothered by the probe at all.

He had trouble sleeping with the arm wraps because he couldn't suck his blanket and it was really sad. For nap I took his arm things off and I heard him on the monitor saying "No. Don't touch nose." over and over until he fell asleep. His heart burn soon woke him up though and the nap didn't last long.
Night time wasn't as easy. :(
Once he finally fell asleep his heart burn would soon wake him up again, and he would cry "Back pack, back pack, all done back pack, please PLEASE all done back pack." Every time I went in to help him he would squeeze my arms and say "Thank you. Thank you Mommy, thank you." only to start crying and screaming again when he found out the tube didn't go anywhere.
Lot's of back rubs and shhhhing went on last night, but we made it.

During the probe I could see his PH change, and it was really interesting especially while he ate. One time in the afternoon for about 45 minutes or so he was doing his usual heart burn behavior and I could watch the PH get lower and lower and just stay there. What was really surprising was how quickly the PH went down during diaper changes too. I knew he was never comfortable on his back and it was kinda cool to see the numbers correlate with how I always thought he felt.

His number never really got that low though. I don't know for sure how it all works or what it all means but I think he's doing better than what I thought as far as acidity and I'm really curious to see what the numbers were like while he was sleeping last night (couldn't see it was too dark). The only noticeable heart burn moment yesterday was that one time in the afternoon. It was a really good day in that department.

In the morning he wasn't too happy to go back to the room to get it pulled out, he was terrified all over again. Luckily taking it out wasn't near as hard for him.

Eric is a happy little guy this morning even with his red face (from the tape).


I don't think we are going to get any new information from this test at all. :(
Just confirmation of when it happens and a correlation with his behavior and symptoms, and a new found fear of doctor's. I will hear back in a couple of days about the results.

Here are some pictures so you can see what a baby looks like with one in, what the arm bands look like, and so on. I had a hard time finding any pictures for myself so I could see, and just thought it might be helpful for some one to see our pictures.

http://i6.tinypic.com/1znambn.jpg

http://i6.tinypic.com/1znamhu.jpg

http://i6.tinypic.com/1znamo7.jpg

Oh Minnie, he looks so cute- isn't that sad of me to say! Those arm bands are great, we had to have bandages over the hands like boxers mitts.

I am sorry that he didn't like it so much, that must of been really hard for him to tell you- thank you, and you couldn't do anything.

I think that you will find out a lot from the test, good luck with the results.

Thanks for posting this, I'm sure it will be of valuable information for others with questions!
I'm glad he is happier now, sorry about the rough night.
Those arm bands would have REALLY p*ssed Zac off. LOL

Ava's "no-nos" as they called them, had Strawberry Shortcake on them, who kind of looks like her, and they were too cute! She didn't seem too bothered by it either, as long as she was busy. The worst part was the red "tape mustache" afterwards b/c they put hers in while she was asleep for the ugi endoscopy. Glad to hear that it wasn't tooooooo traumatic for either of you, and maybe you'll get some good answers!

Thanks for posting this, it was very interesting to se ehow it was done. He looks so cute with those armbands.When do you speak with the docs again?

Ava's "no-nos" as they called them, had Strawberry Shortcake on them, who kind of looks like her, and they were too cute!

LOL They called them "no nos" here too!
I didn't like that name for them though, because who wants "no no's" on their arms?!

There was a little boy Eric's age getting his Probe the same time. Eric stole the cool ones with trucks and that boy got stuck with the strawberry short cake ones!!! I really felt bad, and actually apologized to her. LOL
I tell ya that little guy of hers was a hudini in a half he had the arm bands off and was pulling at his tube in a matter of seconds. I don't think he kept his in. He was just too much of an expert at all this GERD stuff. I didn't run into them this morning at all and we were supposed to come in at the same time. :(

And YES! Of course I told his Mom about IRD! LOL
He was so sick you guys, his eyes sure told a sad sad story, and she obviously needed to talk about everything too. She was a wonderful lady. I'm so glad I met her. I hope I see her here someday soon.

I wish someone would have told me about IRD a long time ago! Ava pulled hers out twice during the one she had when she was a day old. My dh had to stay w/ her while they put it back in, I couldn't handle it and had to leave the room! Was yours done in a hospital? Wouldn't it be nice if one day they could do it at home?

I never thought to post pictures of Mag with hers, I'm sure it's helpful/reassuring for others. Mag had a 'purse' instead of a backpack and we tossed the no-nos pretty quickly, they're still in the back of my car though!

Thanks for posting pics.....I don't know, I don't think Zach would go for that.....
I wish there was an easier way :(
BTW, Ava loves that toy Eric is playing with in the pic...Zach too
I hope you get some answers soon!!

You guys,
I didn't think Eric would tolerate them at all either and I thought it was going to such a struggle watching him. His personality in every way made me think OMG! How am I going to do this. There's no way he's going to keep that tube in and put up with having his arms stiffened.
But he did it!!!
My kid, the one that makes every diaper change a wrestling match. The same kid who never stops moving, and won't even sit still to put his shoes on without getting restrained. He even helped me put them on him!!! He hates anything touching his mouth or face and will fight hard to avoid it.
I'm telling you it's a complete miracle that he kept the tube in and put up with all the equipment like he did!
I think someone from up above was helping Eric and I out that day. I really do.

I got lucky because Austin was only 2 months old so he didn't even know he could pull them out. He wasn't really even moving. I wanted to take pics but didn't have my camera because it was a quick all of a sudden, go to the hospital for testing. He did pretty good with it but screamed bloody murder when it was put in. I couldn't stay in the room because I didn't want to see it. Everyone in the hallway sure heard him though! Poor baby.

I'm so glad Eric did good with it. He looked so cute. (that seems really weird. Oh, look at the cute baby with tubes in his nose!) When do you get your results back? It's obvious he has reflux but at least now you'll know exactly how bad it is.

Oh Minnie, poor little guy! It must have broke your heart to hear him say all those things! I'm glad it's all over and he did well! Thanks for posting pics that was really interesting to see I had no idea what to expect. I hope you do get some answers out of all of this!

Thank you so much for the pics and for sharing your story. I have been waiting for what seems like an eternity, 6 months already for our scope, and our doc said that they'll decide at that time whether or not to do a probe (on meds). I've often wondered what it was like. Now I know. (I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face.) I HATE GERD!!!!

Oh Lori,
I didn't mean to make anyone cry.
(((BIG HUG)))
I just knew I wanted to know what we were in for a hated that I really didn't know.

I hate GERD too!!!!
Little people just shouldn't have to deal with any of this!