Well our Dr.'s have decided to admit AJ for an overnight stay at Dupont Children' Hospital to do some testing. They said they will be doing a PH Probe, neurological examine and blood,urine and stool testing and possibly more depending on what our insurance will cover. I have never experienced a hospital stay with a child let alone any of these test. SO I am looking for a little info and most of all reassurance on what will be takiing place. So if you could, could you post any expereince you have had with testing and let me know what I should be expecting I am a little scared right now!
Thanks

Everything will be OK....Just wanted to wish you luck and please let us know how it all goes.

I'll try to come back in a bit to let you know of all Drew's tests...and hospital stays.

Hi Leigh Anne,
I have not had experience w/ the tests that AJ is having but we do have a LOT of experience w/ duPont Hospital for Children. My daughter had 3 open heart surgeries there, g-tube & mic-key button placed and all of her specialists are at duPont. I am not sure about the regular units, as we have always stayed in the Cardiac unit b/c of Kara's heart issues, but we have always had great experiences w/ the nurses, doctors and staff there (well, as good as you can have with your little on in the hospital). They are kind of like a second family to us now.

I am sure everything will go well and hopefully you will have some answers and a plan in place by the end of your stay. If you have any questions about the hospital itself, please feel free to ask me. We lived there for about 8 weeks total, so we got to know our way around quite well.

Please don't be scared it will be over before you know it. I have had pretty much all those tests done and have found that they are different at different places, but generally the pH probe is a thin feeding tube that is placed down their nose, and it montiers the pH for 24 hours, it doesn't take long to put in and once in it doesn't hurt them, and he may try and pull at it and be annoying and that will be it.

It will be fine, it is a really good idea to have all the testing done at one time so that you get a lot of answers at once which is alot better in the long run. Good luck and let us know how he goes.

Daniel had a ph probe, too, and he was able to do it as an outpatient -- I'm guessing AJ only needs to be admitted so they can accomplish a lot of things at once.

D has spent lots of time in the hospital for other things though -- 12 weeks in the NICU at birth, two three-night stays following surgery, and one over-nighter for his G tube placement. It's definitely not fun -- exhausting and hectic for everyone involved -- but at least you know it's short term and hopefully the doctors will be productive!