How is he doing today?

oh, Hi, I didnt even see this till now. He is doing great, he is climbing around and getting into stuff.

You know I wanted to mention to you, Roni, that when they went to do his pyloroplasty they found that his pyloral sphynctor (you know I should really know how to spell that since my son has had issues with this) was still attached to his stomach and was positioned in an upward position making the muscle not be able to work correctly. There were growths and adhesions and tubes attaching it. He cut it away and put it where it goes. Our surgeon said he has seen this a few times before but not very often and he believes it was what was causing the emptying problem (duh). Anyways, he did the fundo because he said based on Elis Upper GI and the Emptying study he still believes he has serious GERD. Although, he said that fixing that bottom may have taken care of all of it (not sure how I feel about him doing the fundo after that problem yet). Also, if we would have decided not to do the fundo they would have never found this problem Anyways, that is where my mind is right now and wanted to share it with you in case you wanted to use this info for the site because it can cause the reflux to be worse obviously and it can be corrected. I am so glad we decided to do surgery so we could find it. I am now curious of how common it is for babies not to fully finish develping in this area and if there are others out there like Eli.

oh, now its fixed, I emailed you, Roni. sorry for double post.... :roll:

No problem about the double post. I just finished deleting it for you. Anyway, I'm amazed at how quickly Eli is recuperating from the fundo! I'm sure you're thrilled. Have you seen a big difference in his reflux post-surgery?

well, he hasnt had his meds since thursday morning. And, he has been great, it is weird to get up in the morning and give him a drink first thing without him having to wait a half hour till it starts kicking in. It will take a while to get used to not giving it to him since it was such a big part of our lives for so long. He is acting great and has complained of no pain today.

He is supposed to be eating full liquids but he doesnt like anthing we bought. We tried, puddings, pediasure drinks, yogurt... wont eat it. At dinner he caught us eating chicken so I got out at stage 3 turkey dinner baby food and he ate it up and didnt complain of pain so wow, that is much better than I imagined. I hope he continues to do well and I am so glad we ended up doing the surgery or we would have never found the problem in there.

Also, this may seem strange but he is talking. He hasnt really talked a lot yet but since the surgery he has been saying all kinds of things and amazing us. I wonder if refluxing made him that miserable? Not sure but it is really neat to here him saying all kinds of things and much more plainly than before.

Oh, I am soooo happy to hear how well he is doing!!! :smt043 :smt082 That's so awesome!! And how wonderful that they found and fixed the problem with his pyloric sphincter! You're right, maybe he wouldn't have needed the fundo after fixing that but at least now it's done and you don't have to worry about him possibly needing another surgery!

I know that reflux can cause speech problems and delays but wow, didn't think that an improvement would be seen in speech so soon after surgery!! TERRIFIC!! Please keep us posted!!!

Wow! What a difference! I'm glad they were able to improve things for Eli, and look forward to hearing more about how he progresses.

That's so great that Eli is wanting to eat (even if he's not supposed to yet) and talking so much! I guess now you'll really get to find out how his reflux was holding him back. You get so used to things they way they were (i.e. difficult), that it's a good shock to see such a dramatic improvement.

actually he can eat. I thought they couldnt but he has a list of things he can eat and it is a lot more than what I thought. Their are all kinds of things he can have. He is on a Nissen Soft Diet that UCLA has put out. There is stuff like mac and cheese, pastas, soft bread, waffles, pancakes, pretty much what a toddler would eat anyway. This is much better than what I had imagined. I thought he was going to starve for 4 weeks! He just finished oatmeal for breakfast and I plan on trying some other things in the next few days. I still dont believe it but everyone at the hosptial said he should do fine and so far they have been right. I am still leary though....

Erin,
It is great that Eli is doing so well. It is awesome that he is talking as well soon.

Shannon

Hi,
Just updating. He is still hanging in there. We have a hard time disciplining him because everytime he crys he coughs and gags and eventually throws up. Well, today he got in trouble (for trying to climb out of his crib for first time) and he cried and cried and never coughed gagged or attempt to throw up for the first time in his life..... weird. Now what am I going to do with him climbing out of his crib when he has all these owies on his belly?

It sounds like someone is ready for a big boy bed!

Oh, I have been dreading that! I have tried to keep him in crib for as long as possible. I learned with the first 2 that once in a bed you cant keep them in it! I guess I cant keep him in his crib now though either.

Oh, and by the way, he just finished eating french toast sticks for dinner and that was an hour ago. He enjoyed it very much and had no problems, we were all standing around him scared to death just waiting for him to wretch, gag or show any signs of discomfort. He just had surgery and it seems he can already eat more comfortably that before! I am amazed!

Wow, Erin! I can't believe the difference in Eli! Eating better and talking more and better...I'm sure you're really glad now that you went ahead with the surgery!

So far I am, Janette, I just hope I dont eat my words. Seems all the prayers have definitely helped Eli get through this wonderfully. I am so thankful. People have been coming by to visit him and are saying they cant believe how good he looks. That he looks much healthier than before the surgery. He used to have red around his eyes always from the reflux and its gone. I hope it stays that way. I know its only been a few days but so far so very good :!:

He used to have red around his eyes always from the reflux and its gone. I hope it stays that way. I know its only been a few days but so far so very good :!:
OMGosh! I never knew that reflux can cause red around the eyes. Evan often has that, too, and he's not retching or vomiting much lately either. Strange...

Eli wasn't vomiting but we could tell he was refluxing and uncomfortable from the red around his eyes. We would slip him his mylanta when it was really bad but it was always there just sometimes more obvious than others when he was uncomfortable. Its gone now though, wew hew! It makes him look healthier, its funny how people have been commenting on it.

Eli keeps scratching at his incisions!!!! :shock:

He has pulled off all the strips. I think one is swollen and red! We have to take him back tomorrow so hopefully they can take a look at it. I have been keeping clothes on him where he cant get to it but he is scratching through it......... :?

Haven't I heard that when a wound itches it means it's healing...maybe that's an old wives tale. :?

I would be a little concerned about the redness as well...hopefully they aren't getting infected. Can you put something on them to help with the itching?

I dont know if I can, I called the nurse and told her one was looking red and swollen and that I was worried it was getting infected and she told me to put a band aid on it and keep it dry and the surgeon would look at it tomorrow.
I keep telling these people that he keeps pulling off the strips and they say "dont let him do that" ?? !! ?? Have they ever had a toddler.

The first night in the hospital I woke up at 3:30 am to RIP, RIP, he was taking them off then. I ran over to his Cage (it looked like a cage) and there were band aids and strips everywhere, I had to push the red button on the remote! That was the first of them having to reput the strips on.

Phew, anyway, he just ate mac in cheese for dinner so I guess some itching and redness isn't so bad huh, when I expected much worse. And, I can see a stitch sticking out :shock:

WOW, that's unbelievable that he is eating so well so soon after the fundo!!! AMAZING! AWESOME!!

I hope the itching and scratching stops soon! Usually cuts itch when they're healing, but I'm glad you're seeing the doctor tomorrow about the redness and the swelling.

Don't let him pull at the strips? :shock: What the heck is that? It's obvious THEY don't have too much experience living with a toddler!

We are totally amazed too, hubby and I just stand over him waiting for him to wretch or something to get stuck in there when he eats but it hasn't yet. . I am beginning to think his surgeon really didnt do the fundo when he was in there :lol:

When they gave us the Nissen Soft Diet list I thought they were crazy. I did not think he would be able to eat this stuff for at least 4 to 6 weeks.

HaHa, Janette, I am glad you understand, You obviously live with one.

HaHa, Janette, I am glad you understand, You obviously live with one.
Yup! Majorly! Because of Evan's delays, we've only hit the terrible 2's now, and it's bad! :lol: