Tucker was supposed to come home from the hospital today--actually, the surgeon had cleared him to come home yesterday. We didn't feel comfortable bringing him home only 3 days post-op due to all of his medical issues in the past, so we had him spend the night one last night, so we thought. WELLLLLL, I got a phone call late yesterday afternoon saying they had had to move him to the regular PEDS floor from PICU. I was none too thrilled because he's barely monitored there, and we can't be there 24/7 due to Kendall/breastfeeding and my husband working. So, I went rushing over to the hopsital to spend the night with him. I walked into his room, past an empty nurses' station, and he's in his room all alone, wretching and SATing at 89% with the alarm going off. Who knows how long it had been going off. I went running out to the nurses' station and asked for someone to come into his room ASAP, 20 MINUTES LATER, the nurse walks into his room. I was beyond livid. I had fixed the wretching problem by venting his tube, but still!

Sorry to vent, to make a LONGER STORY SHORT: We were planning on bringing him home first thing this morning, but the doctor didn't do rounds until around 11:00 and then he tells us he's not happy with Tucker's weight gain (or lack thereof), so he's not letting him go home. Well, I about freaked about him being stuck on the PEDs floor and immediately asked to speak to the doctor. The doctor was not available (this is the pediatrician at the hospital, not the surgeon). Finally, my husband got a hold of him, and his oh-so-lawyerly-way, explained that Tucker either needs to be in the PICU or home. So, he's back in the PICU.

So, in my long-winded way, my question is: did your child gain/lose weight immediately following g-tube/fundo surgery? The surgeon was not surprised that Tucker had lost a little weight, considering he had major surgery, was on only IV fluids for 2 days, etc.

Again, sorry to vent, I'm just frustrated today. I was so excited to have him home, finally..... :cry: :cry:

Oh no, Victoria! I can't believe that they left Tucker unsupervised...How scary!!! I'm sorry Tucker wasn't able to come home today, and hope that he'll be back home with you real soon!

I don't have personal experience with those surgeries, but I had major surgery in June and spent multiple days on fluids and IV only. I didn't lose any weight during that time (much to my disappointment).

yes, it is common to lose weight for obvious reasons after fundo, although E didnt LOL. He just lost a few pounds. I am outraged for you about the hospital!!! What can you guys do about it? I dont know about that kind of stuff but I would do something, that poor little guy, and poor Mom to come and find him like that!!!! Very scary stuff!!!

Daniel didn't lose weight after his G tube surgery, but they started him on formula about 12 hours after the surgery.

He spent 12 weeks in the NICU, and it was a shock to spend three nights in the peds unit when he had his cleft surgery -- it's like a ghost town! They kept telling us to take a break, go get some food, but, um, no thanks!!! Someone had to be with Daniel! He just spent about 18 hours in peds following his G tube placement, but I imagine that's because he's a lot older and stronger. In fact, they toook him off the pulse oximeter when he was still in recovery, though they did hook him up to check his levels every four hours.

We recently went thru the same thing. Sam was in the picu for about 3 weeks and then we had to go to the floor. I am a nurse so I knew what it was going to be like so I was prepared. But after one night--I told the MD that we needed to go home--I was doing everything for him on the floor and I can do that at home! The nurses were good on the floor, the problem is that they have so many patients to care for, you don't get the attention like in the PICU when your child may be their only patient. the system just pain stinks! I hope you go home soon.

Sam did not loose weight, but did not start gaining until we got home. We also went slow advancing his feedings thru the tube, he had a hard time with the increased volume in his belly. While he was in the hospital he got TPN--nutrition thru the IV- more than just fluids. It has been about 4 weeks now and I just got him to the volume that they want him at.

Go ahead an vent all you want because it sounds like you really need to. I am so sorry to hear that the hospitals peds floor is that lax. I do know when my kids have been in our hospital is so good and really work well with the kids and family. I also understand about the breastfeeding situation with the baby because when my one ds had to have surgery I had no choice but to bring the baby with me and the nursing staff was great they set me up with a crib and everything that I needed for me and the baby.

Now for the wieght gain all three of my kids lost weight after their surgeries initally. It did take some time for them to finally start putting the weight back on. I do hope things improve and that you are able to be home soon.


Melanie