Endoscopy and other updates

Wow, already 10 days since Ricky's endoscopy. Anyway, it went well. We got a call the day before from the surgery center saying that we needed to get to LPCH at 1:15 pm. Shortly thereafter, we heard from the gastro doc's office that Ricky needed pre-procedure paperwork. Uhhh. Eek!!! So I found a lab that was going to be open late enough, and I rushed Ricky there to get his blood drawn.

We got to the hospital early for once, and went to the surgery center. After checking in, we went to an exam room and saw a parade of people for exams, paperwork, a review of Ricky's meds, and port access... A couple of nurses, the gastro doc (who would be doing the procedure), the anesthesiologist... And then finally it was time.

We walked upstairs to the ambulatory procedure unit. I got to go in and watch them put Ricky under. It was funny. The anesthesiologist pushed in Versed, which made Ricky all woozy and loopy. Then she pushed in this white stuff and his eyes rolled right back into his head and he was out. He was holding my hand still but he was OUT.

So I went out to the waiting room, plugged in my poor dying phone, and read my book for a while. He was done fairly quickly. And by the time I got to recovery he was already awake! Usually he takes a long time to wake up.

The doctor let me know that his endoscopy went fine. She did also do a short flexible sigmoidoscopy and she found a polyp in his colon. She even showed me a picture of it. She said she should it was likely just a "juvenile polyp" but that she had biopsied it. If it was just that, he would need a colonoscopy in a year to check on it. If it turned out to be cancerous, we would have to do something sooner, but she was pretty sure that wouldn't happen. Bad news about a colonoscopy is the preparation... Go-Lytely, etc. She figured he'd have to go into the hospital in advance for an NG tube to administer that stuff.

Yesterday I got a call from the doc saying that the biopsy had revealed that the polyp was actually just an ulcer. These are usually caused by constipation, that sort of thing. She emphasized again that he needs to be using his Miralax regularly and taking care of his body. Man up, be a big boy. I agreed and Ricky and I have been talking seriously about this. The good news? No colonoscopy in a year! Hooray! She does want to do an ultrasound soon because of Ricky's belly aches. Just to make sure he doesn't have kidney stones or gallstones going on in there.

More good news, Ricky was at school every single day this week, although one day I did have to pick him up early because he was so sleepy.

We also had his triennial IEP and he had extensive testing done. His eligibility designations were changed from Other Health Impaired (CF) and Severe Emotional Disturbance to OHI and Learning Disability. It was nice to hear that the SED is gone... But on the other hand this newly diagnosed learning disability (in mathematics) is sad to hear about. But at least now he can be getting some help with that. He was also found to be deficient in a few other areas, including reading comprehension.

It was also suggested that Ricky be considered for a course at another local high school in our district where he would learn life and job skills in addition to academic courses. I am going to go tour there soon. Though with us moving soon, and not knowing which district we'll end up in, who knows where he will end up? Ugh.

Ricky's dad had his blood drawn a few weeks ago for the duplication in the seventh chromosome. Finally! We waited a long time for the prison doctor to get off his butt and order the test. Soon we will know if Rick also carries that mutation. One way or another Ricky will eventually have other testing for other stuff like connective tissue disorders.

Also went back for the twice-yearly neuro appointment. Since he's been doing so well, I asked whether he could be taken off of the Topamax, since it makes him so dopey and sleepy. The neurologist agreed that we could start backing off slowly on it and to immediately call if he had seizure activity or other adverse events. So, yay. :)

Guess that is it for now. Goodnight!!!