First Endoscopy

[shai76]

My son just turned two and the pedicatric gastroenterologist is having a endoscopy scheduled for him since he has been on reflux medicine since birth. They wat to check for allergic inflamation (eos) because he ia allergic to milk, and because I have EE. Is eosinphilic ensophagitis hereditary?

They probably will not check for celiacs since he doesn't have symptoms when we tried him on wheat. He used to break out in hives from it, but we did a challenge and he is doing fine, so that is good news! He is, however, not supposed to have soy since he reacted with a intolerance to it.

I am just scared of having him put under, and of that scope in his little throat. How do you deal with it as a parent?

[flagbabyds]

i think that you will be fine, some docs let the parents be in the rom with their child during the procedure, so that will make it easier for you. for me it has only been about a 20 minute procedure, which is not very long (i've had 7 hour surgery before) and then he will be in the recovery room, and he will wake up, they might give him a popsicle, and then he will be able to go home. If you like your doctor then you should feel very comfortable with him, and should not have any problems giving you son over to him for less than an hour. It will be over soon, and then you might not ever have to do it again.

Don't be scared about it, because your son then might notice that you are worried, so he can get worried.

good luck!

[Guest cassidy]

I had my first endoscopy as a child and it wasn't pleasant. I had surgery for reflux when I was 10 because I had been sick since I was born. Unfortunately, I now know all of it, including the reflux was from celiac.

For my first endoscopy they didn't put me out. Maybe they gave me a sedative, but I remember the entire thing. I was holding my dad's hand. So, I would make sure that they are going to put him out. I have had several endoscopys since (the surgery was only a temporary fix and didn't help the celiac) and they were very easy, I went to sleep and then woke up.

Also, my parents gave me Care Bears when I went through medical procedures. I still remember looking forward to getting my toy when it was all over. I don't know if you would consider giving him a treat when it is over.

As far as how you deal with it, I don't think there is an easy answer. My mom was always a mess and wished it was her and not me. Good luck. Hopefully this will help him, but it isn't an easy thing for you all to deal with.

[shai76]

I think the toy idea is great, thanks. I just scares me a little that you had problems with the scopes. I hope that wasn't too traumatic for you.

I trust my sons pediactric gastroenterologist, but the thing is she is more of an asisstant that he sees. I never even met the doctor that will be performing the procedure. Get what I am saying? Complete strangers. I know they do this all the time. But he is my little pumpkin belly. I hate to see him have to be put through this at only 2.

[flagbabyds]

just make sure that if he has any siblings that they get a toy too, b/c when my sister had her apendix out, my parents got her a Barbie and i didn't get one. I wa so mad at her i didn't care that she had had surgery because i just wanted a toy as well, so make sure that all sibligs get toys also

[Guest tracey and emma]

hi my daughter has now had 3 anistetics, 2 were endoscopys and 1 fundoplication.

It is never easy but it is nessesary, and if it helps then thats the right thing to do.

It is only you that struggles not your son he won´t remember a thing and i am sure they will give a pre-med which will blank any memory that he has at at all.

make sure they do give a pre-med this is usually given 1 to 1/2hr before the operation.

( this is the name for it in english,i am sure they will understand even if in the usa if it is differant) emma was so happy and looked so drunk wished they had given it to me LOL

My daughter was so high nothing would have worried her and she can not remember a thing even before the op even if she got upset she would never remeber it.

sadly they don´t have the same for us parents!!!!!

It will not be easy i won´t lie to you, but you can do it with emma i could stay for the op but i never did.

The hardest bit is when they ask you to leave and he is asleep, per-pare your self every emotion run wild and doctor and nurses have seen it a million times over. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM it all seems to carm down and the worst is over: REMEMBER the worst is over it really is, i promise you..........

coffee is good and a walk i have found.

then you just look forward to the call to be told it is over.

So be strong it is unlikely any thing will go wrong, you alway hear the horror stories because the normal every day cases are boring to tell.

I wish you and you son the best luck, and endoscopy are so routine they probably have 4-5 that very same day.

big huggs

tracey

[shai76]

hi my daughter has now had 3 anistetics, 2 were endoscopys and 1 fundoplication.

It is never easy but it is nessesary, and if it helps then thats the right thing to do.

It is only you that struggles not your son he won´t remember a thing and i am sure they will give a pre-med which will blank any memory that he has at at all.

make sure they do give a pre-med this is usually given 1 to 1/2hr before the operation.

( this is the name for it in english,i am sure they will understand even if in the usa if it is differant) emma was so happy and looked so drunk wished they had given it to me LOL

My daughter was so high nothing would have worried her and she can not remember a thing even before the op even if she got upset she would never remeber it.

sadly they don´t have the same for us parents!!!!!

It will not be easy i won´t lie to you, but you can do it with emma i could stay for the op but i never did.

The hardest bit is when they ask you to leave and he is asleep, per-pare your self every emotion run wild and doctor and nurses have seen it a million times over. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM it all seems to carm down and the worst is over: REMEMBER the worst is over it really is, i promise you..........

coffee is good and a walk i have found.

then you just look forward to the call to be told it is over.

So be strong it is unlikely any thing will go wrong, you alway hear the horror stories because the normal every day cases are boring to tell.

I wish you and you son the best luck, and endoscopy are so routine they probably have 4-5 that very same day.

big huggs

tracey

Thanks Tracy. Your post really does help. I know I will cry when they ask me to leave the room because I just did when I read your post about it! You're right though, as a parent we could use a sedative for the experience too. I am just trying to not let him see it freaks me out.

It's funny, I had a endoscopy done a few months ago and my mom went with me because my husband had to stay with out son. My mom started crying when they asked her to leave the room because they were going to take me back and start the procedure. And I am 30 years old! So, I guess it's something we as parents never get over, is it?

[TCA]

My son has had 3 and they really weren't a big deal. The worst part was the IV, but it was cake after that.

We did have one bad experience that I want to share, not to scare you, but to prepare you. One time the medicine didn't put him completely out, just made him very loopy. they went ahead with the procedure and that just killed me. He didn't remember a thing, though. I was crying so hard at the thought of him being awake when they asked me to leave. i was careful not to cry in front of him, but it was soooo hard. After it was all over, he fell asleep for like 4 hrs. It just was a delayed reaction. At the time it seemed horrible, but looking back it really wasn't that bad. If I had known this was a possibility beforehand I could have prepared myself better, that's the only reason I'm sharing it. It really wasn't as bad as I thought at the time, though.

i'm with tracey on sharing the drugs with the parents!!!!

Don't worry, he will be fine. And hopefully you will have lots of answers when it's all over.

[ryebaby0]

My son has also had 4 scopes, although he's a lot older than yours (first time was when he was 9). Ours are done at a major children's hospital, where I'm allowed to stay with him while they sedate him. That's a little unnerving, but it's what HE wants, so I hold his hand while he counts backwards from 10 as they put a mask on him. (He swears he makes it to 5, but it's usually 10-9- and he's out) They will sedate him before they put the IV in (you can ask to make sure, BEFORE you get there, but that's pretty standard) and it is a very quick procedure -- it's the waiting, prep, and recovery that take time! If it's the first time he's been under, he might be nauseus afterwards but they'll be ready for that. He'll be sleepy too, and might have a sore throat. Popsicles! They will make you both wait in recovery until he's fully alert and responsive.

You have to stay calm. There are lots of machines and beeping and people in gowns. Talk about this before you go, just a little bit. The doctors are going to give him medicine to make him fall asleep, then check down his throat to look at his tummy and see what's going on in there. Then he'll wake up, and you will be right there. That's really all it is, from his point of view. Cry all you want once he's out the door!

It's okay to ask to have curtains drawn in recovery, if you want. (They never think of that, but are perfectly happy to do it otherwise) Gives you a little less drama all around you.

You can do this!

Joanna

[kenyonsmommy]

My son is 2 and had his first endoscopy in April. He had his at Strong Hospital in Rochester, NY, which is a pretty good place. They let me go back with him to the operating room, and I held his hand while they gave him the gas. He was out in seconds. they put the IV in after that. I cried the most when I saw him lying there, he just looked so helpless. Then we waited about 1/2 hour for the dr to come out. When he woke up, he was a bit horse and very thirsty, but they had left the IV in and he freaked out about that. He did not remember anything about the procedure, and he has a pretty good memory. he was fine the rest of the day.

he had a CAT scan a bout a week before this, they had to put him out for that too. That was horrible, because they put the IV in first, then my husband had to carry him(kicking and screaming) to the scan room. Make sure that they do the IV after the gas.

Good luck..........I truly believe it was worse for us than it was for him. He really was fine after the scope, it was worth it in the end.

[flagbabyds]

mine were at LSPCHAS (lucille salter packard childrens hospital at stanford) and they are great, one of the best peds hosp. in the country, find a good hospital, and they will be beter for your son.

oh and the kids will get used to the IVs soon, it gets easier after they have had a few (liek me many a pick line...)

[shai76]

Thanks for the reassuarance. It really really helps to know what to expect, and who knows scopes better then the people here?

He's having it done at Children's in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure when yet. They are supposed to call me.

My parents are not happy that we are having this done. They think it is wrong of me to put him through it, but it's what the doctor thinks is best for him. I don't think they understand the seriousness of long term reflux disease.

[kenyonsmommy]

Thanks for the reassuarance. It really really helps to know what to expect, and who knows scopes better then the people here?

He's having it done at Children's in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure when yet. They are supposed to call me.

My parents are not happy that we are having this done. They think it is wrong of me to put him through it, but it's what the doctor thinks is best for him. I don't think they understand the seriousness of long term reflux disease.

It is absolutely not wrong for you to want to know what is wrong with your son and how much damage has been done to his body. In the long term, the more knowledge you have, the better you can help him. The whole procedure did not take that long, and I swear he had no knowledge of it, other than he got a toy afterwards. Bring some very chilled juice, or what ever he likes to drink with you in a small cooler, all kenyon wanted to do was drink.

[schuyler]

I don't really have any advice, but I hope everything goes well (I'm sure it will).

[shai76]

Thanks for the support.

He is having the scope done in two weeks, so I still have awhile to fret about it. I would love it if I could just get it over with right now.

I will definitly bring him a lot to drink. He loves watered down grape koolaid and vanilla rice milk.

I'll make him some jello too.

[ryebaby0]

My son has been under the care of the GI department at Children's of Pittsburgh for 2.5 years now. You will love these people, especially the nurses. If you have specific questions, let me know and I'll see if we know the answers. We've met just about every GI there at this point Generally speaking though, they are VERY receptive to answering all your questions and doing whatever it takes to make you and your son comfy. They are very, very good at what they do,and it's a great facility

joanna

[shai76]

My son has been under the care of the GI department at Children's of Pittsburgh for 2.5 years now. You will love these people, especially the nurses. If you have specific questions, let me know and I'll see if we know the answers. We've met just about every GI there at this point Generally speaking though, they are VERY receptive to answering all your questions and doing whatever it takes to make you and your son comfy. They are very, very good at what they do,and it's a great facility

joanna

Thanks Joanna.

My son has been seeing Danielle Sebbins at the Wexford division of Pittsburgh Children's since he was 4 months old. She says the doctor doing the scope is Dr. Lowe. I never met him before. Have you had any experience with him? I'm a little nervous about it because I haven't ever even talked to the doctor, and will not until the day of the scope.

[ryebaby0]

Is the scope at Wexford or Oakland? We are east of Pgh so have been seen at Oakland and Monroeville (before they closed that clinic). Dr. Lowe is very nice, professional, and very good with kids, not to mention very well respected in the field. He is also the chief of the GI department. He did one of our scopes and I liked how he talked to my son and answered all the questions -- but they usually anticipate most of the ones you have. Let us know how it goes

[shai76]

Thank you so much Joanna! You make me feel a lot better. His scope is at the Wexford division because we live about 100 miles North of Pittsburgh. It's about 1/2 hours closer for us to go there. I will definitly let you all know how everything goes. It will be in about a week and a half, so I still have awhile to talk with him about it.

[Guest tracey and emma]

just wanted to wish wish you all the best and hope it goes well

tracey