It all started when Rylan was an infant with projectile vomit. After some testing, he was put on acid reflux medication. It made a world of difference. We were told that by age two, most kiddos grow out of the reflux. We weaned him off of his medications at that time. No projectile vomit so we thought all was well and that he had outgrown the reflux. Rylan has been very congested and has had dark circles around his eyes for two years. I was convinced that he had allergies like his brother, Bryce. A year ago we did the allergy testing and not one allergy! I was shocked!!! So, the investigation began... the result... extreme acid reflux! We began connecting other dots... Rylan had not been able to sleep through the night without waking up for several years. It was determined that his reflux was causing all the congestion. He was so congested that he had 2 CT scans and an abundant amount of medications to try and fix the chronic rhinosinusitis that he had without surgery. We were successful but it took a full year. Rylan has remained on three reflux preventatives a day but continues to get congested. So, off to the pediatric gastroenterologist we went.
Last week Rylan had an extensive blood work panel drawn which came back normal :) He also had a stomach ultrasound that also came back normal... yahoo! Tomorrow, however, is the big day! Rylan goes in to Lutheran at 8:45am to be prepped for an upper endoscopy and a Bravo pH Probe procedure. The Bravo system involves a pH capsule, about the size of a gel cap, that is temporarily attached to the wall of the esophagus. The Bravo pH Capsule measures pH levels in the esophagus and transmits reading wirelessly to a box that Rylan will wear on his waistband.
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| Wireless box and pH capsule |
Rylan will need to record symptoms that he he experiences in a diary by pressing buttons on the receiver. The capsule collects pH measurements for up to 48 hours. After the study, data from the receiver is uploaded to a computer and diary information is entered for analysis to aid in the diagnosis and plan treatment. I have been told that activities such as swallowing, eating, and drinking should cause the disposable pH capsule to detach and pass through the digestive tract in 5-7 days.
The GI doctor will insert the pH capsule through the mouth and position it above the lower esophageal sphincter. Of course he will be put to sleep for this procedure. Once the pH capsule is in place, suction is applied, drawing a small amount of esophageal tissue into the capsule and locking it in place. The delivery system is then withdrawn and the pH capsule can begin measuring pH levels.
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| esophageal tissue with capsule |
Rylan is very nervous about "having a camera in his tummy for the endoscopy and a capsule stuck inside of him." His biggest concern is that he won't wake up after the doctor's put him to sleep. Bless his sweet heart! Prayers appreciated for Rylan's peace and comfort tomorrow morning.
On a side note... I was on Facebook tonight and saw a posting from a family at church that their little first grader, that is in Rylan's Sunday School Class, was having surgery tomorrow at 8:30am. I called the family a little bit ago to see where their procedure was being done, thinking I would go a little earlier than Rylan's to pray with them if it was at Lutheran. God had this all under control! They will be in the same surgery center and at the same time that we will be there.... So my sweet Reece, we will be praying for your comfort and peace tonight and I'm grateful that I can be there with you in the morning to pray over you before your surgery... Hugs to you from Pastor Shandra!!!
Praying along with you that Rylan's procedure goes well and that he (and you) will feel a peace about it knowing that God is in control!
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