fyrbug08 wrote:Dr. Heba Ismail, M.D.
Thank you so much for your time and your reply.
While I was pregnant with her, I had the Alpha Feta Protein test. It came back elevated so my OBGYN wanted me to have another one. I did and it came back even more elevated. We did an amniocentesis and the doctor who performed it said everything looked good and they would send the fluid to the lab. As far as I know, there was nothing to worry about. I do have those records as well.
At birth she had what they call "a slow transition" or failure to thrive. Her resperations where very fast and she would not eat. Her O2 sat was low as well. She did not have a bowel movement until 24 to 48 hours after birth. I would have to look at her hospital records again to be sure of the exact time. I breast fed her for 4 weeks and then switched to formula and that is when it seems like everything started happening. When she was an infant, she would not rest comfortably throughout the day, but she has always slept through the night. She seemed like she always had some belly
pain and
constipation. I had to go back to work. She was started on Similac and then finally ended with Allomentum. I was told to mix Phillips in her formula, did that for a while, then used Senecot at night for a long, long time which would occasionally produce a bowel movement while she was sleeping and they were very large. Also used Dulcolax for a long long time. She was weaned off of that and then replaced with Mirilax. Then we tried changing the diet. Her color looked better, but she still has
constipation. I went through the total GI workup with her when she was 4 or 5, everything has come back good. She also had an MRI of her spine done with came back ok.
I also just recently found out that after she has been eating breakfast at home before school, then she will eat the breakfast at school an hour later. She will eat dinner at home and then go to the neighbors and eat there. She has been 55 pounds for the longest time. I would think that she would have been gaining some weight with all she eats. She has grown taller though. I believe she is in the 50% of her age. She is constantly drinking water. She doesn't really want anything else to drink. She does wet the bed everynight and has since she was born. I have tried the herbal remedy inhalent and also pills of the herbal remedy. I have also tried a prescribed medication from the doctor, but we had to take her off it as he upped her to the limit and it did no good. I have cut off her water and all fluids hours before bedtime. I have also purchased the alarm to wear at night. Nothing has worked for her night time wetness. She had an ultrasound done and his words were "her plumbing looks fine". Her walking and talking were delayed as well probably by 6-9 months delay then the average child.
Her 14 year old sister has a history of bilateral uterin reflux and a double ureter. She did have a uretral implant surgery performed when she was 6. They also removed her appendix as they thought this was the cause of her illness, but when her white count did not improve they further investigated and found the reflux. She is fine now and has been since the surgery. Her older brother is 20 and he has had nothing significant. Both her brother and sister developed a little sooner than the average.
I don't recall her having
diarrhea except when she has had too much of the laxatives. She does pass a lot of gas though. She has a gross motor delay and was evaluated prior to beginning kindergarten and it was advised that she go to preschools with disabilities and not kindergarten. I moved in to a different school system due to a job change and the new district advised me that she would be ok to begin kindergarten. I have just initiated the testing process. However, the school system says that they have to set up an intervention plan and prove that she needs tested. So that is what they are doing now. I go back to meet with the school in December to see if there is any improvement.
She is very good with drawing and loves to sing and dance. We have no relatives with bed wetting or
constipation. She goes to school regularly, but I am often called as she has the belly
pain from time to time. There is no history of Celiac that I know of.
She is currently in 2nd grade. She is struggling with reading and math. She loves art. She takes ballet and tap as I thought this would help improve her coordination. She loves it but is mad because she, in her words, "can't get her legs to do what her brain wants them to do."
She is not in
pain all the time, just right before she has a bowel movement as it will have been a few days since the last one. But the
constipation is always there unless she is on the laxative.
How can I obtain the reference range for the lab results? My appointment with the Gastro is not until 2 weeks from now and I could ask for a copy of lab work at that time.
Should I suggest the gluten tolerance type lab testing? Where you have her eat products that contain gluten and then see if there is an elevation like they said would happen if she truly has something like this?
I don't know if there is anything medically wrong with her....I just want to make sure I cover all my avenues and try to do anything and everything for her that I can to help her with these problems that she is having. I know every child is different, she just seems to not be like the other two where.
Again, thanks for your time and concern.
Jill
