Pyloric Stenosis

What in the world is that? That is what I first thought when the doctor asked if we had a history of it in our family, "Well I don't think so because I have never heard of it." Pyloric Stenosis is a disease that causes the lower part of the stomach in babies to narrow, which prevents food from emptying the stomach causing babies to throw up what they have eaten. It occurs in 1 out of 500 babies, generally boys. It can be fixed with surgery.

West has been spitting up for quite some time, making us think that he had acid reflux, but it has continually gotten worse. He will spit up from the time he has finished eating all the way to his next feeding. Friday I took him in to get an ultrasound because our pediatrician thought he might have Pyloric Stenosis. The ultrasound came back with one abnormal reading and two borderline readings. Our pediatrician told us to monitor him this weekend because it is a disease that gets worse as time goes on. Well this weekend he has been spitting up even more. Unfortunately our doctor Cynthia Ironside (who I absolutely love!!), is not on call. She told us to call the on call doctor if it got worse and he would tell us what we needed to do.

This morning I was getting ready for church I had just fed West and he spit up some, but that was normal. I started to get him in his Sunday wear and he spit up all over it, so I changed him. As we were getting in the car he again spit up all over the place. I immediately brought him inside and called the on call doctor, who made me feel like an idiot! I told him about teh ultrasound and the findings, and he said that there was a bug going around that was causing babies to throw up. I told him that he was not eating very well and he proceeded to tell me that he can't spit up more, if he does not eat more. I told him that Saturday I had fed him at 5 am and then again at 8. At 8 he only ate half an ounce, but spit up at least three ounces, meaning that the food was probably stuck in his stomach and had finally come out. He then said all I can tell you is that if you are concerned go to the ER.

WOW I felt like a complete idiot. My pediatrician was very concerned and told me to monitor him and if it got bad to call to the on call doctor, well it has, and he could care less. So my plan is to wait until his next feeding and if he throws up again I am going to take him in. If he has to get the surgery he will be on an IV for 24 hours to prepare his body. He will then be there for a couple of days after to be monitored. We are hoping that we can just get this taken care of so our baby will feel better!

I hate when doctors think they know everything and won't listen to you, even when my doctor told me she was concerned!!!! I am so grateful for our pediatrician, she has never made me feel dumb and always listens to my concerns. We have gone to 5 different pediatricians since Jack was born, and Cynthia is by far the best we have seen!!! I will post again when we figure out what is going to happen.