In the Beginning

Ok, so I am new to blogging, but want to help other parents out there too!! What started as a simple visit to the Doctor has turned into a two year long quest for answers. We started at the pediatrician wondering why our two year old's breath always smelled like vomit. He diagnosed her withe reflux and we began taking prescription medication to control. After months of this not helping, we were sent to a Pediatric Gastronenterologist. We have spent 1 1/2 years going through tests, drugs, and various consultations.

This year, I set my New Year's Resolution to find out how to help her. Most people don't see this as that serious, and it isn't compared to life threatening diseases, but it is having a huge impact on her life. She is constantly complaining that her mouth and throat burn, her tummy hurts, and her friends (now that she is 4 1/2) and talking about her smelling bad.

So this past week I finally got up the nerve to say "enough is enough!" I started researching acid reflux in children and realized that our next step was Mayo Clinic. I immediately called up there and by the grace of God, after being told we wouldn't have an appointment for 6-9 months, got in for this February. I booked it ecstatically!!!! Maddy and I leave on February 3, to travel to Minnesota for the beggining of our quest for a solution.

After searching the web, I have come to realize how hard it is to find other people in our situation. Do you or don't you go for the second/third opinion?!?! and What is really wrong with our daughter when all of the tests come back benign and completely normal?!?!

Also, after booking our trip, I began getting phone calls from both of our doctors offices wanting to either repeat tests or put her on more medication for motility when her motility tests came back normal. As it is now she is on more acid reducing medication than a grown-up is. I keep thinking "NO!!! I am not putting her on more drugs not knowing what the long term scenario is!"

So this year I am going to start standing up for my kids and think of them first, not rely on my doctors thinking that they ALWAYS have the answers, or doing the "let's wait and see, maybe we need to give it more time" approach!

I will keep you posted as to what is happening with her and our quest. Wish me luck too, as our pediatrician requested that we meet with him tomorrow before we make "any rash decisions." Whatever!!!!!