Ugh, Doctors!

Ugh, I have had it up to 'here' (jestering to top of head) with doctors and specialists.

Benjamin had yet another appointment w/ the G.I. clinic. He continues to gain weight. (8 ozs this last 3 weeks, 1 lb the previous 3 weeks). His height to weight ratio is at 50%. He is small and short for his age, still...but he is getting there. (He now weighs 20 lbs, 11 oz) Well, gaining 8 oz in 3 weeks just isn't enough for 'the powers that be'. They want him to gain more and more. Even if he starts looking like the Michelin Tire baby~which he hasn't, right now he is just adorably slightly pudgy (especially his tummy), not a lot...but just enough to want to pinch his cheeks. They say they want more and more weight now, and that height should eventually catch up. Well, what if his genetics (and medical circumstances) dictate that he is going to be short of stature? I would hate for him to be round and short as he gets older. I have a friend who's doctors had her basically force food on her small baby...he is now a 13 year old, over weight, and only recently has put on some extra height...previously being one of the shorter ones in his age group (and one of the chubbiest) So, what is worse for a kid, being short and lean (like Jakob) or short and fat? Extra calories does not always equal more height. Yes, I will do all that I can to keep him at the 50% (or greater) height to weight ratio...but there are limits...I WILL NOT tube feed him 4 times a day, PLUS all night! (which is what they want...more explained later.) When he can mostly maintain and gain on his own...at this point. From ages 2 to 10, I read that a child should on average gain about 5 lbs a year. Well, if he keeps going at the rate THEY want (1 lb a month, or more) he will be over 30 lbs by age 3. (my 3 year old doesn't even weigh that much)

Well, they have taken him completely off of milk (soy, cow, formula) and he is now on Neocate jr. He will drink it if I add it with a little juice, or other type of fluid. They say 'no juice...it is just junk'. They would rather me feed all of his food through his tube...then try to figure out a way for him to actually drink it. They said I could add the kool-aid flavoring...so I have tried that. I have also blended in things like frozen banana, strawberry or chocolate syrup, etc. Hey...that gives me an idea. I have like 4 different flavorings in my fridge for shaved ice, I wil have to try them out.

Anyways..back to why I am frusterated. I have tried everything I can think of to get the calories into Ben without using his G-tube. I think it is important that he be as normal as possible while eating...and to progress forward. Well...the dr. kept on asking how often we feed him through his tube. I said if he doesn't get 1/2 of his calorie intake by nap, we feed through tube, same with before bedtime. Well, she said that we really should start feeding him at night, again. Aacck! He throws up, when we feed him at night...no matter how slow the drip. She kept on pressing it, though. 'What about an even slower amount per hour?' Something less then 1 oz per hour? Then what is the purpose? He can drink a 7 oz bottle in 10 min, and hold it down (though not always) better then he can hold down 7 oz dripped in over an 8 hour period. She also mentioned that we should be bulus (quick feed) feeding him like 4 times a day, instead of only 2. (Good thing she doesn't know that we haven't really been feeding him through his tube for about 3 weeks...we have been working hard on the oral feeding)

I really feel like they are encouraging, rather then discouraging, him to digress.

Oh...she asked if he had had a scope, yet. Great! Another oversite. He hasn't had a scope. They 'diagnose' him, and prescribe different medicines and foods...and they haven't even taken a close look at his insides. I have been with this G.I. clinic for 4 months..and there has not once been a major procedure. They have ordered blood work only once, other then that, they have just asked question after question. Put him on medications, and tried different types of diets.

So, he may soon be getting a scope, where they look at his esophogas, his tummy, intestines, etc....taking pictures along the way...and also doing biopsys along the way. I hope that it sheds some light on what is going on inside of Ben.