One more quick thing

Just spoke with Dr. Mellick. The doc I work with, Andrew's primary, the one who is doing a lot of talking with these specialists. We chatted about the appointment. A few key questions she asked.

1) How is Andrew doing on the diet?

- Fine. It's a pain to find things, but truly, he's doing great. He's gained 10 ounces in as many days.

2) How are his symptoms?

- Almost non-existent. The cough has diminished. He's not choking or gagging.

3) Do you think he needs the g-tube?

- (long pause) Well Jen, I've been trying not to romanticize that thought, but it would be great if he didn't need it.

She says, "Well, it seems to me that people are less and less impressed with this OT who told you he needed one. The surgeon put the brakes on, and the GI docs feel that although he may possibly need one eventually, and I'm not telling you he doesn't, they want to have all the information they can before they put a tube in him. Which means the pH study and upper GI need to be read, and the biopsy results need to be back. So if that hasn't happened by Wednesday afternoon, the surgery gets bumped back."

I don't know what to think now. I would be thrilled if he didn't need one. There are two theories that have been thrown out. Eosinophillic esophagitis, or an esophageal duplicating tract which developed a cyst. Google it...difficult to explain. The first requires medication, the second requires surgery, but both are treatable, and would mean that a g-tube may not be necessary.

So, needing some answers before the g-tube. Here's to hoping (and truly praying) that there is an answer on these studies that remove the necessity of a g-tube.

Val