results and next steps

On Monday Audra's GI doctor called to chat.  I knew she would...she is so good to us!

The biopsies from Audra's endoscopy and colonoscopy showed some improvement...
there is less inflammation and less atrophy throughout her GI tract.  But visibly, her intestinal mucosa is still inflamed and very friable.  To help with this she was started on Prilosec, an acid blocker medication.  They were able to determine that Audra can't absorb sugars normally.  Exactly which sugars...we still need to figure out (there's lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and probably more).  The next step is hydrogen breath testing to determine which sugars Audra can't absorb.  I don't know a lot about this type of test, so I have some homework to do :)

The plan is to have the 3 hour breath test done, and on the same day meet with the dietitian and then her GI doctor.  Unfortunately, we are getting very close to needing to trial tube feedings.  I have tried for so long to avoid this for Audra.  She actually does quite well with the naso-gastric tube itself (she has had them a few times while in the hospital).  I just can't imagine having to limit her oral intake (if she needs a special diet), and don't want to cause her to lose interest in eating food. 

My girl loves her food something fierce! 
And she can eat...there's no denying that. 

But the bottom line is...nutrition is important...very, very important.  I know this, of course.  And right now, after 10 months of trying and trying, we still haven't been able to help her grow.  She is six and a half years old and weighs 24-25 lbs. 

Audra deserves every chance to be healthy and have catch up growth and development. 

And so we will do whatever it takes.