GI Appointment and Weight Gain
Justin had his GI (Gastoenterology) appointment on Thursday. The purpose of meeting with his GI doc was to discuss his weight gain (or lack of) issue, and his acid reflux that seems to rear itself during Justin’s illnesses.
First, the weight gain issue. After assessing Justin’s weight and height, GI Doc found that he is farther from the normal curve for weight than height, so his slow weight gain is more of a nutritional based problem then a hormonal one. Also, although he is small for his age, he is proportional for his size.
Her recommendations for increasing his caloric intake is this: give him an appetite stimulant (medication) on days that he does not eat well to encourage him to eat, give him higher caloried (fried and buttered up) foods, and add Boost Plus (supplement) to his Pediasure.
So, in order for my child to obtain a “healthy”‘ weight, I must treat him with “unhealthy” foodstuff and medication. I couldn’t accept this for awhile. I refused to give Justin dallops of butter in everything that he ate, and endless bowls of ice cream and whipped cream. I was afraid of creating bad eating habits that would only harm him in the long run. I also think the Pediasure stuff is gross and wished that there was something like that in Organic. As for the appetite stimulant? Um, I resisted this for awhile because I wanted to see how we could do without it.
Here’s where perspective comes in. My kid is not growing. He does not eat enough. He needs every calorie not only to gain weight for his next surgery, but also so that his brain, muscles, and bones could grow and heal. He’s already developmentally behind as it is from his stroke and heart condition that he doesn’t need his lack of nutrition to hold him back further. So, even if the foodstuff and medication is “gross” for a normal, healthy kid, it’s great for mine because it will help him be as healthy as he can be.
It’s about finding balance. I’ve surprised myself at how creative I can be with preparing high calorie meals with dairy products, that are also rich in nutrients from vegetables, grains, and chicken. It’s also about taking one day at a time, and taking it as it comes; I cannot plan for his eating habits in the future if I don’t care of him today to allow him that future.
It’s about learning to let go even before he’s even left the nest.
Insert sad face and sigh here. Now, onward…
The second issue we discussed was his infantile acid reflux. Although Justin is not an infant, anymore, at almost 20 months old, developmentally, he is. Once he is able to get upright and walking on his own, the reflux will go away, also. Right now, the reflux seems to appear only during times that he is sick. So, we were given medication to help with this when needed, and were told to keep him healthy (not get sick), so that his feedings and weight gain will not be affected.
Thanks for checking in. Justin, otherwise, is doing OK…except for this cold that he caught from brother. Oh, brother!
April 6th, 2009 at 6:42 am
It’s such a fine line, isn’t it? Putting high-calorie, fatty foods into our little ones’ bodies seems so wrong, but the alternative is much worse. Although Elijah has never had problems gaining weight, I’ve always been on alert for it. I, too, have gotten really creative with adding calories wherever I can.
You’re doing such a good job of caring for your little man. He just could not have a better mama. xo