Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Tummy trouble

Sigh...It's been an exciting morning.  Jack woke up crying at 6:00 a.m. so I let him come snuggle with me in bed. A few minutes later he started coughing and wham! He puked all over me, him and my bed. Awesome. So I threw him in the tub, stripped the sheets, got him out of the tub and let him watch a show while I jumped in the shower to clean off the vomit. When I got out he said he felt good, then threw up again all over my bed, so we did it all again.

Normally I would just assume stomach bug, but he threw up Sunday (in nursery) and about a week ago in the middle of the night as well.  Every time he throws up and doesn't feel well for a little bit but then perks up and is fine.  No other symptoms.  Then a Heart Mom mentioned her daughter was throwing up too and cardiology was concerned as vomiting can be a sign of heart failure. (Plus his other HLHS buddy Kylie got sick a few days ago and is now in the hospital really struggling.) Of course that got me worried so we've spent the day at the dr.  First stop was the pediatrician. He's lost some weight, but otherwise looks pretty good. After consulting with cardiology they decided we should go get a chest xray just in case.  Thank goodness for the Riverton PCMC office.  Jack was a trooper and we were in and out in 30 min. The pediatrician called a little while ago and said everything looked okay, so we're back to assuming it's just a weird stomach bug.

Sweet Jack has definitely been slowing down lately.  His cousins run circles around him, and at his bday party he sat in the shade while his friends played the games I had prepared.  We called cardiology a few weeks ago about it and we have a sedated echo scheduled for September 12 to see what's going on. My guess is that we are getting closer to needing the Fontan.  As a result I pulled him out of preschool for next year just in case. He would have loved it but some days he just doesn't have the energy.  We'll have more answers in the next few weeks, but as of today we at least know he's not in heart failure so I don't mind a little vomit.  Now if he would just learn how to aim for the bowl.

6 comments:

Allison said...

Oh Aimee, I am sorry to hear this... especially since you had to strip your bed twice (my least favorite chore!!) Grant is a random vomit kiddo too. He used to randomly puke in spurts for no reason and with no other symptoms. I brought it up several times with the ped and cardiology and everyone seemed to agree that it was random and left it at that. I wouldn't say that it really increased much leading up to the Fontan (he has done it since he was about 10 months old), but interestingly he hasn't had a puke episode since the Fontan. I attributed it to silent reflux or nasal drainage going down his throat that triggered his gag and just made him throw up. I hope that Jack's is not anything serious and above all that you get him feeling better soon!

Jodi said...

I hope everything is okay. I'm sorry to hear that Jack is slowing down. Poor little guy. We will keep him in our prayers.

The Simmons Family said...

Owen is a puker so I feel your pain! I'm glad he's getting in for an echo soon. It's so hard to know what's causing symptoms... but I always suspect heart failure. So glad that was ruled out! We'll keep jack in our prayers and I hope he feels better soon!

Kaidence's Mommy said...

Bummer! Poor little guy. K puked all of the time when in HF. When she pukes now....it still scares me. I see why it worries you. We will keep your family in our many prayers. Let me know if you need anything.

One Happy Heart Family said...

OH Amiee, I am so sorry,I have not been a good heart keeper upper with the world. I hope by now he is feeling better??? I pray it really is a bug, So much better then us!! LOL Kylie never did throw up at all, just got sick in her tummy, would dry heave, then of course she wasn't eating much so it was like spit up, she just go where her tummy hurt all the time, then just stoped moving at all!! It was so SAD!! The whole time EVERYONE told me it wasn't her heart, I called cardiology Saturday night before the ER visit on Sunday, & everyone reasurred me it was just a virus!!! Kylie's energy did go blah before her Fontan, but heck after she was a super bug, running like crazy. Then all of a sudden she was out!!! It plain old SUCKS!!! I highly doubt Jack will have any problems, but am assuming with Dr P he will say sooner is better, thats what he did with Ky bug. Praying he is feeling better asap. HOPE we are not still here then, but such a posibility. If so we can catch up!!! Good Luck!! Your boys are ADORBLE!!!

Molly Wright said...

I hope Jack is feeling better! I think the puking is pretty common...but it doesn't make you worry any less. Marky is having the Fontan on Tuesday. Honestly, we are glad to be getting it done. It has been hanging over our heads since he was born! Good luck!