Scope results...

Yesterday Shelby had her upper endoscopy ("scope") at Rockford Memorial Hospital. She was wonderful! After talking things over with the anesthesiologist, we decided to not tempt the Versed (pre-med that really, really relaxes her that she had trouble waking up from when she had her tooth pulled) for such a short procedure and that I would go in with her while she fell asleep. She was scared, but did awesome. What a brave little girl she is! I helped hold her arms and legs still while the "gas" took effect. Its amazing how much you can change as a parent in 3 1/2 years of medical mayhem. I used to leave the procedure room or OR crying, haunted by the image of her struggling and fighting being put to sleep. Now I understand it as something totally normal that people do as they go under. Once she was asleep, I kissed her on the cheek, reminded Dr. Deutsch to have a nice, steady hand, and was on my way. Even though I can do that without much emotional outburst, I still don't like to be away from her long, so I scooted off to the cafeteria for a pop and bag of chips while Scott went to make some work phone calls and get a big 'ole cuppa Joe. Once back waiting for her I couldn't just sit, either. I have to pace. And look at the fish. Very relaxing. Fifteen minutes after they took her in Dr. Deutsch came out to give us the results.

Previously she had 1 small varix that stayed the same for about a 2 1/2 years. Now she has 4 varices, a red stomach, and a hemorrhoid. Varices are graded on a scale of 1 - 4 with 4 being the worst. Thank God Shelby has only one at a grade 2, one graded at a 1, and the other two aren't even big enough to get graded, but are there none-the-less. Her stomach is red due to the increased blood flow around it because the blood can't flow through her liver like it should. The hemorrhoid is, well, really, a varice. Hemorroids are veins that are taking on too much blood flow just like a varice. But is it just a hemorrhoid or something caused by her liver disease? Who knows! Its something to keep an eye on, too.

She woke up from the anesthesia crabby and upset because her I.V. was still in. It didn't take long for Shelby to get her way. She was thrashing around so much thus the I.V. started bleeding and she got it out. Trust me, I think she knew what she was doing. Smart little girl. Once that was out, she settled down, and was on to drinking and eating. We were able to leave the hospital 1 hour and 15 minutes after her procedure with her walking on her own. She didn't look like someone who just had general anesthesia. Off to McDonalds we went as promised.

I think the hardest part for her was not eating or drinking from the time she woke up until after the test. I used the promise of my special dark chocolate as an incentive to put on the medical bracelets at the hospital and, sure, enough, the little bugger remembered it as soon as she started to come to. She also remembered that she wanted pop and got a little irritated when the nurse mentioned a popsicle, but didn't return with one. Trust me, the nurse figured out why she was mad real quick! The popsicle arrived moments later.

While waiting to go in for her test, Shelby had great fun running through the halls while I counted to see how fast she could go. Mind you, this is a 3 1/2 year old in nothing but hospital slipper-socks, a pull-up, and a pj shirt. Very cute! Scott and I are pretty lax on what we let her get away with to entertain herself when doctors are involved. Race around the halls, great! Just don't run anybody over. Draw all over yourself with a pen, sure! Have fun! You know, stickers and the usual hospital tricks don't always work that well for "frequent flyers." RMH did update its pediatric outpatient area since we were last there and had an awesome fish tank and play area. Shelby did enjoy that a bit.

So many of you are probably asking "Now knowing about these varices, does it change anything for Shelby?" O.k. if you weren't asking it, we were. No, nothing changes. Now finding out her labs results today (which I'm trying to be patient about) could change things if they're still rotten like the ones on the 13th. Knowing about the varices just makes us worry more. Having a GI bleed is Shelby's biggest risk right now. A GI bleed would mean her vomiting blood or it coming out the other end. This would mean calling the ambulance and, most likely, spending some time in the hospital. She could need a blood transfusion or several. Sometimes bleeds aren't bad, but they are referred to as "life-threatening." Not good. Now will Shelby ever have a bleed? She might not. She could have horrible, grade 4 varices that would never bleed or she could bleed alot. There's nothing we can do with her that would change that fact. The doctor's at Children's Memorial take the route if it ain't broke, don't fix it - meaning, they don't try to treat the varices unless they're bleeding because the risk of doing it preventively can be worse that just waiting and seeing what happens.

Scott and I were actually expecting to hear this news with her last scope in November of 2004. We're not surprised that she has 4 varices because we know that her little body can only take so much of a crappy liver before it takes a toll on her. Those of you that know Shelby in person know that you can't tell from the outside (except for her large abdomen) that there is anything wrong with her, but her insides tell a much different story.

Continue to pray for her please and all the other children in the world that suffer due to disease, hunger, abuse, etc.

I''ll leave you with a funny conversation we had at the hospital.
Me: Shelby, these are the pictures Dr. Deutsch took of your insides. What do you think?
Shelby: (Thoughtful pause) Ick!

Gotta love her! I'll update again when I hear on her lab results. Here's some pics of the girls from Christmas. (Click on any of the images to see larger.)