My 3 1/2 yr old son is having a pH Probe test to check his reflux and I was wondering if anyone had experienced this test with their toddler. From what I was told they do not sedate them to insert the tube through the nose and I am concerned this is going to really be hard to do with him. If you have any information would you please email me?
Thank you
First of all I want to thank everyone for their advice and support for me and my little guy.
The pH probe test showed he had normal reflux that is Great! But the Endoscopy showed Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE). Well it seems he has allergy to wheat, soy, milk, eggs, nuts and what else we don’t know at this time.
So if anyone has any experience with EE or food allergies I would be glad to hear from you.
Thank you again for all of your help.
D.
My son had it a few years ago, after they get the tube in it is not that bad and it stays in overnight, he had his at childrens.
Hi D., I am a Pediatric Rn and help families with this test all the time.Have the tube put down their nose is the hardest part ask for the lidocaine gel to numb the inside of his nose this helps. Once they put the tube down their nose it's not so bad. I would assume you are staying in the hospital for the test. I would reccomend bringing his favorite toys and lots of distractions. I personally have had bad reflux since I was a teen. If he has reflux there are many options to help him. I eventually had surgery to fix mine.
Just talk to your doc. Maybe they can perscribe you with some phenergen or something for you to give your toddler at home about an hour before the appointment. That is what my dentist did for my daughter for her appointment to relax her. If your doc won't give anything, try to give them something over the counter to calm them like Calms Forte, it is Homeopathic and you can find it by the vitamins at Wal-Mart.
i did not have this done to my toddler but when my baby was 2 weeks old they did it and she freaked. but there are things they can give an older child to help calm him down. see what your doctor recommends. good luck and i will be praying for you
My son had a probe done when he was around 6 months. They did not sedate him or even give him anything to help him relax. To be honest with you, he screamed and cried and we had to hold him down. The probe confirmed his reflux. As a matter of fact, he is scheduled to have another probe on Wednesday of next week. He is also having an endoscopy so they said they would put the tube for the probe in while he is still out from the scope. I will tell you that the tube is very small and once they get it in it doesn't really bother them. My son is having a 24 hour probe next week, the one he had as a baby was only a 12 hour. I wonder if you could ask the dr if they could give him something to make him a little woosy so he will be more cooperative. Good luck.
Hi D.! I'm so sorry, reflux sucks doesn't it?! My son is now 19 mos. and has been absolutely struggling with reflux every single day since he was 6 weeks old. He had this done at 5 mos., and my understanding of the actual procedure where the ph probe is placed is that it is more irritating, uncomfortable, and scary than it is painful. I knew that because when they brought my LO back to me it really took him very little time to return to his easy going self. He did try to pull it out a number of times because it was uncomfortable, but it wasn't causing him actual pain once it was placed. I'm guessing you will be spending the night in the hospital or at least an entire day, so I would suggest in the days prior you talk about the procedure often, and explain to him the doctors are going to help him get better. I also read about a good idea where you let him pick out new pj's or a new outfit, and a few new books/toys/coloring books just for the hospital. This will give him something to look forward to that day.
Also, for some outstanding advice and support for mom's/famlies of reflux babies and children I highly recommend you go to momswearingpuke.com . It's a forum with hundreds of parents asking questions and offering suggestions and support to each other on an extremely wide range of reflux related issues. You can ask just about anything there and you will get a lot of great feedback quickly.
we are thinking of going through that ourselves soon, so i don't have any help for you, but i would love to hear how it goes!!!
I work in the medical field, and if I were you I would insist on sedation.
There is no since, in traumatizing a 3 1/2 year old. Would you like a tube shoved up your nose with KY jelly.
The only reason I can see not using sedation is that he will need to swallow the tube.
I am a former NICU nurse - the tube they are referring to is a very flexible tube - that is not to say he won't gag I am certain he will, the nurses will possibly have to hold him down in order to insert the tube for the testing after the tube is inserted they will tape it to his nose - he may attempt to pull this out b/c it is aggravating. This procedure is generally not done with sedation...you may ask that they use something if you think it will be hard for him
He will be fine my son had the same test at 27 months old and I assure you it was harder for me than him...they will strap him down and tape his hands up like boxing gloves to keep him from pulling out the tube but it doesn't hurt to insert the tube - it is the restraining he will hate... Hang in there the information obtained is crucial to the treatment necessary!
