Hannah LOVES ice cream dots!
In addition to get Hannah’s new braces tomorrow, we are meeting with Dr. V, Hannah’s gastroenterologist, tomorrow afternoon. It is just a followup for her reflux, but I think I’m going to take advantage of this time to discuss Hannah’s feeding regression issues with him.
I’ve become quite nervous about giving Hannah finger foods now such as her goldfish, Vienna sausages, and cheerios. For whatever reason, the last few times with these, 50% of the time she has choked/gagged on a small piece which led to a gagging episode (nothing requiring 911 or anything like that, just the need to hold her until she calms down). She seems to have no problems with the Gerber yogurt melts, cheetos, ice cream dots, and Gerber air puffs.
The question we have is with this “hypersensitive defensive gagging reflux”…. is it just going to get worse as her disease progresses or is it something she has to get used to to move forward?
I don’t expect Dr. V to have the answers on that. That is something I will ask Dr. Schiffmann about.
But Dr. V may be able to give me more insight into her feeding in general, which currently is 5 bottles a day with 1 pediasure, 12 ounces of milk, and 10 to 12 jars of stage 2 baby food – about 1000 to 1200 calories a day. From what I have learned about nGD, Hannah is hypermetabolic (wish I had that problem!) so the fact she hasn’t gained much weight in 4 to 5 months is not that surprising, and she is still on her “curve” according to Dr. B., our pediatrician. But at least she hasn’t lost any weight and is gaining in inches. 23 pounds, 30 inches.
I’m not sure that holding off on her finger foods like goldfish, cheerios, and cheetos, are the best thing for her. I just know that she hasn’t had any more gagging episodes since we have held off on them.
One of the hardest things with this is not being able to move her forward in skills because of my fear. I admit that I do treat her with “baby gloves,” but I just don’t want to make things worse, you know?
Hannah has good taste, I love ice cream dots too! That pic is yummy!
Wow, that would scare me! I think you do a great job!
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I understand what you mean. I was wondering if giving her something to drink before, or in between, her eating those things is an option. I, by far, don’t have the issues Little Hannah has, but one of my meds and conditions makes my mouth and throat very dry. Each and every time I eat certain things I cough uncontrollably. I don’t have a sensitive gag reflex, but I can barely catch my breath and stop coughing. I notice eating moist things first and drinking plenty has helped. Forgive me if you’ve already tried this and it hasn’t worked.
I’m glad to hear she hasn’t lost weight. I can almost picture her and feel her weight in person ’cause my Lil Anna is just 25 pounds and she’ll be 3 in May. I don’t know how tall she is though.
I hope you get good reports from your follow up appointments. … I can totally understand why you would handle her with baby gloves; try to remember that she – and you – are tough!
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I want to say something insightful or at least thoughtful, but all I can keep thinking about is how darn cute Hannah looks in that picture! 🙂 She is taking such joy in those dots! She is joie de vivre personified. Sometimes that is all the insight we need. 🙂
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