8 week old ds got to stay in hosp fpr 24hrs for various tests for reflux, anyone been through these??

[mad4mybaby]

ds2 8 weeks has severe reflux. saw paed today and she has said he needs to have a barium x ray and a ph test done for 24 hours. The barium xray i know what to expect as ds1 (also reflux) had this done but the ph test i know is a tube down his nose for 24 hours but want to know what is involved etc he was going to be able to come home but since ds keeps stopping breathing and choking on the acid he has to have a monitor but on him for 24 hours whilst they do the ph test.

help! How traumatic is this going to be and what happens when a parent has to stay in aswell? What do you do/where do you go?? They just told me there'd be a bed for me and a cot for ds. Anyone?? Very anxious as i have hospital phobia plus 2.6 ds1 at home

Very sorry to hear about your ds2. Have just come out of hospital with my ds. I slept on a camp bed next to his bed, or tried to, in between hourly observations, sceaming children and him trying to pull off monitors etc. I wished I had taken in change of clothes to sleep in and stuff to freshen up with in the morning. Night staff will look after you and hopefully bring you breakfast. Check if they supply your bedding, and ask/beg for a separate room if at all possible.

Hope you get a good outcome.

I spent a week in hospital with dd2 when she was 4 weeks old. IME, they try and give side rooms with one or at most two beds in to the young babies, so you may well get one of those. At our hospital, there were adult beds in the side rooms as well as the paed beds, but on the main ward camp beds were brought out in the evening to put next to the cots, with a pillow and blanket/bedding.

My dd was in the HDU for the first five days, so I had a room in the patient's hotel as she was so ill...then moved to side room later.

My dd1 did have a tube down her nose when a day old, to check her stomach contents because of excess amniotic fluid (can indicate blockage for baby, hence tests). It was only for an hour or so, but imagine much same procedure....it took a minute to pass it into her stomach, she protested but it was very fast, and once in she wasn't bothered by it at all. They taped it to the side of her face with non allergenic tape, so it didnt' flap around - then pulled it out gently and slowly and she coughed but didn't cry.

Your ds is older, so may try and pull it out, but they will give you all the advice you need as they will hvae seen it done lots...staff on paeds wards are very nice, IME, and so are fellow patients' parents! So hopefully you will get lots of support on the spot.

try not to worry as the staff are really nice,there is usually a parents room where you can have tea and a chat.
I slept in a room next to my ds2 who had refluxand it gave him funny turns as you describe.
He didn't have investigations specific for the reflux,it was treated empirically with meds.
He had the sats monitor on for 4/5 days,and 24 hrs at home and,like you i was suitably petrified!
However HE WAS FINE!!
TRy not to worry,they've got it all under control,and you will be sleeping next to him whatever kind of room you are in.
Take joggers and tops,washbag,towel,comfy shoes,soft drinks.If you are bfing they will prob feed you too.
take care and he will be finexx

thanks guys. im not bf as he has intolerances and been on medicated milk. what happens with washing and sterilising bottles?? do they provide sterilisor etc? havent got appt time yet,they are ringing me. i feelso sick

yes, they provide all of that - steriliser, bottles, even variety of milks. Its horrid thinking about going in, but IIRC better once youre' there....which I'm saying to myself too, as about to go in with dd in 10 mins.

they have a room they call the milk room or kitchen where you can do all your milk prep.It will be ok,the paeds ward is geared up for parents as well as the childrenxx