From March 2011
Isla had her endoscopy & sigmoidoscopy today.
She was amazing (as always) & took it all in stride (as much as can be expected). She is a trooper and we are so proud of her.
The experience was both traumatizing and completely not traumatizing - it is hard to explain.
The procedure was done at our local children's hospital in a beautiful pristine child friendly facility. I know this shouldn't matter, but it did. The environment put us all at ease.
We checked in at 8 am. Isla had to have a special diet & meds last night & this morning to prepare her. (She helped out by throwing up after getting the meds last night.) She also has either a cold or nasal allergies (she's off her allergy meds), so I was a little worried that after all this time she wasn't going to be able to be scoped. After getting weighed, measured, vitals checked, and changed into a tiny & sort of heartbreaking purple hospital gown with astronaut koalas all over it, we met with the admitting nurse. She went over Isla's allergies & diet (for the 4th time that morning - they even had a red id for her to wear identifying her allergies). Next we met with the GI Doc and then the anethesiologist (more allergy review.) Next Rolando, the really tall, super kind OR nurse, who looked like he'd be as comfortable on the football field as he was in the hospital, came in. He took us to a private parent waiting room and then scooped up Isla. We gave her kisses & she went without complaint with Rolando. She was a little worried when I first gave him to her, but after we all reassured her she seemed fine & Andrew saw her looking around as Rolando walked her off.
We waited in the parent room with a big poster of the intestinal tract & I cried a little & prayed and then we read and tried not to think about everything. Soon the GI came in with some lovely photos of Isla's very pretty and healthy looking esophagus, stomach, small intestine & colon. The Dr. said that everything looked great visually, which is a good sign! We will meet with him on the 29th to review the biopsy. The doctor also said that Isla did really well during the scope.
After our meeting we went out to the main waiting room. The nurse told us that Isla was sleeping & we could expect her to wake in 40 minutes or so. About 5 minutes later the nurse rushed out and said to come back. Only one of us was allowed to go back, so Andrew kindly let me go see her (Thank you Honey!)
I rushed back to the recovery room & I could hear Isla before I could see her. The first thing I thought when I saw her was, "What did we do to her?!?!" She was covered in tubes, ripping off her oxygen mask & screaming crying. It was exactly the same reaction she had after she got her epipen and completely awful to witness. When she saw me the nurse had to hold her down to keep her from climbing out of bed into my arms. As soon as we got her a little more calm the nurse & I dressed her. She woke up so fast & furious that the nurse said that she wasn't able get her get her diaper or gown back on.
Once she was in her gown & diaper I was able to hold her, wrapped in warm blankets, and still covered with tubes. I got out her Curious George & she wanted to snuggle him, but continued to cry hard for another 20 minutes & then cry off and on for a while. After a while they unhooked her and tried to have her drink a little juice - she was not having it. She eventually ate some popsicle & then drank some gatoraide & we were cleared to leave. Isla was able to walk out and the Anesthesiologist (who was really awesome - ever since my epidural I have a special love for anesthesiologists), came over to say good-bye and was completely charmed by Isla.
Isla wanted more popsicles, so we picked some up on the way home. When we got home she wanted to play & ate a big lunch. She had a slightly high temp this afternoon & took a super nap, but other than that and a very grovelly phlegmy voice, she seems 100%.
I'm really happy it went so well & I'm so thankful that Isla did so well. We are lucky to have such great care available in our area.
