Monday, January 21, 2008

Nissen.......

Guess what we get?

Yup, a Nissen. We are out of options to treat Rhett's reflux. It has gone from bad to worse, and could be causing his apnea which in turn is a big contributer to his Pulmonary Hypertension.

Today was our Cardiology appointment, and the chest xray showed that his heart is enlarged again. They are going to sneek an echo in when he has his MRI next monday. His dr. wants to see how thick the walls of the heart have gotten. If it shows increased pulmonary pressures then he will schedule a cath in the next few weeks as well.

With the Nissen, it should stop him from refluxing thus not damaging his airway and esophagus anymore. His Cardiologist thinks that when he is sleeping he refluxes then it stresses his heart and causes his heart rate to go from his relaxed 57 to 156. This is all just taking a huge toll on his whole body.

As much as I don't want to see him go through another surgery, if this will fix things, then I am all for it. I am also happy that it's just reflux and nothing serious with his heart. That is such a huge blessing. We can totally deal with reflux!

When Rhett had his hernia operation last year the surgeon who did it said that he would probably need a Nissen before he was three, but she didn't want to do it until he really needed it.

Also, another really cool thing....Rhett has coils in his intestines from his hernia repair! They looked way cool on the xray. I knew he had staples and a patch, but I had no idea he had coils. In fact it threw his Cardiologist off, because he thought he had put the coils in, and was trying to figure out how they got clear down there! He had no idea they put coils in when they did a hernia repair.

My little guy is full of cool stuff!

5 comments:

RK said...

My gosh, Rhett...you're always coming up with something! And coils? I've never heard of that either.

Niksmom said...

Hmmm, now I wonder if Nik has coils from *his* hernia repair. I swear, Pam, it sounds like our boys could be twins sometimes! Nik's had his Nissen for three years now and it's totally stretched out; we're hoping it won't have to be redone.

Let us know whenthe surgery is so we can send up a special prayer.

Marla said...

What are coils? How do they get there?

I am glad that there is something they can do for Rhett's reflux. I am sure another surgery is quite scary but it is so needed. I hope they can get it done soon.

Prayers and ugs.

BiLlY, sAm, AnD bOyS!!! said...

I first want you to know that i am thinking of you and your family and hope things will get better.

Tayte had a nissen done in september. I had heard alot of pro's and con's about it and was nervous but it has helped SO much with Tayte's reflux and gagging and choking. It was one more (quite large) scar right up the front on his belly but it has been worth it for us. Which doc will be doing it? let me know- slbanks00@gmail.com

ks said...

We had a Nissen also with a g-tube and they were able to do it laproscopically so the scars were really small. I was so glad to have it done because it just reduced the amount of reflux and puking... (btw, it eventually stretched out so that my daughter COULD burp if she tried hard enough, but has not puked...) Anyway, we'll be thinking and praying for you.