Warning: Not for the Queasy...

Last week, a friend of ours from small group received a potentially rough diagnosis for her daugher regarding a growth disorder. I made my friend promise me she wouldn't "google" the disorder. I should take my own advice!!!

In February of this year, Micaiah, all of a sudden, stopped having BM's. After 10 days of this, I called the dr.  They told me to bring him in to the pediatrics walk in for sick kids.  Diagnosis "normal child constipation. Give him a daily dose of Miralax. It will take 6 months for him to be regular."  Ok, no big deal.  I can handle that.  We give him a dose of Miralax each morning in a cup of coffee. Yes, you read that correctly. I give my 3.5 year old a cup of coffee laced with miralax each morning.  It's the first thing he asks for when he wakes up (please don't judge me :)  )

Over the course of these six months, we have laughed as Micaiah performs his "poop dance."  He jumps up and down while holding his bottom and saying "I"m pooping. I'm pooping."  We figured it was just him not wanting to "let it out."  We have gone through quite a few painful nights with him that lead to glycerine suppositories, which he DESPISES!!!!

At my sister's wedding, Micaiah was having a particularly difficult time. My mom, in her glorious nurse fashion, took Micaiah to her room to help him have a BM.  When I walked in, my mom literally had loads of pudding texture poo in her bare hands. Only a loving nurse could do that.  She continued to help Micaiah, and it just kept coming and coming.  Afterward, we put him in the shower to clean him up.  In the shower, he had a HUGE normal BM.  After that event mom mentioned to me that Micaiah may have something called "mega colon."  Due to the craziness of the week, I didn't give a whole lot of thought to it. 

Fast forward to today, Micaiah's 3 year old well child check up.  Little did I know we would walk out 3 hours later after a shot, blood draw and x-ray of his belly. After discussion about his normal development, we then went over his BM issues.  She immediately said this sounds like mega colon.  I told her my mom said the same thing!!!  She thoroughly explained it to me and told me how to start treatment at home.  She then sent us off for further testing, which she will call me about tomorrow.

When we showed up at the lab for the blood draw, I warned the phelebotomist that he is really strong, and we would need help.  Two of us held him while she drew blood. He screamed, and I mean screamed. By the time we got to the X-ray, he wasn't too keen on lying down on the table. But eventually he did, and we were able to get an X-ray of his bowel.  I saw it afterward but I have no clue how to interpret an abdominal X-ray.

Tomorrow we begin a process of "cleaning" Micaiah out.  It's basically a child barium mixture.  I will be up to my head in poo over the next 24-48 hours.  Ater that we begin him on special diet and "potty time".  With mega colon, one loses the ability to feel the urge to have a BM. After each meal, we have to place him on the potty for 10-15 minutes to re-train the body to feel the need to have a BM.  The process of healing his colon and retraining his BM reflex will take 6-12 months. I'm praying it goes more quickly, as we can not potty train until it is better.

So..I shouldn't have googled it because I saw things about surger needed etc..Just not a good idea.  I have a snowball effect mind so I was immediately seeing my baby on a stretcher headed into an OR.  Just not good!!!

Pray for me to have strength and grace during this process.  It will require a lot of discipline along with patience to make Micaiah sit on the potty after each meal.  And get the mixture down him in 3 hours tomorrow.

Thanks for listening!! I just needed to get this all out and my blog is the best place.