Meeting of the Minds

This week has been pretty quiet medical wise - always a welcome change. James had one appointment this week. This appointment was with the pediatrician and wasn't really necessary for any new medical reasons, the only reason we went was to see how the Meeting of the Minds went and sort of tie all information together.

Our pediatrician said that each doctor had their chance to go over their treatment of James and what they forsee as future treatment. It is ironic to note that the Genetic Doctor had the least to say in the situation - James' LPI has remained under control, his ammonia levels have always held out well under each circumstance ... LPI wise he's doing good ... it's all the other factors that have kepts us so confused and busy. I didn't reap any new information from the visit ... as often happens when our pediatrician tells us some of the "behind the scenes" thoughts or comments.

So it stands to say that in addition to LPI James has colitis, esphogitis, reflux/aspiration and chronic bronchitis. The esphogitis is reflux related, which they are controlling by Losec (acid reducing medication). James' biggest challenge right now is his interstitial lung disease, which has been narrowed down and specified as being chronic bronchitis primarily due to aspiration (or reflux). James is struggling with his stools and yeast bum-rash right now due to the antibiotics he's been on for the last weeks and it will continue to be the challenge of weighing the benefits of one treatment against the effects it does on other parts of his body ... namely at this time, irritating his colitis. We need to question if this continual irritation will cause more colitis damage, and the only way to answer that is another colonoscopy, which we do not want to do. We pray that this round of antibiotics will indeed do the trick.

The only advantage of this round of antibiotics is that we now know he has reflux and have him on Losec. Previous antibiotic treatments were considered ineffective because he continued to aspirate into his lungs, which means food continued to land in the lungs and cause infection. So if the Losec is indeed working it should be holding the food out of his lungs this time and allowing the antibiotics to truly do their job of cleaning up the bacteria in the lungs. By the end of next week we should begin to get our answer.

A referal has been made to the Ears Nose Throat (ENT) Specialist to get the ball rolling on his continual fluid behind the ears. We're hoping that the fluid will clear up before any treatment is necessary, but at least for the time being the ball is rolling.

Other then that, if the lung treatment goes well we hope to be able to start spacing out our doctors visits a bit more ... anything is better then 2-3 appointments a week :)

We focus much effort on minimizing pain and suffering in life, but Easter always brings us to the reality that nothing compares to what our Lord and Saviour did for us. He willfully suffered unimaginable pain and anguish, not only by the scourings and ridicule by men, but especially by being forsaken by God. He endured God's wrath against sin so that we would not have to; indeed, we could not. Therefore we have confidence that whatever pain we may endure now will never separate us from His love. To Him be all glory, laud, and honour, for death could not contain Him, but He has risen, and has been seated at God' right hand.