Mama Knows Best

After months and months of fighting with doctors to get my daughter the help she needed, we finally got somewhere. Mott’s Children’s Hospital was able to help us out and then some. We are officially parasite free and overjoyed! I have known for a while, but did not want to update y’all without telling everyone in the family first. We got the phone call last Wednesday that Addison’s test results, had in fact, come back negative this time around. Hallelujah!

Despite her “clean” bill of health, the doctors are still concerned about her weight loss and that possibility that she may or may not be malnourished do to those unwanted visitors, so they are going to try out a few things in hopes of putting the weight back on her. Our available options are: a weight gain supplement, increasing her caloric intake and switching her from drinking formula* to drinking a couple of Pediasures per day.  Obviously, we want to do what is best for her and think out each of these options carefully.  I am against the weight gain supplement and worried about increasing her caloric intake.  My fear with the increased caloric intake is this: what if we increase it and cannot get it back down within normal range?  Will it cause her weight problems later on?  The doctors assured me that with the help of a dietitian, we can avoid the worst case scenarios.  We have an appointment with a dietitian next week, so I shall see.  As for the Pediasure option– I’m just not sure.

* It was recommended to us that Addison stay on formula through the duration of the parasite in hopes of pumping her full of nutrients she may/may not be getting through her normal diet and because she was on a lactose free diet.  However, I am happy to announce that I think we may *finally* be able to start her on milk again!