Upper GI for a 7 yr old?!?

Question

i dont feel comfortable subjecting my daughter to such an extreme mesuare before all possiblities are exlpored. i mean the doctor didnt even order blood work. my child has had stomach pain for almost a month, with diarehha and vomiting. not constantly but she has had it often. she hasnt lost weight and the doctor says her stomach is soft so she doesnt think there is blockage. she hasnt had any disruptions in what she does or doesnt eat, no difference in daily activites and no fever. what other tests could be done?

Answer 1

When barium is given, it will feel nasty- especially if the patient is already presenting with nausea. I hated the upper gi series. I remember a different, less yucky test where I swallowed an egg, and its progress was shown as it went through my digestive tract. I forget what its called, but it is much less yucky than a barium shake. Consider yourself fortunate that the endoscopy has net been needed though - that's invasive.....Best of luck to your daughter.

Answer 2

You could always get a second opinion but an upper GI is a very standard and simple procedure (I have had 3 upper GI's one with a bravo surgery and 2 colonoscopies and I am only 23)! She could be subject to acid reflux, Celiac disease, Gastritis, etc... all manageable! My concern is if she is having diarrhea why they are not performing a lower GI (colonoscopy vs an endoscopy)! An endoscopy only visualizes problematic situations that are in the esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine... Where as a Colonoscopy covers the colon (where bowel issues are diagnosed)! She wont be put under she will only be sedated (meaning they will be able to have her move and follow directions throughout the procedure, but following she will have amnesia of the procedure in most cases)! X-Rays can be taken to see if constipation is an issue... But honestly the only effective way to diagnose digestive issues is through upper and lower GI's! I really wouldn't stress this accusation that she is in need of a procedure... Set-up the appointment with a GI (who is a digestive specialist) and have a consult and express your concern! They will look over her medical history and tell you if this is a necessary step to take! Definitely have a consult if not a second opinion from a different physician! I'm concerned why an upper GI is needed vs a lower! Both procedures are painless (the worst part is the prep for a lower... laxatives and cleansing is required... an upper is just fasting) and nothing to fear (small risks at hand)! Because she is a young child they will not give her barium ask for the small prep (usually phospo fleet and ginger ale)! I never took the barium test due to my extreme situation and stomach intolerance!!!

Answer 3

My son had the procedure when he was nine. He had similar symptoms and wouldn't eat because the pain began as his food was being digested. I know it is awful to subject your little one to such a procedure - but I am so glad I had it done. He also had a lower GI at the same time. I felt so bad for him.

It took a long time to find out what was wrong. The doctor actually sent specimens to a hospital in Boston, the Mayo Clinic and a couple of other places. After almost 3 weeks, a hospital in Washington DC found a parasite in his intestine that he had apparently picked up on a trip to Florida early in the year. By this time he had started to lose weight and being such a skinny kid anyway, he looked really bad.

Once the problem had been identified, they prescribed medicine and within a week, the pain was gone. He was on the medication for almost 6 weeks.

Please, as awful as it sounds, get your little one checked out. The doctor said that if they hadn't found the parasite, it could have done serious, life-long damage to his intestinal tract.

Good luck, Mom.

Answer 4

I'm not sure what blood test you'd expect to be done? There isn't anything that's going to explain those symptoms from a blood test. An upper GI can reveal a lot, especially an ulcer that would explain those symptoms. Often ulcers are difficult to diagnosis based on symptoms because if caught early enough the symptoms are vague. I would say get the test, blood work is really vague because blood goes every where and it's difficult to be specific for one organ over another. You're daughter might be scared, but if you support her and explain things to her, she'll be more at ease with it.

Answer 5

By all means have this test done!. Your daughter may have a nervous stomach and reflux. This test is very easy and is done by professionals. This test will determine if there is damage to the stomach lining or have ulcers. I have had this done several times.

I have had a nervous stomach since I was very young. It is where all acids pour into the stomach to dissolve the food you eat. You have constant sour stomachs which cause heartburn to the point it causes you to throw up.

Make sure your daughter is chewing her food good before she swallows. Chunks of food is harder to digest and causing more acids to pour into the stomach to get it dissolved.

I take Prilosec. You can buy at Costco. This will give her a lot of relief. She needs to stop eatting greasy & spicy foods for a while so she can get this under control.

I know the torture she is going through, I have lived it my whole life. One final point. In later years she will end up having Gall Stones if this persists.

Answer 6

Well to really know if something is wrong it will take an upper GI.
But if you don't feel you are there yet ask your doctor to wait a while while you try digestive enzymes - papaya at Walmart. Maalox and assidophilus (sure I spelled it wrong) somes in yogurt called live bacteria that makes bowls healthy.

Move you daughter to a better diet of easy to digest thins.

Touch her all over and ask her if she has pain, does it hurt here, does it hurt here.

In the end it is in your hands and the next question is how much do you trust your doctor?

Answer 7

An upper GI will show where the food is going and if its getting absorbed it's just drinking some stuff and they trace it as it moves their the system. It isn't as rough as a lower GI good grief don't you want the best for you child?
Hepatitis causes those symptoms but then the whites of their eyes goes yellow. Check symptoms on WebMD they might help you more.

Answer 8

I'm surprised that they want to do an upper and not lower if it's in the stomach and if the stomach is soft, with no blockage there is NO reason to do it, I went thru it and it's awful, you have to fast for a day. And after you feel awful. I think it's best to wait and get a second opinion ....Please don't put her thru this trauma.

Answer 9

If you're not comfortable with the recommendation, get another opinion. Without knowing his differential hard to tell what tests might confirm or refute his hypothesis. Maybe she needs to see a GI specialist, if this is the pediatrician.

Answer 10

Well, how about getting X-ray? see what's going on. When I was young, my parents used to give me Guava leave water. Just boil water, add guava leave, and make her drink it, it made me feel better. Is she lactose intolerance? if she is, that could be the reason of the diarrhea. Also, when she eats, make sure she does it at the same time every day. It's not good for her to eat at different time every day. Say she eats at 6 pm tonight, she should also do the same every day, not at 4, not at 8. Also, make her eat healthy. Hope this helps.