EoE Update

Last Friday Callie had another upper GI endoscopy, her seventh to date.  We know the routine well, but it never seems to get any easier.  Callie knew what was going on as soon as we were called back to the prep area and was not happy to be there.  After getting her changed, reviewing her medical history with the nurse, and touching base with the anesthesiologist, we headed back to the procedure room.  I talked to her as we were wheeled back and explained to her that she would wear a mask and then would take a nap and I would be with her when she woke up.  She didn't want to hear any of it.  She was terribly upset and crying.  Once the team was assembled in the room it was time to begin and they placed the mask on her little face while I held her, unsuccessfully trying to comfort her.  She fought it as long as possible until she succumbed to the gas and drifted off to sleep.  As usual, I fought back tears during these traumatic moments, and then reluctantly handed her over and fled the room so that I could let them flow.  But the worst was over and things turned around from that point.

While I waited by her side for her to wake up in the recovery room, the GI doctor came to speak with me and advised the scope looked clear!  Biopsies were taken and the results would take a week to confirm, but his impression was she passed dairy.  Wonderful news!  We did not have long to talk, but I told him of the top food allergies she had now passed everything except nuts and shellfish, which haven't been tried yet.  I asked him if I could just keep these items out of her diet (we can live without them!) so that we do not have to go though another endoscopy for a long time.  He said that would be fine, although we will eventually have to scope when we try to take her off Prevacid.  I was just happy to know we would not have to go through this again for a while.  Also, I remarked how it was amazing that we thought she was allergic to everything and now maybe nothing!  He said most likely she has grown out of the allergies that originally caused her EoE.  Although in the back of my mind I kept thinking about CHOP's opinion that she was possibly mis-diagnosed and that perhaps reflux, not food allergies, has been the problem the whole time.  We will never know.  But the important thing is we now know she is able to safely consume nearly all foods!  And we are so incredibly thankful for this!!