February 10,2012....

Days before the doctors visit we began preparing Ava. We explained to her that we are going to a new doctor. She is going to help us find a way to make you grow big and strong. Learning from previous doctors visits she immediately asked "Can we go to Target after?" Yes, we can got to Target after. She was game. The day finally arrived. Unfortunately David had class and could not come with us. We waited patiently for our turn and finally we were called in. Ava's new GI doctor was a female doctor, who Ava immediately took a liking to. Why not? She looked 12! (I'm getting old.) Dr. T was very friendly and put us both at ease. I began telling her Ava's story starting with all her teeth issues. Following with the complaint of leg pain. and on and on... She asked a lot of questions that some of the answers were of a concern. After reviewing Ava's growth charts, she stated  that Ava dropped off the chart shortly after 1 year. I wondered, why had we not been sent to her sooner??

After her exam and evaluation Dr. T believed Ava has Celiac's Disease. A Glutton intolerance. She had many classic symptoms and a child with this disease would have a difficult time growing. Finally we're getting somewhere! She was sending us for blood work, urine analysis, and stool sample analysis. Also Ava was giving  a prescription to treat possible acid reflux and a stool softener to help her empty her intestines better. (Ava has always had hard bowel movements.) She believes this maybe the reason she always said she says she's full or not hungry. After all said and done we were to return again in a month, along with an appointment with the nutritionist. She also wanted us to see the Endocrinologist that day. Although she was pretty certain it was Celiac's, why not meet with him in case she was wrong. If it was not Celiac's , we're ahead of the game. Of course we'll wait, thankfully she got us in. I now love Dr. T. Not only does she say she could be wrong but also helping us find the answers to why our little butterfly is not growing. Killing two birds with one stone, she's my kind of doctor. Finally someone agrees with us, there is something wrong with Ava.

Back out to the waiting room we go. We waited another 1/2 hour. Ava was getting restless and of course today of all days I had left all the snacks in the car. Finally we we are called in. The nurse sets us up in the room and tells us Dr. B will be right in. He was going over Dr. T's notes to see what she thought was going on. To keep Ava occupied I handed over my I touch. When Dr B walked in his first response was "I just ruled out 50 percent of everything that she could have because developmentally she's right or she wouldn't be using that." So our story began. He asked many of the same questions and he agreed with Dr. T's diagnosis. But just in case he would like to run his own tests. Blood work as well as x rays. He wanted her bone age measured as well as a full body x ray.

Ava was officially giving the diagnoses of failure to thrive and short in stature. Finally!! Not one but two doctors agreed there was something going on with Ava. We are going to get answers. There is some relief.