Saturday, January 12, 2013

Home Now

Levi has been feeling much better since the enema.  He tolerated the feed very well, and we came home last night.  He actually slept all night!  I can't remember the last time he did that.  Today he's been happy and content. 

The new plan is Milk of Magnesia once a day.  If he doesn't have a bowel movement in 3 days we will try a Dulcolax suppository.  This is a stimulant laxative, and the hope is that it will wake up the colon and help it work on its own.  It's habit forming, though, so can only be given once a week.  If needed, we will use enemas in between Dulcolax.

The lab tests showed that Levi's magnesium level is a bit high, so we are giving MOM once a day instead of the original twice daily dose.  The dietitian ordered a lipid panel to check cholesterol, etc, that can be elevated due to the Ketogenic diet.  His ldl level was slightly high (113 and they like to see under 100), but Jamie said everything looks excellent for being this far into the diet.  They are also checking his carnitine levels.  It is common for kids on the diet to need a carnitine supplement. I was researching symptoms of carnitine deficiency and interestingly enough one of the symptoms is low motility of the colon, exactly what is going on with Levi.  If he does have a deficiency that might explain why it's taken so long for his bowels to rebound after the surgery.  We should have the results on Monday.    

 

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