Kennedy and Kellsey ENT Update

Today was Kennedy and Kellsey's appointment with the ENT and it was our first trip to Denver for an appointment. We didn't go to the Children's hospital though, which surprised me! The office was attached to another hospital... that I can't even remember the name of... but I guess it doesn't matter.

The ENT was very nice and thorough... Kennedy had a hearing test, which she failed, which we knew she would because her darn tubes are out already. Her last tube was placed in January in her left ear, and it's already out, which isn't good. They said they placed the long term tubes that don't usually fall out on their own... guess not! The right side still has a hole from as far as they can tell from her hearing test. There's definitely fluid in both ears so they recommended new tubes which she'll be getting on November 1st. They're also going to do an ABR at the same time, which is a really in depth, accurate hearing test while Kenn is under anesthesia. This is just a very accurate way to measure her hearing. The ENT also referred her to a sleep doctor to check her out for sleep issues. We've been having trouble getting her to sleep through the night the last couple months, so I would assume she's going to check for apnea and all that good stuff and hopefully give me ideas to get her sleeping soundly again.

Miss Kellsey didn't have a hearing test today... she has always had pretty good hearing, even before her tubes went in in February, and we weren't really at ENT for hearing for her anyway. The ENT addressed her aspiration issues, she's going to do a follow up swallow study since she hasn't had one in about 6 months. We don't expect anything to be different with her aspiration, but you never know! We talked about the G-Tube recommendation that has come from her former ENT and her new ped, and this ENT agrees, so we will be heading to a pediatric surgeon at some point for that. I'm waiting for the referral to be approved so we can make an appointment. I am praying really hard that this will be a turning point for Kellsey nutritionally.

Next we talked about Kellsey's sleep issues. She had her last sleep study in April which was post-op after her T&A. That sleep study showed that her T&A actually made her apnea worse instead of better (ugh!) so a possible recommendation of C-Pap or Bi-pap was made. We were too close to moving though so we had to wait until we got here. There are other surgical options to correct sleep apnea, but if we can fix it without surgery, I definitely want to try that first! SO they are going to do yet another sleep study on her at some point and then she will go see the same sleep doctor that Kennedy is going to see. We'll see what she recommends.

Since Kellsey DOES have tubes in, the ENT is going to see her back in January just to keep an eye on them and she'll have a hearing test then just to make sure all remains well in that regard. I'm glad her tubes haven't fallen out so far though!!

Anyway, I guess that's about it... Next up for Kellsey is cardiology, dermatology (to follow up on her CIPA diagnosis) and GI. Those are all in the next 2 weeks, then the week after that Kennedy and Kellsey both go to ophthalmology and Kennedy goes to oncology. Then in the first couple weeks of November, Kennedy will get her tubes replaced, both girls will go to the sleep doctor and all 5 kids will go to the dentist. Somewhere in there will be a sleep study, swallow study and ped surgery consult for Kellsey. If anyone ever steals my phone, I'm in BIG trouble because that's where I have all these appointments recorded! ;) At least they're getting the appointments scheduled quickly here! :o) OK I'm off to pick Kam up from school and then Kass and Keeghan have soccer practice. I need to find something GOOD for my last POTD for the month! Hmmmm....