What's Up with Ollie
In my last post I mentioned our second daughter has been having medical issues. I wasn't deliberately trying to be evasive in explaining what her condition is. It's the issue that is truly being evasive. For about two months Oleander has been having a sharp pain in her side followed by nausea. Originally her diagnosis was IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and the doctor prescribed medication and dietary restrictions. Poor Ollie. The sisters had to prepare her food separately from theirs and were instructed to eliminate all dairy, spice, and acidity from Ollie's food, including chocolate and coffee. It was a long, bland Lent for Oleander. Mother Ephesus said Ollie was a real trooper and didn't complain, but they could tell by her downcast face that she was not at all pleased with the prospect of dealing with a life long diet of nothingness. She is my daughter, after all, and has grown up eating food with flavor.
After a month on the medication and diet there was no change in symptoms and so that particular diagnosis was discarded. The doctor then ordered an ultrasound to see if possibly it might be a gall bladder issue or a hernia. Oleander was ecstatic to no longer have a restricted diet. The ultrasound was clear, but the doctor thought the sisters should go ahead and consult with a surgeon. The surgeon has suggested a more thorough exam of the gall bladder called a HADI scan. The HADI scan uses a radioactive tracer to track the flow of bile through the liver, small intestine, and gall bladder. The scan may help in the diagnosis of conditions such as bile duct obstruction, bile leakage, congenital abnormalities of the bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, and gallstones. The surgeon admitted Ollie is a bit young for any of these conditions, but it is not completely unheard of.
After consulting with Tricare. We are re-enrolling into Tricare Prime, but those benefits do not take affect until May 1st. Until then we are relegated to Tricare Standard. Not wanting Ollie to wait any longer than she has to for a diagnosis, we are going ahead with the HIDA scan under Tricare Standard and paying the co-pay and deductible.
Truly this is nothing to be too worried about yet. At the worst, we are looking at possible removal of the gallbladder. Of course, we'd appreciate any prayers that come this way for our dear girl. I will keep you all updated as we learn more. The most difficult part is having to deal with so much of this so far away from our daughter and through secondary channels. We trust the sisters completely. They've been wonderfully attentive in their care of Oleander and have kept us up to speed every step of the way. I know my baby is being watched over, not only by the sisters, but by Almighty God, Our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints. I couldn't ask for more than that.
After a month on the medication and diet there was no change in symptoms and so that particular diagnosis was discarded. The doctor then ordered an ultrasound to see if possibly it might be a gall bladder issue or a hernia. Oleander was ecstatic to no longer have a restricted diet. The ultrasound was clear, but the doctor thought the sisters should go ahead and consult with a surgeon. The surgeon has suggested a more thorough exam of the gall bladder called a HADI scan. The HADI scan uses a radioactive tracer to track the flow of bile through the liver, small intestine, and gall bladder. The scan may help in the diagnosis of conditions such as bile duct obstruction, bile leakage, congenital abnormalities of the bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, and gallstones. The surgeon admitted Ollie is a bit young for any of these conditions, but it is not completely unheard of.
After consulting with Tricare. We are re-enrolling into Tricare Prime, but those benefits do not take affect until May 1st. Until then we are relegated to Tricare Standard. Not wanting Ollie to wait any longer than she has to for a diagnosis, we are going ahead with the HIDA scan under Tricare Standard and paying the co-pay and deductible.
Truly this is nothing to be too worried about yet. At the worst, we are looking at possible removal of the gallbladder. Of course, we'd appreciate any prayers that come this way for our dear girl. I will keep you all updated as we learn more. The most difficult part is having to deal with so much of this so far away from our daughter and through secondary channels. We trust the sisters completely. They've been wonderfully attentive in their care of Oleander and have kept us up to speed every step of the way. I know my baby is being watched over, not only by the sisters, but by Almighty God, Our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints. I couldn't ask for more than that.
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