Hi. My 8 1/2 year old son is in the process of being testing for what
we think might be CVS. He's been experiencing the symptoms for about
a year now - increasing in frequency in the last few months to about
every 2-3 weeks. They only last for 1-2 hours for one day and then
he's fine as can be. The worst episode lasted for about 2 hours for 3
mornings straight. I'm thankful that he's not as bad as I hear it can
get.

The testing is daunting. I've been very fortunate with their health
in the past (I have a 2 year old symptom-free daughter.) Watching him
freak out when he has to go for blood tests is hard - but I know it
can be much worse and I can be thankful that it's not.

He's been seen by a pediatric gastroenterologist who sent him for a
huge blood workup, abdominal and renal sonograms and an upper GI
series. His ammonia and lactate levels came up higher than normal,
but when repeated were in the low normal range. The upper GI was
essentially normal, except there was a delay in the emptying of the
stomach. Once it started, it was fine.

His next stop was the metabolic specialist this week who ordered
another huge blood workup for metabolic diseases. It will take weeks
before the results are back.

We've been asked to wake him up at 2am for juice and a cookie to see
if that helps. We'll see.

The next step would be an endoscopy and an overnight stay in the
hospital to monitor his blood as he fasts to check ketone levels.

I've been told by other parents that the tests are pretty much
necessary because if left untreated and undiagnosed, it can get worse
as he gets older.

I've been fortunate enough to never have had to admit him to the
hospital for dehydration.

So, if you would like to chat once in awhile and blow some steam -
I'd listen. I'd also like to pick your brain about what kinds of
testing your daughter went through before her diagnosis.

My email and yahoo messenger name is LICountryGirl.