Re: Malrotation of the gut - questions

August 25, 2005

Hi all,

I am wondering what are the symptoms for mal-rotation gut. Andre has been

suffering with constipation since he was 6 mos.the doctors never suggested any

test or gave me a diagnosis as to what was causing it. He is currently on

Miralax, and with a GI appointment approaching I would like to armed with some

type of suggestions for the doctor.

mom to Andre 6 RSS and PDD-NOS

sunrae_24 wrote:

Hi everyone,

There has recently been quite a few posts about mal-rotation of the

gut and other GI issues, which have made me curious.

Our daughter (RSS, aged 3.5yrs) has been suffering

increasingly with constipation. She is currently on Lactulose, which

helps, and about to start on Senna to help her with daily bowel

movements (she commonly only goes every 2-3 days and then she will

go 3x in a day and of varying consistency). Up until 2.5yrs of age

she was fine and would have regular bowel movements 1-2x a day.

I am wondering - for those of you with RSS kids with mal-rotated

guts - what are the symptoms? What made you decide to have it

checked out? How did you explain this to your GI doc? I would like

to discuss it with 's GP but would be interested in some back-

up information beforehand! I am not trying to look for trouble where

there is none, but if this is something that is common with RSS

kids, and if constipation/irregular bowel movements is related to

it, then I would like to get it checked out.

Any advice/experiences gratefully received!

Thanks

Rae, mum to (RSS, 3.5yrs, 24lbs 1oz, 89cm)

London, UK

August 25, 2005

Rae,

I don't know if malrotation is a characteristic of RSS yet, but I do

know that many doctors are now looking for that condition if a child

has severe reflux or other gut issues. Unfortunately, there are no

symptoms specific to it other than vomiting bile and when that

happens, it can be a life-threatening situation. I recall the GI

telling us that many people have it their whole lives and never know

until it acts up. Some have died without it being found in time. If

the gut twists on itself, it could be only a matter of hours before

it's fatal. Then again, it can twist, untwist, etc.

A GI series should show if there is this condition. And since so many

of our kids have GI issues, those tests are usually run. It certainly

would not hurt to ask about it being done. You can say that you've

heard of several RSS kids who have had this condition and you'd like

it checked out.

Jodi Z

August 25, 2005

Hi, I am a new member....I was amazed at finding this subject - my

daughter Sydney turned 1 a few weeks ago and on July 14th, had

malrotation of the bowel corrected (along with a feeding tube

placed). Neither myself or my pediatrician had found that this

problem was connected to RSS...but now I'm wondering. We found it

by accident, which my GI doctor told us is normally how it occurs.

We were being seen by an occupational therapist at our local

children's hospital and she suggested (even though she's shown no

signs of reflux or any swallowing problems) that we run a " swallow

test " to make sure everything was working correctly. It was during

that test that we discovered the malrotation. My daughter has had

quite a problem with constipation (and of course, appetite), and I

thought that this surgery would magically correct everything. I was

wrong. Of course she's much better off having had this corrected,

I'm sure, but we still deal with those battles. I've found now that

I'm using a feeding pump overnight, her b.m's have loosened for the

most part, although from time to time she still gets constipated.

Thank you for everyone contributing on this board, you do a world of

good to moms like me! I just signed up for membership to MAGIC and

I will be more active in this group. Thanks!!

Debbie, daughter Sydney, 12 mos., 11 lbs. Kansas City

> Rae,

>

> I don't know if malrotation is a characteristic of RSS yet, but I

do

> know that many doctors are now looking for that condition if a

child

> has severe reflux or other gut issues. Unfortunately, there are

no

> symptoms specific to it other than vomiting bile and when that

> happens, it can be a life-threatening situation. I recall the GI

> telling us that many people have it their whole lives and never

know

> until it acts up. Some have died without it being found in time.

If

> the gut twists on itself, it could be only a matter of hours

before

> it's fatal. Then again, it can twist, untwist, etc.

>

> A GI series should show if there is this condition. And since so

many

> of our kids have GI issues, those tests are usually run. It

certainly

> would not hurt to ask about it being done. You can say that

you've

> heard of several RSS kids who have had this condition and you'd

like

> it checked out.

>

> Jodi Z

August 25, 2005

Welcome Debby.

- H

> > Rae,

> >

> > I don't know if malrotation is a characteristic of RSS yet, but

I

> do

> > know that many doctors are now looking for that condition if a

> child

> > has severe reflux or other gut issues. Unfortunately, there are

> no

> > symptoms specific to it other than vomiting bile and when that

> > happens, it can be a life-threatening situation. I recall the

GI

> > telling us that many people have it their whole lives and never

> know

> > until it acts up. Some have died without it being found in

time.

> If

> > the gut twists on itself, it could be only a matter of hours

> before

> > it's fatal. Then again, it can twist, untwist, etc.

> >

> > A GI series should show if there is this condition. And since

so

> many

> > of our kids have GI issues, those tests are usually run. It

> certainly

> > would not hurt to ask about it being done. You can say that

> you've

> > heard of several RSS kids who have had this condition and you'd

> like

> > it checked out.

> >

> > Jodi Z

August 26, 2005

Make your sure your GI doc does complete and thorough exams of your childs GI

tract. Malrotation is sometimes hard to detect even with x-rays and all the

other tests. When my daughter had her tests done (both upper and lower GI

exams) the GI doctor saw it but the GI surgeon didn't think there was any

problem. Once he got in there, the malrotation was quite severe and what he had

said would probably be just a quick surgical exam turned into a 4 hour surgery.

LaShada Rex wrote:Hi all,