So we had a very good visit with the Dr. this morning. We left home around 8:00 this morning and the entire way there Zachary kept repeating "where are we going?" over and over and over again :(. My dad and I were very vague abut by the time we got there, Z knew something was up. But, he was remarkably good. We visited Dr. Ian Lebowitz, a pediatric GI doc in the INOVA Fairfax Hospital group. We actually saw him before when Z was 4 months old and in the throws of horrible acid reflux. I just love this doc. He is so nice and friendly and is super great with the kids.

After a chat with me, Dr. L checked out Zach..listened to his belly, felt around his belly, looked in his eyes and mouth...all in all, Z was really good. Based on my description of what has been happening, Dr. L gave Z a diagnosis of Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome. See info below....


"In cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), people experience bouts or cycles of severe nausea and vomiting that last for hours or even days and alternate with longer periods of no symptoms. CVS occurs mostly in children, but the disorder can affect adults, too.

CVS has no known cause. Each episode is similar to the previous ones. The episodes tend to start at about the same time of day, last the same length of time, and present the same symptoms at the same level of intensity. Although CVS can begin at any age in children and adults, it usually starts between the ages of 3 and 7. In adults, episodes tend to occur less often than they do in children, but they last longer. Furthermore, the events or situations that trigger episodes in adults cannot always be pinpointed as easily as they can in children.

Episodes can be so severe that a person may have to stay in bed for days, unable to go to school or work. No one knows for sure how many people have CVS, but medical researchers believe that more people may have the disorder than is commonly thought (as many as 1 in 50 children in one study). Because other more common diseases and disorders also cause cycles of vomiting, many people with CVS are initially misdiagnosed until the other disorders can be ruled out. What is known is that CVS can be disruptive and frightening not just to people who have it, but to the entire family as well."

this information is found at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cvs/index.htm

So...we are starting him on Prevacid, an antacid. We are set to go have an abdominal ultrasound and blood work done on Zach. After that, if nothing is found, when he has another episode, we will put him on a antihistamine (who knew) and if that doesn't work, a beta blocker. But, unfortunately, our little guy is doomed because of the outrageously strong migraine genes on both sides of his family.

So, that is where we are...thanks for all the well wishes and concern that was sent my way today...I needed your thoughts and prayers. :) Keep Z in your thoughts as we try to straighten all of this out. He is one great little guy and hopefully we can make him feel much much better! :)